I'll thank my mind to clear....

Yesterday, being April 1st, I had my appointment with my nephrologist and it was a bit less amusing than a bad April Fool's joke.

I was aware that my latest lab results were not good but it still hit me like a punch in the gut when,  after looking at my labs and then looking me over, the doctor said quite emphatically to me:
"I can promise you within six months you're going to need to be on dialysis."

He is aware, as are most of you, that I am still
C O M P L E T E L Y against this course of action.

And so I have a lot of thinking to do.

Praying for calm.

Looking for guidance.

Right now my brain hurts.

I'll keep you posted.

No Foolin'

April is National Donate Life Month.

Someday a generous person may save your life or that of someone you know.
Did you know that you have a higher chance of needing an organ in your lifetime than ever becoming a donor?
Think about that one. And then sign up to be a organ donor.
The tens of thousands of people waiting will be forever grateful.

(Thanks Jan.)

Happy Easter to All!

Got a bit of depressing news this evening-
The results of my latest bloodwork show my GFR has fallen to 8.
(Remember normal is > 60).
: (

I have an appt. with my nephrologist first thing Monday.
I'll keep you posted.

Nothing but the past is done...

Just left the check-up by the fistula surgeon.

He tells me I have "a fine fistula" and it's "good to go".

Enough said.

Back in the game...

After doing two stress tests and more bloodwork in the past month it seems I've been okay'd by the tx center to be back on the active list again. So after all the most recent hoops and loops I've been made to jump through - this is good. My arm seems to be healing well. The surgeon was happy at how it looked at the post-op appt. I attribute this to the post-op care that I received from my friends, Marilyn & Dr. Rick Daly (who is also my PCP).
My nephrologist was like a kid on Christmas when I showed him that I had it done but he also knows that I am still not into anything that remotely has to deal with the big D and so he assures me that he hopes to never have to use my new vascular access.
Sounds good when he says that, but knowing that I am a Stage V - End Stage, Chronic Kidney Failure patient, - it's still a darn big black cloud hovering overhead.

As for what's next, I was to have a endocrinologist appt. today but it was cancelled at the last moment due to the doctor being sick. (Whoa! So i guess that DOES happen!)
And I have an appt with the surgeon on March 22nd to see if this f surgery was a success.
If so, he would give the OK at that time to it being used.

That's it for now from here.
Thanks for checking in.

All my pieces set me free....

Well a week later... and I'm doing OK.
Things are healing pretty nicely. Thanks for all the texts and inquiries.
I am grateful to have friends that care. I'm still  not "into" this but it's done. I'm officially "F'd".
That is fistula'ed.
Or as the shiny, happy, medical people say - I have a brand new "VASCULAR ACCESS".

Joy.

The next event on the horizon is the new stress test.

I'll be sure to keep you posted.

The Other Side

Just got word, the doctor said everything went very well with surgery and my Dad will be in recovery for about an hour now. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Kara