Thursday, April 19, 2012

Hi all, today was my monthly visit with my neph. The time for the session was 11:20 AM, but when we arrived, which was fifteen minutes early, i guess they were running behind. I was used to my visit being at 1:00 PM, prior to my return to hemo for six months, last year, and of course, i was a little pissed, when the PD nurse, gives me the schedule, and i see that it is an earlier time. Well, i wasn't too pissed, because now that my favorite soaps have been cancelled, I have no problem getting ready for my monthly visit with my neph at 11:20 AM. Well, finally at 11:40 AM, i was called in. I did the usual, you know weigh myself and of course the result 46.7kg, which about 103 lbs., and I am aware that i need to try my best to gain more weight, to get back on track to my targeted - 50kg, and i know it is going to take some time, to build all these calories with my renal diet. Now on to my b/p readings, it was very normal readings. I was then given my monthly laboratory report, everything was in normal range, itself for the albumin (protein) and PTH levels. My neph promptly began to discuss my albumin levels - and i responded with, i have tried so many protein products, but the one thing that i have discovered is, protein doesn't have a pleasant taste - i have tried snicker protein bars - which gives me 16 grams of protein and also those milky boost drinks. I then ask my neph, all these years have passed, and why don't they have protein in a pill form, and the way i said it, i guess it was funny to him, because he just laughed and said i really don't know why, maybe that should be something that should be addressed by the varies companies that produce protein products of such, and i just looked at him, but i was thinking to myself, that maybe i would go on the internet, and google some companies, to find out their opinion on this protein issue. Usually, i would get more of my protein intake from these fruit protein drinks called resource, but you can only purchase them from an outside distributor and the one that i deal with, they have went up on the protein drinks, so i had to result to purchasing a protein drink from places like walmart and walgreens, but of course, it is an acquired taste, i really don't like these drinks, those resource drinks are more pleasant tasting, especially when they are ice cold. Enough about that, oh well i will continue to have my challenges with my low protein levels, but i will just chuck it up, and just drink or eat this protein as much as my stomach will allow, and i hope i don't throw it up, because of the taste (lol). Now, my PTH is very low at 88 - the normal range is 150 to 300. It was discovered that i was taking way too much vitamin D, and the twisted thing is that i was only taking it MWF, go figure! my neph is very baffled, how the vitamin D works in my body, so he changed my prescription to only taking it twice a week - Monday and Friday, to see how my PTH levels are doing. My neph did request that a PTH be drawn today, and of course, i wasn't prepared for a blood draw, however, i thought i was going to have an EPO (epogen) shot, but i was told by the PD nurse, that my iron and iron stores are very good and high, and that my EPO has been put on hold, and that is a good thing, because i truly depised these needle sticks. My lungs were then checked, and there is still some diminish on the left side, but the right side is more severely diminished, and i told him, i am scheduled to have a chest x-ray next week, and that will indicate, if i need to have that procedure done again to remove fluid from my right side, because they can only do one lung at a time, i had the left lung done in October of last year, during my six month hemo saga - (i shared this in a previous blog, somewhere around October) It was a very warm day, one of the warmest days in awhile, so I couldn't wait to get out of the unit, and on to enjoy my productive day. I feel so much better when the weather is warm, and i don't need a coat or a jacket. I even wore my sandals and a nice cool shirt with capris. I don't know about other dialysis pts, but it feel so much better healthwise, when the weather is warm and your cooling in your sunglasses and just simply enjoying all the sunshine. Well that is it for now, i hope you guys have a wonderful, enjoyable and relaxing weekend. Until next blog, stay compliant with your renal diet and medication regimen. take care and all the best to you
Glo

Friday, April 13, 2012

Hi all, I have a great deal to share with you. First, last Sunday, was Easter Sunday, and it was an enjoyable, wonderful, spiritual and relaxing day for me and my family. First, i planned to attend Sunrise Services, but that didn't transpire, because I didn't plan on having any issues with my PD cycler, which delayed my planned time to be off the machine by 5:30 AM. Let me break it down to you, i had gotten smoothly through the self testing phase of the therapy setup, and then i continued by connecting the bags and opening the lines, etc. etc, and went on to the primming phase of the treatment setup, but about ten minutes later, the cycler alarms, displaying check bags and lines, so i did the usual protocol, checking for leaks, holes, kinks and possible fibrin in the line, but it appeared to be clear, i then attempt a second time to continue the primming phase, but the alarm went off five minutes later, and then i decided to call the baxter helpline, and they went through the very same scenarios, that i had originally went through, and she then ask me to hold the tubing that sticks out from the cassette holder, and pull them up and down, and i did that, but the alarm went off again, but this time, she stayed on the phone, a few minutes, and then she told me to turn the heater bag over, with the writing faced down, and that didn't work. She was so sad to say, because i could hear it in her voice, i am afraid you will have to get a new second bag, and clamp off the original second bag, and hook up the new 2nd bag to a new line, and i did just that, about 15 minutes later, the cycler displayed connect patient. Yes, it worked, but i wasted a 2.5 bag in the process, oh well, it is all good. I was able to attend the 10:00 AM service instead, and it was a very uplifting service, i enjoyed all the singing and of course, the sermon as well. I even saw a fellow dialysis pt., that i hadn't seen in several months at the unit, as i returned to PD, towards the end of December. It was great seeing him, and he looked great. Since our plans were deferred somewhat, we didn't get a chance to go to Sunday Brunch, so i made a great Easter meal at home, consisting of Braised Cabbage, Corn Beef Brisket, and Pinto Beans w/ dinner rolls of course, a lemon cake for dessert and homemade Lemonade, with lemons from my garden. We sat down later on, as this has been a tradition in my family for many years now to watch (our tape of the Ten Commandments), we missed it on Saturday on TV. Now, even thought i enjoyed Easter Sunday, i am still very concerned about my ongoing saga with acid reflux, heartburn, acid indigestion, you name it, it has got to be one of those health issues, as my throat feels like it is on fire, usually at bedtime, i was told that this occurs, when you eat late, or have a midnite snack, but that is not the case at the moment, because i eat early in the evening, and i didn't have anything to eat during the late night, go figure! i am aware that i was diagnosed with diverticulosis (i hope i spelled that correctly, let alone, i can't even pronounced it right (lol), but anyway, this was discovered during my colonoscopy, back a few years ago. First the dr. gives me the good news, that there were no polys or masses present, i was happy to hear this, but then he continued by saying you do have diverticulosis, and i said what! what is divticulosis (i know i didn't pronounced it right, because he repeated it the correct way - (lol) And me always being curious about anything new to do with my health, especially if it can be harmful, wanted to know what is this diverticulosis. So, he began telling me, by using an example, (like an innertube), this was truly blowing my mind and he continued with that it is small pouches in my colon that bulge outward through weak spots, like an innertube that pokes through places in a tire, and each pouch is called a diverticulum, and when the pouches become infected or inflammed, (so to speak), that is when the condition is called diverticulosis, and then he continued by saying PKD patient have a greater risk of developing diverticulosis. He did stress that i should consider a high fiber diet, and limit seeded food, as well as nuts, as much as possible, to lessen the affects of diverticulosis. Well the reason why i shared this, is because, i got to thinking about this diverticulosis, that i was diagnosed with a few years back. I don't really eat much nuts, and i am not sure if i am following a high fiber diet, but i do have a good bowel movement, all the same, because i was told to avoid getting constipated on PD, so i think i have been following that part of my diet pretty OK. Besides i take stool softeners on the regular, and i do snack on dry prunes and raisins from time to time. Well enough about that. I will be addressing this to my neph at the next monthly visit, you can best believe that. I am still having ongoing issues with fluid buildup around my lungs, due to my return last year temporarily to hemo. I wasn't having these issues prior to temporarily stopping PD, go figure! i know hemo isn't good for me anymore, but well i had to return to hemo in order to have an umblicial hernia repaired, due to my ongoing PD treatment, it is one thing or another with this renal/dialysis life, right! but all in all, i have triumph through every obstacle, that i have had to face in this very unique life, that i have been living for over 20 year. Oh, did i forgot to share that i am in my 22nd year of dialysis treatment (lol). Well don't get it twisted, i am not in anyway proud of this, i am just grateful and blessed to even have dialysis for my continued survival with polycystic kidney disease. With my families love and support, it has gotten me through so much all these years, and i love my husband and daughter with all my heart. You can live a long, happy and productive life on dialysis, no matter, how long it takes to receive the blessing of a cadaver kidney. And that is why i published this 2nd book - sharing all that i have endured, from my predialysis days to my initital hemo treatment and on to the blessing of a first transplant, and etc. etc., Even Hemo vs. PD, in which i have extensive experience and knowledge in both forms of treatments. And i am (i must say) a pretty good cook, and i have shared an array of renal friendly recipes in the cookbook section of both my books, with nutritional facts included on most of the renal friendly recipes, with easy to prepare instructions and of course some pictures of some of the dishes in my 2nd book, which is available on ebook, if you are interested - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World or My Renal Life (i know it, i live it). Well that is it for now, stay well and compliant with your renal diet and medication regiment, i know that is easier said than done, yes, this renal diet can be quite challenging from time to time, and i know this all too well (lol). Until my next blog, take care and all the best to my followers.
Glo