It’s Not Just His Liver . . . It’s His Heart.

This week has been a bit of a roller coaster.  We left Illinois knowing that Tony had some sort of liver disease.  Our thought was that we could get some ideas on how to control/stop the continued liver disease, find out how he got it, etc.  After a battery of initial tests, everything is pointing to his heart.  His heart is actually causing liver disease.

It’s complicated, and I am sure I am saying it wrong, but basically if your liver can’t deliver blood through the heart if the heart isn’t working well, it puts back pressure on the liver and actually pushes the blood back into the liver and then the liver starts to disease because it doesn’t know what to do with the blood.

Tony had an artificial heart valve replacement in 2007.  The pericardium is a tissue that wraps around the heart to protect it.  Since Tony’s surgery in 2007, the pericardium has calcified and isn’t allowing the heart to expand the way it should.  So the blood isn’t coming in or out of his heart correctly, so that explains his lethargy, not being comfortable while sleeping and just over all being tired all the time.

So this morning, bright and early we will be heading in to get an MRI of his heart.  Tony asked if he could get a bigger MRI this time.  The one he had the day before he barely fit and he had to have his hands raised above his head for 40 minutes!  So when Tony asked if he could get a bigger one, I left to go to the bathroom.  I came back and Tony said “this guy just called me a wide boar!”  Um, turns out that’s what they call the bigger MRI machine!  I don’t care what they call it, as long as it’s comfortable for him, that’s all that matters.  Based on the results of that test will determine the next course of action.  I don’t want to even think about that for now, until we have all the answers.  But, I know we will get the answers we need!

I luckily made some oatmeal for breakfast with a chopped green apple in it, along with a cup of coffee.  I ate that at 9:00 a.m. and because we had more tests scheduled after we got there, other than a granola bar, I didn’t eat anything until nearly 6 pm!

We took the shuttle to the hospital – Mari, you’ll be happy to know they have a giant Trader Joe’s here in Rochester!

And it was a beautiful day!  The high was probably 73?!

The day we checked into the hotel, the receptionist told us, if you are hungry, check out Whistle Binkie’s – its just a couple blocks away.  We could never remember the name, but we just called the place Whistling Dick’s.  When Tony felt up to going out and suggested Whistling Dick’s,  I jumped on the chance.  It didn’t hurt that I looked the place up and they had 300 beers!

And anyone who knows me well, knows that anytime I can get a Reuben I’ll nearly 99% of the time get that.

It was delicious.  I am a bit particular about my Reuben.  The corned beef has to be tender, the bread has to be grilled and I actually prefer the 1000 Island dressing on the side.  The only thing was that I asked for sweet potato fries, but they gave me regular fries, but it was okay because that way Tony could steal a few.

So your continued prayers and thoughts are appreciated!!  We feel all the virtual hugs!