Jim had his testing done last Thursday (6/19). While he was supposed to do a chemical stress test, he ended up walking on a treadmill due to the fact they could not get a good vein for the IV solution for the chemical test. It was tough on him but he walked the treadmill (uphill) for 8 minutes.
Because one of the numbers was low, they want him to have a cardiologist just sign off that his heart is ok to undergo the surgery. Just can’t catch a break. While we know this is routine for such a major surgery, we feel quite certain Jim’s heart is just fine and just sets us back another week or so. His cardiologist appointment is next Tuesday (7/1).
Dialysis is really starting to take a toll on him. While he has good days and bad days, it seems it takes him longer to feel ok after each dialysis. Gout continues to be a problem in his knees and feet. It seems like a constant ending circle. He walks to build up his strength, but then that seems to activate the gout in his legs, he takes medicine for the gout and it upsets his stomach, he takes medicine for his upset stomach that gives him diarrhea, he takes medicine for diarrhea and it makes him nauseated, he takes medicine for nausea and that upsets his stomach, he takes pain meds for the pain in his knees and that constipates him. It never seems to end.....
Hopefully “Joe”, his new kidney, will help make all of this go away.
