Tiernan has been talking a lot about this first Santa meeting.
Wednesday we had his cardiology checkup. It was the first one since September! That is the longest between visits since well before his bivent surgery. He continues to thrive and blow us all away with his energy and vocabulary. (He's especially fond of adverbs.)
Today also meant labs for the first time in 2 months. He was NOT as excited about this part of the visit. But when we arrived, there were Santa and Mrs. Claus waiting to see kids! He chose to do his blood draw first (see below for photos of that awesomeness) and then went and told them all about when they came to see him 6 years ago. He and Sammy left with some gifts and we made our way to cardiology.
A bit more about the labs:
He has always screamed and fought it like crazy. I would have to hold him on my lap and hold his arm still so the phlebotomist could get the draw. Today he did this! Sat all by himself and acted like it was NOTHING!
All smiles.
Watched him put the needle in and only winced a little.
Later when I asked what his favorite part of the day was, he pointed to his arm and smiled. I asked why and he said, "Because I was so brave!"
Mine too little man.
More about his checkup.
Weight: He's gained a few pounds since September. I'm surprised it wasn't more, given the amount of curry the kid puts away.
Height: not showing significant growth since September but Dr. P doesn't think that's too surprising when considering his body has been focusing on more important things. IF he still doesn't shoot up in the next 6 months then he may need to see an endocrinologist to see what's going on.
Sats: 96. Right on.
Tiernan was SO great. He generally is these days, but I am just so impressed with how he deals with his lot in life.
He was as calm as they come during his echo and so it was finished in record time.
Dr. Park came in and set this graph down in front of me.
This is a look at his BNP. (Brain Natriuretic Peptide)
Here is a guide that shows what those numbers mean. The bottom line is that Tiernan's BNP has been all over during the course of the past year and a half. His number on Wednesday was 75! Normal! So relieved.
The other news is that while his valve regurgitation is a bit worse, his left atrial dilation (enlargement) has improved! So it is pretty much an even trade which leads Dr. Park to declare his heart pretty much unchanged...read: STABLE.
The one med change we've made is to increase his Enalapril (blood pressure) to twice a day. He had been cautious because it had caused his BP to be too soft when he was post op. It also has a negative impact on The Kidneys so, due to his kidney failure status, he was only on the smallest possible dose.
Now The Kidneys are happy (all his labs revealed beautiful numbers even his nephrologist will be proud of....which is really saying something).
So it's time to up the offense and increase his Enalapril.
Dr. Park thinks it is reasonable to hope we could get 10-15 years before he needs Dr. Hanley to get back in there. Until now he hasn't said more than 5. Of course we can't really tell, but that is a great new prognosis.
And then Dr. Park said he didn't need to see Tiernan for SIX MONTHS!!!!! We don't need to go back before JUNE! That is only the second longest we've ever gone between appointments. And even better, no labs until then either.
Except we have an appointment with Dr. Hanivold (nephrology) on the 29th and she WILL want to see how The Kidneys are handling the new increased Enalapril. But after THAT, then hopefully we will have several months between labs. Fingers crossed!
