One Step Forward....Two Steps Back...

So I heard back from my transplant coordinator and seems they have a new hoop for me to jump through now.

They want to me to take another stress test. This one on a tread mill. The stress test this past week was all chemically induced via IV. For this next test they want me to get my heart rate up to a given point in a given time and if that doesn't happen, then I need to have a heart catherazation done.

With all this fun going on...who needs Disneyland?

And.....until I get all of this behind me....I am currently on the bench.

That is...Not Transplantable.

Freakin Grrrrrrr.

Five days to F stop.

Yearly Inspection

I had my yearly check-up at the transplant center yesterday complete with stress test, ekg, bloodwork, meetings with the surgeon, transplant coordinator, financial counselor and topped it off with the crème de la crème - the mental health evaluation.
Argh.
The the results of all these tests won't be in for a few days.
Dr. Yang reassured me that he had not "lost my number" when I asked why I haven't been called with a kp offer in forever, rather he cited just the lack of good organs being donated as the culprit.
He assures me that my day is on the horizon. So I guess we will see.

Seven days left to F - Day.
But who's counting?

What the F is all about.....

Suffering with kidney complications can lead to a decrease in the quality of life, even resulting in a reduced life expectancy. For individuals who suffer from kidney disease, often, the need for dialysis becomes a crucial part of the healthcare process.
With over two million individuals in the United States suffering from kidney complications, the risk and complications associated with kidney disease, in the United States, is astounding. As the baby boomers begin to enter into the aging process, the number of individuals requiring dialysis is only expected to rise over the next decade.
If you are a patient who requires extensive kidney treatment, it is important to understand what treatment should be expected as your condition progresses. Often, with the need for dialysis, it will be necessary to undergo a surgical procedure known as arteriovenous fistula, or AV fistula. Directly related to the successful application of dialysis, AV fistula surgery is a procedure in which an artery and a vein are connected, usually in the forearm, to allow for efficient application of dialysis treatment.
When your physician, usually a nephrologist, believes your kidney complications will require dialysis in the future, the recommendation to proceed with AV fistula surgery is usually made several months in advance. Because the fistula is required for efficient dialysis treatment, and because it takes several months to develop post-surgically, the arteriovenous fistula surgery may be recommended well before you even realize your kidneys are failing that extensively.
What can you expect following AV fistula surgery? In many cases, the complications associated with the surgical site are a direct result of the initiation of dialysis, itself. Infection at the site where needle insertion is made is quite uncommon, although a possibility. Occasionally, blood clots may develop in the fistula as well and, while not life threatening will require additional surgery to remove and free the space needed for successful dialysis.
While kidney disease is a leading healthcare crisis in the United States, many patients who are experiencing kidney complications are preparing for the need for dialysis early by electively proceeding with AV fistula surgery. Knowing that proper diet, coupled with AV fistula surgery and subsequent dialysis can provide for a relatively normal and productive life, leading to an improvement in overall health.
As with any complication involving your kidneys, the key to your optimal health and recovery lies in the early detection and treatment of the health complication. When suffering from potential kidney failure, it is important to openly discuss the matters involving dialysis and proceed with AV fistula surgery early in your kidney treatment so as to be adequately prepared for the dialysis treatment to come.
Christine Cadena, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Merry Christmas All!

Thank you for continually checking here.

For your thoughts...

and

your prayers.

May the best blessings of the season be yours.

This much madness is too much sorrow...

With everything that has happened today I don't have ANYTHING to gripe about.
All prayers for the kids of Newtown, CT.

The F word.....

Another week gone by....and no calls from Pinnacle but two more doctor appointments in.
My nephrologist tells me that things are still sliding and so this is what led me to seeing the second doctor - the fistula surgeon. Although he started out with a bit of flattery telling me that I have phenomenal veins, he was pretty quick and to the point in telling me I needed to get this done and the sooner the better.
Again, once you get the fistula, you have to wait for it to "mature" (2-3months) before you can use it for any dialysis.

Argh.

I'm kinda bummin' here.

Tentative surgery date is January 24.

52 days left to get a call.

Coming Attractions -

• Next appointment with the nephrologist - 12/12

• Follow-up at the fistula factory - 12/14

• Meeting with the Mayans - 12/21