Photophereis

Monday at UAB did not go well at all. I had a esophagus test at 7:30 where they put a tube through my nose into my stomach. Just getting the tube down was an adventure with the coughing and tears and swallowing. But we got the test accomplished. Then they inserted another tube down my nose to my stomach to wear for 24 hours. The purpose is to find out if I have acid reflux. They are finding that acid reflux is causing damage to the lungs.

Then I had to go to the Lung ICU for Photopheresis. The procedure did not go well at all. My blood kept clotting. They stuck my port with a 22 gauge needle and it clotted. They brought another doctor... he stuck my port with another 22 gauge needle and it clotted.... then another doctor and she stuck my port again... BY NOW THIS IS TOO MUCH... still clotting. They put in a medicine to break up clots... left it for 30 minutes and stuck my port again with a 22 gauge needle... still clotting... they plunged the needle, they flushed saline, they pulled out blood... they pulled out clots... they kept doing this for about an hour.... finally they aborted mission and I did not get photopheresis today. They put in medicine to break up clots and I try again tomorrow.