Saturday, June 24, 2011









Steven had to awaken me, because i didn't wake up, when the cycler therapy was completed, to me if the cycler can alarm, when the primming is complete and displays connect patient, why can't the alarm go off, to let you know your therapy is over for the day, but i guess that is because if it did, it would disturb the patients sleep, especially if they didn't have a not so good alarm free night on the cycler, (like i do from time to time), so let me stop complaining, because it is not a bad thing, that the cycler doesn't alarm when the therapy is over, a know some of you, who are reading this, may not be hip to this PD cycler lingo (lol). Well, on with my story of the day. Like i say i was awaken by my husband, and i first had to get the cob webs out of my head, and then disconnect, and do the usual rital and clean my PD catherer site, and secure my tubing as usual to my belly, but normally i would only tape it in 2 places, but when i have to be out and about, i seriously secure my tubing to my belly (lol). I got ready, and we packed up everything we needed to spend the day in yosemite, and because it is about a 21/2 to3 hour drive, i bring a pillow to place on my back, I tend to have discomfort, when i would ride in the car for more than a hour at a time. We were on our way, but we were more cautious with the directions given to us by Mapquest. We were on our way, and decided to stop at Jack in the Box in Stockton, because i had to have breakfast to take my morning meds. Finally, we arrive at a town outside of Yosemite, (which is the largest town outside Yosemite) called Oakdale, well when we got into the heart of the town, we noticed that there was a long line of cars in the left lane, so my husband, (one of the most impatient people i know), decided to get in the right lane, and pass all the cars up, as we were passing the cars one by one, we were looking at them, as though we had gotten ahead of everyone in that lane, not aware that this lane was bombarded by cars for a reason, as we got to the front of the line, there was a sign that said, turn left to Yosemite. We were so outdone, especially Steven, who said it doesn't pay to be impatient and smart with it as well, i really thought i was getting ahead of this chaos of cars. So, we had to drive up this street, through downtown Oakdale, and get back to the particular street from a street up ahead, but the good thing was we still was ahead of some the cars that we had passed before (ain't that something, for someone that didn't even know the area), no thanks to Mapquest, which didn't even indicate that particular street, (all those north east, and 1/2 mile directions, a person can truly get lost following Mapquest), we aren't fortunate to have a navigation system in our car, so that is why we rely on Mapquest for help with directions. Finally about an hour after leaving Oakdale, we come to a very quaint small town, called Groveland, which is about 1800 in population. Actually, you can practically run through the downtown area in about 5 to 8 minutes. I love these little small towns in Calif, with every business saying the towns name - such as Groveland Hardware, Groveland Cleaners, and of course, the one grocery store - simply called Groveland Market, it also had a saloon and of course a post office, and i am sure other Groveland facilities, maybe even a Groveland High School as well, right! I wanted to stop and browse around, but my husband was anxious to get to yosemite, we had about a hour more of driving to finally reach Yosemite Park. And as we were approaching the park going up a very steep heel, the entrance was bombarded once again with many vehicles (cars, SUVs, campers, RVs, as well tourist buses of such), it took us about 45 minutes to get up to the gate, and when we finally get to the entrance booth, we ask about the admission as a handicap, and she informed us that the handicap is allowed free, and guess what with season passes as well, and of course, Steven and I were so delighted with joy, we just couldn't compose our very pronounced cheesing smiles (lol), we immediately made up our minds, that we were coming back before the summer is over. The park is very complex, with all the attractions of the varies waterfalls. We saw many waterfalls, but the one waterfall, which happens to be the largest one in the park (Yosemite Falls), we never got a chance to see it, let alone get near it to even get a glimpse of this spectacular waterfall. We would sat and wait in the what seems to be an endless line of vehicles, to even get to the gate of this particular attraction, waiting in line for almost an hour, and then when we get to the entrance of the gate, the park ranger, is guiding us away from the gate, that truly pissed us off, to the point, that we would try again, after we have our picnic lunch. After we ate, my daughter & I strolled around the picnic area, and we saw an area of the park, where there was these really cute bungalows, where people were actually staying in, i guess for the weekend, or a week long vacation of such, it was so cute, their vehicles were parked in front of each of their bungalows, there was a swimming pool, and their was also a laundromet facility, with a little mini mart, (a grocery like market for the guest, oh, how cute, it was just like a little community in the park). Most of the attractions was wheelchair accessible, but there were some that stated that wheelchair guest had to be assisted with help in getting in some of the attractions, that were a few flights of stairs to enter. After lunch, we did a replay of attempting to see that large waterfall once again, but yet again, it is still very bombarded by vehicles waiting to get in the gates to park. This time we were waiting so long, that the cars weren't exactly moving, so most of us, got out our cars to stretch and see what is going on up ahead, we discovered from others in line, that there was a car up ahead that was stalled, and they had to have a park ranger toll the car out of the line, so that it can start to move, and this took a good 1/2 hour for the line to began to move again, but guess what! we finally get up to the gate, and they detour us as usual away from the gate, but this time, my husband ask, why can't we get in here, we have tried for the second time since we have been here, and we have come over 180 miles to see this attraction, then the ranger says this attraction has met its full capacity, now, i said to Steven, why don't they have a sign at the front gate, that says the Yosemite Falls has reached full capacity, but i want to know why they don't limit every vehicle that enters the gates of Yosemite Falls, and say they only get maybe 15 minutes to half an hour to visit. Just look, admire and embrace the falls, and get to stepping, if i had my way, but no, they just sit there, and hog the damn falls, taking picture after picture, and being selfish, not caring that there are other people waiting, i mean, waiting patiently, to look, admire and embrace this spectacular waterfall as well. Well, enough for that, we were so disappointed and disgusted, that my husband decided to leave the park, after hearing we would not be able to see the Yosemite Falls, and plus this fall, has another great attraction, an Indian tribe, (i forgot the name), which was famous for inhabitating the park for many years, have an exhibit there, where there descendants do an attraction where they share their history and some of what is legend with their tribe and the history of this park, (like for instance, some of the clothing they were in the past, the tee pees they lived in, and many of their cultured activities, i truly wanted to see that as well. My husband and I, thought maybe next time, we would plan on staying for a few days, and rent one of those cute bungalows, and of course, i would have to do manual exchanges, since there is no electrical hookup for my cycler machine., but that is a lot to think about, so i will be giving it some thought, and discussing this with my neph or PD nurse, if it would be safe as well as sanitary enough for me to do my PD manual exhanges that way. Got to give it some very serious thinking, or better yet, maybe we can make reservation at the nearby hotel in the small town of Groveland, (which truly reminds me of Mayberry (Sheriff Andy & Deputy Bernie 5), (lol). Since it is still the weekend, Sunday, June 26, 2011, i was still so disappointed about not seeing Yosemite Falls, that Steven took me on one of our backyard Sunday drives through the Napa Valley, and that truly helped me to find some satisfaction of having a full enjoyable weekend, (i share how fortunate i am to live in the backyard of the most beautiful scenic Napa Valley wine country in my second book - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World). I also dropped by our favorite Farmer's Market (Larry's Produce) on the way back, and i was so surprised that he had fresh Okra. My eyes just lid up, when i saw
those great looking crop of okra in the bend. I practically grabbed all of the okdra that they had
left. So, now, i can finally cook my favorite okra dish, that i have loved for so long growing up down south. Okra Creole, i also share this recipe as well in my second book, but here is the recipe, if you bloggers are interested in making this dish.


OKRA CREOLE RECIPE: (It is a very detailed dish, but worth it, because it is ole so good, and it contains a lot of protein, beneficial to myself, as well as other protein challenged dialysis pts.) - Glo's tip: it would be advisable if you would prepare all your ingredients for this very detailed dish, so that this dish can be easy prepared, while following the instructions.

Ingredient:

1 lb. Okra - (cut into 1/2 " slices) 2 1/2 cups - low sodium chicken broth
Extra virgin olive oil - to coat the bottom of the skillet)
1 cup - stewed tomatoes 1 tbsp - gumbo file
1/2 tsp - hot sauce
1 cup - roasted peppers - chopped 1 cup - onion, chopped
1 cup - green peppers - chopped 1 cup - green onions, chopped
1 cup - dry shrimp 4 clove - garlic, chopped
1/2 lb. fresh shrimp - 1 cup - celery, chopped
(peeled and deveined)
1 lb. - smoked sausage or turkey sausage (cut in 1/2" slices)
2 cups - cooked long grain rice 1/2 lb. boiled chicken wings or drummettes
1 cup - fresh parsley, chopped 2 tbsp - red wine vinegar
1 tsp - dry thyme or 1 1/2 tbsp - fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp - dry basil or 1 1/2 tbsp - fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 tsp - creole seasoning 1 tbsp - garlic powder & onion powder 1 tsp - Mrs. Dash (table blend) & garlic & herb seasoning
1 tsp - season salt
3 bay leave


For rice - follow package directions

Cooking Instructions:

In a skillet saute' chopped onions, peppers, garlic, celery in olive oil until vegetables are soft. Transfer vegetables to a stock pot and add the okra, stewed tomatoes, diced sausage, boiled chicken, thyme sprigs or dry thyme, basil, bay leaves, red wine vinegar, creole seasoning, Mrs. Dash (table blend & garlic & herb seasoning), season salt, garlic & onion powder, dry shrimp and pour in the broth and stir in well in the protein, vegetable and seasoning mixture to simmer on low heat for 30 minutes or until the okra is tender, then add the shrimp , parsley, chopped green onions, and stir in gumbo file and hot sauce at the end for about five minutes, more or until the shrimp are pink, then remove the thee bay leaves, and serve hot over a bed of cooked rice. Yum Eee! i simply love this dish. (it is one of my favorites)

Some nutritional facts about okra, FYI - (based on a 1/2 cup serving) - Okra has about 257 mg of potassium - when cooked raw), but if you use the frozen variety - it will give about 215 mg of potassium, so CKD/dialysis pts. beware of your potassium intake - Know Your Limits, they vary with each and every pt. (there is stewed tomatoes in this dish, maybe you might want to substitute the stewed tomatoes, for a 1 cup of tomato sauce instead)

Note: The image of my okra creole recipe is at the beginning of this blog, and of course, you were probably wondering why that food image was placed there, well, i am not that computer savy with this feature, bear with me, i am still learning, i must get my Steven or Tiffany to guide me through this feature of the computer (lol), but anyway you still got an image of this dish, i know it looks a lot like gumbo, doesn't it, and take it from me, it taste a little like gumbo does, but it doesn't have all that tasty juice, like gumbo does, but trust me, you will love it just the same. Now, you dialysis pts. with low protein intake issues, you could truly benefit.



if you decide to try making this dish, I hope you enjoy this dish as much as i do

Happy Eating!
Glo

Friday, June 24, 2011 - I woke up from a pretty relaxing good nite of slumber. I arise slowly from my bed as not to tumble over from a dizzy spell, (especially since i was diagnosed several months ago with vertigo), After disconnecting and cleaning my PD site (a routine rital that i go through every morning), I ease into the bathroom to take care of the next thing to Godliness, and then back to my bedroom for the taking of numerous medicines, and from there, i started my productive day.

Today, I went with Tiffany to San Jose, she had an appt. to be interviewed for potential housing, at a very nice apartment complex, right across from the University. She will be attending San Jose State University, this fall. First, we got lost trying to find the eatery on the square, Downtown San Jose called Quickly, USA. OMG! I wasn't aware that Downtown San Jose had so many one way streets (like most metro cities do, right!), and besides Mapquest took us on a wild goose chase (so to speak), Don't rely on Mapquest to take you to your exact destination, because Mapquest, sends you way out of the way, i really don't think Mapquest, is aware that certain streets can't be cross a certain way, because i don't think Mapquest takes into account that the street could be going against us (one way), (lol). What was on our side, was the fact that the restaurant was in the facility of the University campus. So, while looking for the restaurant, we made sure that we didn't get to far passed the University neighborhood, (so to speak). Finally my daughter, called and told them that she was a little lost, and then she was instructed to go near the Martin Luther King Library, which is very unique, because it is on the campus, but it also welcomes the public as well. Finally the guy decided to come outside of the restaurant, (which is directly across from the east entrance of the University & Martin Luther King Library), and the guy mentioned that he will be wearing a light blue shirt with jeans, and that seem to be much easier for us to find him and the restaurant, but as we began to look for him, it seemed like today of all days, a few guys on the street in that area were wearing a light blue shirt of some type, (i kid you not), what! was it wear a light blue shirt day at the Univ. (lol), my daughter and I got so frustrated trying to find this guy on the street. Well, finally we decided to just park by the Univ. at a meter by a Chevron gas station, and go by foot to find the restaurant, and while we were walking, we almost walked pass the guy we were suppose to meet, he was walking right towards us, I think it would have helped, if he would have also said he was asian (lol), that truly would have helped narrow down, just looking for a guy with a light blue shirt, when we were looking for him on the streets, right! Well anyway, he escorted us back to the restaurant, and we sat outside, the restaurant is like a little cafe (i see why we had such a difficult time trying to find this restaurant, which turned out to be a little cafe, which was also far off the street, so how in the world, were we suppose to see this restaurant, when it was way back off the street for that matter, you know i was more frustrated than my daughter was, especially when my patience runs very thin these days (lol), i am sure many of you in my age bracket can relate. I sat and watch my daughter be interviewed by two students, who could be two of three students that could potentially be her roomate, and i must say i was very impressed with the way she handled herself (with so much confidence), especially since this was a first time coping for her, she said it is so different from interviewing for a job, the questions are so personal. This scene truly reminded me of a rerun on Goodtimes, where Thelma had the roomates from hell, if you seen this particular rerun of goodtime, she had a guy roommate that collected different little reptiles, (mainly because he was a biology major) and their was another one named Bear (who ate them out of house and home), and their was a girl roomie, that was in the mentality, that everything is on limit, even your boyfriend, so you see she truly had the roomates from hell, i got to thinking what kind of people would potentially be my daughters type of roomates, we did however meet two of them, the girl, who is of asian descent and of course, the guy with the blue shirt of asian descent, well anyway, they took us to take a look at the apartment, and it is very nice and neat, but i wonder if it was tidy for show, for the potential roomate. They even showed her the room that my daughter could be accomplying. The apartment complex, even house a fitness room, a outdoor swimming pool, and jacuzzi, plus the apartment has two balconies, and there is a sundeck on the top floor of the building, and of course, a laundry facility on each floor of the apartment complex. The building is real state of the art in appearance, a very nice and relaxing lobby area, with elevator accessible, and a very nice office on the ground floor. The parking is also nice, that each students can accomply a parking space, which is nice, because it is highway robbery on the streets to park on the regular. Well, that was my productive day with my daughter, very exciting i must say, it brings back memories of my college days. That is it for now, until next blog, i wish all my bloggers all the best. My husband is taking me to Yosemite tommorrow, i am so excited, i am getting on the cycler real early on Friday night, because we have an early morning depart to yosemite.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Hi all,
Today is wednesday, and my tuesday night cycler treatment didn't go as smoothly as the night before, first during my first drain - (Drain 1 of 5) - i just kept getting alarm after alarm, which displayed - check patient line - i did the usual, check for canks in the lines, and then i checked for fibrin in the line and drain bag - this was not the issue, i resumed the therapy again, and about five more minutes into the drain phase, the alarms welcomed themselves back again, and this time, i decided to call the Baxter helpline, and of course, that tedious process, i wish i could truly have avoided, but i had no other alternative, but to call for help, you know the drill, if you are a PD pt. that has dealt with this from time to time, (the recorder comes on, with english as well as spanish, and press 1 for english, 2 for spanish, then they ask you if you are a professional or a patient that needs assistance, and then you have to press 1 or 2, and then a live voice comes on, and ask for your account #, and then they ask you is this so and so (the pt. calling), sometime, i want to be smart, because it is obvious, it is the pt. who needs the assistance with their cycler, but of course, i try to contain my composure and be polite, and say, yes, (but inside i am aggravated), then as i am talking to the help rep, the alarm goes off once again, and they still ask, what is the trouble, and say, you did hear that loud alarm right! yes, well, that must be a problem with the cycler, and then he says, what does the alarm display, and i remark with "Check Patient Line", and before he could say anything else, i promptly say, before you ask, yes, i did do the usual protcol, to check for problems, i checked for canks in the lines, and i also checked for possible fibrin in the lines, as well as the drain bag and i also checked the tubing from the cassette, then he says something, that i never never really thought of, or had experience in my ten plus years of being on PD. He then says, maybe you need to check your line to your catherer, that maybe you may have some tape that needs to be loosen, and then i checked that, and that wasn't the case. He also told me to check my clothing, and i did remember, that i purchase these new summer pajamas, and the elastic was a little too tight over the catherer and tubing area, and i rolled my pajamas pants at the elastic under my stomach, and then i pressed go, and wow! you should have seen those drain numbers just going and going, so much as fifteen (numbers) at a time, he told me to wait until i complete the entire drain phase, and then it went to fill 1 of 5, and then i was on my way to a smooth sailing treatment for the rest of the night, by this time, it was 3 am in the morning, so i had to watch something boring on TV, to finally get sleeply, i watched some gary shandling on cable, that was truly boring as hell, it didn't take me no time, to finally get sleeply. I felt so bad for my husband, because all these alarms woke him completely up, and he had to be at work very early in the morning, but he didn't take long, before he was sleep, especially listening to that Gary Shandling Show (lol). Now, today, Wednesday, the morning is OK, but it is one of those hot days, after complaining about it being June, and it is still Spring type weather, today the heat came full force, Now, i am complaining about how hot it is, just never satisfied, right! Now, what to fix for dinner, because i be darn, if i am going to be cooking any full course meal in this heat. Oh, i know, i can prepare one of my famous renal friendly chef salads, but of course, the only heat i have to use is, a pot to boil the eggs for the salad. I will share my renal friendly chef salad, with you guys, i do share it in my first book - My Renal Life (i know it, i live it).

Glo's Renal Friendly Chef Salad:

Ingredients: 1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into cubes or Romaine (if you prefer)
or 2 heads of butter lettuce, cut into bit size pieces
4 oz. - low fat turkey ham, cut into strips or some roasted turkey breast (if you prefer)
4 oz. - cooked chicken breast (if you have some left over, optional) - cut into strips
2 eggs - hard boiled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup - sun dried tomatoes, chopped (if you have high potassium issues, optional)
1/4 cup - radishes, thinly sliced
1 avocado, sliced (optional - if high potassium issues)
1 tbsp - sliced green onions
1/2 cucumber - cut in little bit size chunks or even thinly sliced, if you prefer
1/2 cup - shredded mozzarello cheese (moderate phosphorus cheese - be careful if you have high phosphorus issues in your renal diet)

Instructions: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, except the cheese, sprinkle the cheese on top., then pour dressing over the salad, and enjoy.

1/2 cup - French dressing - here is my homemade Light French dressing recipe)

Homemade Salad Dressing #3 - Light French Dressing
Ingredients: 1/2 cup - apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
1/2 cup - extra virgin olive oil 1/4 tsp - basil leaves
1/2 tsp - dijon mustard 1/4 tsp - celery seeds
3 tbsp - shallots - minced a pinch of salt
11/4 tsp - parsley flakes a pinch of black pepper
1/4 tsp - dry thyme 1/2 tsp - Mrs. Dash (table blend)
2 garlic cloves

Instructions: Mix all ingredients excerpt the garlic. Pour into a container, then add garlic, and mix well, cover and let stand at room temperature for 1/2 an hour. Shake well before pouring over chef salad ingredients.

I share this little story in my first book along with the recipe - (When i use to have one of my miserable days of hemodialysis treatment, this dish is so refreshing and rejuvenating, and so delicious, and every now and then after a night of the cycler alarming and not getting much sleep (i know you CCPD patients can relate to this), this dish really helps me to get over my very pissed off mood - so to speak).

I hope you enjoy this dish, as much as i do, i don't even miss the ham or the regular tomatoes in this dish as well, especially when i deal with elevated potassium levels from time to time., but ever since being on PD, I tend to cope with low potassium levels more often, so i can just pile up on the potassium foods, hallejah! i think that is the true benefit of being on PD, instead of Hemo, (not too much elevated potassium levels to deal with, but maybe from time to time), that is why this renal diet can be so challenging at times. Until next blog post, take care and all the best to my bloggers., Happy potassium and phosphorus levels.
Glo

Today's P2P discussion, i can truly relate

Monday, June 20, 2011 - I awaken with a little discomfort in my left thumb, i was finding very difficult to just take a pair of socks off. I never realized i much i rely on my thumb, to help me with very simple task, such as removing my socks off my foot, i had to result to using my handicap fingers, (meaning the fingers, that are not primary used for this task), it is though, my other fingers, don't exactly know how to perform this task, it was so awkward to rely on these fingers to give my thumb some assistance, in which i realized that i use my thumbs in just about everything tedious that i do, especially when it comes to cooking and cutting up my vegetables. I just gotta purchase that copper glove real soon, but it has to wait until next month, when i will have the funds to purchase it (lol), in the meantime, i will try to give my left thumb a break, and make those other fingers give the thumb some assistance (lol). Well, now, lets get to the topic of this blog, i was reading a post by a member on P2P, that experience the passing of a fellow dialysis pt., my heart does go out to her, as i know this feeling all too well. I have been coping with this from time to time, for well over two decades now. It really pains me, when i would come into the unit, feeling good and confident, and then i would see that a chair next to me, or across from me, the patient isn't there, and then i would inquire from one of the techs or nurses, that is around, and hoping that the answer would be that patient is on vacation, or maybe in the hospital, or better yet, has received the blessing of a transplant, but i do hate hearing that the patient has succumb. It does give me some concern, especially if i had just seen that patient a few days ago at our regular hemo session, and we may have been chatting during the treatment, or even laughing about something. I could remember as though it was yesterday, there was this patient that i met, during my very first initial hemo treatment, that had already been on hemo for five years, and she kinda helped me to get over my anxiety about undergoing my very first treatment, well anyway, we soon became very good friends, she invited me to join their ladies group of dialysis pts., who would have regular Friday lunch dates across the street from the unit (which was housed in a Hospital) called Pill Hill Cafe, we would meet every friday after our hemo session was over, and these friday meeting, would soon become very beneficial to me, especially being the rookie of the group, I do share this in full detail in my second book - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World. I called them Renal Divas, because of us, had very unique and different lives, inspite of our dialysis life. They would share very useful info, that helped me to have a better understanding of how to manage good health with dialysis. Well, anyway, this friend, went away on vacation, and after a month had passed, i began to be concerned about when she was going to return, but no tech or nurse could tell me anything about this patient, and why she hadn't returned, so a few days later, she returns and i was very happy to see she had returned, but not what i witness on her return, she came back without both of her legs. What i admire about this patient, was the fact, that inspite of what she had been through and the result of it, she maintained her famous sense of humor, i remember exactly what she said to me, well, Glo, i know i did this to myself, because i didn't stay compliant with my diet and medication regiment, while on vacation, just enjoying myself and being naughty and neglecting what i need to stay compliant with, to maintain good health on dialysis, and then she laid this little humor on me, well, Glo, i guess i will be sitting down a lot for now, and then she laughed, which i felt better about laughing myself, but she did say she is looking into getting artificial limbs, and that was great, but it never happened, because she finally game to reality about all this, and just gave up and became totally depressed and within a month, i was told by the nurse at the unit, that she had passed. This truly devastated me, because she was such a beautiful soul, and i do still miss her, even today, and this was way back in 1994. When there is a lost at the unit, it just makes me look at death so differently, i feel living with a chronic illness, anything can occur, especially with prolonged dialysis. I just continue to stay positive, and look forward to each day being better, than the last. I have been taught early on in life, that no one knows when they will day, but being on dialysis, it makes you think about death in a different way, will the complications from dialysis be the reason i succumb to this life. I never thought like this, before i began a life on dialysis, when a love one or a friend while die, yes, i would mourn them, but i would soon find the strength to overcome this feeling and feel positive about living my life to the fullest, but not with a fellow dialysis pt. that would pass, it just feels so different, and especially when i have to be at the unit for my regular treatment, it makes it so much harder to come to term with it. Does anyone else on dialysis, experience this feeling, when this situation would occur? Chime in, and share your thoughts and feelings on this. Well, that is it for my blogging today. Stay well, non-dialysis pts, and to my fellow dialysis pts. stay well and compliant with your renal diet and your medication regiment to stay in the feeling well game.
Glo

My day on Friday, June 17, 2011

When it rains it pours, i was just diagnosed with RA, and now Friday morning, I woke up with excruiating pain in my abdomen, the first thing i thought oh no! please don't let this be peritonitits, developing peritonitits three times during my ten year run with PD, this pain didn't feel like that, and it wasn't as unbearable as the PD infections that i have experienced in the past, but just to be on the safe side, after an hour of trying to tolerate this pain, i decided to seek attention at ER. When i got there, they went through the usual, take your kaiser card and your driver's license, and then they will call you in to be registered, i sat in the waiting area for about fifteen minutes, it didn't look like they were all that busy, because there was only two people sitting in the waiting area. I finally was called in, and the nurse reception, took my vitals, (you know the usual temp, b/p, and that bandage on the finger thing, where they check how well you are breathing the room air, you know!), and i am still at this time having very excruiating pain, the nurse then ask from a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain, and of course, i responded with 7 or 8. I was then instructed to sit back in the waiting area, until my name is called. By now, i had reached my breaking point, because i wasn't getting any relief for my pain, just sitting in the waiting area, agonizing with so much pain. Finally after another fifteen minutes, i am called in, and assigned to a room. The nurse must not look at my chart, because she ask me what i am there for, and of course, i am so aggravated by then, i think i may have a hernia issue, it want go back in, even when i lie down, so she says, it may need to be pushed back in place. Disrobe from the waist down, so i just took off my pants. Another ten minutes went by, and finally she comes back to give me an IV, (which IV are not very friendly to me), she had to try three times, before she could get the IV, because each time, when she thought she had it, it would blow, you see my veins tend to roll away and they also have the nerve to hide, plus they are very small veins, which is one reason why i had so much trouble with AV Grafts on Hemo for ten years. I had four grafts in all, having angioplasties of repairs of grafts several times, during my ten year run with Hemo. I am still this very day, a very hard stick, just to get blood drawn. Well, anyway, she finally got one on the third try, and she then administered morphine, and it wasn't long before i wasn't feeling the pain anymore, and feeling like i was on cloud nine, that is some great pain killer (lol). I don't get high, but that is a real awesome feeling, sometime i wonder if this is how drug addicts feel, when they get high, it is not a bad way to feel, a person could start to crave this drug, and then become a painkiller addict (lol). After the morphine began to take a affect about five minutes, the ER doctor comes back in, and ask me do i still feel any pain or discomfort in my abdomen, and i told him i don't feel a thing, so he told me to brace myself, so he begans to move my hernia around, until he felt it go back in place. To be honest with you, i truly don't know what that feels like, when it is back in place, but he did demonstrate to me, how to pop it back in place. He told me to walk around the room a few times, and then lie down, and check to see if the hernia flattens, and it did, and that was an indication that it was popped back in place. I tell ya, it is one thing or another with prolonged dialysis treatment, but all in all, i have learned a lot from all these experiences. I have had this hernia since 2006, but it wasn't giving me any pain or discomfort all that time. Now, i guess you say, why don't you have it repaired, well, it is not that simple for me, my case is very complicated, and that is mainly because of all the access and catherer issues i have had during my ten year hemo run. First, i can't have a catherer in the upper part of my body, because of potential severe edema issues, which because of this edema issue in the upper part of my body, i developed CHF (congestive heart failure). The edema issues occurred back in 1993, when i received the blessing of my first transplant, i had to have temporary hemo, because my lab results weren't in normal range, and they decided not to declot my graft, and attempted to give me a subclavian (catherer), which was a very blotched up procedure, causing my left side of my neck to swell, (i swear you would have thought, i had developed a very enormous tumor on the left side of neck, this experience is shared in my second book in full detail - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World), way to much to go into on this blog. Back to the story, I could only have a catherer placed in my right groin, and i truly despise dialyzing from my groin, it is very taxing on my body, to the point, that when i had to return to hemo back in 2006, because of the development of a fungus, in which my PD catherer had to be completely removed. I had the worst pressure - i could only get as high as 250, i had frequently clotting issues with this groin catherer, which i experienced a frost bite like feeling on hemo, it was to the point, that i couldn't tolerate my treatment, so the treatment was stopped for that day, but i had to return the following day, where if you had a normal functioning graft or fistula, you would only dialyzing three days a week, every other day, i hated having to go to treatment two days in a roll, now you know why it is not such a great idea for me to return to hemo, even temporary. I try my best to keep my hernia tamed, with a band and also a maternity band, that my sweet and long time friend, Veronica Ramsey, suggested. Hoping it can work, until i have my IVIG procedure at Cedar Sinai, and then i came be a candidate for the cadaver list once again, in hopes of receiving the blessing of a kidney real soon. Well, that is it for now, i am feeling better, and getting on with the business of living and staying as compliant as i can, with renal diet, and my medication regiment. Until next blog, all the best to all my blogging friends. Glo

Hi All, I have started my own personal blog, and I would like to start off by sharing my last Sunday evening (June 12, 2011), with Montel Williams, at one of his famous Living Well Seminars at the Hyatt Regency, Sacramento, CA. It was a very productive and upligting seminar, because I was recently diagnosed with RA (rhuematoid Arthritis) in my left thumb and index finger, I wanted to find out if there is another way of relieving my chronic pain in my hand, besides the occasional cortisone injection, that I have to have to relieve the pain, but this is just a temporary solution. Montel shared with us how much he believes in cannabais medicine for relief of chronic pain, in which it has helped him tremendously for over a decade now. He also talked about how much copper has helped also in the relief of his constant chronic pain, with the help of a company called Tommie Copper, in which he believe in so much that he became a part of the company. Check it out sometime at your leisure, online at http://www.tommiecopper.com/, check out the variety of copper products available. Montel shared some very uplifting ending thoughts - He stated "the aches and pains are part of life, but pain shouldn't keep you from living your life to the fullest. If you are like him and looking for every edge to stay in the game of life, believe him, it's Tommie Copper. It was such a pleasure to finally meet him, after religiously watching him on his talk show for many years. He signed an autograph copy of his latest best seller release - Living Well, and i even gave him a copy of my second release - My Twenty Year Journey with PKD in the Dialysis World, he even graciously allowed my daughter to take a picture of me with him. This was such an exciting experience for me. I will be purchasing the tommiecopper glove sometime this week, and i will give you an update on my blog about how the copper glove has been for me.
Until next blog, take care and all the best to all my bloggers
Glo