We were up early to walk over to our appointment, hoping to be seen earlier than anticipated. We walked in, and someone said, “Didn’t we see you yesterday?” I went straight to my spot in the waiting room. It’s in the back corner. It doesn’t have a view of the TV, but I can survey the entire waiting room, too.
We were called back quickly, first to the room where they do weight EKGs and go over a few other things. Both the ladies that work in this area are pills; I try not to go in usually but didn’t realize we were going there first. The lab tech often bickers with them about something. There were labs in again, so Amanda went to see to get them while they told me which room to go to. I could hear the lab tech squealing and hollering as I went by. She wanted to know why Amanda was back! We figured it was the rejection labs. It turns out it was just the orders from the previous day, so no stick.
There is a nurse who always comes in before the doctor we love. She’s so sweet. She went over things, and we voiced our concerns, mainly the fluid retention and the high rejection medication level symptoms with Amanda’s hands and such. This nurse is so easy to talk to; sometimes, we wish she was the coordinator.
The doctor was already there but had a meeting. It wasn’t long before I heard him. He has a distinctive awkward laugh! We love this doctor and have been seeing him for over ten years. Amanda said that when the stress echo nurse saw that he was her doctor, she said that he was the nicest heart doctor they had. The fellow doctor administering the test chimed in then and said he was the smartest! We’d both agree with both of those things.
He finally came in earlier than expected, and we went over things. We talked about the labs and how everything was perfect the echo looked great, and the stress echo was negative. Also, they don’t do the rejection lab draw anymore this far out. The farther out, the better, I’m guessing. He asked about the new medication; after Amanda gave a report, I commented that he was right about compliance. He mentioned they have an extended release she could try to keep from taking the four pills a day. When we talked about fluid retention, he said the labs looked good, and it wasn’t her heart but could be the new medication. It dawned on me the correlation with the extra dose of the beta blocker and when Amanda started retaining. So that’s likely the culprit.
The consensus was that everything looked great, and the doctor was pleased. He always makes sure to answer any questions we have. He even checks with me as well. He speaks to the both of us as well, which I appreciate. My final question was an odd one, I told him. I asked how much we needed to worry about food with us being so far out now. Saying we’d stayed away from buffets, fermented foods, and anything that could cause gastrointestinal issues with Amanda’s weaker immune system. He said it’s better now, but just be smart about choosing a buffet and things like that. I said so no shady food truck and he said well some of those are really good though!
As we were leaving the coordinator said yall need do get out of here knowing we were leaving on a trip. She asked where, when we said South Dakota she said what’s there!?! A question we’ve gotten a lot lately. She also mentioned Amanda’s heart monitor information was back and it looked good.
I was all happy leaving the office exclaiming we are on vacation. Amanda was like I still need coffee! We were checked out of the hotel by 9:30 earlier than I had anticipated.