I went to my first transplant clinic appointment today and brought my trusty caretaker, my husband Richard, with me as instructed. I was told that I would meet with the nephrologist, surgeon, financial case manager, social worker, nurse coordinator and various other people. However, I only met the nephrologist with the nurse coordinator. The nephrologist seemed to have not read my records at all. The nurse coordinator had memorized my health records and kept coaching the nephrologist on my history. After understanding my full history, he concurred with the board’s decision that I definitely am in need of a transplant and it is needed asap.
At the transplant education seminar, I was told to expect at least labwork at the first visit. I have had so much labwork and so many diagnostic tests performed within the last 4 months in preparation for this process that the nurse coordinator has decided to get those records before ordering more. It is quite possible that I have done all of the testing that they require already except for the cardiology clearance. Why repeat if it isn’t needed?
Now I play the waiting game again. Whenever my nurse coordinator receives the test and lab records, she will review them and then give me a call with any appointment dates. I have no idea at this point what appointments I will have other than cardiology or how far in the future those appointments will be.
Pins and needles. I am starting to commiserate with pincushions.