Well Christmas has come and gone, and now it's back to getting on with life.
Since my last post I have been feeling up and down. I was doing fairly well until Christmas day when I began feeling extremely nauseated. It lasted all day. Because of it I ate very little of the food I had helped prepare for the Christmas meal. I tried not to let it get in my way of enjoying Christmas, though.
Ever since Christmas day, I have eaten only a little. Every time I do I am nauseated, no matter what I eat. Today I haven't eaten at all (I'm doing this post at 830p). Not good, I know.
My headache continues unabated. It is now 6+ weeks without a break from it. I do my weekly PT tomorrow. As always, I will hope the tx's (treatments) we do for my head will make a little dent in the headaches.
Also, I had my blood drawn for my next nephrology appointment. It is next Tuesday (05 Jan). I will fill you in on the developments; and I will hope for good news. As far as increasing S/S's I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary beyond what I've already described.
Well, that's all for now.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
23 Dec. 09
There is no news tonight.
I just wanted to drop a note to tell all of my readers
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
May you all be as blessed and as loved as I have been these past few months. It is the best Christmas ever thanks to all of your support and well-wishes. THANK YOU!
Great Health to All!
ScottW
I just wanted to drop a note to tell all of my readers
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
May you all be as blessed and as loved as I have been these past few months. It is the best Christmas ever thanks to all of your support and well-wishes. THANK YOU!
Great Health to All!
ScottW
Monday, December 21, 2009
21 Dec. 09
...And the rollercoaster ride continues...
By that, I mean how I'm feeling from day to day sometimes feels like the ups and downs of a gnarly rollercoaster.
On the 18th, things had been status quo in regards to headaches, appetite, feeling cold, etc. The past three days, I have been sleeping better (good!), my headache is down to a constant 4 (good!) but I have eaten about 50% less than what I have been (very bad!), and I continue to be cold all the time.
This whole thing is undoubtedly fatiguing my whole body. Compensation can only go on for so long before detrimental effects begin to happen. I want very much to avoid those for as long as possible. So, my plan is to continue eating around five times each day, get plenty of water and other fluids, and to force my body to do a little more every day as I prepare to go back to school in two and a half weeks.
I need to summon from within myself the strength and the courage to overcome what is happening right now. For me, it will take tons of focus and determination to get my mind and my body to where it must be in order to keep moving forward in a positive direction and towards my goals.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
By that, I mean how I'm feeling from day to day sometimes feels like the ups and downs of a gnarly rollercoaster.
On the 18th, things had been status quo in regards to headaches, appetite, feeling cold, etc. The past three days, I have been sleeping better (good!), my headache is down to a constant 4 (good!) but I have eaten about 50% less than what I have been (very bad!), and I continue to be cold all the time.
This whole thing is undoubtedly fatiguing my whole body. Compensation can only go on for so long before detrimental effects begin to happen. I want very much to avoid those for as long as possible. So, my plan is to continue eating around five times each day, get plenty of water and other fluids, and to force my body to do a little more every day as I prepare to go back to school in two and a half weeks.
I need to summon from within myself the strength and the courage to overcome what is happening right now. For me, it will take tons of focus and determination to get my mind and my body to where it must be in order to keep moving forward in a positive direction and towards my goals.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Friday, December 18, 2009
18 Dec. 09
In the six days since my last update there hasn't been much change.
The headaches are non-stop for over a month now. Though not debilitating, they are certainly painful. On my 1-10 (1 = minimal, 10 = vomiting, blackouts, etc.) scale of intensity, this ongoing headache has been averaging around a six. Tylenol will not even touch the pain. I know these headaches are not TMD related because I am utilizing the same treatments for these as I have for the past eight years and the headaches are blasting through the treatments. Also, after having had TMD for twenty five years, I know what they feel and taste like. Yes, I said taste.
As strange as it seems, my TMD (Temporo Mandibular Dysfunction) headaches actually produce the sensation of a metallic taste. It is very palpable. With these headaches, that taste just isn't there. Not even a hint. And, these feel different in every way.
My appetite is still terrible. I am trying to eat more every day by snacking every two hours, plus dinner. I'm still not past my usual four cups of food, but I am working on it.
The past six days my sleep has been worse. Restlessness, uncomfortable, my body going between hot and cold, etc. all adds up to poor sleep. I'm walking around tired most of the time.
Also, I continue to be cold almost all the time now. I'm wearing a fleece jacket most of the time--even indoors. Today I was at a movie and started getting terribly chilled. I was physically shaking from the cold. When I got home, it took five hours wrapped in blankets to get warm.
Not much good news today; but as always, I will continue to look towards better days, and feeling better.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
The headaches are non-stop for over a month now. Though not debilitating, they are certainly painful. On my 1-10 (1 = minimal, 10 = vomiting, blackouts, etc.) scale of intensity, this ongoing headache has been averaging around a six. Tylenol will not even touch the pain. I know these headaches are not TMD related because I am utilizing the same treatments for these as I have for the past eight years and the headaches are blasting through the treatments. Also, after having had TMD for twenty five years, I know what they feel and taste like. Yes, I said taste.
As strange as it seems, my TMD (Temporo Mandibular Dysfunction) headaches actually produce the sensation of a metallic taste. It is very palpable. With these headaches, that taste just isn't there. Not even a hint. And, these feel different in every way.
My appetite is still terrible. I am trying to eat more every day by snacking every two hours, plus dinner. I'm still not past my usual four cups of food, but I am working on it.
The past six days my sleep has been worse. Restlessness, uncomfortable, my body going between hot and cold, etc. all adds up to poor sleep. I'm walking around tired most of the time.
Also, I continue to be cold almost all the time now. I'm wearing a fleece jacket most of the time--even indoors. Today I was at a movie and started getting terribly chilled. I was physically shaking from the cold. When I got home, it took five hours wrapped in blankets to get warm.
Not much good news today; but as always, I will continue to look towards better days, and feeling better.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Saturday, December 12, 2009
12 Dec. 09
Things have been moving along.
Still have that headache. It's now four weeks running.
My appetite is still minimal. My eating habits are not consistent from meal to meal. For example, Wednesday I had no breakfast, a half PBJ sandwich for lunch, and a slice of pizza and half a hot dog for dinner. Yesterday I ate a donut for breakfast, one egg roll for lunch, and a pita sandwich for dinner. So far today, I've had zero breakfast, and zero lunch. Like I stated earlier, I'm just not hungry. I can easily go 7-9 hours without even thinking about eating.
My sleep has been OK. I'm getting about 6.5 - 7.5 hours per night. It's fairly restful sleep. No complaints!
Due to the weather here in central Utah (and my inability to stay warm) I'm not getting outside much. I have a hard enough time [being warm] indoors...going out into 00 degree weather just ain't gonna happen! :o)
I'm all caught up, for now. Stay positive, and keep smiling!
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Still have that headache. It's now four weeks running.
My appetite is still minimal. My eating habits are not consistent from meal to meal. For example, Wednesday I had no breakfast, a half PBJ sandwich for lunch, and a slice of pizza and half a hot dog for dinner. Yesterday I ate a donut for breakfast, one egg roll for lunch, and a pita sandwich for dinner. So far today, I've had zero breakfast, and zero lunch. Like I stated earlier, I'm just not hungry. I can easily go 7-9 hours without even thinking about eating.
My sleep has been OK. I'm getting about 6.5 - 7.5 hours per night. It's fairly restful sleep. No complaints!
Due to the weather here in central Utah (and my inability to stay warm) I'm not getting outside much. I have a hard enough time [being warm] indoors...going out into 00 degree weather just ain't gonna happen! :o)
I'm all caught up, for now. Stay positive, and keep smiling!
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
08 Dec. 09
Had the second of my three baseline establishing nephrologist appointments today.
The good news first:
-I'm now (officially) on just two meds...Atenolol and Gemfibrozil. The only difference is that I'm upping the dosage of Atenolol an extra 50 mg's/day to 150 mg's. I am to take the dosage I have already been on in the morning, plus the extra 50 mg dose twelve hours later. The idea is that some patients metabolize Atenolol faster than other patients. My doctor wants to see if taking a half dose at night will steady my BP to a constant number twenty four hours a day.
-I am only showing a few S/S's (signs & symptoms) of the PCKD.
-Most of my bloodwork came back normal. So, most of my body is operating within normal parameters.
-Officially, I lost seven pounds over the past four weeks.
And now, the bad news:
-I have become anemic. My latest hematacrit was 35%. Normal is +45%....
-and...My Red Blood Cells (RBC's) while healthy, are fewer in number than they should be. This means that my body is not producing RBC's in sufficient numbers.
-My Lipids were high. I believe this means that the kidney's are not able to filter as well as they should.
-Creatinine level is elevated higher than previously.
-BUN is 40 mg's. (High end is 15 mg's). On my last visit the BUN was around 32.
-All of which leads to a 2% decrease in kidney function. Both kidney's are now operating at just 24%. That's a two percent drop in a month. No so good.
My being cold, having continuous headaches, and lack of appetite all are definitely S/S's of the disease.
So, one more month for the last baseline numbers, then we get to discuss time frames, options, etc. I'll hope that the disease slows this month. I've still got too much to do...
And, on we go. A bit of tough news today, but certainly no reason for discouragement. Christmas is almost here, I start the new semester in a month, I've got a new grandson,...too much yet to do.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
The good news first:
-I'm now (officially) on just two meds...Atenolol and Gemfibrozil. The only difference is that I'm upping the dosage of Atenolol an extra 50 mg's/day to 150 mg's. I am to take the dosage I have already been on in the morning, plus the extra 50 mg dose twelve hours later. The idea is that some patients metabolize Atenolol faster than other patients. My doctor wants to see if taking a half dose at night will steady my BP to a constant number twenty four hours a day.
-I am only showing a few S/S's (signs & symptoms) of the PCKD.
-Most of my bloodwork came back normal. So, most of my body is operating within normal parameters.
-Officially, I lost seven pounds over the past four weeks.
And now, the bad news:
-I have become anemic. My latest hematacrit was 35%. Normal is +45%....
-and...My Red Blood Cells (RBC's) while healthy, are fewer in number than they should be. This means that my body is not producing RBC's in sufficient numbers.
-My Lipids were high. I believe this means that the kidney's are not able to filter as well as they should.
-Creatinine level is elevated higher than previously.
-BUN is 40 mg's. (High end is 15 mg's). On my last visit the BUN was around 32.
-All of which leads to a 2% decrease in kidney function. Both kidney's are now operating at just 24%. That's a two percent drop in a month. No so good.
My being cold, having continuous headaches, and lack of appetite all are definitely S/S's of the disease.
So, one more month for the last baseline numbers, then we get to discuss time frames, options, etc. I'll hope that the disease slows this month. I've still got too much to do...
And, on we go. A bit of tough news today, but certainly no reason for discouragement. Christmas is almost here, I start the new semester in a month, I've got a new grandson,...too much yet to do.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Saturday, December 5, 2009
05 Dec. 09
The weather has turned really cold here in central Utah. Along with that, my ability to stay warm has also diminished.
As I stated in an earlier post, I have never lacked the ability to keep myself warm simply because my hypothalamus (the 'thermostat of the body') has always worked overtime. Warmth was never an issue. Recently though, I have been unable to stay warm; even on just a mildly cool day. With the weather turning downright sub-freezing, I cannot get warm at all. In a warm room, my hands are cold to the touch.
I spent nearly all of last evening bundled in multiple blankets in a failed attempt to get warm. Even as I write today's blog, the temp in the house is over 70 degrees, and I am cold all over.
Also, I've been having nasty headaches (the 24/7 kind) the past few weeks. Yesterday was particularly bad. On my 1-10 scale it was about an 8.5. I was popping 2000 mg's of Tylenol at a time with zero effect. I'm still treating my TMD headaches in my weekly physical therapy, so I doubt the TMD is the cause. So, that leaves meds and the PCKD as possible antagonists; both of which are possibilities.
Lastly, my appetite has increased a little bit, but still not enough to make a difference in energy levels. I will continue to try to eat a little more every day.
My next nephrology appointment is this Tuesday. I'm picking up the lab results from my last blood draw on Monday. I'll be sure to write about the appointment.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
As I stated in an earlier post, I have never lacked the ability to keep myself warm simply because my hypothalamus (the 'thermostat of the body') has always worked overtime. Warmth was never an issue. Recently though, I have been unable to stay warm; even on just a mildly cool day. With the weather turning downright sub-freezing, I cannot get warm at all. In a warm room, my hands are cold to the touch.
I spent nearly all of last evening bundled in multiple blankets in a failed attempt to get warm. Even as I write today's blog, the temp in the house is over 70 degrees, and I am cold all over.
Also, I've been having nasty headaches (the 24/7 kind) the past few weeks. Yesterday was particularly bad. On my 1-10 scale it was about an 8.5. I was popping 2000 mg's of Tylenol at a time with zero effect. I'm still treating my TMD headaches in my weekly physical therapy, so I doubt the TMD is the cause. So, that leaves meds and the PCKD as possible antagonists; both of which are possibilities.
Lastly, my appetite has increased a little bit, but still not enough to make a difference in energy levels. I will continue to try to eat a little more every day.
My next nephrology appointment is this Tuesday. I'm picking up the lab results from my last blood draw on Monday. I'll be sure to write about the appointment.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
02 Dec. 09
I've got the second of three baseline visits to the Nephrologist next Wednesday (08 Dec). In advance of that visit I had my blood drawn yesterday for the usual battery of tests (Renal panel, BUN & Creatinine levels, etc. I had five vials of blood taken, so I'm thinking that my doc wants as much info off the bloodwork as can be had.
Other than that, things have been status quo. In other words, still not eating, still having headaches, decreased nausea and dizziness, etc. I'm not going to restart on the Amlodipine. I'll going to insist on it. I need to be functioning, eating more, and getting productive. After all, the next semester starts in just over four weeks, and I need to have the ability to get to my classes AND complete any homework.
That's all I've got for today. Thank you for your continued visitations to my blog. I hope that I have been (and will continue to be) informative, forthright and of assistance to someone out there, in some way. I'd love to hear any comments or questions you might have.Until then...
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Other than that, things have been status quo. In other words, still not eating, still having headaches, decreased nausea and dizziness, etc. I'm not going to restart on the Amlodipine. I'll going to insist on it. I need to be functioning, eating more, and getting productive. After all, the next semester starts in just over four weeks, and I need to have the ability to get to my classes AND complete any homework.
That's all I've got for today. Thank you for your continued visitations to my blog. I hope that I have been (and will continue to be) informative, forthright and of assistance to someone out there, in some way. I'd love to hear any comments or questions you might have.Until then...
Good Health to All!
ScottW
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