News is not good

gja1000 · 10-15-2008, 12:44 PM

Just talked to my husband's heart doctor - his heart is much weaker and she is very surprised, as I am. Of course, we both know this is a terminal illness, but his clinical signs and symptoms did not indicate his heart is as weak as it is.

He will stay the night in ICU to give him some medications that may help. She said that she may be able to get his heart working better than it is now. But she said the "T" word - transplant - heart transplant. The thing is that I don't think he is a candidate, but of course, they need to evaluate him. What I'm afraid is that he will get his hopes up about getting a new heart, then they will find that he is not a candidate because of his asthma and diabetes, and then he will be very depressed as he will realize that he is closer to the end of life. He understands that his life will be shortened due to his heart failure - but it will be hard to think about the end of life.

I knew this time was coming - I don't mean to say that he is going to die soon, because that is not the case. It's just that his condition has taken a downturn and that is disheartening.

My daughter will be here soon and I'll get to see him pretty soon too. It's hard to know what to say..........

lynne b · 10-15-2008, 12:50 PM

I am so very sorry to hear this news about your husband. Hopefully he will become a good candidate for a transplant. I am sorry you have to go through this, I am glad that your daughter will be with you soon. Good luck to you all.
Lynne

donna1990 · 10-15-2008, 02:02 PM

I am so sorry, we are all praying.

Shada · 10-15-2008, 02:52 PM

You and your family are in my prayers. {HUGS}

Marilyn · 10-15-2008, 03:28 PM

Gayle, it's so hard to find the words...... So very sorry to hear this news. Please try to stay strong and optimistic. We are here for you!!!

Gina · 10-15-2008, 04:10 PM

Gayle your family is in my prayers.

Janet · 10-15-2008, 04:18 PM

Gayle, I wish I were with you so I could just give you a big hug and sit and just be with you. I don't think there is anything anyone can say, but please know that even though the words are not there, you're in our heart and prayers. I hope your husband can gain strength from all the positive vibes heading his way.

gja1000 · 10-15-2008, 05:55 PM

Hi everyone!
We are OK - Gary is feeling fine and we had a long talk with his doctor. They are going to be running some other tests and she thinks that she can help him feel a little better than he is feeling now. They are also going to take a close look at his lungs and see if there is some other medicine for his lungs that will help him feel better.

We are doing OK - thanks so much for all your support and prayers, we really appreciate it. I'll check in later and let you know what's going on.

DianaB · 10-15-2008, 06:19 PM

{{{{{{Gayle}}}}}} You and your husband are in my prayers.

gja1000 · 10-15-2008, 07:35 PM

Home for the evening. Rexy and Rowdy sure are glad to see me! My daughter, Gary and I talked about the transplant issue. Of course, we don't even know if he will qualify, or if he will want to go through that whole ordeal, and it is an ordeal. His thinking is that he needs to consider it, if it is an option, if not, then we'll go from there.

I'm tired, but OK. I really wasn't expecting the doctor to have disappointing news and she said she wasn't expecting to find his heart was weaker either. We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.

He's having his pacemaker upgraded and the battery changed at 12:30 tomorrow. That should go smoothly! I'll check in again tomorrow.

Marilyn · 10-16-2008, 03:20 AM

Gayle, hope you were able to rest last night. Know that we are all sending hugs and hopeful thoughts your way!!!!

judy · 10-16-2008, 04:57 AM

Gayle,

My prayers are with you and you are in my heart. I am so sorry you got disappointing news. We are all here for you.

Judy

Tiramisu · 10-16-2008, 06:18 AM

Gayle, we love you!

gja1000 · 10-16-2008, 06:32 AM

Thanks everyone!!! It almost makes me cry to know how much you care. That means more than you can ever know.

We are both in good spirits this morning. The lung doctor was here to do his evaluation for a heart transplant. He asked lots of questions, and gave Gary a good examination. He'll run some lung function tests tomorrow to give him more information.

Gary and I talked more about the transplant issue. My greatest fear is that this will get his hopes up that he might get a new heart and feel better again, but then they will find that they can't do the transplant and that will send him into a deep depression. But I guess I shouldn't project what might happen, and just focus on today.

Thanks again everyone for your kind words and wonderful support.

Tiramisu · 10-16-2008, 07:48 AM

Gayle, I can't imagine the decisions you are facing. Stay strong.

10-15-2008, 12:44 PM	#1
gja1000 Donating 4WT Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Texas Posts: 5,717	News is not good Just talked to my husband's heart doctor - his heart is much weaker and she is very surprised, as I am. Of course, we both know this is a terminal illness, but his clinical signs and symptoms did not indicate his heart is as weak as it is. He will stay the night in ICU to give him some medications that may help. She said that she may be able to get his heart working better than it is now. But she said the "T" word - transplant - heart transplant. The thing is that I don't think he is a candidate, but of course, they need to evaluate him. What I'm afraid is that he will get his hopes up about getting a new heart, then they will find that he is not a candidate because of his asthma and diabetes, and then he will be very depressed as he will realize that he is closer to the end of life. He understands that his life will be shortened due to his heart failure - but it will be hard to think about the end of life. I knew this time was coming - I don't mean to say that he is going to die soon, because that is not the case. It's just that his condition has taken a downturn and that is disheartening. My daughter will be here soon and I'll get to see him pretty soon too. It's hard to know what to say.......... __________________ Gayle

10-15-2008, 12:50 PM	#2
lynne b Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 614	I am so very sorry to hear this news about your husband. Hopefully he will become a good candidate for a transplant. I am sorry you have to go through this, I am glad that your daughter will be with you soon. Good luck to you all. Lynne __________________ 'I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.'

10-15-2008, 02:02 PM	#3
donna1990 Donating 4WT Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 1,077	I am so sorry, we are all praying. __________________

10-15-2008, 03:28 PM	#5
Marilyn Donating 4WT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 4,907	Gayle, it's so hard to find the words...... So very sorry to hear this news. Please try to stay strong and optimistic. We are here for you!!! __________________ Marilyn If anyone would like a free Bible Study CD or book entitled "Searching for Truth", PM me with your mailing address and I'll send you one. "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32

10-15-2008, 04:18 PM	#7
Janet Moderator Donating 4WT 18K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: INDIANA Posts: 21,625	Gayle, I wish I were with you so I could just give you a big hug and sit and just be with you. I don't think there is anything anyone can say, but please know that even though the words are not there, you're in our heart and prayers. I hope your husband can gain strength from all the positive vibes heading his way. __________________ To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. ECCLESIASTES 3:1

10-15-2008, 02:52 PM	#4
Shada Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,228	You and your family are in my prayers. {HUGS}

10-15-2008, 04:10 PM	#6
Gina Donating 4WT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,025	Gayle your family is in my prayers.

10-15-2008, 05:55 PM	#8
gja1000 Donating 4WT Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Texas Posts: 5,717	Hi everyone! We are OK - Gary is feeling fine and we had a long talk with his doctor. They are going to be running some other tests and she thinks that she can help him feel a little better than he is feeling now. They are also going to take a close look at his lungs and see if there is some other medicine for his lungs that will help him feel better. We are doing OK - thanks so much for all your support and prayers, we really appreciate it. I'll check in later and let you know what's going on. __________________ Gayle

10-15-2008, 06:19 PM	#9
DianaB Moderator Donating 4WT 13K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 16,069	{{{{{{Gayle}}}}}} You and your husband are in my prayers. __________________ ´¨) ¸.•´¸.•´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Diana Baker ✞ You and I are friends....... Always remember that if you fall I will pick you up...... After I stop laughing!!!

10-15-2008, 07:35 PM	#10
gja1000 Donating 4WT Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Texas Posts: 5,717	Home for the evening. Rexy and Rowdy sure are glad to see me! My daughter, Gary and I talked about the transplant issue. Of course, we don't even know if he will qualify, or if he will want to go through that whole ordeal, and it is an ordeal. His thinking is that he needs to consider it, if it is an option, if not, then we'll go from there. I'm tired, but OK. I really wasn't expecting the doctor to have disappointing news and she said she wasn't expecting to find his heart was weaker either. We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings. He's having his pacemaker upgraded and the battery changed at 12:30 tomorrow. That should go smoothly! I'll check in again tomorrow. __________________ Gayle

10-16-2008, 03:20 AM	#11
Marilyn Donating 4WT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 4,907	Gayle, hope you were able to rest last night. Know that we are all sending hugs and hopeful thoughts your way!!!! __________________ Marilyn If anyone would like a free Bible Study CD or book entitled "Searching for Truth", PM me with your mailing address and I'll send you one. "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32

10-16-2008, 04:57 AM	#12
judy Donating 4WT Yakker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Denver, NY Posts: 8,097	Gayle, My prayers are with you and you are in my heart. I am so sorry you got disappointing news. We are all here for you. Judy __________________ *Judy*

10-16-2008, 06:18 AM	#13
Tiramisu Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Caney, Texas (outside Houston) Posts: 1,776	Gayle, we love you! __________________ SANDY

10-16-2008, 06:32 AM	#14
gja1000 Donating 4WT Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Texas Posts: 5,717	Thanks everyone!!! It almost makes me cry to know how much you care. That means more than you can ever know. We are both in good spirits this morning. The lung doctor was here to do his evaluation for a heart transplant. He asked lots of questions, and gave Gary a good examination. He'll run some lung function tests tomorrow to give him more information. Gary and I talked more about the transplant issue. My greatest fear is that this will get his hopes up that he might get a new heart and feel better again, but then they will find that they can't do the transplant and that will send him into a deep depression. But I guess I shouldn't project what might happen, and just focus on today. Thanks again everyone for your kind words and wonderful support. __________________ Gayle

10-16-2008, 07:48 AM	#15
Tiramisu Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Caney, Texas (outside Houston) Posts: 1,776	Gayle, I can't imagine the decisions you are facing. Stay strong. __________________ SANDY

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