Sunday, December 18, 2011

Hi all, and Happy Holidays! Saturday's treatment went very well, my blood flow was at 400 for the entire 3 hr. 15 min. treatment session, but let me get back to the beginning of the morning of the treatment. I came in at 6:00 AM, and did the usual weigh, and then preceeded to my regular assigned chair. I am feeling so much better in the last few days, i came in with a smile on my face, and greeted varies fellow pts, as well as techs and nurses, but i can't understand for the life of me, why some of the techs and nurses at our unit, seem to be in a sort of funky mood, (so to speak), that when i would say good morning to him or her, it is though, they are struggling with just saying those two delightful words to me, i feel that most of us patients, do come in from time to time, not feeling our best, but we still have the kind consideration to say good morning to those varies techs and/or nurses. Now don't get me wrong, there are some that say good morning to me first, and that truly pleases me, and makes it so much easier to endure the hours of treatment, with much peace of mind. I am aware that some may come into the unit, with some personal issues that they may have experience that morning prior to entering the unit, but why bring your problems or issues to the unit, and take it out on your dialysis pts., what you should be taking into consideration is the fact, that without us dialysis pts, you wouldn't have a secure job (especially with the economy the way it is these days), they really need to get a clue, and wakeup and smell the coffee, and try their best to show some kindness to their fellow dialysis pts., well so much for that. As you usual, i am not put on, at a decent time, still waiting with other dialysis pts. as well, especially this being Saturday, and i had plan on doing some much needed christmas shopping (with my college daughter) after hemo treatment, that i had been putting off and avoiding all these weeks (lol). Now, because of this late put on, i have to go shopping a little later on, and have to put up with all the chaos, with parking, as well as waiting in these long lines at the register, they should have a line, just for people that are disabled or handicapped, right! and that of course, could be very long as well, as i notice that trying to find handicapped parking, is very difficult in itself. All the handicapped spaces are usually taken as well. I was forced to park, almost outside of the Mall parking lot, ain't that something, that i am sure, many of you out there, are coping with during this holiday season, right! Well, it is all good. I never dreamed possible, that i would become so exhausted and fatigue, just shopping, there was a time, even being on dialysis, that i could shop until i drop, and maybe that is because i am in my mid 50's and still on dialysis, so maybe that should be taken into consideration. I just took a moment here and there, and sat and rest for about 15 minutes at a time. At times, it was very difficult to find somewhere to sit, and i noticed there were even children sitting, like they are so tired from shopping, i even was forced to sat on the corner of a shoe display in Macy's, and people were just looking at me, some look at me with pity, and some just observed me with confusement (especially with that big bandage showing throught my blouse) that in itself, makes me look like i am ill and in pain, and i just continued to chill and rest, until my energy returned somewhat. and i was able to continue on with my christmas shopping. My daughter was a big help in holding my purse and the packages, because for some reason, just holding my purse, (which is enormous - lol), would exhauste me somewhat, go figure! I even observed some patrons in wheelchairs, so i thought to myself, (i should be ashamed of myself, i do have leg capability, right!), let me muscle up the energy, to continue with this shopping, however, i did do some of my shopping online, but it is very beneficial if i would frequent the actual stores, such as Macy's, JC Penneys, and Sears, because if you go into the store, they have so many clearance items, with as much as 50% off, and then when you go to the register, they even inform you of an additional discount of as much as 20% more or even if you by one item, you get a second item for free, ( just love holiday shopping), ain't that something!, so yes, dialysis pts. muscle up the strength to take a trip to the mall, and indulge in these benefits for your gift shopping, OK. I want to thank my friend, Alton Milton, (who is a transplant recipient), on sharing those you tube vidoe on facebook, that truly take me back down to memory lane, (i even think about the time for a moment, when i wasn't on dialysis, when i first heard these varies tunes, not a care in the world about my health). He always brightens my day, sharing these varies videos, just keep them coming my friend, i look forward to what he will surprise me with next. Much love to him, and all the best to Alton and his family this holiday season. Now, if any of my followers, have touchscreen tablets, such as any ereaders, ipad, ipod, kindle, nook, any electronic way of downloading books to their mechanism, my 2nd book - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World - is available on ebook, very easy simple reading, and i have tried my best to share the meaning of varies technical words, used throughout my book. You can purchase it at xlibris.com, (my publisher), barnes & nobles, and you can also google my name and title of my books, where varies bookstores and outlets, that have discounted my books, as well as my 2nd book on ebook. I have shared so much in my 2nd book, as a briefer, (my pre-dialysis days, which have improved so much since my diagnose of ESRD back in 1990), a great deal is shared about those very important minerals and how important it is to keep them in normal range, so that you can maintain good health on dialysis, and most importantly i have shared ways of how to keep those minerals in normal range, with the diet as well as your medication regiment. I also share my first transplant experience (though the medication has changed somewhat, the scenarios that surround the post transplant protocol, hasn't changed much), i also share an array of renal friendly recipes as a bonus, in the cookbook section of my book, with very important nutritional facts, to help you to better understand this very complex renal diet, which has a stigma of restriction attached to it, that i know and experience all too well all these years. I even share my extensive experience with both hemo as well as PD, and the advantages and disadvantages of both of these forms of dialysis treatment. I also share my transition from hemo to PD, and why! and also my transition back to hemo from PD, which couldn't be avoided, and why i had to return. Also my development of congestive heart failure, during my ten year run with hemo, and mainly why it occur, and most importantly ways of preventing it from happening to you, or preventing it from re occuring with some fellow dialysis pts. There is so much that i have packed into this 2nd book, that i am sure you can benefit from my many years of dialysis experience and of course, the knowledge, that i have achieved all these years. Downloading my book, is a more inexpensive way of owning my book, that could potentially become your dialysis bible (so to speak), you can refer to it, from time to time, if you experience some of the varies health issues that i have coped with all these years, and i hope in my heart, that my books, could potentially be beneficial to so many out there faced with dialysis for their continued survival. I don't protest to know everything there is to know about the renal/dialysis life, but i am here to say i have experience and learned a great deal living the dialysis life this way for so long so far. 22 years and still going strong, need i say more! Well that is it for my blogging today, until my next blog, i wish all my followers all the best, and Merry Christmas, and with much happiness, good health and prosperity for the upcoming New Year. And please chime in, with your thoughts, concerns and similar experiences on my blog, i do look forward to receiving all your thoughts, concerns and experiences. Get tested for possible early diagnose of CKD, if you haven't been tested, (especially those with a history of diabetes and/or high blood pressure (two of the main causes of CKD), early diagnose can be so beneficial, to so many out there, because i can't stress it enough - preventive measures can be taken in prolonging CKD, and even reverse the progression in some cases. People the awareness needs to continue to be spread in a very serious way, about CKD. We need some media attention, (that we are not getting enough of), Help us get our voices heard from the renal/dialysis communities in the USA and all over the world for that matter. Sending much love and concern from the bay area. Glo

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011


Hi all, & Happy Holidays to you all. Wow! i do have a great deal of blogging to catch up on, so i will start with, the day of my double hernia surgery, Wednesday, December 7, 2011, well the night before the scheduled surgery that morning, i had to do a little aseptic cleaning, hours before the surgery. Let me share something with you, before i get too deep into my actual surgery day. I saw the surgeon, Dr. Besman, two weeks before the surgery, for a pre-op visit, you know to see the surgeon, and then the anthesiologist. After my clinic visit with, Dr. Besman, he tells me i need to see his nurse assistant, before departing, so i thought that might be, to go over the scenarios about the upcoming hernia surgery, but she hands me this burgundy colored packet, which contained some sort of aseptic cleansing kit, and i thought to myself, what is this all about? she said i had to cleanse my body and the area, where my surgery is suppose to be repaired, and then i looked at her, and said, when did this all happen, I said with surprise, "So i said viciously, so the patient has to do their own cleansing of their body, before surgery" and she said, it is a new policy enforced, but we will inspect the body, before surgery to make sure that the body is well cleansed and sanitary for the surgery, and i responded with, I have had a past hernia repair back in 2006, and the cleansing was done in the surgery room, so what gives! I began to explain to her, that i had been forced to take sponge baths, since my return to hemo temporary, in order, to have my double hernia repaired, and this is because, i have a temp cath in my chest, which it is very important, to not get it wet for a potential risk of infection, and i think in my opinion, this is just more for me to cope with, doing my daily cleansing of my PD cath, plus this hernia area as well. So, i just said, well if this is required, i will try to do my best to cleanse it as best as i can. She even gave me a sheet of paper, with the instructions on how to cleanse the area. I thought to myself, now, on top of the anxiety, that i felt the day before my surgery, i have to carefully the night before do all this cleansing, right along with my daily PD cath cleansing, as well as my sponge bath all over my body, and carefully cleanse my surgerical area. I got through all this, now back to that tuesday night before the surgery, i guess you know, i didn't get much sleep, as i had to be up and ready to leave around 5:30 AM, i was requested to be there at 6:00 AM, for registration, and the usual disrobing and cleansing inspection from a surgerical nurse. When i arrived, there were about 1/2 dozen patients already sitting and waiting in the surgery center registration room, my husband and daughter accompany me to the hospital, so i felt pretty comfortable and calm at that moment, about 15 minutes, i was called to come up to the booth to register. I was shocked when i finish the registering aspect of the drill, but she startled me with these words, (i truly didn't expect to hear), after she took my kaiser card and driver's license, she informed me that i had a co-pay of $175.00, boy things have changed, since my past hernia repair back in 2006, Bush has truly did a number on us longtime insurance holders, all these co-pays, and something i think, why am i even paying insurance premiums every month, what in the hell is it going towards, well i could only pay half, as i didn't expect to even have to pay any money, it was a good thing, i had one of my credit cards with me, because she wouldn't have had no alternative but to bill me, right! Well on with the scenarios, there was this retired elderly guy, who is a longtime volunteer at kaiser, so he was directing instructions to my husband and daughter, stating that they could sit in the waiting room, outside my hospital room, and that they could even go get breakfast in the coffee shop of the hospital, and i guess i wasn't really paying attention or listening to him, and i attempted to go sit in the waiting room, and he promptly said before i could sit down, the volunteer remarks with "Aren't you the patient", and at that moment, i felt so stupid, and said yes i am, "well you need to come with me, so he escorted me to another area, where there were was this very large room, with partition station lined up on either side. I was told to go into this particular stall, and disrobe, everything, and remove all jewelry, well i didn't really have much jewelry on, but i did have my diamond stud earrings still on, that i forgot to remove the night before. It was a very pleasant atmostphere in this room, (some pts. already fully covered and lying down comfortable in all that warmth, i guess just waiting to be wheeled into the OR), inspite of all the anxiety i was experiencing. They even had this new way of keeping you warm, it was this quilted white covering, that had a suction pipe attached to it, to distribute the heat, and yes, i was warmed up in no time, and it was to the point, that when the nurse came in, she took my temp and it was 101.5, and she said you maybe running a fever, and thought to myself, i don't feel any chills, and that is normally what i experience, when my temperature maybe going up, so she decided to do a manual temp, something else that was very new to me, she ran this temperature mechanism across my forhead, and the temp read - 98.4, so she said, the temperature on this bed warmer, maybe too hot, but i wasn't complaining, i was feeling so warm and comfortable, that i wasn't aware that i was burning up with warmth (lol). All that morning, i was having visitor after visitor, varies doctors, nurses, anthesiologist, and even staff, that i had known from my many years of being a patient at this hospital. I started getting confused as to how many staff personnel was looking over my chart. Now, it is time to do my IV, (issues, issues, issues), i know this was going to be a challenge, as i have dealt with this so much throughout my 20 some years of hospital life (lol). The nurse was glad that i was so warm from that warming gadget, that my veins were very visible, so she saw a vien, that she was excited to say, that could work, but of course, as she inserted the needle, that little sucker, did what it usually does, run and hide, i think my veins have a mind of their own,(they despise needles), especially being very small veins, and tricky at the same time, she did finally get the needle in, but no blood returned, and then as usual it began to blow, so she had to look further at my right arm, and try to find a cooperative vein, and she didn't have much success with this second stick, so finally the anthesiolgoist, took a look at my veins, and was very eager to take on the challenge, and at that moment, i thought in my mind, what am i, a contest to win, like who will succeed at this task, well the anethesologist, (i hope i am spelling this right, (lol), i never could spell this word. He finally succeeded in getting a pretty good IV on me. It is now, about 7:30 AM, and Dr. Besman, the surgeon finally arrives, and comes in, to say hi and say that he is ready to rock and roll. Though he didn't have to go over, how he was going to proceed with the repair of the hernia,(because he discuss this with me, during the pre-op visit), He was ready to get started. It is now, 7:45 AM, and my bed is then wheeled into the OR, i am then told to transfer over to their surgerical bed, and then they do another cleansing of my hernia site, and of course, the shaving of my private area, and then i am told, to lay both my arms straight out on this narrow steel like tables on either side of my arms. One arm is used for the b/p cuff, and the other where my IV is stationed, i am then told that they are giving me a local sedation med, and of course, i become very drowsy and fatigue, i could faintly hear the music, that i could vibratedly hear, when i first entered the OR room, i guess i am just about asleep. The surgery was for about an hour and 1/2, and i woke up slowly, to another room, and kinda glimpsed at the nurse, that was sitting next to my bed. She smiled and said, everything went well, how are you feeling, well, i guess, i was having much difficulty coming out of that sedated med, that i fell back off to sleep, but the nurse insist, that i stay awake, and then she didn't waste anytime, telling me, that she was going to put me in a wheelchair for the remainder of the time, i remember when there was a time back in 2006, since my last surgerical procedure, that they didn't rush you out of the bed, so yes, everything has changed, there is no compassion or concern anymore for the patient, and as i aware that it was an outpatient surgery, i don't remember being treated this way ever. My husband was summoned to help me stay awake, and then the nurse had the nerve to say, now that your husband is here, he can help you get dress, by this time, it is 12 Noon, because i was glimpsing at the big clock on the wall facing me. Boy! this nurse, was in such a hurry to get me out of there, not even asking if i had any pain of such, well to my surprise i wasn't having any discomfort or pain of such. I finally got dressed, and she came back with the discharge papers. And i was wheeled to the front lobby, and my husband drove up, and i was on my way home, but before i could go home, my husband had to pick up my discharge prescriptions, which included painkillers as well, but there was so much confusement with my med order, that my husband had to return to kaiser, because the doctor didn't fill the orders for an outside pharmacy, (in which i am on my husband's military insurance), we were running around in circles, that finally i had to call my neph office, to find out, how am i going to get a prescription for an outside pharmacy, by this time, an hour had past, and surely, my sedation med had warned off, and i was beginning to have very excruiating pain, that i became angry and frustrated, this only made my husband more angry and disgusted, finally my neph called back and spoke with Dr. Besman, and this issue was finally remedied, as soon as they filled the order at Kaiser, in which i had to pay out of pocket, at the time, i didn't care about the cost for the med. All i wanted was relief. I popped two of those painkillers in my mouth, and i was glad my husband had a bottle of water in the car, but of course, it took about an half hour before the pills began to kick in, so i had to agonize for awhile, until they did. I am finally home and comfortable, and of course, the painkillers made me very sleepy, so i slept most of the afternoon, into the evening. More to share, about my very next day after surgery, at the unit, and that is detailed with a great deal of drama. Now about the day after surgery, thursday, December 8, 2011, I arrived at the unit at 5:15 AM, as usual to be put on by 5:30 AM, but that didn't occur. First, i was walking really slowly towards the weight machine, and then i walked slowly over to my chair, as i was walking, varies fellow pts. saw that i was kinda struggling to get to my chair, so i shared with them, that i had, had double hernia surgery repair on wednesday, it was so sweet, they showed so much concern for me. As i made it to my chair, i decided to stand, because if i would have sat down, it would've been very difficult for me to stand back up, so a PCT ask me why i was standing at my chair, and i explained to him, that i had had a double hernia surgery, and he said, just sat down, and of course, it was very painful for me to sit in that position, because bending with this incision wasn't very pleasant for me, finally at 6:30, the nurse got around to getting me setup for hemo treatment. The PCT and nurse, were still going slow with everything. I was sitting and then the PCT tech ask me for a standing b/p, and that is when my husband stepped in and remarked with she can't be sitting and standing with that incision in her belly. The PCT kinda had an attitude, and she went across to another pt. to assist the nurse with another catherer pt, but the nurse said, you need to get back over here, because i am ready to connect her lines, and she did have consideration to tell the PCT, that she can skip the standing b/p, because i was obviously experiencing some pain and discomfort at the time. I was so miserable this day, it wasn't a very pleasant run, because the alarms kept going off, after even a half hour of treatment, it was evidence, that my blood was beginning to clot, because they were given instructions to hold my heparin for three treatments after my surgery, but that proved to not be feasible, as i had gotten into 1 hr. and 24 minutes of my treatment, they decided to discard my dialyzer and the tubing, and start all over, but even after 14 minutes into the treatment, it was decided that i needed to stop the treatment, and return an hour early on tuesday, for some medication to help with the clotting, and they would send a message, to ask the neph to start the heparin again on tuesday. I was pleased with this, though i didn't receive my full treatment, i wasn't very comfortable doing the treatment anyway, that i think God was in this plan, for me to go home, and recuperate some more and take some pain meds, so that i can rest comfortably. As i am aware, that they didn't take much off, so i really needed to monitor my fluids real closely, because after all this is Saturday, and i have Saturday, plus Sunday and Monday, to go without treatment, but i know i have the will power to do this, because i have done this in the past on hemo, with much success, so no worries. I hope on tuesday, i am put on at a decent hour. Tuesday, December 6, 2011, i was put on at a ridiculous hour, i arrived at 5:15AM, my usual time, and wasn't put on until 7:20 AM, and they come up with some bogus excuse, like they are adjusting to new protocol in the unit, and that we patients should bare with them, but what i don't understand is, if they know they are going to be behind putting patients on, why not give them a courtesy call, not to come at the usual time, but an hour later, so that they wouldn't have to sit around looking like fools, just waiting around to be hooked up to the machine, but no, they just have the patients coming in at their regular time, and sitting around in confusement, because of what happened tuesday at the unit, i decided to come in on Saturday, a little later, like a half hour later, and guess what! i was still sitting around for some time, until i was finally put on for treatment. The way things are going at the unit, it doesn't look like we patients are going to be back to our regular scheduled time for awhile, and in the meantime, i will come in a half hour later at each treatment, until i see that they have gotten a little more organized and abiding by our scheduled treatment sessions. Well, that is it for now, until next blog. Happy Holidays! to you all. take care and all the best to all my followers of my blog. Oh! I am feeling much better, minimum pain now, maybe it will have subsided all the way by Monday.
Glo

Friday, November 25, 2011 - Black Friday

Hi All, i hope all you guys had a wonderful, enjoyable and relaxing thanksgiving. Mine was awesome, the first time in a long time, my mom, two sisters and their families were all here in my home to celebrate thanksgiving with my family and I. Although it didn't start off so pleasantly. I was requested by the unit, to come in an hour early for my scheduled treatment, in which i obliged without hesitation, as i was going to my car (in the rain), my sisters had just arrived in their van, from southern california, (about 4:45 AM), i didn't have anytime for hugs and a chat, and besides it was pouring down raining, so i just waved to them all, and left for the unit. When i arrived, i soon discovered that they were backed up, and that i want be put on for another half hour, which it took unit 6:30 AM, before i was put on, which was my actual regular put on time, go figure! i just wasted my time, rushing to the unit, after getting only three hours of sleep, as i was cooking prior to that time, (all night), preparing my thanksgiving meal with my mom's assistance, she also flew up to sacramento, to help me clean up the house, before the rest of the family arrived on thanksgiving morning (as my time was limited, because of my hemo treatment session T, Th & Sat). Well back to the haps at the unit, i was finally put on at 6:30 AM, but you know, I was a little pissed off, coming in as requested 1 hour early, and just sitting there, (i think it was a little unconsiderate of them, not to have the decentancy to at least call, and tell us to not come an hour early, because there was an incident, that prevented them from starting the morning session as scheduled, but no, they just let us come in an hour early, and coming with some lamed excuse, like they had some flooding issues, when they arrived, but i do think that was completely bogus, i think the person that was supposed to open up the unit at 3:30 AM, didn't show up, because i noticed that there was only two RN's on duty, that morning, and of course, all us catherer put ons (myself included), need the assistance of an RN to connect our catherer to the dialyzer machine. If you had been reading my previous blogs, i mentioned that they had an 8 channel cable service, which is truly inadequate for any proper entertaining viewing, but that has all changed in the last few weeks, they finally have upgraded our cable to Direct TV viewing, with so many channels to choose from. I was very happy about this, but in the last few days, someone who has treatment after me, busted the earphone insert, where my earphone doesn't hold in the hole of the side of the TV, so i don't have any sound, i had to put GMA on close caption, so that i can read what they maybe discussing at that given moment, but it is all good, i decided to just listen to some oldies, but goodies on my MP3 player for the remainder of my treatment session. Prior to thanksgiving day, for a week, Kaiser hospital representatives have been visiting our unit, and observing the protocol at the unit, and recording their evaluation. Everything was going smoothly with my treatment, the bloodflow pressure stayed at 400, which made me very happy, but 15 minutes was left for the completion of my session, and suddenly the electricity went out, the unit was totally in the dark, and i guess you know all the chaos that was transpiring with this latest development. I notice immediately how panick the RNs were, didn't know what to do, there was this very loyal and devoted PCT (Patient Care Tech) by the name of Mohammed, who was on the ball and in complete control - he began to yell out all over the unit - Open all the blinds, and "Return the patient's blood immediately" - and that is when the RN were running around with their heads chopped off, all in confusement. Boy! they were looking all pitiful and helpless. I thought to myself, why weren't they taught the same as the PCT, the emergency procedure, in case of disasters, that could arise. After returning my blood, my RN didn't even know which way to crank the machine manually, of course, Mohammed to the rescue. Some were finding it difficult to crank, especially the small framed techs, they were struggling to do the cranking, i felt so sorry for them. It took another half hour before i could be completely disconnected from the machine, because RNs were busy assisting with the fistula and graft take offs, and besides i had no other choice, but to wait, until an RN was finally available. I was finally off by 10:00 AM, and i promptly ask my RN how was i going to do my weight and also my b/p. I couldn't believe what i was hearing, they didn't even have a backup generator, nor a manual scale or b/p cuff. How pitiful could this unit be. I remember back in 1999, when we had a similar power issue, but there was a backup generator, that kicked in, moments later, so we didn't even have to have our blood returned, if we had more than 15 minutes left before completion of our hemo session, and at that time the unit was with a company called - Total Renal Care (TRC). Now that we are with Davita, what is up with Davita, and all these cutting corner issues, (no generator, no manual scales or b/p cuffs). In my opinion, they truly need to address these issues, because they are very serious, in case of future disasters at the unit. Now, i have to go home, without even knowing, if i reached my dry weight, or if my pressure is in normal range, and i am very concerned, as i will be eating way more food than i have eaten all summer long, so i don't even know if i have that spare room to over indulge (lol), well anyway i will take extra phosphorus binders to be on the safe side, and try my best not to drink too much apple cider, yeah right!, i love me some apple cider (lol), i will just try my best. I guess it was a good thing, that Kaiser wasn't there that day, so much they could have included in their evals, right! Well the unit lucked out, but i do believe God doesn't like ugly, because i still don't believe that story about the flooding of the unit, wasn't even true. Look what happened later on, all the power went out, and this is all because, they wanted staff to be home early with their families for thanksgiving, and it all backfired on them, they still didn't get home early, (having all us patients come in an hour early, just to sit around, looking like fools). This day just didn't turn out right, they had to stay a few hours later, than there usual open and close time, go figure! like i said God don't like ugly. What a disastrous day this was. All i have to say, is this unit needs to check themselves, before they wreck themselves (quoted from Ice Cubes lyrics). Well so much for that unit drama, i am finally off and going home. As my family have settled, and i did a second check to see how the food prepartion was going, my mom and husband had that well under control, so i took my usual NAP after treatment, about an hour into my NAP, my nephew, his girlfriend, my great neice and two nephnews arrived, so i had to get up, because i hadn't seen them in a few years. Of course, they had grown so much, since that time. It was so exciting to see the Jeff clan altogether, laughing and just enjoying each other. Everything done, the main guest of honor (that juicy, suckenling turkey). Other guest began to arrive, and we are now all around the table, ready to say the blessing, and then each of us, saying what we are most thankful for on this day. Of course my husband had to be at work at 3:00 PM, so he wasn't included for the first time at the head of the table, it was all on me. My baby sister, most definitely thankful for her new gift of life, (she received a cadaver kidney back in September). Even after all this chaos, at the unit, we all settled to a very wonderful, enjoyable and delightful thanksgiving feast. Well, that is it for my blogging today, unit next blog i wish everyone all the best, and i hope you all had a very enjoyable, and relaxing thanksgiving, and are looking forward to the coming christmas holidays, as i am.
Happy Holidays! to you all.
Glo

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

hi all, i know it has been a few weeks since my last blog post, but i have been a little bit pissed off for the last week. For three months i have been enduring this catherer with hemo, and finally i became comfortable and accepted this temporary way of dialyzing, but my catherer was starting to give me problems in the last two weeks, and i was told that i would have to have my time changed to a later put on time, some bullshit about there isn't an RN available to administer the necessary meds to get my catherer functioning with a blood flow of 400 at the time when i come in for treatment, so they changed my start time to 6:15 AM, i have no problem with this new time, as it will give me a little more time to sleep. I come in to treatment last tuesday, do the usual take my weight, and then i walk over to my usual chair, but only to find someone else in my seat, well you know i began to rant and rave, and just cause a commotion, but before i could elevate my concerns (about why this man is sitting in my chair, and already hooked up as well), a PCT (patient care tech) comes over to me, and informs me not only that my time was changed, but my chair as well. You could imagine that i wasn't too pleased with this chair change, as i had become so comfortable and relax with my two neighbors, although the man to my left, recently received the blessing of a cadaver kidney, and that is wonderful for him, but at the same time, i can't help but be a little envious of him, because i wish it was me, but all in all, i wished him all the best on his new blessing and most importantly longevity with his new blessing. Betty, an elderly woman on my right, we became very well acquainted, we would joke, and chat while we were both having our treatment. Now, i am at the end and next to a real nice guy, who is also a member of the church i am a member at, we chatted some, but when he would go to sleep, he would snore, and this very much annoyed me. I put up with it for a week. On last Saturday, my daughter accompanied me to the unit, and she was happy about the new time, she also chatted up my new neighbor, and as they were talking, i discovered we had a something in common, he lived in Long Beach for quite a few years, before relocating to the bay area, as i did. We conversated for about hour into treatment, about places that we both frequent at one point, while living in Long Beach, he was so excited about talking about Long Beach, that this man, was practically coming out of his seat with excitement, and a tech told him he needed to sit back, because he was causing the alarms to go off, so i guess he got a little angry, and decided to end our conversation and then he was off to sleep, and snoring as usual, so this time, i was prepared for him, i brought my MP3 player, and listen to music the rest of the treatment session, because there is nothing on the tube on saturdays, but cartoons of such. I decided that since this is temporary, that i would just accept this new change and make the best of my new chair. I do miss sitting next to Betty, but i guess it is all good. Things have changed tremendously since my previous ten year run on hemo, it seem to me, that we had more patient privleges back then, and maybe this is a policy of Davita, since they took over. Even since Davita took over, we don't have the great cable programming, as we had when we were TRC (Total Renal Care). This cable program that we have now, there is about maybe eight stations, not even worth viewing. I remember when i was on dialysis previously, we even had three shopping networks, along with lifetime, tnt, tbs, espn, we, oxygen, BBC, PBS,etc. etc., and many other stations, so we were being well entertained at that time. I feel that they should provide some better tv programming, but what can i say, davita, is truly cheap, just taking over all these units, and changing everything, cutting corners of such, to me they don't care about the patients comfort and satisfaction, dialyzing at their unit. I finally have an appt. for counsultation with the surgeon tommorrow, i will keep you posted on when i will have my surgery and to finally return to PD. Well that is it for now, until my next blog, take care and all the best to all my followers.
Glo

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

hi all, i am using my daughter's labtop for the moment, as my labtop mother board has been damaged in some way. It is sweet of her to take a briefer from doing her college studies for a few hours, to let me update my blog. Well another start of the week for my hemo treatment. Every thing is going well, but i see that tech is having her moody issues once again, but i am going to simply ignore her, but she better not say anything to tick me off, because i ain't havin it this early in the morning. This morning i am simply sitting and observing, pts. coming in late, and this one couple, that i truly admire, i watched the wife go through the usual routine, she would be ahead of her husband, whom i guess is busy weighing himself. She rolls the suitcase in, and starts to unload his blankets, a neck pillow and another pillow for his back, she also has his book read, and his own personal cup to place his crush ice in. I just sit there, and watch all this, and said to myself, he is so lucky to have her in his life, especially at how devoted she is, because although most of us have a family member or loved one accompany us to the unit, most don't stay, as my husband only stays to make sure i am hooked up and running smoothly, and then he will leave, especially, it being so early in the morning, (5:30 AM) to be exact, he wants to go back home and get his sleep on and i don't blame him, (because he doesn't get off work every night until 11:30 PM). Remember, i mentioned in a previous blog, that she was so attentive to her husband, getting the partition so that he could do his business in private. I am jealous, because he still urinates somewhat. I truly don't urinate that much at all, a tinkle here, a tinkle there, not enough to say that i am peeing. (lol). I remember back during my pre-dialysis days, when i couldn't control my bladder, it was so out of control, that i had a very embarassing moment at work, which was a true wakeup call, that i need to start dialysis as soon as possible. Something that i share in my 2nd book - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World. Well, back to my thinking, one of the RN was curious to know, when will i be scheduled for surgery, and then I said in a vicioious tone, what! are you tired of me being here or something, and she said while laughing, No! i was told that you were only on hemo temporary, so i assumed you would have had your hernia repaired by now, so she continued by asking, what is the reason why they haven't scheduled your surgery. I remarked to her with, i guess you aren't aware of what has transpired since my return to hemo, and she responded i guess not, i continued by giving her the low down on what i have been enduring since my return. I first told her that, my dry weight had to be challenged, because when i transition from PD to Hemo, my dry weight was 52kg, but through the course of the weeks, my renal case manager, ask the RN and PCT to challenge my dry weight, and for some reason, they seem to not be able to reach my dry weight, as i didn't experience the usual drop in b/p or those excruiating cramps in my legs, which most of the time, would indicate that i have reached my dry weight. Because of not being able to target my dry weight, i began to experience breathing difficulty, in which the RN examined my lungs, and informed me that my left side sound diminished. This was on a Saturday, and that night i began to have more breathing difficulty, to the point, that i had to sleep on top of three pillows, to even get a good night sleep. Now, i am aware of the signs of fluid overload from my previous ten year run with hemo. I couldn't breath very well doing the day, so i seek attention at ER, and they did a ct-scan, which showed that i had an excessive amount of fluid around my lungs, and i also had a collapsed lung as well. I was hospitalized for several days, and my target weight was challenged to the point, that i was down to 45kg. Also the ct-scan showed that my adrenal gland was producing way too many hormones, (causing my elevated b/p levels), and also my neph said that i need to have a kidney removed as well. the great thing about this ct-scan is, when i have my adrenal gland removed, i may not need to take so much b/p controlling meds, or i may not even have to take any b/p meds anymore, and that would truly be wonderful, so we will see, when this will all transpire, so the nurse just said, you sure have a great deal on your plate at this present time, and i responded with, yes i know, and i have more that i can write about and share with others, who could be faced with these very same issues on hemo. i also responded with, they also told me that my heart function had decreased, and i wasn't aware of this on PD, because of the fact, that i wasn't having all this shortness of breathe issues, as a matter of a fact, i feel, all this happen during the early month of my return to hemo. I am sitting and looking at those four other people that were sporting a catherer at the time that i started back on hemo, and they are using their grafts and fistulas now, and i am still sitting here using this sometime responding catherer, when will this nightmare end, so that i can return to PD. I miss it so, but yes, there are some advantages on hemo, such as some of the meds, that i have temporary stopped - such as potassium supplements, iron, sodium bicarbonate, and those EPO shots, that are required for PD, so yes, maybe i can be greatful for that, right! and of course, no nightly hookup to the cycler, but having this catherer in my chest is a kill joy. i can't sport any of my large necklaces, i had been wearing a tiny cross pendant necklace. And don't talk about my wardrobe, i am subjected to wearing camisoles underneath a button in the front blouse or shirt, so that it would be easy to get to my catherer with no difficulty, but you know me, i try my best to stay in style as much as i can. I have even invested in the last several months, many colors of camisoles of lace and varies styles. Also because of hemo, i have been wearing a great deal of slip on flats. Well enough about that, i am getting a little disgusted, because my surgery has been put on hold for so long. Well that is about it for now, until next blog, i hope i have some news about my surgery finally being scheduled. I hope to God, that i am not still on hemo, during thanksgiving holiday week. The unit secretary just passed around a memo, stating that the unit will open one hour early on thanksgiving, you know i don't approve of this, because i already come in early enough, and now i have to come in at 4:15 AM to be hooked up at 4:30 AM. Come now! enough is enough, so i will see, if i am still sporting this cath at that time. take care and all the best to my followers. Glo

!!

hi all, i know i haven't posted since the 1st of October, but i have been busy preparing and planning our san francisco chapter PKD walk for the cure event, which took place on Sunday, Oct 9, 2011. I was up until 1:00 AM on the night before the walk, creating my personal t-shirts for my team. I got up around 7:30 AM, to complete the finishing touches on my t-shirts, it was a family affair, my husband and daughter, helped tremendously with the computer aspect of the project - scanning and making transfer sets, and then fusible webing and ironing on the image - thanks to my husband, he saw an image of a converse gym shoe in one of his Sunday papers, but there was a map on the bottom of the shoe, that we had to remove - so that we can put an image of the Golden Gate Bridge and part of San Francisco in the background, and after three attempts and wasting three transfer sets, the image was a success, now to fuse all those t-shirts, like i said, was a family effort. I couldn't have done all this by myself, though my efforts, were the lettering on the front and back of the t-shirts. Now, on to cooking my samples for the walk - i decided this year, to make seafood pastries (which consist of trinity (chopped finely - bell pepper, red pepper, celery & onions), and also minced ginger and garlic, the seafood - lump lobster (chopped) and crawfish (finely chopped). I also decided to bake some macroons as well). The samples were quite a hit at the walk, but getting back to when my family and I finally were ready to caravan to the walk. We had planned to leave around 10:00 AM, but we didn't leave until 11:00 AM, and when we got to Berkely, the traffic suddenly became bumper to bumper, so now we would be late, as we didn't anticipate this traffic jam. All due to it being fleet week in the city, as well as a 49er game was taking place. Finally, we are at the toll booth, and we could see the blue angels performing in the sky, so we had a little treat, waiting in line to enter the toll booth. It was very exciting to see the blue angels perform and make that really huge heart in the sky, so you could say we were being entertained in the process, courtesy of my dear friend, Veronica Swift who was talking to me on my cell, and she mentioned if we could see the blue angels in the sky performing (I had forgotten about fleet week, worrying about the walk and all)- veronica arrived at the walk, an hour before we did. Finally, we arrived at the walk entrance, and my husband parked in front, to unload my gear for my table. As soon as we got inside of the park, there was a table, ready for me, to setup. I began to setup with my daughter and my friend, Veronica's assistance. I introduced myself to my neighbors, who were there representing their company (Kiehls in Berkeley), they had free samples of lotions, sunscreen, facial cream, keychains, buttons, samples of natural food products (such as granola bars, and a variety of their own named juices). I began to setup my books, for my booksigning, as well as setup the free samples of appetizers, representing the cookbook section of my book - My Renal Life (i know it, i live it) and my 2nd book - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World. They did announce that we were suppose to warm up to the electric slide, and in which they ask me to lead, but of course, i got there way too late, to have this segment of the show. A little disappointing, but there is always next year"s walk, right! I will strategize much earlier than i did this year for the planning of the walk. Anyway, it turned out to be a very beautiful and warm day in the city, unlike the last three walks, being cold and also raining. I didn't even need a jacket this time, so i showed off my t-shirt creation with pride, and guess what! i got so many compliments on my t-shirt, so you know i was so proud of myself. It gave me such pleasure, to observe people coming up to my table, inquiring about my books, and me reading excerpts of chapters, that many of the people there could relate to, and also learn from. However, i didn't sell as many copies of my books, as i wanted to, but it was all good anyway, sharing samples from the appetizer section of my cookbook section of both my books. I was so tickled pink, when a teenage girl, picked up one of my hard copies of my 2nd book, and gave it to her mother, something i didn't even see, i was told by my daughter, that this girl gave the copy to her mother. I think she thought the books were free and then my daughter went over to the girl's mother, and ask her if she wanted to purchase my book, but that was not the case, so my daughter took the book back, and everyone at my table, as well as my neighbor's table, began to laugh, uncontrollably. I was laughing so hard, i almost couldn't stop, many were saying let me stop laughing, before i pee on myself, well we know that was not the case with me, i could laugh until i turned blue in the face, and still want get the urge to pee, but i sure wish i could (lol). the walk was suppose to start at 1:00 PM sharp, but because of my late arrival, that were sweet enough to start the walk at 1:30 PM. My husband and daughter went on the walk, but i had to stay at my table, because there were many that didn't walk, and were coming up to my table to inquire about the books and to sample my free treats. There was also a table setup with sandwiches (you know those tortillo round wrap sandwiches, which were very delicious (there were three types of sandwiches - turkey, ham & veggie sandwiches). There was also a large assortment of gatorade, flavored water and arrowhead water - in which they kept chilled in a large ice chest. There was also an assortment of fruits and vegetable platters. And because my appetizers were still hot, they kept flocking to my table, for something hot, and i was amazed that my container, kept those seafood pastries very warm. A girl, named Gabrielle, whom i was communicating by email for several weeks, prior to the walk, actually, her mother came up to my table, and we were chatting about my many years of dialysis history, and as i was continuing to chat with her, Gabrielle (a girl that i had been communicating for several weeks, prior to the walk event, who had mentioned that her mother had a recent kidney transplant), came up to the table, and said this is my mother, and we all just laugh, because i had no idea, that this lady, that came to my table, was her mother, so it was an enormous pleasure meeting them both, but we met in a strange way, i must say. Her mom, purchased a copy of my second book. The trip thing was, i gave her a copy, and continued to chat with her, not knowing that i didn't collect the money from her, she had to interrupt me, and say, you forgot to take the money. Boy! am i a basket case, but i guess i was so excited to meet her mother, and of course, to meet them both. Gabrielle's mother and I chatted for quite awhile, and i plum forgot her name, just that quick. I will always refer to her as Gabrielle's mom (lol). Well, all the teams are returning to the park site, and now it is time to rock and roll. Jesse Brewster was there with his band, entertaining the crowd, and also selling his first CD release to the crowd. I purchase a copy. We even had a DJ that was playing a great deal of oldies (60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and a little bit of today's sounds). All in all, it was a very enjoyable, exciting and productive day. Though we didn't reach our goal for the fundraising, the walk event maybe over, but it is not too late, to continue fundraising, if you are interested in submitting a donation - go online to www.pkdcure.org/sanfranciscowalk and search my team - Glomoore team, to help us with the funding for the continued research to find a cure for PKD, as well as CKD (which is the resulting affect from PKD). Well, that is it for my blogging today, until next time, take care and all the best to you guys. Oh, my birthday is in a couple of days, (Oct 11), and my husband has planned something special for me, i am so excited and i can't wait, especially since all that i have endured since my recent return to hemo, temporary, and if you have been following my blogs since then, you know exactly what i have been going through, so yes, i deserve to enjoy my birthday, especially this year, right! God has truly blessed me, to triumph through all that i have been enduring these past several months.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

hi all, i know it has been about a week, since my last blog post. Well, i am pleased to say, that that nasty disposition PCT, (patient care tech for those that aren't familiar with this staff abbreviation). She has been so nice to me lately, not even once, did she ask me what time i was scheduled to be hook to the dialyzer. I do think it is because, i shared my continued issues that i had with her, with my neph, as well as the renal care manager. They must have said something to her. You guys, she is being so nice, that i think she is overkilling me with kindness. Coming around what seems like four times, during my treatment session, and asking how i feel, or is everything alright. What gives! she is even become interested in my fashion sense, saying things like, i like your style, where do you buy your clothes, this really took me for a loop, as i didn't think she paid any attention to whatever i was wearing. We even talked about all the sales, that are going on at our Neighborhood Mall, ain't that something. And when i get ready to leave, after my session, she says, have a nice weekend, and i tell her the same in return. Things are so much more pleasant now, so maybe i can have more pleasant treatment sessions, and not have to be all angry, because of an encounter with her of sorts. Now, on with my other blogging, i notice that a patient name - Bernard, an asian, that i became very good friends with, well, mainly my daughter, who always chats with him, before visiting my station. I notice that he hasn't been at the unit, for several days, so i inquired to a PCT about him, and she said she can't tell me where he is at present, and she suggest that i ask an RN about him. From my many years of encountering this issue, the pt. is usually been hospitalized, on vacation, or transfered to another unit, or the best reason is, they have received the blessing of a kidney transplant or pancreas and kidney transplant. I really don't know what she meant by this, and i didn't know that a patients whereabouts were sacred, it is so twisted how they try to be so secretive about any of the pts. at the unit. I feel, we as pts. form a certain bound to one another, and to me that is so very touching, although there are some pts. that prefer to keep to themselves, but in my opinion, that is not very healthy for any pt. to stay closed off from others at the unit. I have been observing and experiencing these protocols at varies units for well over two decades now, and i see we are still having these issues, even today. I am aware, that when i return to hemo temporary, that some of the techs, that i was acquainted with, during my previous ten year run on hemo, seem so skeptic, to even say hi to me, or to just acknowledge that they have know me for a very long time, but i won't fret over it, all i need to be concentrating on, is having my surgery, and patiently awaiting my return to PD, and for me, i am vigorously waiting for that day, mainly because i don't particulary like doing treatment from a catherer. i was watching an elderly male latin descent pt. across from me (Orlando's), wife placing partitions around him, and you know i was curious, just as i observed many other pts. wondering what is going to transpire, so i continued to watch this pt. be reclined upright, and he then stands up, and i could see his pants drop to his ankles, by looking down under the partition, by then, i am wondering what in the world is going on over there, because the machine makes such loud sounds, that i couldn't hear, any of what was going on over there, you know just me being nosey (lol)and of course, this is a little distraction for me and as well as other pts. observing, and yes, this could help to pass some of this boredome time away for most of us pts (lol). Finally, his wife pulls his pants back up and continues to sat him way back in the recliner, the partitions were then removed, and as his wife was returning back to his station, i had to ask her, why did she put the partitions around her husband, and she remarks, with he had to urinate, and i was so surprised, and remarked with, he still has a good urinating flow, and i continued by asking, why is he on dialysis? And she said because he doesn't have enough function to not be on dialysis. At that point, i was thinking that if he can urinate somewhat, then he must be getting some of his toxins and excess fluid off. He doesn't need but, 2 1/2 hrs. of hemo treatment, and that is great, i remember when there was a time, when i didn't need but 2 1/2 hrs. of treatment - MWF. and i was still urinating, but not once, did i need to use it, during my treatment, well anyway, i guess Orlando's kidneys still have a little kick in them, because he got the urge on the machine (lol), i ain't mad at him, but i am a little jealous of him, he probably does well with his fluid intake. When i started PD, after my ten year run on hemo, within a year, i wasn't urinating much at all anymore, but since my return to hemo, i am starting to urinating again, but not much, just enough to hear the precious sounds of just a little urinating, where i hadn't heard anything, but a little tinkling from time to time, while on PD. i know what you non-dialysis followers are saying, all this pissing and urinating talk, what can i say, this is our lingo in the renal/dialysis world, it is all about piss and urinating, (something most of us dialysis pts. are deprived of, and many of us, for a great deal of years, like myself). Well so much for that. Oh wow! why am i seeing so many pts. wheeling a suitcase in the unit, boy has the dialysis life changed, since my previous 10 year saga on hemo. I guess it is because, since the airline type upright rolling suitcases, was made available for public purchase, and they have truly become very affordable in last decade, that hemo pts. began to purchase them, to house their many anemitites, such as their blanket or blankets, some reading material, and course today, many are breaking their labtops out, MP3 players, and now their e-books - such as the nook, e-reader or kindle, to keep them entertained, because at our unit, we have a selective few stations on the individual TVs provided for the pts. entertainment usage, and you can just hang up Saturdays, (there is nothing on those TVs), that is why i bring my nook and MP3 player, to keep me entertained, although when i have a craft project to work on, i bring my crafting to keep me entertained. I also do word search, to pacify myself. I was at this unit, ten years ago, and we had the best cable setup, i could even watch HSN, QVC and Shop NBC, although at that time, i couldn't order anything, because i didn't own a cell phone. Oh, i wanted to share something to do with PD, i recently read a post, that a husband was crying out for help in finding a solution to his wife's drain fluid issues, which were causing problems with their plumbing, and i know all too well about these issues, as i dealt with them in the initial beginning of my 10 yr. PD saga. I shared with him, my plight with this issue, and i also shared our solution with him as well. I continued by saying, and i don't know why the PD nurse doesn't warn their new PD pts. that using the drain lines, and draining their solution in the toilet, that when the solution is airborne, that it becomes a jell like substance, which can cause potential trouble with clogging in the plumbing, but no, they say something when you actually experience this, go figure! maybe they don't share this with their pts., because it may discouraged them from choosing PD over Hemo. Oh, if any of you PD pts. have issues with your plumbing and PD solution, i told this f/b friend, that my husband flushes our toilet with Rid-X once a month, and it has worked ever since, no more leaking or plumbing issues. Well, that is it for my blogging today, i need to get back to my PKD walk business. Until next blog, take care and all the best to you guys. Glo

Saturday, September 24, 2011

hi all,

The saga continues with that tech, with the nasty attitude. Well, not exactly, this story today, is in relation to her. Today, another tech, was assigned to me, and when we came in, she was so pleasant. As it was time to disconnect me from the machine, my husband arrived, and he noticed, that there was a large amount of water on the floor. This tech, immediately, investigated where this leak was coming from, and told me to get out of the chair, and sat across from her in a vacant recliner, and then she moved my recliner away from the leak, and she also notice that my tote was down on the floor, and she immediately handed that to me, so that it wouldn't get wet in the process. This tech, went and got a mop and started mopping up the water, and she then located where the leak was coming from, which it was coming from the wall behind my dialzyer. So, she immediately reported it, and then told me to sat back in the sit, after she had cleared the water, that was leaking. Now, i did bring this to her attention, about another tech, that had recently experienced this leak on her shift, and she did nothing to remedy it, i even told her, she was aware that my tote was on the floor, and she didn't have consideration to even move my tote out the way, in my opinion, she didn't want to be bother with this, and just ignored it all together. The other tech said, why didn't she report this sooner, because maybe we wouldn't still be having these leaking issues. And i just looked at the other tech, and said, because that tech, just have a nonchalant attitude, about everything to do with this unit. So, it goes to show you, all the techs, aren't evil and mean, like her. I wish they would get rid of her, because in my opinion, i don't even think she is there to help the patients, this is only a job for her, but this attitude of hers, can't continue, because i am so tempted to report every nasty disposition, that i have dealt with this particular tech. Well, that is my blogging for today, i hope i have a wonderful afternoon, after dealing with all this. I know, i will visit my neighbor farmer's market, and that will surely put a smile on my face. until next time, take care and all the best to my followers. Glo

Saturday, September 16, 2011

hi all,

it has been a few days, since my last blog entry, i really didn't have any issues or concerns for the last few days, but today, that tech, whom i have been having issues with about my time on treatment, did something very dirty today, i really don't know what she is tripping about, but it is apparent, that she doesn't like me, and for the life of me, i don't know what the hell i did to warrant this attitude from her. Well, getting back to the dirty deed that she did. I was disconnected from the dialyzer and went to do my weight. I returned and my daughter had arrived by that time, and notice, that my davita tote, was on the floor, and she notice that there was water on the floor, and she said it while that tech was busy doing something with the dialyzer, do you know she simply ignored my daughter, and continued to do whatever she was doing to the dialyzer. My tote was drenched under the bottom, but what i can't understand is, that she didn't even say i'm sorry, or even had any concern for my tote being wet. That is when i decided that she must be just hateful, for no good reason. This was the last straw, i was truly pissed off, and i said to myself, well i won't say anything to her, because i don't want to get angry, and go home, with all this negativity, so what I did however, was bring this to the attention of my neprologist. I come in,every morning and say good morning to everyone, and even try to put a smile on my face, (even with this godforsaken hour, that we have to be at the unit), but this tech, is just hateful in the morning. Well, i will be busy for the next month, with the preparation for our annual PKD walk for the cure event on Sunday, Oct 9, 2011. I will be doing a booksigning at the event as well, so i'd better get busy, ordering extra copies of my books and also personal bookmarks to give away as well. I also plan to provide, some sample appetizers from the cookbook section of my book. Well, that is it for my blogging today, Until next blog, take care
Glo

Wednesday, September 13, 2011

oh wow guys, where to start. today, 9:00AM, is my appt. to have fluid drained from around my lungs. It was started off, with the registration of course, and then five minutes later, i was called in, to be prepped for the procedure. First, the doctor, introduced herself, and then she had me sign a paper, (you know about the risk factors involved in doing this procedure). She then preceded by doing an ultra sound on my lungs, to see, how much fluid is around my left as well as my right. She viewed my right lung, and said that there wasn't as much on my right side, and then she continued by viewing my left lung, which indicated an excessive amount of fluid. She also told me, that she will only do the lung that has the most fluid, that being my left. She then tells me to undressed from the waist down. I also informed her, that i had a band on, to secure an existing umblicial hernia, and she said, can you take it off, for just about 1/2 hour. I guess that would be OK. She also ask me, when was the last time i took my aggrenox (blood thinner), and i told her Sunday, as i was instructed by her colleague, Dr. Miller. First, she numbed my back with a few injections of lidocaine, of course that hurt, but the medication itself, stung like the dickens, the needle sticks were a piece of cake, felt like a small insect bite. The needle was then inserted, and she told me, that i wouldn't feel any pain from the needle insertion, but there would be some pressure, as it was going in. While she began to drain the fluid, she kept saying it is coming out fine, but as she was filling this large glass bottle full of fluid, i started to have some intolerable discomfort, under my left arm, and then it traveled to my chest, as well as the left side of my neck, so she began to slow the flow down, by putting it in a large bag, and that was still causing me some discomfort, because i began to cough uncontrollably, but she remark with a very positive statement about that, she said it is good that you are coughing, because your lungs, are beginning to expand, so the more you cough the better. She decided to slow the process even more, by putting the remaining fluid in some large syringes. When she was finish with me, i looked behind me at the table, and saw two large bottles, a large bag, and four syringes, full of fluid, and I swear, my fluid looked like beer, with foam, and everything (lol). After she cleaned my back, from using the aesptic to sterilize the area, i put my top and bra, back on. My back felt very sore, and she told me this should subside by tommorrow, however, she gave me a prescription for pain relief, and of course, she didn't allow me to walk out, i was placed in a wheelchair, to avoid hemmoraging as much as possible. The procedure, wasn't so bad, but sitting on the edge of that hospital bed, almost to the point, of falling off, and placing my arms on a table in front of me, i was on pins and needles, while the procedure was in progress. I went home, and about four hours, i was having back spasms, i tolerated it about four times, and then i decided to take a pain killer to ease this pain, yeah, i know (i'm a weep, i don't do pain very well, ha ha!). Taking that pain killer, made me so relaxed and drowsy, i ended up sleeping most of the day. Now, that that is over, i will be seeing my neph tommorrow, and he will discuss, where do we go from here, as i was only suppose to be on hemo for about six weeks, and now i am in my 3rd month of this hemo. Until next blog, take care and all the best to my bloggers. Glo

Saturday, September 10, 2011

hi all, i arrived at the unit at 5:15 AM, and after i took my weight - (45.9), i didn't put on much extra fluid, so it should be a pretty good run, right!. I walked over to my assigned stationed, and guess who i saw (about three machines down the way from me, tending to another patient's machine, yes, you guess it, that tech that has these issues about my time on. Well, she brought her ass over to me, and still was taking her time, setting up my machine, (in my oppinion, she is aware of my time on, so why don't she ever have my machine prepped and ready for the nurse to connect), i think she is the reason, why the nurse is never at my station, because she is not doing her part of the job, and got nerve to ask me again about my put on time, i have had quite enough of this woman's drama, and then she had the audacity, to ask me once again, what is my put on time, and of course, I've gotten a little fed up with this constant question, so i said to her, you ask me this, everytime you are assigned to me, by now, you should know my exact put on time, and then she said, but you didn't tell me what is your put on time,(all smart like), and at that moment, i thought she was being a little too vicious about all this. I remarked with, you know the same time always, 5:30 AM, by that time it was 5:22 AM, and my nurse, hadn't even come over to connect me, and i also continued the conversation with that tech, and i responded with, i know darn well you saw me when i arrived at my station, and for that matter, i think you saw me when i came in and promptly went to the scale to do my weight, i don't know for the life of me, why you have a problem with me and my scheduled put on time. She just started setup the dialzyer, and just completely ignored me. This tech has the worst bed side manner, maybe she is like this, because she has to come in so early. We patient that come in at this early hour, try to come in cheery and with a positive attitude, inspite of maybe having shortness of breath, or we are a little miserable with the weekend fluid overload, and we don't want to come in, and observe a tech having a nasty attitude, or even in a bad mood, we can do without all that noise. In my opinion, if they are having personal issues before they arrive at the unit, don't bring it to the unit, and take it out on the patients. Well finally i am on at 5:40AM. And the nurse, says she will continue to target my dry weight, so the target is 1kg. I was still so pissed at that tech, that i chatted a little with the nurse, as she was connecting me, (even talking with my mask on (lol) i remarked with, doesn't the tech assigned to my station, have to be aware of the patients time on,(i am sure it is written on the pts. chart, right! and aren't they responsible for the setting up of the machine, and the nurse, responded with, i guess so, and i said ain't no guess so in it, every other techs, besides her, always have my machine setup and ready for the connection process of the treatment. Maybe you guys need to observe the way that tech, is following protcol, where the setup of the machine is concerned, that is one reason, why i don't get on at my scheduled time, and the nurse, said maybe we will have to look into that, but there are four more catherers besides yourself, that are put on at the same time, and i said not no more, because two of them have begun to use there grafts, and the other one has returned to PD. So i remarked with, did you get three new catherer just recently, and the nurse responded with, i am not sure, i continued with, why are you not sure, you just said you have three more catherers to connect, besides myself. So, she like they usually do, just simply ignored me, (that is their way of not pressing the issue, i do think i might have caught her in a lie, right!. I wasn't born yesterday, so you can't play that side of the record anymore, with this three more besides yourself jazz. They just don't know who they are dealing with, i am a long time hemo patient from the past, just like i titled my first book - My Renal Life (i know it, i live it), i didn't peg that title for my health, i know exactly what i am talking about, hemodialysis is an old friend of mine (i don't think many of these new staff in hemo, are aware of my long dialysis history). After my treatment has begun, my daughter was in the meantime, chatting with the patient on my left, after she saw that i had gotten on, she pushed her chair over to me, i turned the TV on (provided for our entertainment viewing), The old Babar series was on, and my daughter lit up like it was christmas, that little girl, (i could see it clearly right through her eyes), (even though she is soon to be 25 yrs. old). In a way, it was a delight to see that little innocence from her past, hasn't faded away (in spite of her age, she will always be my baby). On with the treatment, after Babar went off, she told me she was going to go to the Mall for a couple of hours, and she will be back, right before my take off time. After she left, i looked over at the three other catherer patients, that started, when i returned to hemo. I ask a nurse, about them, and she gave me the story about all of them, one lady, was on temp hemo, until her graft healed, and she is now, dialyzing from her graft, and there is a gentlemen, about my age, that also had a graft that needed to heal, and he has now graduated to using his graft as well. The third patient, in her early 40's, whom i noticed hasn't been there for a few treatments, i discovered that she had returned to PD, because she was like me, had to have a hernia repaired. Now, after hearing this, you know, i felt alone, because of my latest health issues, i won't be returning to hemo for awhile, so i will have to sport this catherer accessory for a little while longer. Well that's life, i got to thinking instead of me being all negative about hemo from a cath, i should be thankful to God, that i can return to hemo, temporary, until my other health issues are remedied. You never know, even if you are doing well with your PD treatment, other health issues can arise from time to time, that will force you to return to hemo. So, in away that perm cath, (no matter how much i hate it), has been a blessing for me, so from now on. I will include in my prayers the blessing of catherer hemo. Well that is it for my blogging today, until next blog, take care and all the best to my bloggers. Oh, i almost forgot my weight after treatment - 44.9, i think that is too low, because i was cramping like a crazy fool. (lol)
Glo

Thursday, September 8, 2011

oh wow! Where to start, i have so much to share, and first i will start with my hemodialysis treatment today. For once, no one complained about the time i arrived, as i had my case manager, Ray, talk to the head about a certain tech, who is the only one that comes with that bull sh!t (excuse my french, but i was truly pissed), first of all, having to get up at 4:15 AM, and bust my ass, getting to the unit at 5:15AM, especially not having much energy or getup these days, because my lung issues, i came to the unit, looking for that so and so tech, but she was off, and the nurse, that last put me on, wasn't there either, so Ray couldn't confront them. However, the tech and nurse, that assist me with my preparation for put on, didn't say a thing, it was pleasant, and my treatment was running smoothly, until about 15 minutes before take off, i began to cramp in my left calf, and my UF, was then turned off. Believe or not, i am happy that i finally experience cramping, because that gave me an indication that i had reached my target dry weight. After she turned my UF off, i began to cramp in my right calf as well, now, that is just showing off, i wanted some cramping, but not that much cramping. It was almost like i had never stop Hemo, after ten years, it was all dejavu, just like i remembered, but what i don't want to experience, is that rapidly plummeting b/p episode,i swear it feels like you are losing touch with reality, can't hear, the vision gets severely blurred, i truly don't like this feeling. I took my weight, after i was disconnected and the usual cleansing and dressing for my catherer, i went to do my weight and it displayed - 45.2kg, after many weeks of challenging my weight,with no success, i think i had finally reached my target dry weight. Although i am still having these symptoms, excessive coughing and shortness of breath. I went home and NAP for a couple of hours. I was suppose to have a live chat with Oprah on facebook, but that didn't transpire, as i think something was truly wrong with facebook, because others registered for the live chat, left a message, that they couldn't navigate this feature on f/b. I was truly disappointed, as i had left her a message on her wall, about the possibility of talking about CKD, which is very seriously on the rise in this country and all over the world for that matter. I mentioned about spreading the awareness of CKD, and urge people to get tested for possible early stage CKD, so that preventive measures can be taken to help in prolonging or even in some cases, reverse the progression of CKD, especially those with a history or family history of diabetes and/or high blood pressure (2 of the main causes of CKD). After the nurse at the unit, checked my lungs, he said it was very diminished on the right side, and they called my neph, to have an x-ray done. After i returned home, after the x-ray, an hour later, a doctor called about discussing the possibility of doing a procedure to drain the fluid from around my lungs, and he also said i had a collapsed lung, and this wasn't good news for me, regarding my surgerical procedures, because of this collapsed lung, i can't have anesthesia (i hope i spelled that correctly), so my neph called, and told me, that they will have to put off, the surgery until next month sometime. Of course this very much was disappointing news to me, because like i mentioned during my early return to hemo, i don't like doing hemo from a catherer, well i will have to endure it for a little while longer, and besides after this draining procedure is complete, i was told i should feel much better, and have more energy, as it was very draining for me, i would cough consistently all day, and then at night, and i had very restless nights, having to sleep on top of four pillows, just to get some relief from shortness of breathe. I know what you say, when it rains, it pours, my sentiments exactly, but i am a trooper, i been through so much through out this 20 yr journey, and i have triumph, with my faith and belief in him, i know all things are possible, and like i always say, God is always in the business of healing, but something good came out of this, i can still participate in our annual PKD walk for the cure event in San Francisco on Oct 9. I didn't want to have my surgery before that time, as i needed to go through a recovery stage, and i may not be able to do my booksigning, as i look forward to that every year. I will be having my draining procedure, next wednesday. Wish me all the best. Until my next blog, take care and all the best to my followers.
Glo

Saturday, September 3, 2011

hi all, in this early morning, i can't believe i would be so pissed. Now the scenarios, i arrived at the unit at 5:15AM, promptly did the usual, took my weight, and then i passed by the reception desk, where there was a nurse (whom i wasn't aware, would be the one to put me on). This little part is going to bare some significance to the continued occurence, (please read on), i went to my assigned chair, and my daughter assisted me in draping my blue blanket over the chair, and then i sat down, waiting to start the preparation for my hemo treatment. Meanwhile, as i was sitting, Nuria (a tech), was right next to me, doing whatever on the computer. Now it is 5:30AM, and she had the audacity, to say, you are suppose to be put on at 5:30AM, so you need to be here at least, 15 minutes before that, and i looked at her with daggers, before i could say anything, she had already pissed my daughter off, so my daughter remarks with, "my mom was here since 5:15AM, and just waiting for you guys to start the preparation for her treatment, so then about 5:40AM, that same nurse that i saw sitting at the reception desk, saw me, and didn't even acknowledge me. I had to rebut with something to miss smarty pants, Nuria, when i came and sat down, you were standing right next to us on the computer, Then i continued by asking her, you remind me of this absent minded professor that i used to work for at USF, and she said, why, because girl for the life of me, i don't know why you didn't see me come in, and sit down at my assigned chair. You know that girl, didn't even apologize to me, for pissing me off with that time sh!t (excuse my french, i don't usually curse), but she truly made me angry, as she has done this two times before. My daughter started observing the big clocks on the wall, one behind me and the one on the far back wall, in which my daughter said, these clocks are not in sync, she also remarked to Nuria, you be looking at that clock that is on the back wall, and this one (pointed at the clock), truly is behind by 8 minutes, and that other one behind my mom, isn't accurate either, is 6 minutes behind, so tell me, what clock are you looking at?, or are you looking at your own personal watch, that may not be accurate as well, Tiffany was saying this with disgust in her voice, i could hear it as plan as day, like a mother, i told her to calm down and sit down. Then to top that off, i had just spoken to my case manager (Ray), about challenging my target weight, and i then told this to the nurse, that was connecting me to the dialyzer, and she said i don't have any orders from the doctor for that, they said to take you down to 46kg, is what i have documented here, and then began to get angry, as Ray assured me, that he would talk to one of the nurses about changing this on the day before treatment. After i am on for 15 minutes, another nurse decides to come over, i guess when she had some leisure time, to tell that nurse, about her conversation with Ray yesterday, after hearing this from that other nurse, the nurse changes my target weight to 45.5, but you know what! that nurse, didn't even apologize to me, after this other nurse relayed the message from Ray, or the one that took her own sweet time, getting this message to the nurse, when i think if she was professional enough, she should have documented this on my flowsheet for today, and then there wouldn't be all this trying to persuade my nurse assigned to me, that they needed to challenge my target dry weight. I have just about had it with this old incompetent unit. The main issue with this unit, is that they don't all communicate, where a pts. well-being is concerned. I can't wait to have my surgery and get off this damn hemo. I miss PD so much, i never realized this, until i had to make this temporary return to hemo. After the treatment was over, i returned home for a 2 hour Nap, and then my husband, (always thinking of something sweet to do), tells me to get up and get ready to take a ride, and then i thought maybe we are going to take one of those leisure trips, through the Napa Valley, but no, we went all the way to Tahoe, and i had a ball, i got to go to that huge Craft Market in Carson City, and as we were driving up to the craft store, i saw a dialysis unit called Liberty Dialysis, Carson City. I wanted to stop in, but we were pressed for time, as i didn't want to got to this no smoking casino for a spell. We left Tahoe and headed Reno. We decided to dine in Reno, before partaking in any slot machine enjoyment. We dine at this restaurant, a real nice restaurant, located above the Harroh casino floor. I dine on open face turkey sandwich, with mashed potatoes, a lots of gravy, with a side dish of cranberry sauce, and a dinner salad on the side, i know, that sounds like a thanksgiving dinner, but i don't care, i just loved my turkey dinner, while my husband daughter, indulged in the special, steak, eggs & hash browns. My husband & daughter were set on a steak dinner, even though it turned out to be a steak breakfast dinner, that they serve 24/7. When then finished our dinner, and went back down stairs to play the slot machines (my daughter & I having to hold our breathe, by putting our coat over our mouth and nose, but as we got deeper into the casino, we saw a couple of slot machines, that had empty ashtrays and we didn't spell anymore smoke from those darn cigarettes, i guess you can tell i am not a smoker or is my daughter, i guess my husband can stomach this smoke in the air, because he was once a smoker, three decades ago, he stopped cold turkey, when our daughter was born. I started off with $5.00, i didn't do very well, as i didn't bring the kind of money to play some serious slot machines, but i did stop at $10.00, and cashed in, and went to another casino called The Silver Legacy, and lost all of that $10.00, by that time, i was ready to go. My husband was playing Keno, and didn't win, but anyway, this trip wasn't about winning any fortune, my husband just wanted to get my mind off the occurences at the unit, and just have some fun and relaxation. Well, that is it for my blogging for today, until the next blog, take care and i wish all my followers all the best.
Glo

Thursday, Sept 1, 2011

hi all, starting off the third month of hemo treatment, i lost count, of what treatment # this is. The usual, arrived at 5:15 AM, start time 5:30 PM, my actual time to start. About fifteen minutes into the treatment, i started to feel nauseated, so my UF was turn off for awhile, until the nausea subside, or if not, i would be administered some nausea relief medicine, but that was not the case, about a 1/2 hour after the UF was turn off, my nausea was completely gone. The nurse then comes back, and after she was aware that my nausea had subsided, she ask me, to bring my medications in to be evaluated, and i immediately told her, oh, you got to be kidding, i have enough with bringing this huge tote bag with these blankets, i haven't brought in medication, since i transition to PD. They keep a record of my medication regiment, and because i know all my meds, and have known for over a decade, i go over the meds, and any changes, that had been made during any of my hospital stays, in which, that is when i mainly have medication changed or adjusted in any way. Now, about my current meds, just before i returned to hemo, my meds hadn't changed much, but a month after being on hemo again, i was hospitalized and my b/p med was changed somewhat. I was taking cozaar for over three years, and when i was recently hospitalized, my cozaar (25 mg/twice a day) was changed to norvasc, (5 mg/once a day, my cozaar and coreg, was working very well for me, while on PD, i guess it doesn't work as well on hemo, go figure!. As you should be aware, my iron, vitamin D, & potassium supplements, have been put on hold, since returning to hemo, temporary, because i can get these meds administered through my tubing on hemo, so that is three less meds that i have to take on the regular, orally. I spoke with my case manager at kaiser, about my results from my ct-scan, done last saturday. My case manager, Ray, told me that from the results, it showed that i truly need to have my adrenal gland removed, and this is due to the numerous amount of hormones that they are producing, which is the main cause of my high b/p level, i am taking 3 b/p meds, plus a clonidine patch, to help in controlling my b/p level, and with this gland removal, my b/p can be controlled with less b/p meds, isn't that wonderful news, now, for some more bad news, my kidneys are crowding, because of the excessive amount of cyst on each kidney, plus you know it started with my return to hemo, that i needed to have an umblical hernia repaired and by the removal of both my kidneys, it would lessen the risk of the development of the reoccurence of another hernia. So, i guess you say, i have a great deal on my plate at this time, right! i continue to have faith and belief in the almighty up above, that i will triumph through all this, just like i have done in the past, with so much on my plate during my 20 yr. journey on dialysis. God is always in the business of healing. Well that is it for my blogging today, take care and all the best to my followers.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

hi all, i arrived at the unit around 5:15AM, in the dark, and it is a very chilly morning. I did my weight - 47.4, went to my assigned station, the tech took my vitals, and my b/p was a little elevated, and i do know why, i will share this with you later on this blog. The RN didn't come around until 5:30 AM. She started the preparations by connecting my arterial and venous line, and then she preceded with the regular cleansing of the catherer and the surrounding area. After she examined my lungs and heart, she noticed that i was having breathing difficulties, and she hooked me up to some oxygen. After the treatment was over, i was breathing somewhat a little better. I went to weigh myself, the results - 46.6, i came back to the chair, and she checked my lungs again, and i ask her point blank, how was my lungs, and of course, she tells me, they sound clear. By this time, i don't know if i believe her, because they had been telling me, everytime i have treatment, that my lungs are clear. And as i shared with you a few weeks ago, i had to seek medical attention from ER, my weekends don't really go so well, as i seem to always experience breathing difficulty, after the second day of the weekend. Finding the x-ray showed, that i had fluid around my lungs and also pneumonia, so what does that tell you about hemo, that they really don't know if you have fluid lingering around your lungs or not. Like i mentioned in a previous post, dialysis units should invest in an x-ray machine, to know for sure, if a pt. could have excess fluid issues, all this guessing is not hitting on anything. For the life of me, what in the world, do those nurses be listening to, are they really trained to listen for certain sounds or what. Now, i must visit the PD department, in which i do miss. My transfer set is scheduled to be changed, because i will be having surgery sometime soon, and if i don't have my transfer set changed, i could be at a greater risk of the development of peritonitits, and i truly don't want to develop that. While i was there, i told them how much i miss them and the department, and they said the same in return. Before i left, one of the nurses, yells out from her office, hurry and get back to us,we miss you and she don't know how much i want to get back to PD. I know my PD catherer is working well, because i have to do a flush on the regular, while on hemo. I went to Kaiser, Vallejo, to the building where the medical secretaries are stationed, but when i got there, there was a note on the door, that they had moved the first part of August, and over to the new hospital, when we got over to the new hospital, and looked at the directory, yes, they were listed, but without a room number, so we ask at the volunteer desk, and she directed us to EKG, Electrocardiogram department. And when we went to the front desk of this department, they directed us to a side desk, where the medical secretaries department was at. I went up to the lady at the desk, and ask for a couple of authorization forms, and she gave me some long dance and song about, we need the insurance claim form, and i said i have been doing this for a decade and 1/2, and she said i have been here for quite awhile myself, and i replied with, out of all the years i have been submitting my insurance form, i have never seen you, then i remarked sacrastically with, this is one department, that can't seem to find a permanent home, and i know you are sharing space with the EKG/Electrocardiogram Dept., what gives, then i continued with, your department has been in several locations in the hospital, like i remember, when you guys were across from the cafeteria, in a little cuby hole, and then you moved across the street, in a building i think was perfect for you, because it was so convenient, and you didn't have to fight the hospital traffic, it was a easy get in, and get out, and now you are over here in the new hospital, and you still don't have much space to call your own, you are sharing. I just came by, to pick up some authorization forms, so that i can take them home and bring them back with the insurance claim form, like i always do, and have done for a long time, so she decided to give me three forms, and she apologized for the inconvenience. Well, that was the frustration part of my day. Until my next blog, isn't it a pain in the neck, when you have to deal with changes, and in this case, unnecessary changes, could it be something to do with money, why they had to move, go figure! I guess i am getting at the age, that i can't tolerate too much change or bullshit! (excuse my french), because that was what this was, is (bullshit). take care all my followers. i hope you have a great week, and don't have to deal with frustration like this. Glo

Saturday, August 27, 2011 - my ct-scan exam

hi all, i had my hemodialysis treatment today, and it went OK. I do hate saturdays, because there is nothing on TV to keep me from getting bored. I watched hawthorne, which went off at 6:00 AM, and i decided to do a word search for about an hour, and then i plugged in my MP3 player, and listen to some old steely dan tunes, seal, and a little bit of my favorite all time group (the isley brothers), this kept me busy, for awhile. The nurse comes around and announces i have ten more minutes left, so i then stopped listening to my MP3 player, and just starred at the TV, without the earphone to listen. There was some disney cartoons on, the emperors got his groove, or some cartoon like that. Those ten minutes seem endless, finally the nurse comes over to disconnect my catherer. The usual was done, she ask, did i cramp, feel dizzy or have any chest pains, (the usual drill), and i replied with :No". Finally, i am off and on my way home. Now mind you, yesterday my neph ordered a ct-scan to be done on my kidneys, and i had to drink this awful stuff called - Barium Sulfate Suspension - two large bottles of it had to be consummed before the procedure. I had to drink one bottle, two hours before and then drink the 2nd bottle an hour before the procedure. When i first started to drink this awful concoction, i could have thrown up, because it was the most hideous thing i had ever dranked. You should have seen me just struggling to drink this stuff, that was a thick white like liquid - and they had nerve to call it a banana smoothie, yeah right! i didn't even taste any inkling of a banana taste. I was just sipping it, until i looked at the time, and just try to take big gulps of it, i just decided to finally gut it down, without trying to taste it, it worked for the first bottle, but when it came time to drank the 2nd bottle, i was just procrasinating, looking at that glass of barium sulfate, and everytime i take a swag, i would look at the glass, to see how much has gone down. I was acting just like a child, that didn't want to take their medicine. It took me forever, to finish that 2nd bottle. While i was attempting to drink the 2nd bottle, my husband was worried about our dear friends in Virginia, and he was chatting with them, and thank God! they were OK, and sticking it out at home, he then called some of his siblings in New York, and they were reportedly OK, and just waiting to see whatever will transpire, once Hurricane Irene touch down in New York. After hearing that everyone is fine on the east coast, i got to thinking, these people are bracing for their lives, on what Hurricane Irene could possibly cause, when she wreak havoc on the big Apple, so why am i fretting over just dranking this stuff, that could be beneficial to my health, in getting better and back to normal. Finally i finished (it felt as though i was in a contest, and i finally got to the finish line),i was saying "Hooray" in my mind, i said to myself, what a task this was for me. i was so proud of myself, that i went upstairs, freshen up, and changed my attire, because i usually wear very warm clothe to the unit, in the wee hour of the morning, where it is always very chilly and brisky. I came back down stairs, and informed my husband, that i have finish taking that stuff and i am all ready to go to the hospital. By that time, Steven had fallen to sleep, plus he took me to the unit early in the morning, and he couldn't get back to sleep, so he had been up, since he picked me up from the unit. Before i left for the hospital, my daughter arrived from college, for a weekend visit, and she ended up taking me to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital, about 2:45 PM, so we were fifteen minutes late, and the receptionist, ask when did you finish the
2nd bottle, and i told her about 2:15 PM, and she said all sacarastically "you were suppose to drink the 2nd bottle an hour before your procedure, and i replied with "have you ever had to do this test and drink all that barium sulfate, and let me add, very awful tasting" and she said no, and i replied with "well then, look at the time i arrived - 2:45PM, that is why it took me so long to get here, because i had to stomach all that barium sulfate, and they had nerve to call it a banana smoothie, were they trying to jive us or what? While i was standing up there, while she ask for a $100 co-pay, kaiser is just as greedy as they can be, i had to sit down, while my daughter took care of the payment, but she came over to me, and told me to sign the little slip for payment and also fill out a questionnaire, (that they already have recorded in the computer), to me just unneccessary paperwork. Well, she saw that i wasn't looking too good, and ask did i need a wheelchair, but if you know me, i don't like wheelchairs, she said it is a pretty long walk over to the c-scan waiting room, and i replied with, i can walk, i will just be walking real slow. My daughter and I finally got over to the ct-scan waiting room, where there were two couples waiting and a lady on a gurney as well. I didn't know who was next, but as i was waiting, i started to feel a chill, it was so very cold in this waiting room. I joked with the white lady in a wheelchair, and said "you must knew it was going to be cold in here, i see you are wearing a nice warm coat, i wish i could just get cuddle up in that coat with you, she smiled and then her husband got a good kick out of it, he couldn't stop laughing, i must have made their day, or at least ease their tension from having anxiety about the test. My daughter decided to leave, and bring back my jacket, but right after she left, the guy came over to me, and took my paperwork, and then promptly called me in. I am so use to disrobing for varies procedures, i was so surprised that i didn't need to take off anything, he just said lie down on the table and put your hands over your head, this was not very comfortable position for me. We preceded with the scan, the table began to move towards that big white barrel like machine, that had a large round hole, that my table traveled through, then i was intructed to breathe, hold your breathe, and then exhale, i did this three times, during the procedure. Now it was over after about 15 minutes. I was on my way home, and for some strange reason, exhaustion came upon me, and i slept through the entire drive home. I finally arrived home and went straight to sleep on the living room couch, i didn't even attempt to go upstairs to my bedroom, i slept for several hours, and when i awakened, i had a very bad case of gas, and then i felt my stomach turning knots, and as i attempted to run upstairs, i had an accident in my panties, i just couldn't control my diarrhea. This damn stuff, cause me to have a case of diarrhea. Something i wasn't told about, prior to taking this stuff. I suppose, with being a kidney disease pt. that this could occur, because my kidneys can't get rid of the excess fluid, in which i had injested quite a bit of fluid from this awful stuff, correction this banana smoothie, yeah right! I continued to have diarrhea on and off, the rest of the evening. I had an important call to make to New York, that i didn't get a chance to make, because i was dealing with this uncalled for diarrhea. Well that is about it for my blogging today, but first a message to my fellow dialysis pts. and CKD pts. having this ct-scan procedure as a dialysis pts, i feel that the reason why i got diarrhea, is because of my non-kidney function, that it lingers in my blood, and can cause diarrhea, so if any of you have to have a ct-scan, without the dye injection, and are forced to drink that barium sulfate concotion, be on alert, that you could possibly develop diarrhea, and maybe take a diarrhea controlling med, prior to the test, so that you won't have to experience my embarassing moments, (you know can't hold it, until you can get to the toilet), it kinda reminds me of my pre-dialysis days, when i couldn't control my urine, having all those frequent miss the toilet episodes, you know). take care and all the best to my followers
Glo