Back at Mayo

Dan has had a hard time breathing the past 2 days, more swelling, and drinking a lot of water without much output. So we called the transplant coordinator this morning and she spoke to the doctor and told us to go in to the ER. After labs, a bladder ultrasound and a chest xray, they decided to keep him overnight. They are going to do another thoracentesis and parecentesis, but prior to that they will give him blood plasma to amp up his platelet count in hopes of not too much bleeding from those procedures. They put in a foley catheter to help the bladder along to get rid of the large amount of fluid there. The kidney doctor will visit tomorrow also. And his labs showed very low sodium and pretty high potassium, both of which may be caused by the diuretics but they need to watch his electrolites carefully as this could signal a rejection coming on, and don't worry - they would adjust his anti-rejection meds if this happens.

The doctors tell us it is not that unusual for a transplant patient to come back in the hospital a few times after the initial discharge to get things regulated. Hearing that didn't make it any easier on Dan, though. I'm home for a short time now to blog, pick up his contac case and glasses and ipod, and then head back. My heart hurts for Dan that he has to be back there, but he will go back to 3West where we know all the nurses so that will be nice, plus selfishly speaking...I will get a little reprieve from lifting Dan. If anyone knows any good stretching exercises for my back and legs, let me know.

TTFN ("ta-ta for now" as Tigger says to Pooh),
Debbie and Dan