Well, this is the week I have to try to switch my dialysis days.
You see, usually that's Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday. Anyone who's known anyone that was on hemodialysis is probably familiar with how that works.
My graft surgeon (yes, I'm going through with the pre-op appointment, even though I feel like chickening out of the surgery on the 28th) only sees people in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To me, that seems ridiculous, since I'm sure I'm not the only dialysis patient who's faced with having to switch my schedule around because of that.
The other thing is, I have something else going on this coming Saturday. So I really have my heart set on having my dialysis changed to Monday/Wednesday/Friday for this week--if only I can do that. And the following Sat., 24th, I'd like to switch that to Friday the 23rd.
Damn!! Too much schedule-changing. Oh, wait. Hang on a sec. WHEW! OK. Thank goodness I can still take my cat Tony to the vet on the 21st. I'm sooooooooooo tired of not being able to do other things without going all-out to change my schedule around. Geez!
On the upside, I may possibly have found a donor. It sure would be nice if that works out. I'll keep you posted. It would be verrrry nice if that works out so that I can get a transplant instead of going through with the graft thing. I'd truly NOT be looking forward to having two needles in my arm three days a week!
Thanks for reading! I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, hang in there for me! Love ya!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Hang in there--with me--
I have a feeling I should try to provide a little inspiration, if I can.
And besides, let me prove that there's more to my life than dialysis & waiting for a transplant.
First of all, I know it's rough sometimes. Believe me, I've gone through times where I wanted to just quit dialysis and let myself die peacefully. I'm not considering it now, but that could change. In general, though, something must be keeping me going. Maybe it's the idea that tomorrow might possibly be better than today was (??). Actually, my weekend has been halfway decent. I had another dialysis treatment yesterday with no headache following. And I'm even feeling a little bit frisky still. But, I'm 38 years old and living with my parents (after 16 years on my own). And believe me, we're cramped. Thank goodness my room has a door; know what I mean? I'm getting fussy, though. I want very much to have more time alone than I have since I came back here from San Diego last year. Know something else?? I haven't been able to eat much in about 3 or 4 days. I wanted to lose a little weight, but I hadn't planned for my appetite to take a vacation without me. Still, I guess this is one way of losing a little weight...as long as I can get my appetite back before it's too late.
Let me give you one idea: if I can hang in there and not quit, so can you. Know how long it's been since I got any kind of a compliment for anything??? I think it was on my birthday; almost 7 months ago. Yes. It was.
Anyways, I'm right here if you need anything. Keep in touch.
I have to make this one a short one. I'm getting another slight headache; possibly from not eating in three days.
Love ya!
And besides, let me prove that there's more to my life than dialysis & waiting for a transplant.
First of all, I know it's rough sometimes. Believe me, I've gone through times where I wanted to just quit dialysis and let myself die peacefully. I'm not considering it now, but that could change. In general, though, something must be keeping me going. Maybe it's the idea that tomorrow might possibly be better than today was (??). Actually, my weekend has been halfway decent. I had another dialysis treatment yesterday with no headache following. And I'm even feeling a little bit frisky still. But, I'm 38 years old and living with my parents (after 16 years on my own). And believe me, we're cramped. Thank goodness my room has a door; know what I mean? I'm getting fussy, though. I want very much to have more time alone than I have since I came back here from San Diego last year. Know something else?? I haven't been able to eat much in about 3 or 4 days. I wanted to lose a little weight, but I hadn't planned for my appetite to take a vacation without me. Still, I guess this is one way of losing a little weight...as long as I can get my appetite back before it's too late.
Let me give you one idea: if I can hang in there and not quit, so can you. Know how long it's been since I got any kind of a compliment for anything??? I think it was on my birthday; almost 7 months ago. Yes. It was.
Anyways, I'm right here if you need anything. Keep in touch.
I have to make this one a short one. I'm getting another slight headache; possibly from not eating in three days.
Love ya!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Stiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiill looking for a type A or type O kidney
2008 was the year from hell, if I can be completely honest about it.
I had infection after infection. The dialysis catheter would stop working. I had at least two catheters in the first six months--and I think three or four in the last half of the year. It gets old after a while.
In February of 2008, I tried to go back on Peritoneal dialysis, which I had been on before the nephrectomy. Didn't go too well at all. I had peritonitis before too very long at all. My first sign was a headache, dizziness and passing out. I'd heard about people passing out before, but that was my first taste of what it was actually like. Not good. It was kind of like falling asleep standing up, and when you come back to, you have to try to remember where you just were and how you got where you are when you come to. I could now act the part very well if I had to, as I've been there in real life. After a week in the hospital, the peritonitis still wasn't cleared up, and my blood pressure went back down faster than it had gone back up. (when I say "down", I mean, like, 44/33. I think that was one reading I got...and the triage nurse told me I was "not dead yet").
In May, the cause of the peritonitis was determined finally: a perforated ulcer. I had to have surgery to have my stomach put back together, as the ulcer had gone right through. And, I had to go back on hemodialysis. I don't mind that it gives me somewhere to go and something to do three days a week, but sometimes I have other things I would prefer to do on my "on" days--like visit with family. Then, it's nothing but a PAIN. And at least I don't have to be tied to the machine for 9 hours a night like on PD.
HOWEVER--I had six hospital stays during 2008--all of which were about a week long, and one of which caused me to lose a part-time position I had gotten as a secretary. That taught me to try to work during all this B.S.!!!! So here I am doing nothing again, and it's driving me f--ing nuts!!!!
So, as I was saying, it's been a hell of a year for me. Not able to work outside the home. Barely able to do more than laundry inside the home. And boy, have I ever been depressed this year!!! I have a project I am working on when I can bring myself to do it. I was going to send some adorable little Christmas presents out to everyone, with the message "Donate Life". But here it is, January 7, and I'm still working on it!!!
Oh, wait a sec. I was going to tell you about THE REST of my life too. The part I couldn't put in my bio. because there wasn't enough room.
OK then. I live in Cleveland, Ohio, but am beginning to miss California a lot, although I'm with family here. I have dabbled in music before; what almost seems like a previous life. At one time, I played the violin, the viola, and even the keyboard (sort of). I should've stuck to the viola. I could've made a career out of it. Oh well.
And, I have three wonderful cats. Tony, Jerry, and Muppet are the loves of my life. They're 7 years old, and have been mine since Day One. And I know that they want me to find a kidney donor sooner than later so that I'll be able to keep taking care of them and giving them quality time.
Thanks for reading again. Know what? I feel another headache coming on and must get some Excedrin. Hope I don't get hooked on Excedrin again!!
I had infection after infection. The dialysis catheter would stop working. I had at least two catheters in the first six months--and I think three or four in the last half of the year. It gets old after a while.
In February of 2008, I tried to go back on Peritoneal dialysis, which I had been on before the nephrectomy. Didn't go too well at all. I had peritonitis before too very long at all. My first sign was a headache, dizziness and passing out. I'd heard about people passing out before, but that was my first taste of what it was actually like. Not good. It was kind of like falling asleep standing up, and when you come back to, you have to try to remember where you just were and how you got where you are when you come to. I could now act the part very well if I had to, as I've been there in real life. After a week in the hospital, the peritonitis still wasn't cleared up, and my blood pressure went back down faster than it had gone back up. (when I say "down", I mean, like, 44/33. I think that was one reading I got...and the triage nurse told me I was "not dead yet").
In May, the cause of the peritonitis was determined finally: a perforated ulcer. I had to have surgery to have my stomach put back together, as the ulcer had gone right through. And, I had to go back on hemodialysis. I don't mind that it gives me somewhere to go and something to do three days a week, but sometimes I have other things I would prefer to do on my "on" days--like visit with family. Then, it's nothing but a PAIN. And at least I don't have to be tied to the machine for 9 hours a night like on PD.
HOWEVER--I had six hospital stays during 2008--all of which were about a week long, and one of which caused me to lose a part-time position I had gotten as a secretary. That taught me to try to work during all this B.S.!!!! So here I am doing nothing again, and it's driving me f--ing nuts!!!!
So, as I was saying, it's been a hell of a year for me. Not able to work outside the home. Barely able to do more than laundry inside the home. And boy, have I ever been depressed this year!!! I have a project I am working on when I can bring myself to do it. I was going to send some adorable little Christmas presents out to everyone, with the message "Donate Life". But here it is, January 7, and I'm still working on it!!!
Oh, wait a sec. I was going to tell you about THE REST of my life too. The part I couldn't put in my bio. because there wasn't enough room.
OK then. I live in Cleveland, Ohio, but am beginning to miss California a lot, although I'm with family here. I have dabbled in music before; what almost seems like a previous life. At one time, I played the violin, the viola, and even the keyboard (sort of). I should've stuck to the viola. I could've made a career out of it. Oh well.
And, I have three wonderful cats. Tony, Jerry, and Muppet are the loves of my life. They're 7 years old, and have been mine since Day One. And I know that they want me to find a kidney donor sooner than later so that I'll be able to keep taking care of them and giving them quality time.
Thanks for reading again. Know what? I feel another headache coming on and must get some Excedrin. Hope I don't get hooked on Excedrin again!!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Anyone have a kidney they can spare??? Pretty please???
Actually, I can answer that one from a technical standpoint. We humans really only need one good kidney to survive and thrive. Why, then, are there so many who put an astronomical dollar value on their kidneys that people who need one can't have one??
Let me tell you why I am asking if anyone can spare one. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease some 20 years ago. My kidneys got large and so full of cysts that they only had about 10% or less of their function left, and whenever a cyst would burst--which was more often near the end than ever--I'd be in so much pain that I would have to cry myself to sleep. I still remember the kidney infection I had in early November. I was a wreck. So finally, on November 29 of this year, I had both kidneys taken out...that's called a nephrectomy, by the way, and it had to be done--trust me. This leaves me with no kidneys. I'm currently on back-up hemodialysis, and will soon return to the comparatively joyful peritoneal dialysis. But either way, dialysis of any kind isn't a piece of cake. I often wonder why I bother. I loathe having to get up before 6am and drag myself out in 41 degree weather to go to the hemodialysis clinic three days a week. I can't stand not having my wonderful pet cats in the room with me when I do peritoneal dialysis at home. And also, I read somewhere that dialysis is much costlier in the long run than is a transplant. I sure would like to have even just one kidney that works. Can anyone help?
My blood type is A+, so I can have a kidney from someone whose blood type is either A or O. I'm moving to Cleveland, OH pretty soon (it's currently Dec. 29, 2007).
If you can help, please drop me a line. Keep in mind, I have absolutely no money that I can offer you. And also, speaking of that, it is the recipient, NOT the donor, who has the longest hospital stay and who suffers the most financially and who has the highest risk to their life. Think of that for a while. I know that I miss having a working kidney, but I do NOT put a dollar value of any kind on having one; a good working kidney is priceless.
Thanks!!
Let me tell you why I am asking if anyone can spare one. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease some 20 years ago. My kidneys got large and so full of cysts that they only had about 10% or less of their function left, and whenever a cyst would burst--which was more often near the end than ever--I'd be in so much pain that I would have to cry myself to sleep. I still remember the kidney infection I had in early November. I was a wreck. So finally, on November 29 of this year, I had both kidneys taken out...that's called a nephrectomy, by the way, and it had to be done--trust me. This leaves me with no kidneys. I'm currently on back-up hemodialysis, and will soon return to the comparatively joyful peritoneal dialysis. But either way, dialysis of any kind isn't a piece of cake. I often wonder why I bother. I loathe having to get up before 6am and drag myself out in 41 degree weather to go to the hemodialysis clinic three days a week. I can't stand not having my wonderful pet cats in the room with me when I do peritoneal dialysis at home. And also, I read somewhere that dialysis is much costlier in the long run than is a transplant. I sure would like to have even just one kidney that works. Can anyone help?
My blood type is A+, so I can have a kidney from someone whose blood type is either A or O. I'm moving to Cleveland, OH pretty soon (it's currently Dec. 29, 2007).
If you can help, please drop me a line. Keep in mind, I have absolutely no money that I can offer you. And also, speaking of that, it is the recipient, NOT the donor, who has the longest hospital stay and who suffers the most financially and who has the highest risk to their life. Think of that for a while. I know that I miss having a working kidney, but I do NOT put a dollar value of any kind on having one; a good working kidney is priceless.
Thanks!!
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