Day + 24, Rotation

At the start of each month, there is a doctor / fellow rotation for the amyloid clinic of the Boston Medical Center. While all of the doctors work together and become familar with all of the amyloid patients, you get a 'main' doctor who makes the diagnoses and decisions about your treatment. In addition, there are specialists on the team who are consulted when needed. For example, I do not have significant cardiac involvement, so I do not see Dr. Falk, the cardiologist. But I will be consulting with Dr. Dember, the nephrologist, who will give me a status report on my progress tomorrow.

When I entered the clinic in June I was given Dr. Sanchorawala as my primary doctor. For the month of July this switched t0 Dr. Seldin. As of today, I was given Dr. Wright to cleanup and send me home.

All these doctor's names are making me dizzy. Give me a second to straighten out. Whew.

OK, so as I was saying -- each of my doctors are all-stars in their field and very capable and personable. But when you get a rotation, you are still new to the doctor since they have not seen you before. So, today I was given a test on a new combination of diaretics in preparation for my departure from the clinic.

Oh, there's a chance that they may take out the catheter as early as tomorrow. This gives me mixed feelings. Sure, I'll no longer have plastic tubes embedded into my skin and stuck into my chest, but I've had it so long it feels like a part of me. And it's so neat to show off.