Tests

The blood sample, MRI and cardiac stress test (treadmill) was a long day along with a bit of LA traffic. It was interesting and nothing was painful. The cardiac test went fine. I won't know the MRI results for some time unless there is something new on it that they need to tell me about.

Now I have a couple more tests on Wednesday. A mag3 scan for kidney function and meeting with the cardiologist about the stress test. The Friday after that, 12/18/09, they've scheduled me for some standard pre-op screening meeting which I assume is probably mostly talk.

Then on 12/22 I have to get to the hospital at 5:30 am and out goes my kidney. 2-4 days in hospital after that and 2-4 weeks recovery before starting the high dose interleukin.

As good as the internet is for general research, the real topper for getting the final answers to sort of verify what the doctors tell us has been a listserv mailing I get daily with about 10-20 emails in one digest letter of people in my situation talking about what their doctors tell them and answering people's questions. It was so reassuring to hear that other people that researched things well would do what we're doing. Back 30 years ago you blindly followed a doctor's advise and just had to have hope or faith. Now you can go in knowing that this rare illness is being treated properly. This must take away so many worries for so many people.