438) Annual Transplant Clinic Visit

March 8, 2013

Friday

North Austin Medical Center:  Regular clinic visit with hospital check-in taking 45 minutes (sorry we are running late Mr. Nowicki); Maxine checking weight (173); high blood pressure (160/77); and various Maxine stories.  Met the new Transplant Coordinator, Jessica, who took over for Patti, who didn't last long in this patient-focused clinic.  Jessica seems very nice, competent, and attentive as I explained my January bout with pneumonia and level of recent stress.

Dr. Lewis came in and we spent at least 10 to 15 minutes talking about current stressors (teaching my new class, getting a new ED at work, and losing Big Kim at work)  He was animatedly supportive.  When we got into his feeback on the Status of Jack & Mordechai  the Miracle Kidney, he said again, "you're doing GREAT!"  He went down his list of indicators for me:

• Creatinine 1.1
• Blood sugar 113 
• Colesterol 143
• HDB 5.6

He listened to my heart and lungs, felt my parathyroid, pressed on my kidney, and pronounced me good.  We discussed my idea of getting the shingles shot and he explained that since they put a live virus in you it isn't generally a good idea since I am on imuno-suppressants, but that we could check the (unknown) level at my next labs and that would give a better idea what to do.  

About the blood pressure increasing he wants me to try going back on some Norvasc in addition to the Linsopril and Normadyne that I am already taking.  I'll take my BP regularly and go in again in 4 weeks to check the BP.  Then my next appt will be in 4 months.

All in all a good report so I went away feeling a little less stressed and ready to wish Mordechai a happy birthday tomorrow.