On Monday, 8/18/25, it had been a bit confusing on where to go and how to get to various places from one tower to the other, but it wasn’t a far walk. I missed the first two appointments because I printed one schedule whereas the letter they sent had these two earlier appointments on it. Then after the first meeting with the social worker, he exited the patient room I was in and I thought someone would come get me- not that I would just leave out of a doctors room and wander the corridors to find the next thing. But that was likely my fault for not fully understanding the process. That was a come and go to each appointment type of thing. Oops!
The next day I got there early to complete the last two tests for the EKG and chest x-ray. The CT was interesting as I had an IV and some iodine mix. The tech mentioned your face and neck would get hot as well as your bottom. Like you wet yourself. Sure enough, it was like one of the fancy heated car seats and you have to double check your pants. I did proudly announce that I was successful in not peeing myself, though I was doubting myself for a few seconds.
Then, I basically waited until today. – Thursday, 21st and nurse Amy called to highlight what the whole team discussed as they reviewed my results.
1- they mailed an at home 24 hour blood pressure kit to get further readings.
2-as suspected, they’d like me to lose 10-15 lbs and then do another glucose test and see if that helps bring down some borderline results.
I was already starting the process to change diet and exercise. Basically a few months ago, I stopped a one a day habit of monster zero e drinks. Also cut out soda largely. Few here and there. Mostly iced tea. I hadn’t seriously attacked a strict regiment of exercise and intermittent fasting. But almost knowing the answer, I kicked it into gear earlier this week with easing into more than just neighborhood walking. Adding in weight lifting and rowing. Taking stairs at work. Extra breaks away from the desk.
At first I was disappointed because this meant I’d have to wait another 2 months. But the more I thought about it, the better it made me feel that the whole transplant team did care enough about me to agree that some extra work on my end would be helpful for me- I knew all that anyway. So, performing a few extra tests were needed to make sure my health picture and outlooks are where they needed to be. So, I’m ok with that. I’m highly determined and I’ll get the 15 lbs dropped no problem over the next 2 months. It does appear this delay may put us into colder winter weather. As long as it’s not snow and ice I’m ok with getting out to walk in the cold as is needed as part of the healing process.