left hand

this is a lett handed post. T$r3ying t4o gEt bacsk on t4rascak with my left hand. This feels vey ffffrutraating and I waaant to casomplain. hoWevder3, ifeI juSt push 4thr3ough it maybesloWly it Will change. impercewptivefly slow. I won't4 e2veqn undertand ief it4 isgeftting bet4tqer. it4 is so slow. slow slow the ring finger3 ofe the lefet haand is errattttic at best. I caan usually rely on the middle fqingqer, but4 pinky grivesme grEif.

The point is to keep tryin. Here's me trying. in other Words, doing it,  when it hurts or makes no sense, do that therapy. its the only way to the healed place. Therapy helps it get be better, easier faster more graceful.

 

Cardiology post-cardioversion 11/03/16

 

Here's the audio file for the Dr. Steidley cardiology appointment 11/03/16. Let me know if you can or can't open and listen?

https://soundcloud.com/mobileschu/audio-ani-reidley/s-ZfJwX

Ani

How can I help?

Today, I have about 700 documents that I am sifting through copying and sending out to 3 hospitals tomorrow. I also had 3 hour doctors appointment today. I had a three-hour doctor appointment yesterday I had 3 hours of doctor's visits the day before. I don't mean to be boring but, That feels like a FT job for one day for a person whose health is declining. Thank everyone ahead of time who has ever said the words, 'How can I help you?'

Amazing people, those who reach out. You are my Family, kith, kin and you are amazing.

Sometimes, there is too much, so I sum up: too many thoughts in my mind at one time. Cannot hold onto all thoughts that are all A1 Importance. Especially when I can't even hold onto one with stability. Especially when I am tired, or when I'm not mentally ready.

I feel torn. It feels wrong, when time must be divided and given up altogether for 700 pieces of paper (times 3) and getting them out on a UPS or post office time crunch.

Please, often times I just want God damn peace before surgery. I want to say I did things before I get on that surgery table again.

This feeling has busted up my communication with others. We all mean well but, communicating not so easy like it was just 6 months ago. No need to tiptoe in conversations.

On the contrary, please say what must be said, bluntly--including feelings. We might not get another chance for a couple months to discuss it again. So, we all commit to speaking up, right?

Luckily, Emily and I practice non-passive-aggressive communication. We know when we can tease, we always know when or if to smile. We know when there's sarcasm and when there is not. And we know how to support each other without having to say a God damn word. This is peace to me. I want this peace around me, at least in a sort of 1 room radius around the vicinity of me. I want us to treat each other with kit gloves only about logistics. They bore me to death. Be free expressing love and learn today it's kay to do it more often.

The elephant in the room is I can see an hour glass in front of me and can't really help my reactions or emotions completely. Bu tI CAN HELP how I react to those initial reactions.

You are special to me and that's why we still hang out, right? 'Cause we all so cool. Let's be cool.

Standford Docs - need more stats and info

Norman Shumway, MD

Bruce Reitz, MD

Gordon Shumway on A.L.F.

Bruce Reitz and Norman Shumway (died, 2007) perform the first successful heart-lung transplant in 1981 at Stanford Hospital, Stanford School of Medicine.

Wasn't Norman Shumway the Dad in the TV Series, ALF?

Shumway conducted the first adult heart transplant in the United States in 1968. Building on his research at Stanford, Dr. Bruce Reitz performed the first successful heart–lung transplant on Mary Gohlke in 1981 at Stanford Hospital.Bruce

Some of the followinng info was in an article run in March 2016:

In 1980, no human lung transplant had survivedeitz (left) and Norman Shumway (right) perform the first successful heart-lung transplant in 1981 at Stanford Hospital, Stanford School of Medicine. more than 23 days. Anti-rejection drugs used up to that time didn't allow for wound healing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved a better antirejection drug, cyclosporin A, for heart-transplant patients, but not for other transplant patients.  Stanford had asked the FDA to approve cyclosporin A for heart-lung transplant patients, too — and then waited and waited. Gohlke, increasingly desperate, asked her former boss, the executive editor of the Mesa Tribune, to help. He made calls to then-U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Arizona, and about an hour later the FDA approved the drug for use in heart-lung transplantation at all qualified hospitals. Gohlke received her new heart and lungs — becoming the first patient in the world to undergo a successful heart-lung transplant — and lived for five years with her new organs.

Long-term survival after heart-lung transplantation was first achieved in 1981 at Stanford and a total of 217 heart-lung transplantations had been performed by June 2008. This review summarizes Stanford's cumulative experience with heart-lung transplantation, demonstrates the progress that has been made, and discusses past and persistent problems. Diagnostic tools and treatment options for infectious diseases and rejection have changed and patient survival markedly improved over the almost three decades. Eight patients lived longer than 20 years. Further options to treat infections and strategies to control bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, the main causes of early and long-term mortality, respectively, are required to achieve routine long-term survival.

STANFORD HEART DOCTORS

Richard-Tien Ha
Heart and lung transplant surgeon
Clinical Assistant Professor, Card/Thor Surgery
300 Pasteur Drive
2nd Floor, Room A260
Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650-723-5468

Philip Oyer

Heart transplant surgeon

Roy B. Cohn-Theodore A. Falasco Professor in Cardiothoracic Surgery

• 300 Pasteur Drive
• 2nd Floor, Room A260
• Stanford, CA 94305
• Phone: 650-723-5468

Euan A. Ashley

Cardiologist

Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular), of Genetics and, by courtesy, of Pathology at the Stanford University Medical Center

300 Pasteur Drive

2nd Floor, Room A260

Stanford, CA 94305

Phone: 650-724-4942

*conducts research on the health benefits of single malt Scotch whisky.

Kiran Kaur Khush, MD, MAS

Cardiologist

Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) at the Stanford University Medical Center

300 Pasteur Drive

2nd Floor, Room A260

Stanford, CA 94305

Phone: 650-723-5468

Dr. Khush’s research focuses on the evaluation and selection of donors for heart transplantation; the pathogenesis of post-transplant complications, including acute rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy; and non-invasive diagnosis of post-transplant complications. She currently serves on the Donor Management Task Force—an ad hoc committee appointed by the US Department of Health.

Francois Haddad

Cardiologist

Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine - Cardiovascular Medicine

300 Pasteur Drive

2nd Floor, Room A260

Stanford, CA 94305

Phone: 650-723-5468

54 5* SHC Patient Reviews, 2015--all sound like: Dr. Haddad is the best we could ever ask for - we love him!

Michael Pham, M.D., M.P.H. Cardiologist

Inquisitive person, 31 publications focused mainly on predictors (gene studies) and rejection/outcomes of heart transplantation. 

Joseph Woo
Cardiothoracic surgeon
Norman E. Shumway Professor and Professor, by courtesy, of Bioengineering and of Surgery
300 Pasteur Drive
2nd Floor, Room A260
Stanford, CA 94305

Phone: 650-724-7500

Journied: 7th grade

Ms. Vermeulan for teaching me useful facts in 7th Grade... 1989, thank you from my living brething heart. I bet we could debate as to whether a heart breathes or beats. We are one neontologistic experiment, called extant homonins. I can't remember if ini 1989 we were still though of as homo sapiens sapiens (Sapiens Two Times. That's right ;) I am glad to have thought of you today. You are imortant to me in the world.  There are captivating updates in science. 
Would you like to share looking through them together, that would be good for me right now. However, there are no expectations attached. Here's the picture that sent me off on a Pat Vermulan, mind-locomotion. (LOL) 


Again, this is a sentiment worth sharing with you at this point in my life. There will be another open heart surgery schduled for me sometime in the near future. Time will tell. And so, I reached out to you, knowing we share some same interests. 

You have an exceptional moment or two today. 

Annalis Whalen
anilmt6@gmail.com  







pH balance is the overall balance between acid and alkali (base) in the human body, as measured by the alkalinity of urine. 

pH Balance is not related to blood

Blood is regulated by a healthy body to a very tight range. When the systems that regulate blood pH fail, you have serious medical problems. These problems show as acidosis or alkalosis. These medical conditions have nothing to do with nutrition, and they are beyond the scope of Foodary.com

pH Balance is not related to ash residues from laboratory tests

Part of the process of compiling nutrition charts is to incinerate food or drink until all water and organic material is removed. The resulting ash is measured for pH. This is nothing to do with the nutrition value of food, and it has nothing to do with the alkalizing effect of food.

PRAL (Potential Renal Acid Load). This is a scientific standard for estimating the acid or alkaline effect of food.

There is an alternative calculation, NEAP, that may interest scientists.

When we consume food, our bodies perform a series of complicated biochemical processes to try and balance our nutrition needs. All this activity involves acid and alkaline substances. For the best general health, the overall net activity should be alkaline.  the lower you get the total daily score, the better. Aim for around 25% of your calorie intake as acid forming (positive PRAL Score). For a 2000 calorie diet, your total PRAL score should be at most -35. 

You can see that protein is always acid forming, so plan your meal with 150 calories of your favorite protein. Add vegetables, whole grains and fruit to make a 600 calorie meal. If the total is not below -11, switch to more alkaline foods.

If you need any more help to understand my PRAL pH Balance, refer to a book, a food factory, or website. 

-Auntie Ani

-Anutty Ani

Spirit Mom

Heart/Lung Transplant Hospitals Covered Under Our Insurance & Part of The Institution of Excellence

1.     Keck Hospital of USC 1500 San Pablo Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 442-8500 Adult : Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung

2.     Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford 725 Welch Road Palo Alto, CA 94304 (650) 497-8000 Pediatric : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver

3.     Stanford Hospital and Clinics 300 Pasteur Drive Palo Alto, CA 94304 (650) 498-3333 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung

4.     UCLA Medical Center 10833 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90095 (310) 825-9111 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Intestine Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

5.     UCSF Medical Center 505 Parnassus Avenue San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 476-1000 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

6.     Mayo Clinic Florida ** NON PAR FOR HMO/NAP/AWCA PRODUCTS ** 4500 San Pablo Road Jacksonville, FL 32224 (904) 953-2000 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

7.     Johns Hopkins Hospital 600 North Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21287 (410) 955-5000 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Liver Lung Pediatric

8.     Children’s Hospital - Boston 300 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115-5724 (617) 735-6000 Pediatric : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Intestine Kidney Liver Lung

9.     University of Minnesota Medical Center 420 Delaware Street Southeast Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 273-3000 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

10. Barnes-Jewish Hospital 1 Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza St. Louis, MO 63110 (314) 362-5000 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung

11. New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia 622 West 168th Street New York, NY 10032 (212) 305-2500 Adult : Heart Heart/Lung Intestine Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

12. Duke University Hospital 2301 Erwin Road Durham, NC 27710 (919) 684-8111 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

13. Cleveland Clinic Foundation Transplant Center A110 9500 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44195 (216) 444-2200 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Intestine Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

14. Hospital of University of Pennsylvania (HUP) 3400 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-4204 (215) 662-4000 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

15. Temple University Hospital Temple University Health System 3401 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19140 (215) 221-2000 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/L

16. UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside 200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (412) 647-2345 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Intestine Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney

17. Houston Methodist Hospital 6565 Fannin Street Houston, TX 77030 (713) 790-2485 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Kidney Liver Lung Pancreas Pancreas after Kidney Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney No contracted ER Dr's at facility. No contracted Anesthesiologists at facility. No contracted Pathologists at facility. No contracted Radiologists at facility.

18. William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital 6201 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75390 (214) 645-5555 Adult : Bone Marrow Transplant - Allo Bone Marrow Transplant - Auto Heart Heart/Lung Lung No contracted ER Dr's at facility. No contracted Anesthesiologists at facility. No contracted Neonatologists at facility. No contracted Pathologists at facility. No contracted Radiologists at facility.

Is Heart Failure as Bad as it Sounds?

Q: What is Heart Failure, does it mean the heart is not working anymore?
A: Heart failure is a scary term. It does not mean the heart is about to stop working in the next minute. It does mean the heart is not working normally and without treatment will, eventually stop working. There are numerous treatments for heart failure including medications, lifestyle changes and surgery. Some symptoms of heart failure include swelling in the feet, knees, pelvis, abdomen or face; feeling tired and/or irritable; shortness of breath due to fluid in the lungs; coughing; wheezing; and chest pain.

UPDATE: On 1/28/16 Cardiologist, D. Yu of Honor Health, said I do not have to go into the hospital today, or this week even. We are starting on lasix and potassium to alleviate the leg swelling and keep electrolytes balanced. The heart is not enlarged due to heart failure, I have a larger than normal heart. There doesn't seem to be much change from my last echocardiogram, October 2015. The heart and kidney's are functioning well and should handle the new medications well. Liver is a little swollen. We will see this week, how the body takes to the new medications. They should make the swelling go down, making it easier to breathe. 

Emily and I will take daily weight, heart rate, blood pressure, O2 saturation. This data will indicate how the meds are working. We will bring them in to Yu's office Monday. He's on 3rd Street and Dunlap. I have a full follow up scheduled for Friday with him and my new General Doctor, Heather O'Toole. She is on Missouri and 7th Street. Convenient, eh?

Overall when it's time for surgery, I should be strong enough to win that side of the battle. The question remains,what does everything look inside? How much scar tissue is present around the aorta? The answer is based on how many times it has already been operated on. No one knows until they open me up.

The focus my whole life has been on the aorta and aortic valve, seen here in the pretty golden color.

My left side of the heart, where the aorta is, looks like it is doing well, but the right side is showing some issues they will monitor. Heart failure can happen in two ways, systolic (sis TAL ik) and diastolic (die a STAL ik) . Systolic heart failure simply means that your heart muscle is weaker than normal. The heart muscle cannot contract or pump blood as well. The amount of blood that pumps out of the heart with each beat is called the ejection fraction or (EF) and normal is 50 to 55%. With systolic heart failure the ejection fraction is below 50%. Diastolic dysfunction is present when the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles become stiff. The stiff muscle cannot relax between contractions, which keeps the bottom chambers of the heart from filling with enough blood.

Here are some animations. They are awesome, smart and can say a thousands words to help you understand what's going on:
http://www.neheart.com/connect-learn-interact/question-for-your-md/

Heart Valve Animation
https://youtu.be/2jPTt23lRB8?list=UUU8WxNDk0aAmg7726cl3iNg

Aortic Valve Surgery Animation:
https://youtu.be/Nae1hWRGpPQ