13 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 103.1 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 2.40 Kg
Start BP: 171/102 End BP: 153/65
15 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 102.8 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.9 Kg
Water Removed: 1.90 Kg
Start BP: 174/112 End BP: 124/86
17 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 103.4 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.6 Kg
Water Removed: 2.80 Kg
Start BP: 166/106 End BP: 121/79
20 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 104.2 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.5 kg
Water Removed: 3.70 Kg
Start BP: 177/110 End BP: 143/101
22 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 103.2 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 2.50 Kg
Start BP: 177/106 End BP: 144/70
24 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 102.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 101.1 Kg
Water Removed: 1.60 Kg
Start BP: 167/108 End BP: 148/86
27 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 103.5 Kg
Ending Weight: 101.0 kg
Water Removed: 2.50 Kg
Start BP: 159/97 End BP: 145/87
29 Sep 16
Starting Weight: 102.9 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.8 Kg
Water Removed: 2.10 Kg
Start BP: 150/95 End BP: 109/68
01 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 101.3 Kg
Ending Weight: 101.3 Kg (No Kidding!)
Water Removed: 00.00!
Start BP: 178/100 End BP: 140/93
04 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 103.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.9 Kg
Water Removed: 2.80 Kg
Start BP: 188/121 End BP: 156/99
06 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 102.8 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 2.10 Kg
Start BP: 158/105 End BP: 163/58
08 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 101.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 1.00 Kg
Start BP: 145/90 End BP: 148/88
11 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 103.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 3.00 Kg
Start BP: 189/112 End BP: 152/93
13 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 102.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 1.90 Kg
Start BP: 171/110 End BP: 161/92
15 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 102.4 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 1.70 Kg
Start BP: 196/107 End BP: 140/89
18 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 104.2 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.3 Kg
Water Removed: 3.90 Kg
Start BP: 165/126 End BP: 141/87
20 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 103.1 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.7 Kg
Water Removed: 2.40 Kg
Start BP: 148/92 End BP: 169/97
22 Oct 16
Starting Weight: 102.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 100.9Kg
Water Removed: 1.80 Kg
Start BP: 160/99 End BP: 138/105
Stability is the word of the day with the weights and BP. With only a few exceptions, I am maintaining these things properly. And that 01 Oct 'No Weight Net Loss' is just weird. Even the tech and a nurse had never seen that one before. The BP was lower, which is the only indicator that I had been on dialysis at all! VERY odd!
October Labs:
*Albumin (18 Oct): 4.10 g/dL (No Change from 16 Aug)
(A measure of Protein in the blood) NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher
*Hemoglobin (18 Oct): 9.90 G/dL (-0.60 g/dL from 09 Sep)
(A Measure of Anemia)
*Ca Corrected (04 Oct): 10.2 mg/dL (+0.20mg/dL from 09 Sep)
(A measure of Heart and Bone health) NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL
*Phosphorous (04 Oct): 4.60 mg/dL (-0.60 mg/dL from 09 Sep)
(High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones) NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL
*PTH Intact (18 Oct): 222 pg/mL (-138 pg/mL 16 Aug)
(A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health) NR 150 to 600 pg/mL
*K+ (18 Oct): 5.2 mEq/L (-0.20 mEq/L from 06 Sep)
(Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well) NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L
*spKdt/V Dialysis (04 Oct): 1.67 (-0.04 from 06 Sep)
(A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis and blood filtering.) NR 1.20 or Higher
(A measure of Protein in the blood) NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher
*Hemoglobin (18 Oct): 9.90 G/dL (-0.60 g/dL from 09 Sep)
(A Measure of Anemia)
*Ca Corrected (04 Oct): 10.2 mg/dL (+0.20mg/dL from 09 Sep)
(A measure of Heart and Bone health) NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL
*Phosphorous (04 Oct): 4.60 mg/dL (-0.60 mg/dL from 09 Sep)
(High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones) NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL
*PTH Intact (18 Oct): 222 pg/mL (-138 pg/mL 16 Aug)
(A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health) NR 150 to 600 pg/mL
*K+ (18 Oct): 5.2 mEq/L (-0.20 mEq/L from 06 Sep)
(Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well) NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L
*spKdt/V Dialysis (04 Oct): 1.67 (-0.04 from 06 Sep)
(A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis and blood filtering.) NR 1.20 or Higher
Just the one Red number in this month's labs; and the one is something I cannot do much about, aside from taking my Dialyvite (dialysis vitamin) and my regular daily vitamin. If this goes too low, I will receive vitamin D injections while on dialysis until this stabilizes once again.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I have been extremely tired. My average sleep around dialysis is now averaging about 20 hours. But even with all that sleep, I am still dragging myself around, getting little accomplished from day to day. I am hoping this is temporary, but with everything else going on, it may not be.
My appetite is terrible...shocker there! My one decent meal per day is becoming less and less as foods are just not appetizing. Even my snacking is down way too much. Things are tasting way too heavy (fatty/greasy) that normally wouldn't, lessening my ability to even think about many snacks, let alone eating them. As a result, I am experiencing more nausea (due to lack of food), have decreased energy--hence the extra tiredness--and am sleeping more as my body tries to compensate for everything that is happening.
Fun!
I don't remember if I told you that I had my now yearly flu shot in September, with zero evident side effects. A pneumonia shot this year is still pending.
I go for an Echocardiogram this afternoon in preparation for transplant. In my Yearly Transplant Review the Team Nephrologist ordered the test and stated that "this is a test that precedes transplant." For purposes of transplant--at least for me--there are no special preparations. I just have to show up.
So what exactly is an Echocardiogram?
From MedicineNet.com: "An echocardiogram (echo=sound + card=heart + gram=drawing) is an ultrasound test that can evaluate the structures of the heart, as well as the direction of blood flow within it. Technicians specially trained in echocardiography produce the images and videos, often using a special probe or transducer that is placed in various places on the chest wall, to view the heart from different directions. Cardiologists, or heart specialists, are trained to evaluate these images to assess heart function and provide a report of the results. The echocardiogram is just one of the many tests that can be done to evaluate heart anatomy and function."
In short, this is one last cardiological test to determine whether or not my heart is healthy enough to endure the transplant procedure. I am not the least bit worried about the outcome as I already know from several previous heart tests that my heart is as fit as a twenty year olds'. This is just a formality ahead of my transplant.
As far as dialysis goes, my artificial graft has been holding up well with just a single leaking incident since early September. In spite of this, I am, still considering leaving the chest catheter in place until I get my transplant. This would just mean I have an established backup for dialysis should the graft have any serious problems. That way, I could avoid having another surgery to re-place the catheter, should to need arise. I really need to talk with my vascular surgeon about this before taking that step.
I was looking through the post-Transplant handbook I was given by the Transplant Team (ahead of time, I might add, because I'm so awesome!) :o)
In it I read about the values I must record every single day. These are:
-Weight
-Blood Pressure
-Temperature
-Labs (Whenever they are drawn)
To this end I have already created a daily record so that each are recorded properly. The Transplant Team requires your knowing exactly where each of these values are at as these are the best early indicators of a possible organ rejection. If the values are off, the Team will adjust meds to compensate. Doing this adjusting is vital to the health of your transplanted organ. So, dedicate yourself to recording these values every day; preferably at the same time so that doing so becomes a habit in your daily routine.
The labs will eventually reduce to once per month, so understanding the results is another vital thing to do for any transplant patient. I will be sure to ask lots of questions--once I've had my transplant--and do research so that I have a full understanding of the labs.
Again, doing all of this and educating yourself is only in your best interest! So, if you are a transplant recipient, there are no excuses good enough for you to fail to gain the understanding of what your labs mean, and what they potentially indicate! it's YOUR health after all, and if you don't care, who will? (Besides your Transplant Team, of course.)
Once I have my transplant, I will start giving the info in the post-Transplant book as the information it contains is absolutely essential to the survival of any and all transplant patients, and their caretakers.
That's all I have for now.
I will do my best to avoid having 42 days pass before my next entry.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
My Echocardiogram went extremely well! Normally the test takes about 25 minutes. During my test, new equipment was being used, and the techs asked if I'd mind things going slower so teaching could occur; to which I assented.
The new machine is a 3-D capable sensor that gives a really cool picture of both the inside and outside of the heart, and can rotate in any direction giving physicians and technicians unprecedented visualization of a patients' heart.
I got to see every inch of my heart, saw my catheter sitting in the aorta, my blood vessels of all sorts clear and free of any obstructions or limitations.
In all, my test took over an hour.
In the meantime, I got to ask lots of questions, was given tons of information--which I absolutely loved!--and just really enjoyed this non-invasive ultrasound procedure. All I had to do was remove my shirt, lay on first my L side, then on my back, take a few deep breaths and that was all. Really easy!
The results were as expected...
...My heart is healthy and fit as a fiddle going into my transplant. There were ZERO issues or concerns.
So, that last major test is out of the way.
I emailed my Transplant Coordinator the news, and for the first time, she wrote back to tell me that she would bring the test info to the attention of the Transplant Committee [the next week], then get back to me--something she has never done before!
Sure, she has updated my standing, but to actually present the latest findings to the committee for possibly moving me up for actual transplant consideration, THAT was something entirely new, and very unexpected.
WOW!
My transplant really IS getting close!
Scary...and Exciting!
ScottW
My Echocardiogram went extremely well! Normally the test takes about 25 minutes. During my test, new equipment was being used, and the techs asked if I'd mind things going slower so teaching could occur; to which I assented.
The new machine is a 3-D capable sensor that gives a really cool picture of both the inside and outside of the heart, and can rotate in any direction giving physicians and technicians unprecedented visualization of a patients' heart.
I got to see every inch of my heart, saw my catheter sitting in the aorta, my blood vessels of all sorts clear and free of any obstructions or limitations.
In all, my test took over an hour.
In the meantime, I got to ask lots of questions, was given tons of information--which I absolutely loved!--and just really enjoyed this non-invasive ultrasound procedure. All I had to do was remove my shirt, lay on first my L side, then on my back, take a few deep breaths and that was all. Really easy!
The results were as expected...
...My heart is healthy and fit as a fiddle going into my transplant. There were ZERO issues or concerns.
So, that last major test is out of the way.
I emailed my Transplant Coordinator the news, and for the first time, she wrote back to tell me that she would bring the test info to the attention of the Transplant Committee [the next week], then get back to me--something she has never done before!
Sure, she has updated my standing, but to actually present the latest findings to the committee for possibly moving me up for actual transplant consideration, THAT was something entirely new, and very unexpected.
WOW!
My transplant really IS getting close!
Scary...and Exciting!
ScottW
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