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

thursday, august 25, 2011

hi all, today was a very interesting day. First, i was introduced to a fairly new dialysis pt., mainly new on dialysis. She stated she had been on dialysis for about eight months, and she is having the hardest time, with this renal diet. So, i told her that i had been following this renal diet for over two decades now, and i must admit, i still have my challenges from time to time, with this diet. I don't do that bad with monitoring my sodium, & potassium, but my phosphorus is another story, i do take my binders as prescribed, but my weakness is cheese and dishes cooked with cheese, though i try to stay away from the high phosphorus cheeses, and i try to make my favorite, mac and cheese, by using mozzarello, and maybe a tbsp. of shredded cheddar, (just to get that mac and cheese flavor), and i also use cream cheese, which is also low in phosphorus, and a little bit of brie, (which is also low in phosphorus as well). I told her to ask the dietitian for a chart, that states the low, moderate to low phosphorus foods. She then started talking about her long scare on her arm, (her access - graft). When she told me she had a graft, i said you must have those very small veins, like i do. Girl, i could share a story about my saga with numerous grafts. I continued by telling her, that previously i had four grafts in all, during my ten year run on hemo. And she said you were on hemo for ten years, and i replied with yes, but all in all, i have been on dialysis for two decades now. And she said, 20 years, you must know a lot about all that i have had to cope especially with this very complex renal diet. And i remarked with yes, but i still do have my challenges from time to time, and that is mainly because of all the restrictions placed on this diet, what to eat, what not to eat, what to eat in moderation, and what to limit in your diet, or recipe, or even what to omit altogether in a particular recipe. I did mentioned to her, that i share a great deal about this diet in my first as well as my second book, and also share easy cooking tips, and ways to enhance many of my recipes in my books. So, she ask me, can you share a few of your cooking tips from your book with me, and i said yes, i would be glad to, so i told her that you can get a salt taste without the salt, in many of the meat dishes, by using lemon juice & zest, if necessary and you can also enhance the flavor with ginger, in which i share my smothered lemon chicken w/ ginger in my 2nd book. So, i broke down and gave her the recipe for my smothered lemon chicken. I also shared that i enhance some of my dishes with varies wine vinegars, and maybe a dash of worchestire sauce for added flavor. I also told her i usually makeup my own seasoning blend, with a tbsp of garlic & onion powder, a dash of creole seasoning, a tbsp of mrs. dash table blend and a little dash of season salt, for added flavor, and with all these seasonings blended together, they marry so well together, and you don't have to add peer salt, oh, and don't forget about 1/2 tsp. of black pepper for a little spicy flavor. It depends on if you are making a beef stew, in which i add a dash of worchestire sauce, as well as red wine vinegar. She was so fascinated with what i was sharing with her, and she was writing a lot of what i shared with her as i spoke. Then we got back on the graft, and i shared with her, that when i was on my third graft, some people thought i was a drug addict, and even on one occasion i was even mistaken for a gun shot wound victim. So, you see, yes, i have had my issues, but since i was diagnosed with ESRD in 1990, people today know what is dialysis, and even know someone on dialysis, more so than back then, that is why people were identifying me that way back then. On another occasion, i will share with the stories about these mistaken identites, that i experienced, it is way too much to share at this present time. She said you have been through a great deal. I do share my entire 20 year journey in the dialysis world in my second book, and as an added bonus, i share my pre-dialysis days as well, so that readers can see, that they are so fortunate to be diagnosed today with CKD and have the creation of GFR to help in better monitoring the stages of CKD, GFR is a blessing in my opinion, and i wish to God, that it was in existence back in 1990, when i was first diagnosed with ESRD. It was almost time for both our 3 hour treatment session to be over. My treatment went very well, as we both didn't experienced that low b/p drop or those excruiating cramps. Well that is it for my blogging today, take care and all the best to my followers. Until next blog, HD, PD, HHD pt. stay compliant with your renal diet and medication regiment. Glo

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Hi all, now that i have rested after my hemo session today, i feel pretty rejuvenated. Now on with the blog, as i dedicated my previous blog to the highs and lows of blood pressure, i would like to dedicate this blog to the medication regiment. I felt compelled to talk about the medication regiment, after my discussion today with a unit nurse. As you maybe aware of my recent hospitalization, i discovered the following day, after the pain meds had finally wore off, this nurse brought my medications to take for that morning, during that lousy display of a breakfast (lol), which consist of cereal, (with a tbsp of low fat milk, in which the dietitian pour in all by her lonesome, it was as though she didn't trust me to put a small amount of milk in the cereal myself, i was so insulted and offended by this, and then throwing the rest of the milk in the trash, right in front of me, she wasn't discreet whatsoever) and also those powder substance type scrambled eggs, and a small cup of no syrup fruit cocktails (which didn't taste like the fruit it looked like (lol). Well, on with the morning meds, this nurse, brought in six phosphorus binders for me to take, and i told her i don't take but three binders, with my breakfast, because i don't eat much for breakfast the majority of the time, and she replied with, but this amount is on your chart, and i said girl, i have been on dialysis for over two decades, and i should know what works for me, it seems you have a very outdated medication record for me, so she said you are not going to take all six, and i said, i surely am not, you can best believe that! So, she said i have already scan your hospital band for six, well i am sorry, you can scan all you want, i am not taking but the require 3 binders with my breakfast. She had to be one of those by the book type nurses, right! Well, she said what are you going to do with the other three, and i said scrasticially, (i hope i spelled that right, if not, you know what i was trying to say), i will take my three and just look at the rest, and she kinda showed a little humor in that sargent at arms deamnor of hers, and chuckled just a little, i can see it is going to be hard to break into her humor side, (lol). Then she preceded to give me the rest of my morning meds, which i am so keen with the knowledge of my medication regiment, i notice that one of the meds, didn't look like something i have ever taken before, so i ask her what is this pill for, and she said is to control your b/p, and i replied with, no it is not!, so i went on remarking with, what is the name of this particular pill, and she said norvasc, Norvasc! well i was wrong, because i had taken norvasc, previously during my ten year run on hemo, and that was way back in 1998, and i recalled, my neph immediately stop this med, because it would make me fatigue and nostaglic. So, i did apoligize to her, but i was still baffled as to why would they have me take this med again, what has it improved since the late 90's, what did they take out the drowsy affect, that it once had. i want to know, because i don't like to be surprised with a new med, or in this case, a previous med that i have taken. I said what b/p meds do you have in my records, and she said i have norvasc and coreg. Wait! Stop! Rewind! So she repeated it, and i replied with up until yesterday, i was taking cozaar and coreg. Who changed my b/p med regiment? And she said the MD in charge of you on this floor. Well, i took the med, but when my neph finally visited me, i promptly ask him, why was my cozaar changed to norvasc? So, he said per the cardiolgist that felt that norvasc and coreg, would work better to control your b/p. Well, i am all for change, if it is for the better, but what i don't understand is that the cozaar and coreg, was working fine in helping to control my b/p on PD, so what gives, is it that since my temp return to hemo, the cozaar doesn't work as well, tell me something, because Dr. Ahmad, i just refilled my cozaar, before this recent hospitalization. Now, back to the nurse at the unit, i told her, that through the diagnose, i had fluid around my lungs from the ct-scan, and pnemonia in the process, and that was why i was doing so much uncontrollable coughing on the regular. You would think that the dialysis unit must have had other pts. who experience what i experienced, and that they would take this into account, just in case they are presented with another pt. in the future with these issues, plus like i said in a previous post, these units should invest in a x-ray machine, because they can be truly on top of the possibility that a pt. could have fluid around their lungs, and maybe hospitalization wouldn't be necessary, that is only my opinion. Now, back to medication, it is so important for a pt. to become very keen about what their medication regiment is, at all times, when it is changed, or if a new med is prescribed. I have stated in both my books, throughout my many years of being on dialysis, i have had medication changed, substituted for another, temporary stopped, rotated to every other day, increased, decreased and restarted. So look just one of my meds was just recently changed in the hospital, without my knowledge, that is one reason why i pursued to find out when and why was one of my b/p meds changed. Just like i said, there is so much drama to face with this very unique life of dialysis. Well, that is about it for my blogging today, take care and all the best to my followers, and in closing, please dialysis pts. whether you be on hemo, PD and also HHD, get very acquainted with your meds, and try your best to stay as compliant with your medication regiment as best as you can. I know first hand, that medication isn't prefect, and as you can see, from my statement, about how my meds have been compromised with changes out the yen yen, medication is not perfect, but yes, through the years many of the meds that i have been on, have been very beneficial in helping me to triumph through all these obstacles that i have been faced with for so many years. let me end this blog, before i think of something else to start preaching about regarding my health. Please my followers, chime in and share any of your medication plights. Glo

thursday, August 18, 2011

hi guys, though i am still a little weak and fatigue, i need to share this with you guys. I dedicate this blog, to high blood pressure. Having recently experiencing low b/p levels, i wanted to share my 20 years of struggling with high b/p levels vs. low b/p levels. My first encounter with high blood pressure, started way back in 1986, the year i had my premature daughter at a little under six months. I was prescribed aldomet, (a mild form of blood pressure controlling meds), though i developed preclampsia, during my almost six months of pregnancy, it was apparent that i had to have emergency c-section, because i was told that my baby had a far better chance of survival, than i did. A c-section had to be done, in order to save me. My daughter was born at 1 lb. 10 oz. After she was delivered, they immediately started working on me, with very strong meds, that would have killed my baby. To make a long story short, i have been on b/p controlling meds, since then. Though through the years of my life on dialysis, i have had my bouts with low as well as high b/p levels. I remember when i was first diagnosed with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease), in turn mean Stage 5, dialysis was the end result, i was promptly put on a more stronger b/p controlling med, and i remain on this med, under the care of a wonderful neph (Dr. John Weaver), he would always get angry at something that i would share with him, let it be about a new med or the way things are done in the unit, he would never say a swear word, but he would always say witchcraft, and i knew exactly what he meant, it was a substitute for a curse word (lol). Well a few years later, kaiser decides to assign a neph to the unit, and i had no other choice, but to make this transition, since i had kaiser insurance as my secondary insurance plan. i wasn't too pleased with this, since i could never seem to reach my kaiser neph most of the time. I loved the convenience of having my neph, housed in the very same building i was having hemo treatment. Now, when i was transfered to the kaiser neph, she changed my b/p med, and that is when i started having my saga with high blood pressure, she had me on two different b/p meds, and it proved to not be the right b/p meds, to help in controlling my b/p. I could remember it as though it happen just yesterday, i was at her office for a checkup, and when the nurse took my vitals, she discovered that my b/p was quite elevated, though i was having a very severe headache, because of this high b/p level, my neph, immediately wheeled me over to ER. My mom said she wanted to laugh, because she had never witness a doctor wheeling there patient to ER. I guess she felt guilty for changing my b/p med, when she became my neph. Well, the b/p med that i was on with Dr. Weaver, there were times, when my b/p was under control, but of course, an occasional elevated b/p. Now a decade with having this kaiser neph as my doctor, i am finally by the Grace of God, assigned a new neph from kaiser, and he immediately took over my case, had my thyroid glands removed, (because of my 1000 mark PTH), so that my PTH can be in normal range. I was never told that your PTH levels, can cause health issues, when they are very elevated, i was also told that if i keep my phosphorus in normal range, that would lessen the development of a high PTH level, but that was not necessarily true, because my phosphorus well in the normal range, now my calcium that was another issue, that calcium was another issue, that no one cared to share with me, you see the Phosphorus, calcium & PTH, work hand in hand, and need to be well managed. I did acknowledge my neph (Dr. Waseem Ahmad), who i adore as my doctor, it is always a delight being in his presence, because he explains things to me, so that i can understand, my condition, and a new medical development, and most importantly what needs to be done, and why he is prescribing a certain new med,well new to me. i would always ask him, does this med have any severe side effects, that i have to deal with. While under the care of Dr. Ahmad, i was prescribed two b/p meds, plus a clonidine patch, to help in controlling my blood pressure. I currently take two b/p controlling meds, and i have done very well, just the occasional elevated b/p and of course low b/p at times. Because of this see saw b/p that i experience from time to time, i developed a minor stroke in 1999 and 2007, but i am here to say, that most of the time my b/p is well controlled, accept from the recent bout with low b/p, but i am going to work at getting my b/p well controlled as we speak. You know having CKD, high blood pressure can be experienced, that is why it is so important to do all you can to keep the blood pressure well controlled, because there are so many other health issues, that could arise with high blood pressure, the development of a stroke, and of course heart related issues. I share a great deal about my saga with the silent killer (better known as high blood pressure) in my second book - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World. Now, i have shared enough on the culprit, (blood pressure). I hope you are aware, that low b/p is just as bad as high b/p levels. Now, before i forgot, i didn't share, how my hemo treatment went today. It went well, until about 20 minutes, before i had completed my treatment for today, i experienced one of those dreadful leg cramps, that was in my right leg, right in the calf of my leg. It wasn't long before the nurse remedied this cramp. I got to thinking about my previously hemo days, in which i had a ten year run. There was this one time, when i experienced one of these cramps, and the tech was trying to relieve it, by rubbing my leg up and down, but no! let me get to twisted part of this story, as she was trying to give me relief, Ellen talk show had begun, and you know me, in so much pain, i was still trying to look over the techs shoulder, so see what song ellen was dancing too, because that is the highlight of her show for me. I love the songs she chooses, because most of the time, they are very nostalgic, and they often bring back fond memories for me, and i think, that was a time when i wasn't on dialysis, (just feeling healthy, without a care in the world), when one of those songs, would be shared on her show, (Tony, her dj, as an awesome collection of 60, 70, 80, 90 and of course varies todays hits, those sure were the good ole days. After this cramp was relieved, i got to thinking about a time, when i had just finished my treatment, and i was on my way home, i was driving on the freeway, and then about ten minutes driving, i experience yet another cramp, i immediately pulled onto the shoulder of the freeway, and promptly got out the car, and started hopping around, trying to get rid of this cramp, but the trip thing about all this, is my mom, decided to put the icing on the cake, (so to speak), she got out the car and began punching the back of my leg, trying to rid me of this cramp, and i think today about that scene on the freeway, what if this was today, where most people have those cell phones, with a camera, because as my mom was trying to get rid of the cramp, cars, trucks, and vans were showing down to see what was happening, that the traffic started to get backed up, and then i thought, i am so glad that there weren't any cell phones in existence with camera, because i believe those cars that was slowly down to see, they would probably have been taking picture after picure, and sending them to friends and family, and then i started thinking more seriously, about what would happen, if someone from one of those vehicles, would take a picture and have the nerve to send it to jay leno, so that he could make fun of the picure, and also do a trivia with his audience, and say something like what do you think is occurring in this picture? i am sure it appeared to those vehicles that was watching, that my mom was trying to hurt, because i was hollering at the same time, while hopping around, this is something Jay Leno lives for, on his show right!. Well, i have rant & rave enough on this blog. as always take care and all the best to my followers. Share a comment sometime, of a very humorous moment with your cramping episode. Oh, most of the time, when a patient would cramp on the machine, it mainly is because they have reached their targeted dry weight, and the machine starts to pull the muscle weights, i wish that the dialzyer could detect it has reached the dry weight, and there is a feature, that can immediately turn off the UF, but of course, i can dream right! and i am here to tell you, those cramps can be the worst excruiating pain ever, but the remedy is well soothing, although sometimes after i have had a cramp, my calf muscle is so sore, that i have to go home and put a icy hot patch on, one of my many home remedies (lol) oh wow! i found the strength to type this blog, although i don't usually type this slow, but nonetheless, i finished this blog, right!
Glo

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

hi guys, i have so much to share on this blog, now, where to start. Last Saturday night, i couldn't breathe very well, i had to sleep on about four pillows, to feel comfortable with sleeping, but that didn't last, i was still somehow experiencing breathing difficulties. Steven suggest that i go to ER, and be checked out. It is about 10PM and we arrived at ER, and was immediately registered in, because of my breathing difficulties, the nurse immediately gave me some oxygen. I felt a little bit better. The ER doc came in, about fifteen minutes later, and ordered an x-ray of my chest. This test didn't take long at all. Now, at this time, i am wandering if they will admit me or late me go home, but after i had the x-ray and the results came back promptly, it indicated that i had fluid around my lungs. Now, i am thinking that hemo isn't going as well for me, because this was only the day of treatment, that i found this out. However, right after my treatment session is over, and the nurse checks my lungs and heart, i ask her or him, every time, are my lungs clear, and they remark with yes, so i didn't think nothing of it, but after this latest diagnose at the ER, when i return to hemo, they better be up front about any fluid that i am retaining. All they do is check my ankles and say your fluid levels are fine. I even wander if they are aware, that fluid can be retain around your lungs. I truly think that all dialysis units, should be equipped with an x-ray machine, to detect fluid around the lungs or heart, for that matter, and what they should do to remedy this, but i guess with the economy plights, Davita wouldn't consider providing this for their patients, (it maybe way too expensive, to provide this kind of equipment, plus employ someone who is skilled with this machine. Well back to my hospital stay, after the diagnose of fluid around the lungs, the dialysis nurse, decided to challenge my dry weight. They decided to take off 2.5 on that Sunday, and the nurse called it bump treatment session, out of all my years of being on dialysis, i never heard this form of hemo treatment. the dialysis nurse explained it to me, that, that means they only take off the extra fluid gain, instead of the usual toxin, waste and fluids. You learn something new everyday, right! About a few hours after i completed this bump treatment, my b/p was drastically dropping. I can't tolerate 80's and 90's very well. My b/p was finally starting to elevate, 114/67, that is OK, but i usually feel better with 120 b/p. It is the next day, wednesday morning, and the doctor in charge of our floor, comes in and examine me (you know the usual, check the lungs, and then the heart), and he said i could go home, but he says i will get a visit from my neph, before i am officially discharged. And about 10:30AM my neph pays me a visit, and he does the very same exam(you know the lungs and heart). My last reading with the nurse, my vitals were pretty OK, my oxygen - 100%, so i didn't no longer need the oxygen to breathe. My b/p was 114/72, and that was fine. So, i began to get dress and put my things together, but after i dressed, i started feeling faint and very fatigue, to the point that i had to lay back in bed. The nurse then takes my vitals again, and the b/p displayed 86/57, i knew right then and there, that i wasn't going to be discharged, until my b/p came up. The nurse then brings me some straight high sodium chicken broth. I was so loving this broth, because finally i could taste salt again (lol). In my opinion, with this very strict renal diet, i can't help but have low b/p level. I even said to the nurse, i hate this food in this hospital, i continued on by saying, you need some salt in your diet, to help bring the b/p up. Whoever said that a strict renal diet, will help elevate your b/p. Well, back to my discharge day, my b/p was taken 15 minutes later, after i drank the broth, and it went up a little, 94/62, but that was still not tolerable for me, because when i stood up, i began to experience that faint and fatigue feeling again. I lied down on the bed, for another hour or so. The nurse finally comes back to take my vitals once again, my oxygen level still holding at 98%, oh, and i wasn't running a fever, each time my vitals were taken by the nurse. She then takes my b/p - it finally up to 114/72. I felt much better when i stood up, she even told me to take a walk around the halls of this wing of the hospital. I felt so good after taking too laps around the halls and i also went into the visitor lounge to chill for a minute. I was looking out the window, while sitting, and saw the people out in front, where they do a farmers market day, and it felt so peaceful. I was then ready to finally be discharged. And all this time, they didn't even have my discharge papers ready for me. First, they had to page the doctor in charge, because he had to see me one last time, to make sure my vitals were good enough for me to be discharged. I enjoyed having this doctor look over me, and i am strongly considering changing my current primary doctor to him, because i haven't been very pleased with my latest primary, because when she became my primary, she immediately told me, i had type 2 diabetes, and of course, you know that was not true, as i took this up with my neph, and immediately he remarked with, i don't believe it, i have been with you for over a decade now, and i am not convinced that you have any type 2 diabetes. This primary frightened me so much, that i promptly started researching type 2 diabetes. My neph immediately ordered a glucose test, plus a glucose tolerance test. Well the end result was my glucose was around the 80's and perfectly normal. So, yes, i truly need to be with a primary doctor, that has a concerned for me, and doesn't get another patients records, screwed up with another pts. such as me. Now, i am on my way home, with some oral antibotics, to keep taking for 7 more days. Well that is it for my blogging today. take care and all the best to the hemo, HHD patients, as well as the PD patient, which i can't wait to be back with my PD family (lol) Finally going home, and away from this blaine as food that this hospital provides, they don't even serve the fruit cocktails in their syrup. I didn't know that fruit cocktail didn't taste so good without the syrup. When i first saw fruit cocktails on my tray, i really thought i was going to get to taste that wonderful syrup. You know even the lady that brings the food to you, told me that i could only have about a tablespoon of the low fat milk, and you know what she did, to make sure that i didn't drink or use all of that milk, she pour the milk in my cereal, and throw the rest of the milk in the waste basket, right in front of me, she could have been discreet and took the rest of the cartoon of milk, with her, not dispose of it, right in front of me. I was so pissed, that i didn't even eat that darn cereal. I really thought that i had lost my appetite, dealing with this blaine as tasting food. My daughter came in with some popeye chicken, and as soon as she stepped into my room, i could smell the aroma of this chicken, so i had her sneak me a piece, which was the breast, (in which i truly love, this part of the chicken). I ate that chicken, and my b/p started to rise. So, you see, these hospitals, better come correct with these meals, and stop giving us those low as sodium meals, that don't taste like nothing, even those sauces that they provide for the me, don't enhance the flavor one bit. I make the best gravies and sauces, (in which i share in both my books), and i know my gravies and sauces, would make that hospital meat just scream (lol). Let me close this blog, because i may think of something else to share. So later to my followers. Stay compliant dialysis pts. Glo

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Well, i am now getting deeper and deeper, into hemodialysis, and i still am not happy these days with this form of dialysis treatment. I do remember, when i was previously on hemo, back during my ten year run, that hemo wasn't so bad, i exactly became comfortable with hemodialysis, and besides my graft was either in my arm or leg. Doing hemodialysis from a catherer, is not so pretty, there are so many restrictions with having this catherer, (you know doing all you can, to keep the catherer safe, as in if you take a shower, you need to keep the catherer from becoming wet, and causing an infection to develop). I hate bird baths with a passion, so i try my best to keep my catherer safe and infection free, when i take a shower. I told you, in a previous blog, about what i did to resolve this, i purchase some plastic from my neighborhood fabric store, and it has worked OK so far, although the tubing that hang from my breast, i have to find a way to perfect this from getting wet, so far, the tubing gets damp, from the plastic protruding from underneath. I think i will need to double plastic that area and triple tape it as well to keep the water from seaking underneath. Well, enough about that, my day at dialysis started out with my put on time, at 5:38 AM, and about two hours after starting treatment, my PD nurse, Rebecca, came by to visit me, it was great to see her, and to see a familiar face from PD. She first ask how was i coming along with my treatment, and i felt compelled to be honest with her, not beating around the bush, i immediately told her, that i am not comfortable with dialyzing from a catherer. So, she gave me this very funny, peciular look and remark with, i know this isn't the most comfortable way to do hemo. I did express to her, i can't wait to get back on PD. So, she continued by asking me, have they scheduled my hernia repair surgery, and i responded with, i just had a consultation, last friday at Kaiser, Vallejo, and after my meeting and examination with the doctor, he also mentioned that my neph, Dr. Ahmad, wanted to have one of my kidneys removed in the process of having my hernia repaired, so he told me he will have to discuss further with my neph, about what exactly will transpire during this surgerical procedure. After mentioning this to my PD nurse, she said why are they stalling, i know you want to get back on PD as soon as possible. I did mention to her, that my PD catherer is working remarkably, as i do a flush every other day. And she was very pleased with this, and told me to hang in there, that i will be back on PD in no time. From returning to hemo, i realized exactly how much better i prefer PD vs. Hemo. Now don't get me wrong, hemo does have some advantages, such as i don't have to take iron, vitamin D and potassium supplements orally, and plus i don't have to endure EPO shots on the regular, the EPO is simply administered through the tubing on hemo. Now, when it comes to my renal diet on hemo, it is so much more taxing on the body, i feel that when i eat a full course meal on the day of treatment and even in between hemo, i start to feel very bloated. Having to watch my fluid intake more closely, it is such a challenge with hemo. I decided that not eating a breakfast on the day of treatment and eating a light lunch, and a light dinner as well, it helps to keep the toxin and fluids to a minimum, i usually only eat a full course meal at dinner time, the day after treatment, and continue to eat and drink less, and it is helping somewhat to lessen this bloating feeling that i have been experiencing, prior to doing this little experiment. I also mentioned to my PD nurse, the coughing that i am experiencing on the regular, with having this catherer, to the point, that the techs and nurses, get frustrated with having to tend to those alarms, every time i cough, there solution always is administer me some benadryl, to keep me quiet, oh yeah, it keeps me quiet, to the point that i eventually fall off to sleep. You see every time i cough, the alarms go off, and cause the blood flow to be affected, they very often have to reverse my venuous and arterial lines. What i do like about the unit, is the closeness, that my side of the unit, have with their fellow dialysis pts. They joke when they come in with one another and the techs and nurses joke with them as well, even at this God forsaken early hour. They all seem to be doing very well with hemo, although some have lost their limbs due to diabetes. They seem to all be in high spirit, i even realized there was a fellow pt. that is a member at my church, this my husband brought to my attention, he just look across from me, and recognized this heavy set guy, and i had been seeing him, off and on, for several weeks now, and didn't realized he was a church member. I had to take a real good look at him, and that is when i realized that my husband was right. My husband has for the last few weeks, after getting me settled, he would go over and chat with him. I feel so bad, and maybe it is i am so in my own zone of dealing with hemo, that i truly didn't even notice this guy very much. Well, since then, i would wave at him, when he would go to his station, just to acknowledge him. A nurse even introduce me, and mentioned that i have been on dialysis for over two decades, and that i have published two books to share my experience and knowledge, with others faced with dialysis for their continued survival. This patient was very interested, and wanted to know how to purchase my books. She is an ederly pt. that has been on dialysis for two years, and that she is still trying to learn all she can about this unique life of dialysis. I spoke with her briefly, and she said she will look into how to buy my books. I was so flattered, just before the benadryl, started to kick, because i began to look at her, in a daze, i guess i went straight to sleep after that. Usually when i am at the unit, she falls to sleep well before i do, but i guess she was interested in talking about me, and my many years of being on dialysis, she did mentioned, why haven't i received the blessing of a transplant, and i did mentioned that i had a first transplant in 1993, which failed after four months, and that it is way too much to get into at this time around, i will share that with her some other time, as i mentioned, the benadryl, is starting to kick in (lol). Well, that is it for my blogging today, take care and all the best to you guys. Glo

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Early Saturday morning, 5:00 AM, i am on my way to dialysis treatment, my husband takes me this time around. It is discovered that we need to stop for gas, and we did. Finally arriving at the unit at 5:37 AM, i do the usual, do my weight, and then i go to my stationed chair, and the nurse in charge, begins to take the rest of my vitals, b/p standing and sitting and my temp. I tell her my weight - 50.6, i haven't gain much weight over the weekend, and that is surprising. While she is preparing my tubing for connection to the dialyzer, she remarks, with try to be here before 5:30 AM. And i become a little piss off at her, and remark, i know, i am usually here before 5:30 AM normally, we didn't anticipating having to stop to gas up the car, so i apologize, if we were late, besides we were here at 5:37 AM, that is not that late. Well, on with the hemo ritual, the treatment is underway and within fifteen minutes of treatment, i began to have that awful uncontrollable coughing, and of course, this annoys the nurses and techs, who have to come over an remedy this annoying alarm, you see everytime i cough, it affects the blood flow, so of course, they decide to administer some benadryl, and of course within five minutes, i stop coughing and then i gradually fell to sleep. When i awaken after the treatment was over, i was discussing with the nurse in charge, about challenging my dry weight, and she said maybe they should try to take a little bit more off during the next treatment, but of course, that could subject me to having some cramping and also plummeting b/p. I do try my best to watch my fluid intake between hemo treatments, and i do want to get to my targe dry weight, but maybe i need to allow them to take off maybe 1/2 k more on the next hemo treatment, but that would be a risk of cramping and plummeting b/p. I truly don't want to cramp at all, but if i need to take the dry weight challenge, and maybe experience some cramping. It would indicate that i have reached my dry weight, if i would allow some cramping, so lets see, how the next treatment session goes, and maybe i can avoid having to be administered benadryl during the treatment session. Right now, i have a taste for fennel, with glazed balsamic thinly sliced red onions, and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts, with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese. I will share the recipe with you guys, it is from the cookbook section of my second book - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World. You dialysis pt. may need to limit the amount of walnuts you use, to watch you potassium intake, but i don't have that problem at present. Here is an image of the fennel dish and the recipe as well. This is it for my blogging today, take care and all the best to my bloggers. I hope if you decide to make this fennel dish, that you will share your comments on my blog, about how your fennel dish turned out and if you liked the dish as well.

Braised Fennel w/ Balsamic Caramelized Onions:

Ingredients: 1 large - red onion - thinly sliced
1 tbsp - balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp - extra virgin olive oil
4 med. size - fennel bulbs
1/2 cup - low sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp - walnuts - chopped (optional, if you have phosphorus & potassium issues)
Season mixture - 1/2 tsp - Mrs Dash (table blend), 1/2 tsp each - garlic & onion powder, 1/2 tsp - creole seasoning, 1/2 tsp - pepper and a dash of season salt - mix these seasoning all together, and sprinkle generously over the fennel bulbs.

Instructions:

In a skillet, cook onion in olive oil over low heat, stirring frequently - 5 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally or until onions are very tender and edges are golden. Add balsamic vinegar and cook, stirring until onions are coated in the vinegar.


Meanwhile, cut fennel bulbs up to the stick of the bulb, save enough of the green tops to make 2 tsp, set aside. Cut each fennel bulb lengthwise into six wedges, and season each wedge with the season mixture, and in a medium size saucepan, cook fennel wedges, until slighty brown around the edges. Cover the fennel wedges in chicken broth, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are tender. Drain

Arrange fennel wedges on serving plate. Top with onions and sprinkle with nuts and grated cheese and reserved fennel tops.

Note: At my neighborhood farmers market, (Larry's Produce), fennel is called anise.

Here is some nutritional facts - based on a 1/2 cup serving

Calories - 110
Sat Fat - 1g
Sodium - 60mg
Carbohydrates - 12g
Protein - 3g
Fat - 7g
Cholesterol - 0mg
Potassium - 520mg
fiber - 4g

Note: Be careful with potassium in this dish, just eat in moderation OK, remember this is based on a 1/2 cup serving. I am not too sure about the phosphorus in this dish, but be careful, dialysis pts. don't over indulge, OK

Hope you enjoy this dish, as much as i do

Yum Eee!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

This is my 10th treatment of temp hemo, and it also President Obama's 50th birthday(Happy Birthday Obama!). It got me to thinking about when i turned 50. I felt so blessed, to have gotten to my milestone, living on dialysis for over two decades. I told my husband that i wanted to embrace my 50th and celebrate it with family, friends, and many that have come into my life, since starting my dialysis life. My husband gave a 50th celebration in my honor. And i loved every minute of it, it is a day that i will never forget, especially that my husband arranged to have varies first cousins, whom i hadn't seen in over 30 years, that was quite a surprise. Well, on to what transpired today on hemo, as usual i was having that uncontrollable coughing, about ten minutes after being connected to the dialyzer. As usual, i was administered some benadryl, so that i would calm down and of course, fall to sleep. The treatment went on smoothly, (and just remember, this is the first day, that my dry weight will be challenged). The hemo treatment went smoothly, from the time of the benadryl administering to the end of treatment, and hallejah! no cramping or plummeting b/p. Since it was a very chilly morning, by the time i finished my treatment and was on my way home, i got into the car, and of course, it was still very chilly at 9:00 AM. I got into the car, and turn the heater on, and for some reason, this was the highlight of the day, after treatment, because i was getting relaxed in the car, and feeling good, while the car heats up, which takes no time. I get home and take my usual 2 hour nap to rejuvenate myself (so to speak). Later on the evening, i get ready to try the new plastic (that i purchased), my daughter as usual assist me in wrapping myself and the taping too. I take my shower, of course, feeling relaxed, and after the shower, i began to remove the plastic, but i had to remove it with scissors, because it was sticking so well. As i removed the taping my the upper part of my chest, i felt it, and it wasn't damp, it was completely dry, then i removed the plastic and tape from the tubing that hang from the catherer, and that was dry. So, wow! i was so pleased with my new remedy to keep the catherer safe and infection free, i can't wait to take my next shower, knowing this remedy is the winner. No More Bird Baths! Hallejah! Now, i have another issue with this temp cath, that darn tape that the unit nurse places on to secure my catherer. I have issues with my skin being irratated from that darn tape. Acually, i just kinda pull the tape up around my catherer, and i really don't have to scratch for relief, just taking a little peeky boo, around the edges, gives me much relief from this itchy feeling. The unit nurse, seems to bandage me up like a mummy. I think that is way too much tape to help in securing the catherer, it is over kill in my opinion. I try not to pull it away too much, where the ahesive from the tape doesn't want to no longer hold. So yes, that is another one of my issues with having this temp cath. OMG! i can't wait to get this temp cath removed, and i could return to PD. I can't wait. Now don't get me wrong, i have had some advantages of returning to hemo, such as i didn't have to take iron, vitamin D, potassium supplements & protein supplements,orally, or even EPO shots,(it gets administered through the tubing during treatment) since returning to hemo, but just like hemo, PD has some advantages as well, such as no needling, and no tedious 3 hour sitting treatments, not having to deal with that cold hemo room, and i noticed i have been craving ice chips, whereas i only on occasion eat ice chips on PD. Well, that is it for my blogging today, take care and all the best to my blogger. Glo

Wednesday, August 3

It is my in between day from dialysis (my day off from hemo), and boy am i having my issues with this temp cath. I have now graduated to taking a shower, no more of those darn bird baths, that i truly despised. I was so anxious to take a shower, after weeks of those bird bath rituals. I purchase some plastic wrap, and i took my first shower, since starting temporary hemo. My daughter assist me in plastic wrapping myself, securely to take a shower, this plastic wrap, reminds me of the movie with jamie fox, & tommy davidson, who were in the mentality of wrapping themselves in saran wrap, as a means of having safe sex (i truly knew that was bull sh?t). Well, back to the wrapping of my temp cath, finally we finished the plastic wrapping and the double tape action. I began to take my shower, and felt so much relief, and relaxation from this shower, that when i finished taking my shower, i began to remove the plastic wrap and tape, and notice that my tubing from the catherer was a little damp. That darn plastic wrap, didn't work at all in keeping my catherer from becoming wet. So, i decided to purchase some plastic from JoAnne Fabric Store. I will be taking another shower tommorrow, and i will see if this plastic, will do the trick, because i definitely don't want to go back to taking bird baths, just to keep my catherer safe and infection free. So, let's see how that works. Until next blog, take care and all the best to my bloggers. Glo

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Hi All, Today is Tuesday, Aug 2, and it is my 8th treatment. Oh wait! before i get into my treatment episode today, i forgot to include something else in my blog on my 2nd visit to Yosemite Park. Steven took us for a ride on the other side of the park, where there is a large lake housed there, but as we were going on what seem to be an endless ride around the moutain, i began to feel faint fatigue & nauseated, because it was a ride around a moutain, that seem to have curve afte curve, until i couldn't take it no more, i kept telling Steven to turn around, We got up to about 8000 elevation. I know i can't take that large attitude, without feeling nauseated, and even my back was starting to hurt. I should have brought my back masssager, and that would have truly helped a great deal, (in lessening my back discomfort), but what can i say, every time we visit Yosemite, there is something i learn and i note to bring the next time, i visit Yosemite Park. You truly need to be prepared for Yosemite, especially when it comes to a dialysis pts, Yosemite can take a lot out you, with having chronic issues of any kind. Now, on to my 8th treatment. Everything was going well, but about 20 minutes into the treatment, i began to have a constant irritating cough, and of course, this won't suffice, because it affects the blood flow in a very serious way, and the techs or nurses, get very angry, when they have to constantly come over to my machine, and tend to this alarm, so the nurse, decided once again to administer some benadyrl through my tubing, i guess to get me to calm down and sleep the rest of the treatment (in which that is exactly what i did). I woke up to the very loud alarm from a fellow pts. on my right, who only dialyze for 2 hr. 30 mins, (I remember those good ole days when i would dialyze for the exact time during my ten year run with AV Graft on hemo), i always feel a sense of jealousy, when this patient is finish with her treatment for the day, but what can i say, i have to sit and endure my 3 hr 15 min. treatment. Well, back to my awakening from that treamtent complete alarm. Ray, the case manager of Kaiser, comes over, after hearing about my issues with coughing during my treamtent, that he came up with the conclusion, that my dry weight may need to be challenged. He decided to take an additional 1/2 k, to try to help me reach my dry weight goal and to stop those dreadful constant coughing attack, (so to speak). Besides, i can't keep getting all that unnecessary benadryl, i may get hook, because i must admit, it does feel good going through my veins ( and i know there are other hemo pts. that get benadryl, know that exact feeling, right! I hope my next treatment is better, but what i have known about hemo in the past, that when your dry weight is being challenged, you may have to experience some cramping and plummeting b/p, in which i truly don't want to deal with. I truly hate this side effect, that result from challenging the dry weight. However, my b/p has been pretty normal at each treatment. Let's see what transpires, after the dry weight challenge, i will keep you posted on the outcome. My case manager, seems to be more eager for me to have my hernia repair, than i do, because he said, i hate to see you going through these issues on hemo right now, it is evident, that he realizes that i truly need to get back on PD, as soon as possible. Well, that is it for my blogging for today, i hope i won't have to blog about the next treatment, but wait! hold the presses, i will have to blog about my next hemo treatment, if this dry weight challenge works, right! By all means, i will have to brag about how well i did (lol). Until next blog, take care and all the best to my bloggers, and most importantly all the best to the perm and temp cath fellow hemo pts, on smooth sailing hemo treatments. Glo

Sunday, July 31, 2011 - 2nd trip to Yosemite

Hi All, as my last blog, wasn't too pleasant to read, because i have been having my issues with edema. Well, today, Sunday, i am happy to report, i didn't feel too bad. I even went on a return visit to Yosemite Park. Well, the trip went well, we left really early about 6:30 AM. We didn't miss that left hand turning lane, where a barriage of vehicles were waiting, (remember on a previous trip to Yosemite), well this time we got in the left hand lane, just as politely as we could, and waited like the rest of the vehicles, with much patience (lol). Although it was a very long and tedious turn to make. We are on our way from Oakdale, and on to the little small town Escalon, and then on to Groveland (Mayberry RFD the second, lol). We finally got up that steep heel that leads to the Yosemite Gate Entry. Showed our Lifetime Disabled Passes. and guess what! we got parking in the Yosemite Valley lot, (in which we had so much difficulty on our previous first visit). We went to the info cabin, and got info on the tram (which is $25 a person), we immediately decline that, as we weren't prepared for that amount of funds for the tram. We promptly ask the ranger, for info on walking to the Yosemite Falls, and he replied it will be about a 15 to 20 minute walk to this fall. We started off on the walk, but about ten minutes into the walk, i began to feel faint, so i stopped by a large rock to catch my breath and get my second wind. We started for it again, and of course, i started feel that exhausted feeling again. Because of me, we didn't make it up that steep in climb. However, all wasn't lost, we went back to the Yosemite cabin info site, and we to a nearby park to have our picnic. After about a 30 minute picnic, we decided to walk to another fall, that was only about fifteen minute walk, but of course, it took 2 rock stops for me to finally get up to that fall called - Bridal Vial Fall. It was worth it, when i finally made it up that heel, oh wow! it was so breathtaking and magnificent. You couldn't get close enough, i felt like i was right up under this fall, because it send off a beautiful and awesome midst, that just would travel all through your body and i swear the midst felt like a delightful facial massage. I just kept getting closer and closer, and the midst would get more pronounced the closer you came to it. I was right in front of this fall, just admiring and embracing what mother nature has created. I even opened my mouth to feel the midst, and it felt like a small sample of cool, collective mountain water. Oh wow! i felt such a sense of calm and serenity just standing and watching this blanket of water just coming down constantly. So all wasn't lost, i got to at least admire and embrace a large fall at Yosemite. My daughter even took a dare (to take pics of me and Steven right up under the fall), and get up on a steep rock, and which i was on pins and needles, while she did her best to stand steady on this rock). I decided next time, we visit, which won't be until the spring or early summer of next year (if the lord say the same), i plan to take the tram to Yosemite. I know i need to walk more, in order, to be able to endure these long walks to the Falls, but right now, i can't because of all these issues with my temp cath. However, i do plan to walk more when i have healed from my hernia repair. Well that is it for my blogging for today, until next blog, take care and all the best to all my bloggers. Glo

Saturday, July 30, 2011 - The Hemo Saga continues

Hi All, i know it has been a few days since my last blog input, but i have been going through it in a very serious way. First, i am now dealing with very severe edma, in which i was warned that could occur, due to my previous ten year run on hemo and my severe edema issues. I try my best to monitor my fluid intake and keep it to a minimum, but that is not the case, i come in so swollen, that it is a difficult task in determining what appears to be edema or what is excessive fluid, and as i told you, i don't drink or eat very much fluid filled products, (juices, soups, popsicles, of such). I will have to see my neph real soon, to discuss this matter, because i can't keep going on like this, the day after, when the fluids and edema truly start to build up. Sometime i just want to avoid eating much or drinking much, just to have some relief from severe edema. I am aware that all this swelling is coming from this temp cath, and i guess i will just have to endure it, until i can have my hernia repaired, and i can return to PD a few weeks after having the surgery. I know this doesn't reply to all hemo pts, because there are many that are coming along just fine with fistulas, but i do feel for those fellow hemo pts, with graft issues, as i did in the past, I am truly hoping that my edema issues don't result to another bout with CHF (Congestive Heart Failure). I will be watching very closely,& my fluid intake and edema issues, you best believe that. Don't get me wrong, after my treatment is over, i don't feel too bad, i go home and take a 2 hour nap, and i feel fine, but the next day after treatment (between hemo treament), is when i have to deal with edema issues. Well until next blog, take care and all the best to my bloggers.
Glo