12 June 2013

A few things to discuss today, so let's get going...

We'll start with numbers from dialysis:

04 Jun 13
Starting Weight:  106.2 Kg
Ending Weight:  104.2 Kg
Water Removed:  2.00 Kg

06 Jun 13
Starting Weight:  105.7 Kg
Ending Weight:  104.3 Kg
Water Removed:  1.40 Kg
08 Jun 13
Starting Weight:  105.3 Kg
Ending Weight:  104.1 Kg
Water Removed:  1.20 Kg

11 Jun 13
Starting Weight:  105.4 Kg
Ending Weight:  104.1 Kg
Water Removed:  1.30 Kg

Once again, my daily efforts at liquid consumption control are paying off. My weights are fairly even from treatment to treatment, and my off days are better because my body isn't being subjected to extreme fluid losses during dialysis...for me, a very good thing!

I had my monthly labs drawn last week; here are the results:

*Albumin (21 May):  4.60 g/dL (+0.10 from 16 Apr)
  (How well the body absorbs proteins)

*Hemoglobin (06 Jun): 11.5 g/dL (+0.10 g/dL from 28 May)
  (A Measure of Anemia)

*Ca Corrected (04 Jun): 9.40 mg/dL (-0.10 mg/dL from 07 May)
  (A measure of Heart and Bone health)

*Phosphorous (04 Jun):  4.60 mg/dL (- 0.4 mg/dL from 07 May)
  (High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones)

*PTH Intact (21 May):  120 pg/mL   (-79 pg/mL from 16 Apr)
  (A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health)

*K+ (21 May):  4.9 mEq/L (+0.90 mEq/L from 16 Apr)
  (Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well)

*spKdt/V Dialysis (04 Jun): 1.51   (-0.09 from 07 May)
  (A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis cleaning the blood)

             = Good Numbers            = Bad Numbers

In spite of all the red numbers, all of my results--aside from the Hemoglobin--are still within the range that is wanted by the dialysis center. In other words, my numbers are great! My hard work with my diet and liquids is paying off.
Anyone on dialysis can do this, too! Just because you may have additional health issues does not mean that you can't have the best possible lab results. Just stick to the diet your nutritionist recommends, drink the reduced fluids your dialysis personnel recommends, and take your meds in the prescribed doses at the prescribed times every day, without fail. Good labs are entirely within your ability to control; so do what you have to!
It really IS that easy!

I've been doing a lot of asking about how to relieve the constant itching around the button-hole canulations sites, and no one really has much of an answer. So, I'll just try to scratch less, and hopefully reduce the skin irritation. I'll keep asking, however.

The last couple of weeks I have been seeming to get tired faster than ever. My housework, though getting done, takes me longer, and I am usually putting things off for a couple of days just because I don't have the energy. Sometimes I can still push through; other times not. No giving up, though! Never!

The headache, not in its 43rd consecutive month, has been up and down in intensity--but mostly up. I have had a few times that had indications that TMD S/S's were involved, so I used my NTI devices and the headache was reduced the next morning; but other than that, it's all about this CKD-related headache. No fun there.

Sleep...When I do get a full night of sleep, I've been having bad dreams again, making my sleep restless at best. Of course, the dreams all revolve around losing control, having no choice, etc. So, once I realize this, I go to sleep the next few nights repeating the conscious phrase, "I control my dreams; they do NOT control me!" This always works, for me! Then, I usually go several weeks before the bad dreams stop cropping up again.

That's all for now. Have an outstanding week, everyone!

Good Health to All!

ScottW