[Sailor Steve]

I've been putting off telling the bad news as I wasn't sure how bad it is. Along with all the other problems I've had swelling in my legs on-and-off for a couple of years now. Along with everything with everyone else, it became constant and annoying around the first of this year. The swelling led to sweating, and because the compression socks were getting soaked through a couple of weeks ago they started wrapping my legs in bandages. Putting all the problems together they said it was being caused either by my heart or my liver. Either one is equally bad, just different.

A week or so ago I was seeing the Liver Doctor. She was once again telling me how bad my liver is, and she said she would show me the numbers that explain it all. She brought her computer to the proper screen, and then did a double-take. It seems she had been going by the test results and hadn't looked at the numbers herself. She then told me that they start worrying when the numbers reach 14. My level is currently just below 9. Apparently my liver overall as bad as they thought.

Then today I was seeing the GI Doctor about my intestinal problem. A recent scan and biopsy showed on infections or inflammation, so I get to stop taking one of my regular medications. He then told me that they had all been consulting with each other and looking at traditional causes and effects. One connection they had not considered took everybody by surprise. What do swelling in the legs, loss of muscle mass, general weakness, and even certain types of diarrhea have in common? Loss of protein. It's possible that I might get rid of all these problems just by eating more meat and other high-protein foods and maybe some protein supplements.

Maybe.

They're doing a CT scan on my liver next week, and that should tell them more. Meanwhile I've let my hopes get up a little. Not too much, because it could still be related to heart disease. We'll see.