And some new amyloidosis information...

So far there have been two small studies about this type of amyloidosis. They are both from the UK. The first involved 71 patients. It described this amyloidosis as mainly involving the kidneys, with damage to the spleen and liver after a long time. The newer study is also from the UK. It was published in April, 2010. It studies 22 people with this fibrinogen amyloidosis. It seems that this is thought a kidney disease because that is where it is "easier" to diagnose it. Apparently it involves more organs. Only five people had any family history of kidney disease. Twenty of them had significant heart issues. Fifteen had issues with GI autonomic neuropathy. Eight got liver-kidney transplants and during surgery three of those had spontaneous spleen ruptures. It seems that maybe this disease is a little more widespread, and perhaps people die of heart issues before the kidneys have any troubles. No one got only a liver, so I will still be the first to do that.
What does all this mean for me? Short answer, "Beats me!" Of course that is my snappy answer to all of my grandkids hard questions. Seriously, I emailed it to my doctors and have a copy ready to take when I go to surgery. It's tough have a disease that was only identified in 1993, and at this point ANY information is very welcome. Bottom line, of course, keep praying.
I have had that echocardiogram and was told that my heart is grossly normal. And my treadmill stress test apparent didn't merit a second look when the surgeons reviewed it. Seriously--It's time to rock and roll!