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Post by Don Clark on Mar 3, 2014 14:11:41 GMT -5
Well, I will have something to do while I wait for the heart. I did go ahead and buy the Holloway harp guitar in the photo back on page 6. The current owner is going to drop it off at Mass Street Music for me (to the same guy that worked on my Guild a few years back)for some setup work and install a K&K pickup in it. I'll then pick it up on Friday 3/21 when I go back for my next Dr. appointment. Can't wait!
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Mar 3, 2014 14:48:05 GMT -5
Well, enjoy that new guitar (for a long time).
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Post by Village Idiot on Mar 3, 2014 21:13:54 GMT -5
Indeed. We'd love to hear it if you can make Ijam this year. I don't want to play one, but I'd love to hear one.
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Post by Don Clark on Mar 4, 2014 11:58:38 GMT -5
Tell ya what, Todd.....if I can get the call and get it done within the next couple of months, I'd say there'd be a good shot at coming. As long as I'm well past immune suppresion. If I can get there, I'll bring two guitars.
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Post by Village Idiot on Mar 4, 2014 21:30:58 GMT -5
And if you come, none of us will have colds or anything.
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Post by dradtke on Mar 5, 2014 11:34:53 GMT -5
Well, if Todd doesn't want to play it, I do. Or at least sit with it on my lap or something. As long as nobody listens.
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Post by Don Clark on Mar 23, 2014 21:53:24 GMT -5
Newest Update - 3/21/14
This trip was a bit different, kind of a mixed bag. It started off on the high side by picking up my newly acquired Holloway harp guitar. That is a totally different thing from the playing I've done. Fifty-three years on a standard 6-string guitar doesn't necessarily transfer right over to harp guitar.....it is going to take some work and a good number of hours to develop the needed techniques to get some pieces up to performance level. But I plan to get there. I'll do what I can before the transplant to get off to a good start, then pick up on it after I've healed some. I was just sitting with the harp guitar and the harp arm comes right across my breastbone.....and that area will be a tad testy for a while.
The heart journey took a little turn in a somewhat unwanted direction over the last month. Due to an increase in breathing difficulties and some fluid retention, I will go back in 2 weeks. We have moved up the right heart cath (to measure internal pressures), echo cardiogram, and MVO2 stress test that was on the plan for May to the next visit. The possibility of a decline in this way was not entirely unexpected, in fact was more of a probability. But we plan to stay on top of this and keep it as minimal as we can. But I'm OK, and also good with moving these procedures up.......maybe we can get on with it. The specific data from these procedures will tell us a lot. I had already been told that it would be likely that I'd have to experience something like this in order for the transplant team to elevate my need status to the higher priority level of 1B, increasing the chances of the transplant happening sooner.
And believe me, I am all for sooner.
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Post by Village Idiot on Mar 23, 2014 21:58:15 GMT -5
I hope that this news, which doesn't sound great, moves you up the ladder. We're all pulling for you here, and please believe that thoughts, prayers, all of those things are truly sincere. You're a good guy, and we all wish you the best.
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Post by sekhmet on Mar 27, 2014 7:09:38 GMT -5
What Village said. hugs Don.
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Mar 27, 2014 9:01:36 GMT -5
What Sekh said.
Mike
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Post by theevan on Mar 27, 2014 11:15:20 GMT -5
He may be an idiot, but what he said. Hugs n prayers
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Post by Don Clark on Mar 28, 2014 11:48:23 GMT -5
OK.....next trip is next week. Driving back to KC on Wednesday, with procedures on Thursday. Typical hospital scheduling - 7:15 Check in 7:30 Echo Cardiogram 9:00 Stress test 11:00 Appt. with yet a different one of the cardiologists, one I don't think I've met yet. ??:00 At some point after this, they will do a right-heart cath. Then I can come back home. That is if it's not too late in the day. Lower oxygen levels tend to get me to drowsy unexpectedly to do any of the driving, so Barb drives. Might possibly get together Wednesday evening for a while and pick some with Joe, the guy I bought the harp guitar from. Edit - Oh yeah.....with the anesthesia for the heart cath, nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Then they schedule that for as late in the day as they can.
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Post by Hobson on Mar 28, 2014 12:42:44 GMT -5
Sounds like an exhausting trip coming up. I hope it all goes smoothly.
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Post by theevan on Mar 28, 2014 18:11:01 GMT -5
You're right, Hobson. Also factor in that KC must be about a 5 hour drive from Cimmaron.
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Post by Village Idiot on Mar 28, 2014 20:05:36 GMT -5
That'll be a long day, Don, and one that will be nice to get over with.
In the meantime, though, we haven't asked. How's the harp guitar coming along?
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Post by RickW on Mar 31, 2014 8:32:35 GMT -5
Good luck, Don.
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Post by Don Clark on Apr 5, 2014 10:56:38 GMT -5
OK.....back from Kansas City. Evan, it is closer to a 6 hour drive. We pass the time with audio books. We could now drive it in our sleep, but we won't. Harp guitar, Todd, is still very much in the "noodle and see what it might do" stage. Not in a hurry, it will take time. Also, as the harp arm comes right across my breastbone I likely won't get it out much for a few weeks after the surgery. Now to the update - As mentioned before, the doctors decided to move up the procedures already scheduled for next month to now. Mainly due to fluid retention/weight/breathing issues. Here's what we did and the initial results - Treadmill Stress test - didn't indicate much change at all. With two clean heart caths, blockages of the coronary arteries isn't my problem. The problem lies mainly in an enlarged left ventricle, subsequent screwed up valve, and a rigid ventricular septum. Instead of the left ventricle being a firm, toned, vigorous muscle it's more like an over-sized, floppy, stretched out balloon that farts more than it pumps. Best description I could come up with. Echo cardiogram - new measurements indicate the heart has continued to enlarge. And it's efficiency decreased some. The Ejection Fraction (or EF - the percentage of the heart's volume of oxygenated blood pumped out per beat which should normally be 55%-70%) has dropped from 23% last November to 20% on Thursday. Right Heart Catheter - pressures in the chambers on the right side were only slightly lower than the figures from last November. Not enough to warrant intravenous medications. I snoozed through this last November, but remained awake for this one. It was fascinating to see the catheter wind its way through my heart and clear down into a lung. Could also see the wire from the pacemaker/defibrillator and a snap from the gown. Quite educational. The nutshell - I remain a status #2 and continue waiting, watching sodium intake and weight. The sequence of changes and events leading to transplant are obviously beginning to take place but it is all still very much a big question mark as to the timeline. Still feeling basically OK, but obviously don't have a whole lot of wind to work with. The breathing can occasionally be a little bit of a distraction when I'm trying to concentrate on more sensitive parts of songs on guitar. Hopefully this will just help to sharpen me and be a benefit when I'm past this thing. No appointment made yet, but will return in 3-4 weeks.
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Post by theevan on Apr 5, 2014 18:41:16 GMT -5
Dang... Lots to digest. Prayers...
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Post by Village Idiot on Apr 5, 2014 21:32:59 GMT -5
That's a lot of news to digest, Don, but I'll repeat what everyone has stated so many times: The way you are handling this is beyond admirable. If there is any good to come out of this, it's what we're all learning from your attitude.
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Post by Don Clark on May 3, 2014 10:36:54 GMT -5
Received the neatest phone call yesterday from a guy who was also a heart transplant recipient. Twice. Had his done at the same facility and by the same doctors that will do mine. His first "new" heart developed some problems, so they replaced it too. He was a goldmine of information and had answers to a number of questions that are coming up as I go through the process. He had his 3½ years ago, is doing great, sounded wonderful. Lots of energy in his voice. It's things like this that sure help me keep my focus. How did he know? He was a co-worker of the recruiter that was talking to Ty about playing football at Mid America Nazarene.
My next checkup is this coming Monday.
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