Although most of my week did not go as planned, one thing turned out better than expected.
I went to neither of my usual appointments with my Chiropractor as he had a family medical emergency, and was gone from his practice all week. My back is doing OK without the adjustments, but my feet have ramped up a bit without the acupuncture. I am scheduled for Tuesday once more.
Yesterday I received the second of the two Hepatitis B inoculations. It went in my L arm, and was given IM (Intermuscular). Aside from a little soreness and some slight nausea, there were no appreciable S/E's (Side Effects).
My labs this week were once more a combination of terrible and good. Let's review them...
13 October 20 Labs:
*Creat: 4.33 (-0.11) *As a reminder, this number is awful!
*HCT: 32.1 (+1.0) Low
*Hemo: 10.5 (+0.7) IR
*Lymph: 4.4 (-0.3) Extremely Low
*Lymph ABS: 0.4 (+0.1) Extremely Low
*RBC: 3.67 (+0.24) Extremely Low
*WBC: 8.1 (+0.9) IR
*Ketones: Negative
*BUN: 53 (-9) Extremely High
*CA: 10.2 (+0.4) High
*GFR: 14 (NC) IR
*Gluc: 122
*K+: 4.1 (-0.1) IR
*NA+: 137 (-2) IR
*Phos: 5.1 (-0.1) High
*Prot: 7.1 (+0.2) IR
NC= No Change IR= In Range
No lab values moved much from two weeks ago, and the good [pretty much] remain good, while the bad continue to waffle around. Neither good news, nor bad, from this latest round of labs.
Next, my visit to the Vascular Surgeon had an unexpected outcome. My R arm [where the artificial loop graft is located] was scanned extensively using an ultrasound, and it reveal what was never anticipated...that my graft is not only fully functional and free of any blockages, but is flowing at an even higher rate (2,009) than it was when it was first placed (1,700+)!
So, no surgery is necessary, and the graft is ready for whenever I must start dialysis.
I asked the surgeon why I can no longer feel it much within my arm, is weak on palpation of the venous end, nor can I actually hear it when everything around me is quiet. The explanation...weight gain adds muscle and fat around the graft essentially insulating more than it was previously when I weighed 25 Kg's less. That's it. This development takes a lot of stress off of my mind knowing that another painful surgery will not happen!
The headaches have ramped up, involving both the TMD and deteriorating body chemistry. I am putting up with some of the headaches, to a degree, by only using Exedrin as much as I tolerate can the pain. As has been the pattern, the worse headaches have been coming towards the evenings; but not always. The past two days I have awoken to bad headaches, but luckily have been able to manage them with meds. No, this isn't because I haven't been able to get my usual acupuncture; these are happening despite the acupuncture. As I have postulated previously, based on previous experience with my original kidneys dying, the headaches will only increase; but at least I know that this time.
On other subjects, my appetite remains good, and foods are only slightly off to my taste. My weight remains hovering between 118.5 Kg and 119 Kg.
So far, my dreams remain completely under my control. I don't know that they won't stay that way because last time I went through renal failure, there were so many unknowns, so many surgeries, and feeling so horrible for so many years. Whereas this time around, I am healthier going towards dialysis, and the only surgery I should have will be my next transplant. This knowledge is a huge mental advantage! I am not saying that things won't get difficult in the months and years ahead of transplant; but at least I have the advantage of previous experience, and knowing just how much worse everything could be.
That's all I have for now.
Coming up this next week are two Chiropractor visits (hopefully), and an overdue yearly follow-up with my Dermatologist.
Until the next entry, stay healthy, stay safe and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather!
Good Health to All!
ScottW
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