Wednesday 24th September - Biopsy - Freeman hospital
 

Wednesday 13th August - 'Bloods' - Freeman hospital
 

Thursday 17th July - Dental hospital

My INR reading was 3.9 which suggests my blood has the viscosity of tap water.   Not quite, but it is rather on the runny side.  

No surgery was needed but I had a wash and brush up from the dental hygienists and a lesson in flossing.    How very American!
 

Thursday 3rd July - MOT - Freeman hospital

Clerking in pre angiogram my blood pressure was a very relaxed 122 / 89,  heart rate steady at 99 bpm and my weight same as usual at 72Kg.  
I was second up for the angiogram and went in at 9.15am.   The procedure went off like clockwork and I was completely oblivious to any part of it which is a compliment to the medical staff at the Freeman.   My only complaint is how cold it was in the operating theatre.   I did ask for a pair of gloves and a scarf but was politely turned down.

Following my compulsory 4 hours in bed I was up and about again at 2pm and for the first time was able to eat my lunch in the sitting up position.   Have you ever tried eating chicken pie  washed down with a cup of tea lying flat out?   Very difficult and it is even worse trying to remove the Yorkshire pudding from the left ear afterwards.

I saw Gareth, my cardiologist, the following morning and was given the all clear.  
 

Monday 14th April - 'Bloods' - Freeman hospital.

Weight at a steady 72Kg and a blood pressure reading of 125 / 93.   Had to report a couple of small lumps and bumps on the bonce again and will check in at my GP's if they get any bigger. 
I will probably be given another appointment for bloods before MOT in July when I ring for my results tomorrow.
 

Thursday 6th March - Dental hospital.

Recurring toothache forced me to call the dental hospital to see if they could help me.   The Prof duly obliged and I am having a tooth out.   Surprisingly I am not to stop my daily dose of warfarin.
 

Thursday 28th February - Freeman Hospital - Review

My weight has returned to 71Kg and my blood pressure was a very respectable 133 / 89 at the first time of asking.   105 bpm was my resting heart rate; is it any  wonder I cannot sleep at nights?   The cardiologist suggests I ask my GP for sleeping tablets...hmmm, not too sure about that one.   Think I might try and fight it a little longer.

Even my x-rays looked good and he said my ECG was OK too.   I wonder how it is that I am ever ill.   It was only on Tuesday that my temperature was at 37.5°C and I wasn't feeling well enough to play golf yesterday.

Ring tomorrow for results....

........I have been told to stop taking prednisolone, which sounds like good news.   I am away to read the leaflet to see why I was taking it in the first place.
 

Monday 18th February 2008 - Freeman Hospital - Review

Unfortunately I had written the wrong date (28th of February) in my diary and missed my appointment.   My apologies to everyone at the Freeman transplant clinic.
 

Wednesday 6th February - Review with GP's pharmacist

He was a very nice bloke actually but nearly fell off his seat when my BP reading was 140 / 108.   Come to think of it, so did I.   He took another reading about 10 minutes later and it was down to 124 / 94 - how strange is that?

We both agreed that he couldn't do anything without authorisation from Gareth, my cardiologist at the Freeman but he enjoyed my company nevertheless.
 

Monday 21st January 2008 - Freeman Hospital - INR check.

My INR (International Normalised Ratio reading) is 3.1.   Are we any the wiser?
 

Thursday 27th December - Freeman Hospital - Bloods

At 134 / 94 my blood pressure is still too high for my liking and my weight has risen to 74Kg thanks to quantum amounts of turkey dinners and Christmas puddings during the last week or so.  

The gym beckons as the new year approaches.

On ringing for my results my warfarin has been reduced to 7mg every other day alternating with 8mg and as a consequence I have to attend clinic at the freeman to have my INR checked on 21st January.   Happy New Year dear reader.
 

Thursday 6th December - Dental hospital.

All clear and I need not go back for six months.
 

Friday 16th November - Freeman Hospital - Review

141 / 91 and my blood pressure is not quite blowing the pom pom hat off my head but it is definitely wobbling a bit.   My weight was a very respectable 71Kg which was again lower than my bathroom scales recorded before I left home.   ECG and X-rays appeared to be normal.

Have to ring back on Monday for any tweaks.
 

Friday 5th October - Freeman Hospital - Review

Oh dear.   My blood pressure was a whopping 140 / 97 but as the staff in clinic do not seem overly concerned I am not going to worry about it.   My weight was constant at 72Kg even though my bathroom scales had me at a gargantuan 75 before I left home.   That reminds me, I must get the wonky bathroom floor tiles fixed.

I was supposed to be having a 'review' today but because Gareth had been called away unexpectedly it was postponed until 16th November.

 

Wednesday 14th August -  Freeman Hospital - 'Bloods'

Unusually my bloods were taken before I was 'clerked in' and this presumably was the reason for my high blood pressure reading of 136 / 99.   Being a total coward it is hardly surprising really.   That's my story anyway and I am not changing.   My weight was 72 Kg which is OK.

 It was nice to meet so many happy faces in clinic this morning.   Sometimes there is complete silence whereas today everyone was chatting away.   Not really anything to do with medicals etc but thought you may be interested.

So that's it, I ring clinic for my results tomorrow and then I am off to Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday for the World Transplant Games.

Update - When I rang back for my results my prednisolone has been reduced to a measly 1mg.   Not sure what this proves but less is always good, I think.
 

Thursday / Friday 28th & 29th June - 'MOT' Freeman Hospital

When I 'clerked in' my weight was 71Kg and blood pressure 126 / 87, which is OK.   The biopsy was not so bad as I remember and the angiogram is no problem at all.   I could see the monitors when the angiogram was was being performed and my blood pressure ranged from 142 / 102 during to 126 / 78 at the end, proving once again what a coward I am.

It's back to the ward after the procedure and four hours in bed which is always very nice and relaxing especially now that we have got new remote controlled beds which are really comfy.  

Following a night in hospital I  see Dr Gareth Parry my cardiologist and he is able to show me my beating heart from yesterday and compare it with that of 4 years ago on a PC monitor.   Even my untrained eye could see that there was no discernable difference which must be a good sign.

When I rang back on Monday 2nd July for my biopsy results they showed 'Mild A+' rejection which is acceptable and therefore OK.   No change to my tablets and Gareth signed my medical form which allows me to compete in Bangkok at the World Transplant Games.
 

Thursday 21st June 2007 - Dental hospital

Thinking I was in for a simple check up I was feeling so relaxed that I agreed to have more surgery on my gums immediately as opposed to having to come back next week.

Once the gums are frozen the rest is not too bad especially when there is not a lot of cutting to be done.   At the outset my blood pressure was 140 / 81 and during the procedure it fluctuated between 122 - 136 / 84 - 95 which is pretty good really considering it has been consistently high (relatively speaking) these past few months.

It was all over in 20 minutes.   The young dentist who performed the surgery was telling me that he is joining the army in 6 weeks and will begin his training at Sandhurst before being posted as a captain somewhere overseas, very possibly Iraq.

As I take 8mg of warfarin daily daily they checked my INR and it was 3.1 if you are interested in this sort of detail.    I am due in the Freeman hospital next week for my 'MOT' and have to take my last does of warfarin on Sunday evening in readiness for my angiogram on the Thursday.
 

Tuesday 5th June - Freeman Hospital - Review

My blood pressure was a perfectly respectable 120 / 89 which is well within the acceptable parameters for taking my place in the UK Team for the World Transplant Games.   35.9°C temperature is good but inexplicably my weight was a whopping 73Kg.   Fair enough I ate a couple of large kippers last night but they weren't that heavy.

My cardiologist, Dr Gareth Parry thinks it would be a good idea to bring forward my 'MOT' before I depart for Thailand so I am due back again in a three weeks.
 

Wednesday 2nd May - Freeman Hospital - 'Bloods'

With a temperature of 36.1°C and my weight at 70Kg everything is normal.   My blood pressure is down a little to 136 / 89.   The bottom figure is crucial because I think the cut off number for World Games participation is 90.  

I will get my results when I speak to clinic tomorrow afternoon.
Everything was tickety boo and I go back for Review on 5th June.
 

Wednesday 18th April - Freeman Hospital - 'Bloods'

Weight has returned to 71Kg and my temperature was 35.9°C which is good.   Best of all my blood pressure had come back to an acceptable level of 130 / 92.   This is not perfect and is borderline for the World Games level but no one at the Freeman seemed unduly concerned, so I am not worried either.

Results (19th April) - My azathioprine was changed from 175mg to 150mg and I have to go back for an extra visit for  'bloods' on 2nd May.   Whether this is good or bad is rather like the Curate's Egg I wrote about in my blog today.
 

Monday 5th March 2007 - Freeman Hospital - Review

Weight 73Kg is OK, temperature 36.2°C is OK but my blood pressure was 144 / 99.   I had it checked again some two hours later and it was down to136 / 93.   The hospital suggested I contact the nurse at my GP's and have it checked again soon.

I found out my blood type for the first time and I am A+.   Well what did you expect?   I have always known I was a bit of a clever dick.
 

Tuesday 23rd January - GP's Review

I had to visit the nurse at my GP's surgery for a once over in an effort to prevent my prescribed list of medications becoming the length of a toilet roll.

My blood pressure was again high and I do mean high.   The reading was 145 / 106.   They suggested I ring the Freeman to let them know.   I did.
 

Monday 15th January 2007 - Freeman Hospital - 'Bloods'

Oh dear!   My weight was 74 Kg which is nigh on a porky pig for me.   I Went out for a meal last night to celebrate my birthday and can only put the excess down to this.

My heart rate was 95bpm but my blood pressure was 138 / 98 which is a wee bit high on the bottom I think.   it was double checked a few minutes later and the reading was slightly better at 136 / 94.

Update:   As a result of my blood tests yesterday my cyclosporin is now 75mg and 50mg per day.   I used to take 2 x 75mg.
 

Thursday 7th December - Dental Hospital - surgery.

When the prof does the surgery it is almost a pleasure.   No pain at all, the man is an artist at work.   My blood pressure make somewhat interesting reading pre during and post treatment.

Before - 128 / 95
During -  It varied max 155 on top / 69 on the bottom
After - 143 92
 

Tuesday 28th November  - Freeman Hospital - Review

Temperature 35.8 and weight 71Kg are fine.   My blood pressure however was relatively high at 147 /100 when I was being clerked in at 8am, so needed to be checked later when I had my consultation with Gareth (Dr Parry, cardiologist).   I got to see Gareth at 11am and my BP was no better, still reading 140 / 100.

As a result my blood pressure tablet, lisinopril is to be increased back up to 10mg per day.   Previously when I was on this dose I was much more prone to dizzy spells.   We shall see.  

As ever, Gareth was not unduly alarmed and  just as a good producer will increase the bass and adjust the treble when mixing an album, he simply tweaks my medication.
 

Thursday 23rd November - Dental Hospital

Lots of very young dental nurses peering into my mouth is the first indications that I am getting a bit long in the tooth.   Sorry about that I couldn't resist it!  

Anyway, the result is that I must return in two weeks and have more surgery on my gums.   I simply can't wait.
 

Monday 16th October - Freeman Hospital - 'Bloods'

Regulation visit today.   Although my blood did not flow too freely, so I came away looking like an inner tube which had been repaired after being ridden over a broken milk bottle.
 

Thursday 7th Friday 8th September - Freeman Hospital - 'MOT'.

Biopsy safely negotiated and the angiogram was no trouble at all thanks to the young lady surgeon.

My weight is 71Kg, blood pressure somewhere between 131 / 86 and 141 / 99.   The higher numbers just after angiogram so nothing to worry about.   All things considered I am relatively healthy as far as a bloke with a heart transplant goes.

My biggest problem was the guy in the next bed who was wafting the curtains with his impression of a pantomime snorer in a 'how noisy and ridiculous can we make this one' competition.  

After my consultation with Gareth Parry, my cardiologist, on the Friday morning there were no changes to my medication.
 

Wednesday 9th August - Freeman Hospital - 'Bloods'

70Kg and my weight is steady.   A blood pressure reading of 136 / 96 did not cause any alarms in clinic so I won't worry either.   
I heard the dreaded word 'whoops' when the nurse was taking my bloods which invariably means that she has missed the vein.   Sure enough I left looking looking a patchwork quilt.   Just kidding Paula, I think you are all brilliant.
 

Thursday 29th June - Freeman Hospital - Biopsy

My weight remains at a constant 70kg and blood pressure was 138 / 92 which wasn't a problem but my INR reading was a whopping 3.5.   As a result my biopsy was postponed.   The problem being the dose of warfarin that I take, so next time I must stop taking warfarin 3 days before my op.    I am due back in again for my 'MOT' in early September so presumably will have to go through it all again then.   I shall no more when I ring for my results tomorrow.
 

Thursday 8th June - Dental hospital - surgery.

My blood pressure post surgery was 139 / 78 which is OK.   During the surgery it rose to 147 / 93 and 135 / 98 proving once again what a coward I am.   Post surgery it returned to a normal 127 / 87.
The worst part of the trip to the dental hospital was the £30 parking ticket I had when returning to my car.
 

Friday 5th May 2006 - Freeman Hospital - 'Bloods'.

My weight was a trim 70kg and blood pressure 127 / 90.   Not great but nothing to worry about.

My next visit is the big one, biopsy and 'MOT'.

Had a phone call to say I will only be having a cardiac biopsy on my next visit and 'MOT' has been put back, provisionally, to September 7th & 8th.   Whoopee doo!
 

Monday 20th March 2006 - Freeman Hospital - review

My first review of the year and my weight is hovering at 72Kg.   My blood pressure was a majestic 121 / 85, which is good news and any change to my medication will be revealed once I have rang the clinic tomorrow.
 

Thursday 16th March 2006 - Dental hospital - review

The dental hospital, being in the centre of Newcastle, is not the easiest place to park, but eventually I found a space and took out a mortgage on it and made my 9.15am appointment with seconds to spare.

The young dental student examined me and informed me that I would need to come back for more surgery to my gums in the near future when an appointment could be arranged.   He asked me if I had noticed that one of my back teeth was loose and could I feel it wobbling?    "The tooth is probably OK but my head may wobble about a bit" I told him.   Regardless of this logical explanation he sent me for an X ray anyway.

I was also given a wash and brush up by a very attractive young dental hygienist, who told me that my hygiene was excellent which made me feel really good.

I made it back to my parked car on a meter some two hours after paying for only sixty minutes and was pleasantly surprised to find that the parking ticket fairy had looked on me kindly today.   I await my appointment card with glee!
 

Wednesday 8th February 2006 - Freeman Hospital - 'bloods'

I arrived at the Freeman at 7.28am and was home again by 8.30am just as Yesterday in Parliament was starting on the radio 4.

Temperature was normal at 36°C and my weight was getting back to near normal (for me anyway) at 72Kg.   My blood pressure was recorded at a respectable 125 / 92.

When I ring for my results tomorrow any changes in my medication will be given then.  

Update:   No changes.