January 3, 2008

January 3, 2008

Dear Family and other Friends:

Well, things are looking a little better. I got sent home last night for a shower and a few hours of sleep. This occurred after we met with the renal team, got Sabine's meds changed and were convinced by the team leader that I should not worry right now about the high blood pressure.

So... things are getting better.... slowly... Sabine's blood pressure remains fairly high, the creatinine level has dropped somewhat, and she feels more energetic (comparatively).

[Now for a special report for Sabine's sister, Barbara, no, she's not a medical practitioner, but for those who know and love her, she is very inquisitive and rather than have a long career as a teacher, she should have been a reference librarian in New York City..

[Creatinine level: currently at 6.0 (yesterday was 6.1 and a couple days ago was at 6.7).
[BUN: .34 (two days ago it was .47).
[Blood pressure meds: switched from 240+ mgs of diltiazem to 50 mg metoprolol twice a day (a beta-blocker).
[Blood pressure range yesterday and last night: 160s/90s

[The plan is to keep hydrating her with IV solution, letting the kidneys rest and getting the BP controlled at a lower level than it currently is holding by slowly increasing the metoprolol.

[There are also some esoteric blood and urine tests that are being conducted by some nationally based labs in other states that will take a few days to process and return the results.

[Now for the rest of you (and Barbara, too) we both thank you for your prayers and loving thoughts. Sabine is still not up for visits, but feel free to send me an email and I will deliver it.]