Joseph's Journal

Was told by local physician I had pulmonary hypertension. Fortunately, I have a friend who was director of research for a pharma company specializing in that. He told me to go to Mayo in Jacksonville. Turns out I didn't have PH, I had diastolic heart failure! Told to come back in a year. May 2017, Mayo says now have borderline severe aortic stenosis in addition!...told to comeback in December for another echocardiogram. Said I will be needing a aortic transplant. I also have multiple myeloma, a rare cancer of the blood plasma. I've been treated for that for 13 years. I was told I only had 3 years at the beginning, but thanks to the grace of God and Dr. Rafat Abonour of Indiana University Cancer Center I'm still here. I've got so much wrong with me it's hard to tell what symptoms go with what. I had a complicated back surgery 8 months ago and still can't walk right. I'm experiencing shortness of breath when I walk and tiredness...no syncope yet. My cardiologist in Naples Florida where I live doesn't seem that interested in me. I asked him what would he do if he were me. He said go to Mayo, but the way he said it I think I was getting blown off. That's where I am today.