Long time.......... no post.............

Yeah, we are still here............. in Wisconsin.................. cold Wisconsin. It's only the 23rd of November and I'm already looking forward to warmer weather. It seems colder this year, it just goes right through me. It is probably no different than last year or the year before that and maybe it has to do with age. They say older folks can't handle the cold..................... I must be almost there.

Most of you would know that Dan isn't having the best time of his life. (yes, I think he feels old too) Before convention he found out he was going to need further heart test done to see the condition his heart was in. He has had a heart murmur since birth but he didn't find out till he went in the military. They told him it was an innocent murmur and when he was getting out they found it had gotten worse due to overexertion during physical training. (that it is why he goes to the VA) He has a mitral valve prolapse where it stays open. His heart is only able to pump 40% of the blood out to his body the rest flows back into the heart. (I think) The mitral valve has two leaflets that, when working correctly, are suppose to come together when closed. Most commonly one of the leaflets will stay open, not go all the way closed. Dan's problem is that both of the leaflets stay open.

On Oct 24th Dan had a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) done where they go down through your throat to look at the heart. This confirmed there was severe leakage and confirmed the need for surgery. Then Nov 7th he had a heart cath done......... good news from that was he didn't have any blockages but it show that he has an enlarged heart and weak.

We are now waiting to here from the VA (in Madison) on the next appointment to talk with the cardiologist and surgeons. Both doctors (first the older one who has been the hospital for 30 years) have suggested he get a second opinion and recommended Mayo. The doctor said they don't feel they have the experience with this type of surgery. (we appreciate their honesty) They don't feel that Dan's valves can be repaired but will have be replaced. The VA does work with the UW hospital there in Madison. (they are connected) So we wait and see...............

The week before Dan had his heart cath done he started having pain in his back and going down his leg. To make a long story short................. he had an MRI done Wednesday which shows he has a (or two) herniated disc and a tear. Doctor sent him to have a cortazone shot and suggested therapy plus gave him pain medicine and muscle relaxers. The Chiro wants him to see a Neuro Surgeon because of the tear.

Seems like everything that can happen is happening to us right now. Maybe I better not say that because I'm sure there is more that can happen.