I had the Echocardiogram and have not received the official results but while I was having the test, the nurse/tech said it all looked good and clean. I know I have a murmur and a regurgitating valve and wanted to hear it. She said it is not the same that the doctors and nurses hear when they are listening to my chest but she turned on the sound and told me the sound I should hear. Sure enough, there was a small pop or click and she said the next sound was the murmur. She also told me the sound to listen for that was the valve closing too slowly and that is what allows some blood to leak back into my heart. Very interesting.

I had another Free Lite testing, the last one I had was in January and the numbers have made some movement. Free Kappa Lite Chains, S is 46.60 and it was 61.70 in January the Free Lambda Lite Chains, S is 61.90 and was 89.3 in January. Normal FKLC is 3.30-19.40 and FLLC normal is 5.71-26.30. My numbers are still high but at least the movement is in the right direction. I am still able to go about two weeks between packed red blood cell transfusions and it has been over a month since I have had a transfusion of platelets. My platelet number is staying around 13,000 – 15,000 and as long as they stay level, I will not have to receive a transfusion. As I have said normal platelet count is between 140,000 – 440,000. They feel mine will probably never rise above where they are now and as long as I do not have an accident or hemorrhage, I should be o.k.

Dialysis is still about the same but I can tell my energy level is not as good as it used to be. Rest is the best thing for me and that enables me to pretty much do what I need. I have made some choices and will be cutting back on activities that do not involve my family and friends. Those are the most important things to me and I want to keep my energy for my family and most especially for our wonderful grandsons. We have a great weekend planned after Thanksgiving for Arthur, Alan, Robert and me. I am looking forward to it as much as the grandkids. We will be at the Gaylord for the Lone Star Christmas and the presentation of Ice. Fun time with Arthur, the grandkids, beautiful hotel and great food for a weekend…who would not be looking forward to it.