Friday, May 29, 2009

Friday

I emailed my dr. yesterday to see if he had my results. He said he got them today and that they were clear. Told me to try orthodic stockings for my swelling feet. Yipeee!!!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wednesday

I'm still waiting to hear from my ultrasound. My feet still get really swollen by night time, but the swelling in my arm seems to be lessoning. ~Later

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Checkup

Day before yesterday was my appt. at Vanderbilt. My creatinine was 1.06! We talked about several things and then I told him I had some swelling. My ankles and my right arm. He wanted to do an untrasound (venus doppler) but they didn't have an opening then. They called and asked if I could take one locally and I gave her my general physician's name and number and they called and got me set up for the test tomorrow, (Friday). My feet are swelling even more. The dr. thought I might have stenosis (narrowing of a vein). Whatever it is, I hope it is easily fixed. Seems like it's going to be something all the time. But then, it was something in life all the time before I had kidney failure. :) So we just do what we've gotta do, and keep on going. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart





I've been having a difficult time lately. No energy, no motivation, just don't feel good, allergy/sinus headache, ears stopped up and severe pain in feet, knees, hip and lower back (most joints). Well, you might say, what's the problem? I've been trying to figure it out. I've considered everything from rejection to arthritis to who knows.

Had several days recently that I had to be up somewhat early and it's hard for me to get going in the morning. Sometimes I've found it helpful to only take one amitriptyline at night and I can wake up easier. The amitriptyline is used to enable me to attain stage 4 sleep which is the restful and restorative sleep. If you don't attain stage 4 sleep, you may sleep the night through but you won't feel like you slept at all. It's that "feel like I've been run over by a truck" feeling. This is one of my major difficulties with fibromyalgia. Stay up all night for three nights in a row and you will understand the feeling.

We've been dwelling on the kidney transplant and the balancing of everything from that point of view that I haven't thought a lot about any other problems. Finally, the light came on last night when my hubby was bringing me my meds and he asked if I wanted one or two ametriptyline. I said, "TWO! I'm not even going to get up tomorrow!" That's when the light came on.

Emily and I went shopping yesterday and were excited about finally having a whole day to ourselves. I only took one pill so I could get up and I had done that several days in a row. I was tired when I got up but expected things to pick up as the day went on, but it didn't. It just got worse and worse and worse. Just let me die! So, I took the two pills, went to bed earlier than usual, and I think maybe I did die for awhile. No, I didn't sleep late. Woke up early for me and couldn't go back to sleep so I got up. I am feeling better, however, and know with a few more such nights I will be as good as new. I consider a lesson learned. It's time I took things in hand. (No snide remarks from the peanut gallery, please.) Sigh! It's going to be a good day. ~Later

Friday, May 8, 2009

Kidney Walk 2009

1. Emily and Jessica

2. - Ann -

3. Katie and Grandma, Banner Competition 3rd place.

4. Ann, Carey, Dr. Barr

5. Becky, Jessica, Ann, William, Jennifer, Elizabeth

6. Ann and Becky

7. Dick & Becky, William, Jonathan, Jessica, Ann, William, Jennifer, Delaney,Scott, Elizabeth, Libby; Katie, Janie and Chloe

8. Dicky, Becky, Jonathan, Jessica, William, Ann, William, Jennifer, Scott, Emily, Delaney, Libby, Katie, Janie, Chloe

9. Grandma and Chloe

10. Janie, Katie, Grandma, Chloe

11. Ms. Ann and Emily

12. Jessica and Janie

13. Banner

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I'm Ba-aaaaack!

It's been awhile, hasn't it? We finally had the Kidney Walk Sunday afternoon (May 3). The whole weekend was quite a deal. First we had a family reunion on Saturday and then the Kidney Walk on Sunday.

The Walk was kind of a whirl. We worked very hard and it showed. I was surprised to learn that our team was the top team fundraisers, I was the individual top fundraiser, and my dialysis center, DaVita,Inc, was the top dialysis center fundraiser. They also had a banner contest this year and I got third place in that. Considering I spent half the night before the walk getting it done I was quite surprised to even place.

Goody bags and tee shirts, prizes, food, old friends, and playground for the kids, I think everyone had a good time. When we first got there all the kidney patients, whether dialysis or transplant, received a kidney-shaped medallion with the Kidney Walk emblem and the words "kidney Champions" below it.


It has been very stormy with lots of rain for a week and looked quite stormy May 3. Although everything was wet, the weather held off for the whole walk and it was quite nice.

I don't know if I will be allowed to be a team captain or not next year, at least for the center, since I'm no longer a patient there. I'll have to check into that.
Here it is Tues. and I'm still somewhat wiped out. It's good to have one project finished and ready for a new one. ~Later