Let it Snow

We got winter in 1 day, from green grass to 4″ Snow at our house, ( although theres no snow at lake level ) but temp is either side of zero and not windy, so not to bad. I was hoping for a Green Christmas, no luck.

Had a pretty good health week, except for 1 nite, a flu or food poisoning hit our house, I definitely got the worst of it. I’ll use a MMA fighter analogy, I dropped one weight class in 2 hours, seat belted to the toilet with a bowl in my lap. It was like my body wanted to get rid of all liquid. Enough of that.

I’m going to the gym 3 days a week, I started about a month before I found out how messed my Kidneys are. My motivation has changed now. I workout so my body will be in top shape to keep me going and especially to ready for a smooth Transplant with fast Recovery.    (  Also,  I want to hear the OR Nurses telling one another as  I’m going under from anesthesia   ” Gotta get me some of that” as the look at me Nekkid on the OR table) oops, was that my outside voice ; 0 .   

I have to get to the gym right after work before I’m totally gassed from the day and find my muscles fatigue faster than normal.   The sad thing is I can’t take Protien Supplements to maximize the gains as I have to limit protein, So the Speedo Portrait wont be quite as Studdly.   Cardio ( treadmill running ) is Sad, I was a bit of a natural runner B4, I could basically do a 10 Km run on 3 weeks notice, Running just came easy. NOW, with the toxins in my Blood and lowered Hemoglobin ( fewer Red Blood Cells ) my Blood just doesn’t carry Oxygen well = tired quickly.  The Dr. said its like the Opposite of the Blood Doping Distance athletes do.

I’m working on staying positive and being more laid back, I think that helps my energy as well as I haven’t been quite as gassed lately .  Our family dynamics seem to be improving as well.   So there can be a positive somewhere in the negative.

Gravity

I took the pic from our house with my new Safari ” Super Camera”, Nikon D90.

You Tube.com DIALYSIS and DONOR Video’s

So while searching Kidney Stuff I found some great instructional / diary videos on Dialysis, in particular a BC lady doing Peritoneal Dialysis.  She takes you through every step, graphically,  over several vid’s. For her story go to www.SavillasHopeFoundation.org, for Her video’s click SAVILLA or go to www.youtube.com and search ” peritoneal dialysis”. Theres also a good interview style video on PD,  Click this –>   Patient interviews used to educate other dialysis patients , the dude says it works best on a Boat, yah baby !

Search “Hemodialysis”  Video’s or click  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZosHub0MOQ,  or  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFXEnbz0BRU,   They say I probably wouldnt get to do theHome Vesion if a transplant is a likely option.

Ckick this – - > Great KIDNEY DONOR (post op) Interview.  Definately Worth a watch.

Cheers ( where did that come from ? )      PS.  I’ll lighten it up again soon !!

Telling My Co-workers and Boss

So last week I informed our Leadhand of ” My Damn Kidney’s” ( not the blog ) as I really didn’t have my head in the game for the preceding couple weeks and had to go for a couple Dr apptmts.  He was cool about it, said do what I have to do, and don’t overdo it. It was not a suprise, Just a relief.

A couple days later I told our big boss,  He seemed genuinely concerned about the condition as well as asking about treatment and my “future ” with PKD.  He was relieved it is a fairly slow moving process ( months vs days) so we can plan for any light duty or absences.

Now the last couple days I’ve told the guy’s I work with daily, just so they know the real deal, not rumors.  Everyone was good about it. A couple of them have chronic issues, one has ” da Beets” and one IBS , so they had more relevant questions.

They’re also noticing me adjusting my diet and make comments and making lite of it which is how I’d want it and would give it to them.  BUT, I can still have a Beer with them, so all’s not lost !

I”m getting a lot more comfortable with my ” Situation ” both Transplant and potential Dialysis.    I CAN’T CHANGE IT, SO ACCEPT AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT, BUT I WONT GIVE UP THE FIGHT ! !

Time to Lighten it up, after the Donor # post.

I found a site where normal people can make their own “Motivational Poster “.    This is our family dog.  The caption is a result of observing this sheepdog for the past year.    Click this to Make your own Motivational Poster.

A Pic’s worth 1000 words

I’m @ the middle of Stage 4,  Click the pic to see it larger, if you wish.

Gotta Serious it up ( a little )

Well,  seeings as this is open to the world now, I had bettered put a bit more of a serious edge to it, ie, give the proper names for Dialysis Options with a more medical description.  Also I’ll make an effort to have more better spelling for the Grammar Gang.

So here goes :

Dialysis Types

Source, BC Kidney Foundation, Peritoneal

A) What is Peritoneal Dialysis ? ” PD ” ( the Garden Hose Version Below )

Peritoneal dialysis involves having a special tube or catheter placed in the abdomen. This catheter is then used as a means to have special fluid, or dialysate, travel into an area of our body called the peritoneal cavity.

The peritoneal cavity is lined with a thin membrane called the peritoneum. The peritoneum has the natural ability to act as a filter. Excess water and toxins are drawn through the peritoneum into the dialysis fluid. After a prescribed amount of time (usually 4-6 hours) the dialysate is drained out and a new dialysate solution is drained into the peritoneal cavity.

This process, often called an exchange, is repeated an average of 4 times per day, 7 days per week. No special machines are needed, just the body, the catheter, the solution, and gravity ( ie. a Mexican beach vendor holding my bag while I’m on the beach, oops, that didnt come out right, I meant solution bag, )

B ) What is Hemodialysis ?  ( the machine type, in Hospital / Home )

Source : BC Kidney Foundation, Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is a process where the blood is slowly withdrawn from the body and circulated through a dialysis machine. The dialysis machine is equipped with a dialyzer, which is designed to remove the toxins and excess water from the body. The cleansed blood is slowly returned over the 3-4 hours that each treatment takes. Only a small amount of blood, approximately 4%, is out of the body at one time. It is necessary to have 2-3 treatments each week when on hemodialysis.

Before hemodialysis can be done access to the blood stream is necessary. This can mean a day surgery to create either a fistula or a graft, usually in the arm, or having a temporary access inserted through either a neckline or a permanent catheter (‘permcath’). The course of care will be different for each individual, and ongoing discussion with the health care team is important.

Option Z ) Conservative Treatment,  not an option.

Source : BC Kidney Foundation, Conservative

It sometimes comes as a surprise to patients and family members that the decision to stop dialysis, or to never embark upon dialysis is truly the patient’s choice.

Conservative treatment refers to a decision not to pursue either dialysis or transplantation, or to come off of dialysis.

If this decision is made the kidney disease will progress, meaning the death of the individual is inevitable. If this decision is made good medical care is still available, although care could be transferred to health care providers that specialize in an area of medicine called “palliative care.”