Post-Transplant Rejection Update: 28 March 2021

 In the three weeks since my last entry, things have been mostly consistent.

My weight is bouncing around between 113.5-114.8 Kgs. There are days when I gain a lot of water weight, but that is easily remedied by extra Torsemide the next day.

My appetite has taken another slight downturn. I am finding that I am often not hungry every day (aside from my morning snack) until going on 300p. Even then, my "lunch" can range from small to decent. Also, my ability to taste is less than even a month ago, which also doesn't help my food intake at all. Plus, my sense of smell in also off once again.

Sleep has been pretty good, and my dreams remain under my control. IF I have a dream that somehow startles my subconscious, I trigger awake, think of something different and then drift back to sleep.

After my last entry, I ended up having a cold. Despite my best effort to stay healthy, with my immune system so low, it doesn't take much to overwhelm what little defenses I have. The cold lasted about a week, and I utilized the now normal med routine of Mucinex, Delsym syrup and Tylenol.

After that I had a still-present wave of exhaustion hit me. It was severe enough that I was sleeping seven to eight hours every night, then take a 3-5 hour nap in the middle of the day. My longest "nap" was six full hours, and I still went to sleep at my regular time.    Since then, it has gotten better, and my average nap is about two hours.

Because of that exhaustion, and the cold, I did not work out for two weeks. I just started up once again this past Wednesday. All I did was use the same weights, but did less reps per exercise. I worked out again yesterday, and did better, getting in full reps on most of my routine.

The headaches have remained manageable, and I have not had one that was uncontrolled in several weeks. The acupuncture continues to help immensely! 

My March infusion of Belatacept went well. The canulation was done with one stick, and it was over quickly.

My next set of labs are coming up this Tuesday, 30 March. Assuming my labs are actually posted, I will get them typed up later this week.

And that is about everything that has been going on. As stated above, I will post another update later this week.

I hope that you are dong well, staying healthy and always doing and being your best!

Good Health to All!

ScottW

 

Post-Transplant Rejection Update: 06 March 2021

 Well I finally have some labs for you that even include the both January and February, too!

Labs:

*Creatinine:   J-3.94,     F-3.37,     M-3.45

*Hematocrit:   J-32.6,     F-32.0,     M-32.9  (All are Low)

*Hemoglobin:   J-10.1,     F-10.3,     M-10.6  (All In Range)

*Lymphocytes:   Unavailable

*Lymphocytes ABS:   Unavailable

*Red Blood Count:   J-3.58,     F-3.59,     M-3.67  (All Extremely Low)

*White Blood Count:   J-7.0,     F-7.0,     M-7.5  (All In Range)

*Ketones:   Not Taken

*Blood Urea Nitrogen:   J-??,     F-53,     M-49  (All Extremely High)

*Calcium:   J-9.1,     F-9.1,     M-9.4  (In Range)

*Glomerular Filtration Rate:   J-16,     F-19,     M-18  (All Extremely Low)

*Blood Glucose Level:   J-117,     F-129,     M-114

*Potassium:   J-4.2,     F-3.5,     M-3.9  (All In Range)

*Sodium:   J-137,     F-141,     M-140  (All In Range)

*Magnesium:   ?? (all three months)

*Phosphorous:   J-4.8,     F-3.6,     M-3.7  (All In Range)

So, with the bulk of my labs now available, I can finally see exactly where I am at, body chemistry-wise.

My downturn in overall energy is [at least] partly due to a low RBC and low-end-of -normal Hemoglobin readings, as well as a build-up of waste products in my bloodstream that is not getting properly filtered as evidenced in the near-dialysis level GFR results. Both of these together can really throw your body a curve ball, and an end result is excessive tiredness, body fatigue and some lethargy.

I had my scheduled visit with my Nephrologist on Tuesday, and everything went well. I asked to be taken off of the Spironolactone due to increasingly severe side effects that have come on as my weight has dropped. These have included, dizziness, dry mouth, suddenly falling asleep, muscle fatigue in my whole neck and shoulders, and occasional vertigo. The side effects would kick in about 50 minutes after taking my morning meds, then last about two hours, followed by a gradual easing of the symptoms.  As I stated, these came on slowly as my weight decreased, with the symptoms getting worse once I hit the 116's (Kg's). At 115 Kgs, they got worse. 

So, no more of that med!  Thank Goodness!

My next visit with my doctor is in three months...unless I have a sudden downturn, of course.

On the subject of my weight, I am currently bouncing between 114.5-115.5 Kg's, and going several days at a time in either number. At 114.5 Kg's, I have now lost a total of 7.0 Kgs since August, and without really trying too hard. I think that it really just comes down to my few workouts every week, and kicking my metabolism in gear due to the exercise. Other than that, I am not doing anything to lose the pounds.

I believe that I mentioned in a prior entry that my appetite was decreased. This continues, and my lunches are smaller, and my dinners, too. And I am rarely snacking on anything. Plus, I am seeing appetite fatigue again, and will look at a full cupboard and not see anything I want. That's always fun...                          

 I am not aware of anything I can do to help either of these things, other than just picking something, making it and eating.

The TMD headaches remain strong, as well as a continued increase of the non-TMD headaches. I continue my efforts with the Chiropractic, acupuncture, relaxation techniques and NTI devices. At this point, if I can keep the headaches from getting worse, I'll consider it a win!

That's all I have for today.

My next infusion of Belatacept is on the 16th. 

Coming up in May is my yearly Kidney Clinic follow-up.

Until next time...

Good Health to All!

ScottW