Today is...challenging, to say the least. After an all too brief respite of two consecutive weekends, my body has once again poured all incoming fluids underneath my diaphragm, making breathing difficult, and sleep highly elusive in any position. Naturally, this leaves me exhausted, frustrated, uncomfortable, etc. The good news is that I have dialysis tomorrow morning. YAY!!
And on top of everything else I'm dealing with this weekend, my body has decided that I don't need to have a BM for the last three days. So, I get to have a rumbly, tight and very uncomfortable lower abdomen, too. Talk about having a party! ;o)
Dialysis Weights:
14 Mar 17
Starting Weight: 99.2 Kg
Ending Weight: 97.1 Kg
Water Removed: 2.10 Kg
Start BP: 197/115 End BP: 164/101
16 Mar 17
Starting Weight: 99.0 Kg
Ending Weight: 96.9 Kg
Water Removed: 2.10 Kg
Start BP: 188/104 End BP: 178/89
18 Mar 17
Starting Weight: 99.8 Kg
Ending Weight: 96.7 Kg
Water Removed: 3.10 Kg
Start BP: 181/108 End BP: 177/96
21 Mar 17
Starting Weight: 99.3 Kg
Ending Weight: 97.1 kg
Water Removed: 2.10 Kg
Start BP: 202/119 End BP: 170/97
23 Mar 17
Starting Weight: 100.6 Kg
Ending Weight: 96.5 Kg
Water Removed: 4.10 Kg
Start BP: 186/99 End BP: 178/100
25 Mar 17
Starting Weight: 98.7 Kg
Ending Weight: 96.6 Kg
Water Removed: 2.10 Kg
Start BP:195/106 End BP: 189/97
My dry weight is finally coming down to target! Along with that is the obligatory cramping; though it isn't as bad as it was just a couple of weeks ago. My body is getting used to the lower weight, so I might further decrease my dry weight in the next few Tx's.
Hand in hand with the lowering dry weight is my lowering BP. While the ending systolic remains a bit high, the end diastolic is much improved. So far, my BP has not compromised my artificial graft. I still have a ways to go before that happens, so I really won't be concerned about that. Keep and eye on, Yes. Worry, No.
March 2017 Labs
*Albumin (21 Mar): 4.30 g/dL (+0.10 from 21 Feb)
(A measure of Protein in the blood) NR (Normal Range) 4.0 g/dL or Higher
*Hemoglobin (21 Mar): 9.70 G/dL (-0.70 g/dL from 21 Feb)
(A Measure of Anemia)
*Ca Corrected (07 Mar): 9.80 mg/dL (-0.50mg/dL from 07 Feb)
(A measure of Heart and Bone health) NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL
*Phosphorous (07 Mar): 4.60 mg/dL (+0.50 mg/dL from 07 Feb)
(High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones) NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL
*PTH Intact (21 Mar): 487 pg/mL (-7 pg/mL 21 Feb)
(A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health) NR 150 to 600 pg/mL
*K+ (21 Mar): 5.2 mEq/L (-0.20 mEq/L from 28 Feb)
(Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well) NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L
*spKdt/V Dialysis (07 Mar): 1.81 (+0.12 from 07 Feb)
(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 (21 Mar): 9.70 G/dL (-0.70 g/dL from 21 Feb)
(A Measure of Anemia)
*Ca Corrected (07 Mar): 9.80 mg/dL (-0.50mg/dL from 07 Feb)
(A measure of Heart and Bone health) NR 8.40 to 10.20 mg/dL
*Phosphorous (07 Mar): 4.60 mg/dL (+0.50 mg/dL from 07 Feb)
(High Phosphorous affects the health of your Heart and Bones) NR 3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL
*PTH Intact (21 Mar): 487 pg/mL (-7 pg/mL 21 Feb)
(A measure of Vitamin D absorption and bone and tissue health) NR 150 to 600 pg/mL
*K+ (21 Mar): 5.2 mEq/L (-0.20 mEq/L from 28 Feb)
(Proper potassium levels keep your nerves and muscles working well) NR 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L
*spKdt/V Dialysis (07 Mar): 1.81 (+0.12 from 07 Feb)
(A measure of the effectiveness of dialysis and blood filtering.) NR 1.20 or Higher
My labs this month are fantastic! ALL GREEN's! And what do all green numbers mean? (Repeat with me...) "I am doing everything that is required so that I am as healthy as possible going into transplant!" Despite the fact I don't know when my call will come in, I must be prepared at all times for it to happen! After all, you don't want to get your call, arrive ready and raring to go, only to be turned away because your potassium is too high, or your phosphorous is out of whack, etc. THAT would be a huge bummer!!!
While we're on the subject of the transplant call, I have NOT received any calls over the past month. Yet, with the calls I got in February, I know that I am now in the Top 5 for my blood type. Even though I have no idea when my call will arrive, just knowing I am so close is a tremendous comfort. No longer is it "if" I get my call, it is now a matter of "how much longer?"
My appetite remains the same, as does my sleep (overall), headaches, energy level (again, overall), etc. About the only thing that's different is my determination to be ready for transplant. I am sooooooo close, and at this point, I refuse to sabotage myself whenever my call does come in. Doing anything otherwise would be downright foolish of me, or anyone else!
That's all I have for now.
Stay tuned...my call could be here at any time now...
Good Health to All!
ScottW
