Too long--once again--between my posts. My apologies. Let's get to it...
Dialysis Weights:
07 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 102.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 3.20 Kg
10 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 103.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.6 Kg
Water Removed: 3.10 Kg
12 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 102.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.5 kg
Water Removed: 2.10 Kg
15 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 102.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 3.50 Kg
17 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 103.5 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 4.10 Kg
19 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 101.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.6 Kg
Water Removed: 2.30 Kg
21 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 102.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.1 Kg
Water Removed: 3.50 kg
24 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 102.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 3.20 Kg
Yet again, my weights are under control. The one day where I ended over my dry weight was due to an input error by the Tech, when they were setting up my daily draw for the dialysis machine.
The Head Nurse decided to start a new top button hole. The old one is just below the collapsed part of the fistula, and we've been waiting for the ancillary veins around that to grow and strengthen. So, for six months we've waited patiently; and now, it's time for a new top-site.
Anyhow, the Nurse got the new sharps stick (an actual sharp needle), and on the next Tx, the Tech who canulated saw good flashback, but the vein popped and I had a hematoma the size of a golf ball on my arm. The new site was abandoned, and the old button hole was used instead. That was two weeks ago. In yesterday's Tx, the same Nurse tried the sharps stick again, and got it. We'll [hopefully] do the same on Thursday. After eight or so Tx's, the sharps needle should no longer be needed, and we'll go to the blunt needle, instead. We'll see if I have any more problems with the new site pretty quickly.
I do have a nice yellow bruise on my arm from that hematoma. It never turned into something nasty looking, though; which was a bit of a disappointment...At least I could have a gnarly bruise from this, right? :o)
(I'll try to remember to take a picture of the new site while I'm on dialysis tomorrow!)
Because my K+ and Phosphorous have been high, I've had lots of lab draws to check on both. Since my last blog my K+ has dropped from 6.1 to 5.3, which is within the acceptable range. The Phosphorous continues bouncing all over the place going from 5.7 in early June to 6.6 today.
Both numbers are the result of mi increased time on the dialyzer. I am now going for 4.5 hours each Tx, and the results are improving. My spKdt/V is better, too; as is the Albumin.
My next labs will be coming up on the first Tuesday in July, so we'll have a total picture on the new dialysis times then.
In other news, my healing is coming along. I am starting to drive again---awesome! I can do this because the nausea is down, the vertigo is way down, and my mental acuity is greatly improved. In fact, my wife is out of town for a week, and I am driving myself to dialysis while she's gone! (Just a touch better, eh?)
Also, my sleep is getting better as far as quality. I am sleeping about eight solid hours, while taking a few naps each day. Plus, my dreams remain completely in my control. This is a sure sign that I am doing better, mentally.
The physical strength side of things is still really low, but it is definitely better. I have pretty much zero stamina, but I am walking better, faster, and don't lean on my cane nearly as much as just a few weeks ago.
I am still having a constant issue with nausea. While I'm not throwing up every day, I still get awoken with intense nausea, and have days when I can't get away from feeling terribly sick; but overall, the nausea is getting better and better. Any time I can get away from feeling so terrible, is a very good thing!
That's all I can think of today. With the Fourth of July coming up it may be sometime before I get my next entry done; so be patient...I'll get to it!
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
06 June 2014
First off, Today is June 6th, and it is the 70th Anniversary of Operation Overlord; the day Allied forces breached Fortress Europe; the day the end of the European side of WWII began. Many brave men--on all sides-- lost their lives that day on the five beaches of Normandy.
It is our duty to remember these men from the Greatest Generation who so bravely, selflessly waded ashore under a terrifying storm of bullets and cannon fire in order to begin the liberation of France, Belgium and so many other nations. Many of our finest young men failed to return to their families; though their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Every year I offer a prayer of thanks to these gallant men who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
As always, my thanks are but few words and feeble; while your sacrifice was extraordinary.
Thank You.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, after that incredibly important note, let's get on with the latest blog...
Dialysis Weights:
29 May 14
Starting Weight: 102.1 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 2.70 Kg
31 May 14
Starting Weight: 101.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.2 Kg
Water Removed: 2.70 Kg
03 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 103.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 4.50 Kg
05 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 101.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.3 Kg
Water Removed: 2.60 Kg
Great weights going into, and great weights afterwards. I seem to have control of my water gains, and my body isn't giving back too much. This is good. It's looking like my body is finally recovered from my surgery back in November--(It's been THAT long ago?!)--as the wide swings in weight are gone, and I haven't had any fluid buildup in my lungs in several months.
Plus, my sleep is deeper, my energy is a little better, and I am feeling a little better every day. In fact, I haven't had any vomiting now in almost three weeks. The constant nausea is decreased, my headache is not as intense, and I've had several people remark to myself (or my wife) how much better I'm looking from the pre-surgery days. I'll take those comments any day of the week!
On the other hand, healing is slow, as is my overall progress. This frustrates me every so often; but I remind myself that I had major surgery, am still on dialysis three times a week, and have no kidneys. This is going to take time.
Good news...
After speaking with a Clinic doc yesterday, I am cutting my Atenolol in half once again. Why? Because, after more than three weeks since initially halving my daily dose--enough time to drop the therapeutic level to its current dose--my BP is better than great. I went into yesterday's dialysis with a 113/75 BP. My exit BP was 100/83.
So, the Atenolol, still at 1 dose/day, is down to 25 total mg. In a few weeks, if my BP continues to be stable and low, we may cut the Atenolol out all together.
Labs were drawn on Tuesday, and I have all the latest:
*Albumin (20 May): 4.00 g/dL (+0.20 g/dL from 22 Apr)
(A measure of Protein in the blood) NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher
*Hemoglobin (03 Jun): 10.00 g/dL (-1.20 g/dL from 06 May)
(A Measure of Anemia)
*Ca Corrected (03 Jun): 9.70 mg/dL (-1.00 mg/dL from 06 May)
(A measure of Heart and Bone health) NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL
*Phosphorous (03 Jun): 5.70 mg/dL (-2.20 mg/dL from 06 May)
(High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones) NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL
*PTH Intact (20 May): 255 pg/mL (+104 pg/mL from 22 Apr)
(A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health) NR 150 to 600 pg/mL
*K+ (03 Jun): 6.10 mEq/L (+0.50 mEq/L from 06 May)
(Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well) NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L
*spKdt/V Dialysis (03 Jun): 1.24 (-0.20 from 06 May)
(A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis and blood filtering.) NR 1.20 or Higher
The phosphorous drop is huge, so the Nutritionist has ordered another draw tomorrow to verify this number. If it holds up, the GREAT! I've been working on this, and my efforts paid off. If the number rebounds higher, then I still have lots more work to do.
The Potassium (K+) remains elevated in spite of my cutting out the obvious sources of potassium altogether. I will continue trying to find potassium in my foods and eliminate those, as well.
After I was finished with my dialysis yesterday, one of the buttonhole clots popped, and I was bleeding all over the place. Luckily I hadn't left the clinic, so I immediately clamped my hand over the buttonhole, and called for a nurse. They came over, cleaned me up and put fresh bandages on the sites; after which I held for another twenty minutes, then let it sit another ten beyond that before I headed out.
Any time a clot pops on you, immediately apply pressure to the site. If you leave it, you could, with the proper amount of time, Exsanguinate--bleed out. I don't care if you're squeamish around blood--you put one hand on that site, and THEN get a nurse. Stopping the blood is more important than anything!
Alright, that's all I've got for today.
Have a great week! May it be successful and filled with all that you need.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
It is our duty to remember these men from the Greatest Generation who so bravely, selflessly waded ashore under a terrifying storm of bullets and cannon fire in order to begin the liberation of France, Belgium and so many other nations. Many of our finest young men failed to return to their families; though their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Every year I offer a prayer of thanks to these gallant men who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
As always, my thanks are but few words and feeble; while your sacrifice was extraordinary.
Thank You.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, after that incredibly important note, let's get on with the latest blog...
Dialysis Weights:
29 May 14
Starting Weight: 102.1 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 2.70 Kg
31 May 14
Starting Weight: 101.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.2 Kg
Water Removed: 2.70 Kg
03 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 103.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.4 Kg
Water Removed: 4.50 Kg
05 Jun 14
Starting Weight: 101.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 99.3 Kg
Water Removed: 2.60 Kg
Great weights going into, and great weights afterwards. I seem to have control of my water gains, and my body isn't giving back too much. This is good. It's looking like my body is finally recovered from my surgery back in November--(It's been THAT long ago?!)--as the wide swings in weight are gone, and I haven't had any fluid buildup in my lungs in several months.
Plus, my sleep is deeper, my energy is a little better, and I am feeling a little better every day. In fact, I haven't had any vomiting now in almost three weeks. The constant nausea is decreased, my headache is not as intense, and I've had several people remark to myself (or my wife) how much better I'm looking from the pre-surgery days. I'll take those comments any day of the week!
On the other hand, healing is slow, as is my overall progress. This frustrates me every so often; but I remind myself that I had major surgery, am still on dialysis three times a week, and have no kidneys. This is going to take time.
Good news...
After speaking with a Clinic doc yesterday, I am cutting my Atenolol in half once again. Why? Because, after more than three weeks since initially halving my daily dose--enough time to drop the therapeutic level to its current dose--my BP is better than great. I went into yesterday's dialysis with a 113/75 BP. My exit BP was 100/83.
So, the Atenolol, still at 1 dose/day, is down to 25 total mg. In a few weeks, if my BP continues to be stable and low, we may cut the Atenolol out all together.
Labs were drawn on Tuesday, and I have all the latest:
*Albumin (20 May): 4.00 g/dL (+0.20 g/dL from 22 Apr)
(A measure of Protein in the blood) NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher
*Hemoglobin (03 Jun): 10.00 g/dL (-1.20 g/dL from 06 May)
(A Measure of Anemia)
*Ca Corrected (03 Jun): 9.70 mg/dL (-1.00 mg/dL from 06 May)
(A measure of Heart and Bone health) NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL
*Phosphorous (03 Jun): 5.70 mg/dL (-2.20 mg/dL from 06 May)
(High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones) NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL
*PTH Intact (20 May): 255 pg/mL (+104 pg/mL from 22 Apr)
(A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health) NR 150 to 600 pg/mL
*K+ (03 Jun): 6.10 mEq/L (+0.50 mEq/L from 06 May)
(Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well) NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L
*spKdt/V Dialysis (03 Jun): 1.24 (-0.20 from 06 May)
(A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis and blood filtering.) NR 1.20 or Higher
The phosphorous drop is huge, so the Nutritionist has ordered another draw tomorrow to verify this number. If it holds up, the GREAT! I've been working on this, and my efforts paid off. If the number rebounds higher, then I still have lots more work to do.
The Potassium (K+) remains elevated in spite of my cutting out the obvious sources of potassium altogether. I will continue trying to find potassium in my foods and eliminate those, as well.
After I was finished with my dialysis yesterday, one of the buttonhole clots popped, and I was bleeding all over the place. Luckily I hadn't left the clinic, so I immediately clamped my hand over the buttonhole, and called for a nurse. They came over, cleaned me up and put fresh bandages on the sites; after which I held for another twenty minutes, then let it sit another ten beyond that before I headed out.
Any time a clot pops on you, immediately apply pressure to the site. If you leave it, you could, with the proper amount of time, Exsanguinate--bleed out. I don't care if you're squeamish around blood--you put one hand on that site, and THEN get a nurse. Stopping the blood is more important than anything!
Alright, that's all I've got for today.
Have a great week! May it be successful and filled with all that you need.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
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