29 July 2015

*(With the latest Windows 10 update, some of my type settings in various programs are very different...as you can clearly see below. Hopefully, that can be altered....in a week or two...or six...just kidding!) :o)

After my flippant previous entry, you'd think I'd get to the next entry within short order...
...ummm, that would be a firm, resounding, "NO!" I won't even try to make an excuse as to why it took me nearly a month and a half to get this entry written, so let's just get into it...

Dialysis Weights

18 Jun 15
Starting Weight: 96.8 Kg
Ending Weight: 94.0 Kg
Water Removed: 2.80 Kg
Start BP: 195/120 End BP: 123/84

20 Jun 15
Starting Weight: 97.3 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.8 Kg
Water Removed: 3.50 Kg
Start BP: 179/113 End BP: 123/81

23 Jun 15
Starting Weight: 97.3 Kg
Ending Weight: 94.0 Kg
Water Removed: 3.30 Kg
Start BP: 190/118 End BP: 139/86

25 Jun 15
Starting Weight: 96.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.8 Kg
Water Removed: 2.80 Kg
Start BP: 193/117 End BP: 122/98

27 Jun 15
Starting Weight: 96.8 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.8 Kg
Water Removed: 3.00 Kg
Start BP: 188/119 End BP: 134/94

30 Jun 15
Starting Weight: 97.2 Kg
Ending Weight: 94.1 Kg
Water Removed: 3.10 Kg
Start BP: 194/121 End BP: 161/103

02 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 97.0 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.9 Kg
Water Removed: 3.10 Kg
Start BP: 165/108 End BP: 108/78

04 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 96.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.8 Kg
Water Removed: 2.90 Kg
Start BP: 165/107 End BP: 160/106

07 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 97.4 Kg
Ending Weight: 94.0 Kg
Water Removed: 3.40 Kg
Start BP: 189/110 End BP: 121/78

09 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 96.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.6 Kg
Water Removed: 3.10 Kg
Start BP: 178/117 End BP: 114/86

11 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 96.3 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.5 Kg
Water Removed: 2.80 Kg
Start BP: 201/111 End BP: 135/88

14 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 97.2 Kg
Ending Weight: 94.0 Kg
Water Removed: 3.20 Kg
Start BP: 196/121 End BP: 146/84

16 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 96.4 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.4 Kg
Water Removed: 3.00 Kg
Start BP: 163/106 End BP: 156/88

18 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 96.2 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.6 Kg
Water Removed: 2.60 Kg
Start BP: 189/129 End BP: 139/87

21 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 97.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 94.2 Kg
Water Removed: 3.70 Kg
Start BP: 194/121 End BP: 129/81

23 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 96.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.3 Kg
Water Removed: 3.30 Kg
Start BP: 172/113 End BP: 110/48*
*This ending BP is NOT correct. If it was, I would not have been able to stand, and possibly be unconscious.

25 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 96.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 93.3 Kg
Water Removed: 3.30 Kg
Start BP: 182/114 End BP: 134/84

28 Jul 15
Starting Weight: 97.8 Kg
Ending Weight: 94.1 Kg
Water Removed: 3.70 Kg
Start BP: 200/130 End BP: 129/89

Apart from a few days, my weights and BP readings have stayed somewhat consistent. That one day when my diastolic end reading was 48, there was obviously an incorrect reading on the automatic BP. As I explained above, I wouldn’t have been able to walk out of there if the diastolic really was at 48.

Now, on to my July 2015 Lab results:

*Albumin (21 Jul): 4.40 g/dL (-0.10 g/dL from 16 Jun)
(A measure of Protein in the blood) NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher

*Hemoglobin (21 Jul): 10.80 G/dL (-0.10 G/dL from 07 Jun)
(A Measure of Anemia)

*Ca Corrected (07 Jul): 10.2 mg/dL (+0.70mg/dL from 02 Jun)
(A measure of Heart and Bone health) NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL

*Phosphorous (07 Jul): 3.40 mg/dL (-1.50 mg/dL from 02 Jun)
(High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones) NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL

*PTH Intact (21 Jul): 190.5 pg/mL (-120.5 pg/mL from 19 May)
(A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health) NR 150 to 600 pg/mL

*K+ (21 Jul): 5.6 mEq/L (+0.30 MEq/L from 30 Jun)
(Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well) NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L

*spKdt/V Dialysis (14 Jul): 1.75 (+0.10 from 02 Jun)
(A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis and blood filtering.) NR 1.20 or Higher

So, a few of the dreaded RED marks on my most recent labs. The Hemoglobin and the Ca Corrected are out of my control. As we have witnessed previously, these will swing around a bit. The Potassium (K+) is entirely another matter. Though just barely out of range, I have been downing a few tomato slices, as well as too much juice. A simple cut-back in both will correct that number.

As I insinuated in my last, brief entry, things have been fairly quiet. Sure, the nausea, headaches and dialysis are still kicking my butt; however, aside from those few things, I am actually getting on pretty well.

(Caution…sensitive subject matter ahead…)

One area of concern has been my BM’s. Without regular intervals of diarrhea, and with the probiotics doing their jobs, my BM’s have begun to exhibit traits far from normal for me. Lately, my BM’s have been dry (inexplicably, considering the absence of kidneys) to the point of being difficult to excrete. I am suspecting that these dry stools are leading to the increase of nausea I’ve been feeling as the compact materials try to move along the digestive tract. This is only a guess on my part, though a fairly educated guess at that. So, for the last two off days, I have taken an oral stool softener to try and clean myself out. I haven’t had any big voiding sessions with my good friend, the Porcelain Goddess; but I have been able to rid myself of a larger than normal amount of stool. Every extra bit I get out can only help.

(We are now clear of the sensitive subject matter…maybe…)

My sleep has been all over the place; though when I do get some good sleep, it is in intervals of seven to nine hours. Around dialysis day, I am averaging about 15 total hours. I’ll take that. Plus, my dreams have been completely in my control. Even when a dream begins to turn into a nightmare I am able to consciously alter the circumstances of the dream to be in my total control. Over the last two weeks I have done this at least several times each long sleep I get.

On that same subject, I am feeling mentally fatigued. Not sleepy, nor typically tired; just fatigued. I have not yet felt this fatigue until just recently. For me, the best way to keep that fatigue from turning to discouragement is to remember that I am getting VERY close to transplant. Soon, this will be behind me, and I can start getting back to life. It’s now going on six years since this journey began…a very long time…and I just need to remain strong for a little longer. Once I have that kidney, the road to improved memory, physical strength and stamina and feeling better ALL the time will all begin to come back to me. Foods will taste better and actually seem appetizing (!!), and my weeks will soon be filled with ‘wants’ instead of ‘have to’s’…or, ‘need to’s.’

Just a bit longer…

Thanks for hanging on with me!

Good Health to All!

ScottW