09 February 2015

I waited this long between entries on purpose...well, sort of on purpose. With the previous entry so close to the end of the month, I wanted to wait until my February labs were available, which was this past Thursday. Unfortunately, {aside from Friday} I've been feeling pretty lousy since then, so I am just now getting to the entry.
Let's get on with it...

Dialysis Weights:

22 Jan 15
Starting Weight:  98.4 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.6 Kg
Water Removed:  2.80 Kg

24 Jan 15
Starting Weight:  97.7 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.4 Kg
Water Removed:  2.30 Kg

27 Jan 15
Starting Weight:  98.4 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.5 Kg
Water Removed:  2.90 Kg

29 Jan 15
Starting Weight:  97.4 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.3 Kg
Water Removed:  2.10 Kg

31 Jan 15
Starting Weight:  97.7 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.4 Kg
Water Removed:  2.30 Kg

03 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  99.0 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.3 Kg
Water Removed:  3.70 Kg

05 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  97.6 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.4 Kg
Water Removed:  2.20 Kg

07 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  97.8 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.2 Kg
Water Removed:  2.60 Kg

My new lower dry weight (95.5 Kg) is adaptable. I am having only minor cramping following Tx, and only in my feet. This is great!
On this coming Tuesday, I am going to reset my dry weight for a flat 95 Kg. After all, as my numbers above bear out, I am getting close to that anyhow, and again, am only having minor cramping with no other obvious side effects. So in my book, that means it is time to drop another 1.1 pounds (1/2 Kg).

February Labs:

GREAT Labs this month!

(February 2015 Labs)

*Albumin (20 Jan): 4.10 g/dL     (-0.20 from 16 Dec)
  (A measure of Protein in the blood)     NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher

*Hemoglobin (03 Feb): 10.40 G/dL    (-0.70 G/dL from 06 Jan)
  (A Measure of Anemia)

*Ca Corrected (03 Feb): 9.70 mg/dL     (+0.50 mg/dL from 06 Jan)
  (A measure of Heart and Bone health)     NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL

*Phosphorous (03 Feb:  3.80 mg/dL    (-1.20 mg/dL from 06 Jan)
  (High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones)     NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL

*PTH Intact (20 Jan):  231 pg/mL     (+57 pg/mL from 16 Dec)
  (A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health)     NR 150 to 600 pg/mL

*K+ (03 Feb):  5.4 mEq/L    (+0.40 from 13 Jan)
  (Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well)     NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L

*spKdt/V Dialysis (03 Feb):  1.63     (-0.06 from 06 Jan)
  (A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis and blood filtering.)     NR 1.20 or Higher  

WOW!! Look at those numbers! My hard work has paid off!  Remember the recent terrible Phosphorous and Potassium? Just look at those now! The Phosphorous is AWESOME! These labs even come on the heels of a cheat weekend--due to the Super Bowl, and my hometown Seahawks--too bad on the loss.) So, my actual average phosphorous might be a titch lower than is reflected here.

I've been getting the sneaking feeling that my transplant could be coming up soon. As a result, I am getting my "Go" bag ready--supplies that I'll need in the hospital. These items include:
   Current List of Meds
   Current Insurance Info
   Address and Contact Info
   Two Changes of Clothing (Shirts, Shorts/PJ's, Underwear, Socks)
   Extension Cord (For Phone and Tablet)
   Pens and Notepads
   Toiletries (Deodorant, Hair Brush, Tooth Brush, etc)
   DVD's (for my room)
When I get the call, the only things I'll need to remember to grab are my Phone, Tablet and Tablet Stand, Wallet and Sunglasses. That's it. When leaving for the hospital I'll grab the "Go" bag, and these few other items and be out the door. Having this will cut down on confusion and forgetting due to the excitement of the moment.

As I alluded to earlier the past few days (aside from Friday), have been challenging. On Friday I went to Park City to look at some Real Estate properties with my wife [for her office]. While there we had a nice lunch at a spot in Park City itself. Around all of this was a very pleasant drive from home to there, and back again...and I did ALL the driving! It was sooooooo nice to be able to do that!! Yes, I pushed things too much on the driving, but I just wanted a day that I felt somewhat normal--which I did!

The downside of that drive was feeling lousy (Headache, Nausea, Exhaustion, etc) on Friday night and all day Saturday and today. Oh well, it was absolutely worth it!  :o)

Add on that my diaphragm is the area that water is deciding to accumulate on these off-days, so breathing started becoming labored this afternoon; and will, undoubtedly, be severe by Tuesday morning. This in spite of my actually being 0.40 Kg of fluid under my maximum intake volume. Hmmm....

The surgery site of my new fistula continues to be extremely sensitive to anything touching it. That nerve is so incredibly hyperacute to even the slightest grazing or pressure that I am constantly aware of anything that could come into contact with the area.

I am STILL thirsty all of the time!  Frankly, I want this to continue to be the case. I've been told that dialysis patients often neglect proper fluid intake once they have a transplant simply because that's what they've trained their minds and bodies to do in order to keep their fluids in line with goals. But, once they get a transplant, that conditioning doesn't go away and some patients actually cause themselves to go into dehydration. So, I see my continuing to have extreme thirst in a positive light, and look to be downing plenty of fluids immediately following my transplant.

Also:

-My appetite remains all over the place, as does the appeal any and all foods have at any given time or place.
-My BM's have been normal and dry. No diarrhea in weeks again.
-There have been no changes in my meds for a long while now--a very good thing!
-Sleep is all over the place, as usual. Quality of sleep also goes up and down.
-My Dreams have been completely in my control, so no bad dreams in months now. So, even after a bad night of sleep, my mind remains in a very good place.
-As expected, I am still getting goop out of my lungs from that URI in late December; though, the incidences of the phlegm emerging have greatly decreased to only a couple of times every week.
-Overall, my nausea is better; but, I go through extended periods when it seems to just hang around no matter what I do to combat it.
-My stamina and strength are a little better. Percentage? (I don't know...Not very much?)

That's about all I can remember, at this time.

I will try to get another entry sooner...which I always promise, but rarely achieve these days...sorry.  :o(

Until next time,

Good Health to All!

ScottW