Too much time has passed since my previous update, so let's get into things...
10 Nov 20 Labs
*Creat: 3.89 (-0.36)
*HCT: 33.8 (+0.03) Low
*Hemo: 10.3 (NC) IR
*Lymph: 6.8 (+1.7) Extremely Low
*Lymph ABS: 0.4 (-0.1) Extremely Low
*RBC: 3.69 (+0.12) Extremely Low
*WBC: 6.5 (-2.3) IR
*Ketones: Negative
*BUN: 58 (+4) Extremely High
*CA: 9.4 (+0.1) IR
*GFR: 16 (+2) Extremely Low
*Gluc: 102
*K+: 4.0 (-0.2) IR
*NA+: 138 (NC) IR
*MG: 2.3 (+0.1) IR
*Phos: 4.5 (-0.3) IR
*Prot: 7.1 (+0.1) IR
NC= No Change IR= In Range
About the only item of note on my latest labs is the Creatinine. It came down a fair bit; which was unexpected, but always welcome. All of the other results are similar to what has been happening over the past several tests.
Next, let's discuss just why this was so late in getting typed. First and foremost is overall energy level; which has been fluctuating from day to day. On my good days I must choose between getting my workouts done, doing housework, writing on this blog and/or working on the business [as I can]. On the bad days, I can barely get myself fed, let alone anything else. Right now there seems to be a sort of balance between the good and bad energy days; usually switching back and forth from one day to the next. Today is actually a rare one, because this is the second day in a row of having a decent amount of energy. Luckily, I worked out yesterday, which gave me a little time to work on this today.
Plus, I also got some actual computer work done for the business; so its a banner day! :o)
Secondly, my TMD and non-TMD headaches have been on a severe uptick over the past eight or nine days, which, of course, additionally impacts by ability to get any of the aforementioned things done at home.
The headaches have worsened despite the acupuncture, NTI devices and my trying to relax my facial muscles as much as possible. As a result, my T3 usage increased over the last month, making me five full days short on a single prescription. This hasn't happened in a long while. In the last two weeks, I've had two headaches that jumped to a solid 10+ for no apparent reason, requiring me to use my strongest med to combat it. One of those headaches was all TMD; the other was not. So, a definite increase in headaches and intensity!
Third, with having to weave and dodge around the energy thing and the headaches, I often have to choose which things get done; and unfortunately, getting this blog written with any consistency is the usual victim. Why? Well, because I must get my workouts done as often as I am able; which has been about three days each week. After that, I have housework that, if neglected, becomes a health hazard to me; so I get those things done. And lastly, because doing computer work for the business as often as I can is essential to my wife's efforts, and helps her to be successful.
As a result, I often take far longer to get to this blog than I would prefer.
I've had a new--and very unwanted--development happen since my last entry; which is increased and intense nausea after taking my morning meds. I cam on slowly, with the nausea not being too bad, or lasting very long. Within a few day though, I was having to rush to get a sublingual Zofran, in order to tamp down the worsening nausea. Then about a week ago, I actually threw up about ten minutes after taking my meds. It wasn't much, and mostly just water; so I wasn't concerned about not having meds being processed.
I hadn't been doing anything different when taking my meds than I have since the transplant, so I knew the nausea was new to the worsening kidney function. So, I decided to at least eat a piece of toast (or something similar) right before taking my [literal] handful of meds and one Liter of water. Since doing that I have not had another bout of nausea after my meds. Other nausea however, still can occur throughout the days or evenings, and occasionally at night.
In other areas, my dreams remain completely under my control; thanks to acupuncture, the neuropathy in my feet has kept improving very slowly; the workouts are doing their job as I am getting stronger and am staying on a downward trend on my weight, being between 118.1-119 Kgs. Some of my daily weight depends on how much water the kidney processes. Yesterday, for instance, it failed to eliminate a full kilogram of water; which equals one liter. Whenever that happens, I take the extra Torsemide in order to void that extra fluid.
So, that's a good catch-up. The time is in the early evening, and I need to make dinner.
Up next week is my next lab draw, as well as the next infusion of Belatacept. After that, next Thursday is, for the USA, our annual Thanksgiving day. With the pandemic going on, and because I am a very high risk patient, the only family I'll see on Thanksgiving is my daughter, who just tested negative for the Wuhan virus.
I hope that your upcoming week is safe, healthy and full of smiles!
Good Health to All!
ScottW
