9.30 p.m.

Irene’s body doesn’t know if it’s coming or going…

Yesterday’s very invasive angiogram procedure @ UCSF went well and she was up for the challenge of today’s early morning dialysis followed by the 2.5 hour surgery relative re-engineering her fistula.

Her dialysis treatment at UCSF this morning was only 2 hours because the pain and discomfort was too much to continue.  They were able to get her to “dry weight” but were unable to remove all of the toxins that would have been removed in the last hour.

UCSF decided this evening that they needed to keep her one more night for observation since she’s still trying to come out of the anesthesia (my uneducated guess is that it’s tied to the dialysis and lack of her body’s ability to clear it through normal kidney function).  She’s also battling nausea and right arm pain this evening.  Her entire right hand is numb but the medical team said that is normal following the procedure today and should dissipate over time.

Dr. Eichler performed the surgery today and remains hopeful that progress has been made.  He wants to see Irene in his UCSF office within the next 2 weeks for a post-op exam.

The Primary Amyloidosis still remains in remission but it’s damage lingers on…

Hopefully she’s discharged in the morning!!!

The entire team @ UCSF ROCKS…!!!

Thanks for caring,
Dave