Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Dear Ones --

Time for an update.

Craig has had 2 outpatient dialysis treatments thus far, last Friday and this past Monday. (I think that brings the total number to 7). He goes down to Swedish Hospital at 8 am and is admitted for the day. The dialysis run is usually 4 hours, but if you count the prep time and the disconnecting, it is a good 7 to 8 hours.

Today we were on the road at 7:30 -- a gorgeous sunny day. Craig schools me on the ins and outs of the downtown commuting scene (he cannot drive at this time).

His nurse was Dora (I resisted any comments about the cartoon character). She was lovely and made sure the labs were drawn promptly (Monday there were a series of mistakes and oversights such that we waited 4 1/2 hours for the dialysis to even begin -- ughh!)

The nephrologist came in and told us Craig could skip dialysis today because his labs were stable (not normal yet, but not worsening significantly) -- so we will return Friday for the same routine.

One of his two Infectious Disease doctors called today (the one he first saw as an outpatient, who is different from the one during his hospital stay), unaware of what has been happening in the last month -- he does not believe the negative brucellosis results. He thinks Craig's blood protein is so low that it could result in a false negative. Once Craig feels up to it, we need to meet with him again and really thrash this out. This doctor feels we should be continuing to look for an infectious cause. I am thinking, LET'S DO IT!!!!!

Craig got a bloody eye (yes, eye, not nose) from the Coumadin -- many of you have probably experienced this -- a blood vessel at the surface of the eye breaks -- looks scarier than it is.

Also, in an effort to turn things in a different direction, and led by his brother Bob's example, Craig shaved off his mustache (first time in 20 years). If that doesn't shake things up, I don't know what will.

Several days ago someone sent Craig a wonderful Iowa Hawkeyes Snugli blanket -- we can't figure out who, so let us know which of our Iowa buddies did this. And continued thanks for the cards and calls and flowers and videos and errands -- wow! We feel your love.

Sharon