Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Moderators: Jonicont, mark lynn, Maluca3, Tequila Cowboy, BigTom, CooleyGirl, olwiggum
Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
As many of you know but some may not, Dean has been on the heart transplant list since just about after homecoming. Here is today's update
Update:
Dean went in for a scheduled right heart catheterization today to check on his heart and pulmonary artery pressures. Unfortunately, they were not where they were supposed to be. Consequently he will now have to remain in the hospital under constant monitoring until a heart becomes available (this time period can last for weeks or months). His I.V. medication cocktail is being modified to attempt to control the pressures. He has been bumped up the waiting list. In the event that his pressures can't be controlled and a heart is not available, he will need a surgical procedure. He will get an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) attached to his heart. He is in no distress whatsoever.
Fortunately his medical bills are covered for the most part. However, with his current confinement, living at the hospital gets expensive very quickly, with gas, hotels, food, boarding costs for their beloved dogs, and missed work (for Beth). We've set up a Go Fund Me page. If you can give, it would be greatly appreciated
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dean-am ... hare-sheet
Update:
Dean went in for a scheduled right heart catheterization today to check on his heart and pulmonary artery pressures. Unfortunately, they were not where they were supposed to be. Consequently he will now have to remain in the hospital under constant monitoring until a heart becomes available (this time period can last for weeks or months). His I.V. medication cocktail is being modified to attempt to control the pressures. He has been bumped up the waiting list. In the event that his pressures can't be controlled and a heart is not available, he will need a surgical procedure. He will get an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) attached to his heart. He is in no distress whatsoever.
Fortunately his medical bills are covered for the most part. However, with his current confinement, living at the hospital gets expensive very quickly, with gas, hotels, food, boarding costs for their beloved dogs, and missed work (for Beth). We've set up a Go Fund Me page. If you can give, it would be greatly appreciated
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dean-am ... hare-sheet
Always go to the show
- bovine knievel
- Posts: 9351
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:40 pm
- Location: Pollyanna doesn't live here.
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Thanks for the update. Get well soon, TC!
“Excited people get on daddy’s nerves.” - M. Cooley
- RolanK
- Posts: 3037
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: drivin' home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Thanks for the update John. I was not fully aware how serious Dean’s situation was.
Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
I wasn't either. For those of us who aren't on Facebook, can someone keep us posted here on 3DD when there is news to share?RolanK wrote:I was not fully aware how serious Dean’s situation was.
Let the outside air in
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Will do. Currently there are only 3 people in his region with his blood type and other matching parameters who are waiting. Best estimate is about 1 monthschlanky wrote:I wasn't either. For those of us who aren't on Facebook, can someone keep us posted here on 3DD when there is news to share?RolanK wrote:I was not fully aware how serious Dean’s situation was.
Always go to the show
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
prayers for Dean. a bit of optimism, a good friend of mine in england went through something that sounds very similar. only in his 40s. a heart was found in the nick of time (it was a close thing) & all went well. since that adventure, he has become a dad for the second time & is back out rooting for his beloved arsenal!
- Tequila Cowboy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 20230
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:12 pm
- Location: The Twilight Zone, along with everyone else
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
I know many of you aren't on Facebook so I wanted to give you the same information I posted there. Here's the update:
So I wanted to give everyone an update on my health as there have been some major changes in the last week. A week ago this past Wednesday I went in for a scheduled right heart cath which measures my heart and lung pressures and while my heart pressure was higher it was relatively stable however my pulmonary pressures had risen again since my last hospital stay a month or so ago. This is known as pulmonary hypertension and if those numbers are too high it could make me ineligible for transplant. As of right now this is reversible with medication but soon it won't be and there will be very few options. I've been on some new home meds for this since my stay in the hospital and after the test results those meds were increased. Unfortunately my body couldn't tolerate them. I've been having some scary blood pressure drops and the meds were making them worse. In short my heart has deteriorated to the point where another approach was needed.
One thing we have always known as a possibility is an LVAD (left ventricle assist device) which takes over the for the heart in pumping blood through the body. This is a major open heart surgery with every bit as much risk as transplant and we had been hoping to avoid it. This week the doctors decided that it was necessary to keep me on the path to transplant and yesterday Beth and I agreed to it. This will help me feel better, mitigate damage to other organs allow me to stay on the transplant list. I will have to go off the list for a 3-4 month recovery period and then, barring any major complications, go back on at the status 4 level I am on now. We've asked that the surgery be done as quickly as possible and we're awaiting word on scheduling which we should have an answer in the next few days. This is very likely to happen in the next week to 10 days. It won't be an easy recovery and LVAD brings a bunch of lifestyle challenges, but I'm dedicated to getting better and sticking around with y'all for a lot longer than this damaged heart will allow for. As always we appreciate everyone's support, love and good thoughts. We'll update everyone when we know when the surgery will be.
So I wanted to give everyone an update on my health as there have been some major changes in the last week. A week ago this past Wednesday I went in for a scheduled right heart cath which measures my heart and lung pressures and while my heart pressure was higher it was relatively stable however my pulmonary pressures had risen again since my last hospital stay a month or so ago. This is known as pulmonary hypertension and if those numbers are too high it could make me ineligible for transplant. As of right now this is reversible with medication but soon it won't be and there will be very few options. I've been on some new home meds for this since my stay in the hospital and after the test results those meds were increased. Unfortunately my body couldn't tolerate them. I've been having some scary blood pressure drops and the meds were making them worse. In short my heart has deteriorated to the point where another approach was needed.
One thing we have always known as a possibility is an LVAD (left ventricle assist device) which takes over the for the heart in pumping blood through the body. This is a major open heart surgery with every bit as much risk as transplant and we had been hoping to avoid it. This week the doctors decided that it was necessary to keep me on the path to transplant and yesterday Beth and I agreed to it. This will help me feel better, mitigate damage to other organs allow me to stay on the transplant list. I will have to go off the list for a 3-4 month recovery period and then, barring any major complications, go back on at the status 4 level I am on now. We've asked that the surgery be done as quickly as possible and we're awaiting word on scheduling which we should have an answer in the next few days. This is very likely to happen in the next week to 10 days. It won't be an easy recovery and LVAD brings a bunch of lifestyle challenges, but I'm dedicated to getting better and sticking around with y'all for a lot longer than this damaged heart will allow for. As always we appreciate everyone's support, love and good thoughts. We'll update everyone when we know when the surgery will be.
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
- RolanK
- Posts: 3037
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: drivin' home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Thanks for the update, TC. Crossing fingers and hoping this progress in the best possible way for you. Stay strong!
Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
My thoughts exactly.RolanK wrote:Thanks for the update, TC. Crossing fingers and hoping this progress in the best possible way for you. Stay strong!
Don't hurt people, and don't take their stuff.
- bovine knievel
- Posts: 9351
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:40 pm
- Location: Pollyanna doesn't live here.
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Stay strong, TC. Love ya, Man!
“Excited people get on daddy’s nerves.” - M. Cooley
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Thanks for posting the update here. And I'll echo this:
RolanK wrote:Crossing fingers and hoping this progress in the best possible way for you. Stay strong!
Let the outside air in
-
- Posts: 21789
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Trying to stay focused on the righteous path
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
x4 (if i counted correctly but really times infinity anyway)RolanK wrote:Thanks for the update, TC. Crossing fingers and hoping this progress in the best possible way for you. Stay strong!
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
x5beantownbubba wrote:x4 (if i counted correctly but really times infinity anyway)RolanK wrote:Thanks for the update, TC. Crossing fingers and hoping this progress in the best possible way for you. Stay strong!
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
- tinnitus photography
- Posts: 7262
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:49 pm
- Contact:
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
wow i totally missed the first thread... good luck TC and i'm thinking of you.
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
x6whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:x5beantownbubba wrote:x4 (if i counted correctly but really times infinity anyway)RolanK wrote:Thanks for the update, TC. Crossing fingers and hoping this progress in the best possible way for you. Stay strong!
Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs a fuck
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Thinking of you. Stay strong and hang in there.
- Tequila Cowboy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 20230
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:12 pm
- Location: The Twilight Zone, along with everyone else
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Thank you everyone. I think we should probably have a surgery date for the LVAD (heart pump) in the next couple of days and I will let everyone know.
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
-
- Posts: 7894
- Joined: Sat May 15, 2010 9:51 am
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansaw
- Contact:
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
For those of you not on Fcbk:
Update: Dean is out of the OR and back in recovery. The heart operation was intact. He had a few random bleeders in the chest wall. It's all fixed. Take a breath folks. Beth needs a rest right now
The sooner we put those assholes in the grave&piss on the dirt above it, the better off we'll be
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Vibes...John A Arkansawyer wrote:For those of you not on Fcbk:
Update: Dean is out of the OR and back in recovery. The heart operation was intact. He had a few random bleeders in the chest wall. It's all fixed. Take a breath folks. Beth needs a rest right now
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
thanks for the update, some much needed good newsroland wrote:Vibes...John A Arkansawyer wrote:For those of you not on Fcbk:
Update: Dean is out of the OR and back in recovery. The heart operation was intact. He had a few random bleeders in the chest wall. It's all fixed. Take a breath folks. Beth needs a rest right now
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
- tinnitus photography
- Posts: 7262
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:49 pm
- Contact:
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
thanks for the update... feel better TC! sounds like the worst is over, pal.
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Get well TC. Lots of vibes coming your way.
Love each other, Motherfuckers!
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
glad things went well. prayers up for you, TC.
- Tequila Cowboy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 20230
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:12 pm
- Location: The Twilight Zone, along with everyone else
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
All things being equal it looks like I will be discharged tomorrow. Doing better every day. There will be challenges at home of course but it will be home and there will be dogs, and Miss Luella the cat of course. Oh and my turntable and vinyl. Getting excited.
A few months of recovery and hopefully right back on the transplant list
A few months of recovery and hopefully right back on the transplant list
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Hope all goes as planned for tomorrow's discharge---just getting to go home will do you a world of good.
Let the outside air in
- tinnitus photography
- Posts: 7262
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:49 pm
- Contact:
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
dude that is the best news. hope all goes according to plan.Tequila Cowboy wrote:All things being equal it looks like I will be discharged tomorrow. Doing better every day. There will be challenges at home of course but it will be home and there will be dogs, and Miss Luella the cat of course. Oh and my turntable and vinyl. Getting excited.
A few months of recovery and hopefully right back on the transplant list
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
Being home beats the shit out of being in the germitorium. Quick recovery TC!
By the time you drop them I'll be gone
And you'll be right where they fall the rest of your life
And you'll be right where they fall the rest of your life
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
All the vibes down to y'all, TC. Home and critters make recovery so much better. Last year I had both knees replaced, and our spastic 5 year old pit-beagle never once disturbed or jostled me until I was mobile. They know, and a house full of love heals the body quicker.
- Tequila Cowboy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 20230
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:12 pm
- Location: The Twilight Zone, along with everyone else
Re: Tequila Cowboy--Heart Transplant
I’m back on the active status transplant list
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved