23 February 2015

Two weeks have flown by already since my last entry, so let's get moving...


Dialysis Weights:

10 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  99.3 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.4 Kg
Water Removed:  3.90 Kg

12 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  97.5 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.3 Kg
Water Removed:  2.20 Kg

14 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  97.7 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.2 Kg
Water Removed:  2.50 Kg

17 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  98.2 Kg
Ending Weight:  94.9 Kg
Water Removed:  3.30 Kg

19 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  97.3 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.3 Kg
Water Removed:  2.00 Kg

21 Feb 15
Starting Weight:  97.8 Kg
Ending Weight:  95.3 Kg
Water Removed:  2.50 Kg

My weights are consistent, and I am now trying to lower my dry weight to 95.00 Kg, though I am having severe cramping in both feet and lower legs following every Tx. As a result, I am in sort of a holding pattern, and await two or three Tx's in a row without any cramping...anywhere.

I've also had additional [February] Labs drawn, so here are the updated results:

*Albumin (17 Feb): 4.30 g/dL     (+0.20 g/dL from 20 Jan)
  (A measure of Protein in the blood)     NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher

*Hemoglobin (17 Feb): 10.90 G/dL    (+0.50 g/dL from 03 Feb)
  (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 (17 Feb):  252 pg/mL     (+21 pg/mL from 20 Jan)
  (A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health)     NR 150 to 600 pg/mL

*K+ (17 Feb):  5.5 mEq/L    (+0.10 from 03 Feb)
  (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  

Look at that...GREENS across the board! It's about time!
It sure is a satisfying feeling to know that my efforts and sacrifices are paying off.


 The L (and now closed) A/V Fistula is no longer causing any issues that concern me. About the only thing I need to be careful of is getting my BP taken. When I do (at doctors, dialysis, etc.), the cuff must be a bit looser than normal, or the increased pressure [of the cuff] will actually force blood into the old fistula, causing pain and swelling of the lower arm. So, my suggestion...Keep the cuff looser than normal.
Problem solved!

My day to day finds me feeling anywhere between OK and lousy. The day to day is never consistent. For instance, yesterday, I was feeling pretty good, actually. Today, I awoke with a nasty headache, and then I started feeling really nauseated. Plus, I'm having fluid collect under my diaphragm again, so breathing is becoming labored. Tomorrow, after dialysis, I'll be feeling better, but exhausted from treatment (Tx).

As far as appetite, it has also been all over the place. I try to eat three meals every day, but I am getting a touch of appetite fatigue, so many foods are becoming unappealing to even think about. Getting past this one mentally is difficult, at best.

On average, my headaches continue on pretty much unabated. However, the ratio of kidney/dialysis headaches to TMD involved headaches is about 60-40. I have had several days this month where there was no headache whatsoever! Though few and far between, this tells me that the TMD is still relatively under some control, and that once the kidney headaches are gone, the incidence of TMD headaches will be less than I have been expecting.

That's all I can remember, for now.

Have a terrific week ahead!

Good Health to All!

ScottW