Missions Possible

Today we went to the Wash U Dialysis Center to have Jim's bandage changed and the catheter flushed out. Ironically, our nurse Kathy remembered treating Lorraine and training her on her cycler almost 20 years ago. It's encouraging to work with someone who obviously loves and knows what she is doing.

After cleaning his incision site, she put in 500 cc's of fluid along with a dose of heparin through his new catheter. While only 300 cc's fluids came out, for the most  part it was working. She attributed the low drainage return to his bowels. Since the catheter sits so far into the intestines, any type of blockage will slow down the output and since his bowels have not moved for almost a week that is most likely the cause.  Mission #1....Poop!

While this all seemed overwhelming for Jim, he was a real trooper. While he said he was not in any pain, he briefly seemed to hyperventilate. It could have been from the mask he was wearing (which we all worn during the process) along with all the anxiety of this new piece of equipment now extending out of his belly, whichever, he was good. Until he heard the part about not showering for another 4-6 weeks. While his incision site looks good, it still needs to heal completely before getting wet. Mission #2...keep him somewhat hygienically clean so we can stand being around him.

Her intent was to begin training on the cycler within the next 2 weeks. After next weeks appointment, we can better determine a training schedule which will be 5 days of in-home training on the cycler. In order to prepare, we need to have a sterilized room (sorry no dogs allowed) and enough space to store the boxes of solutions. I remember this so well with Lorraine. Piles and piles of Baxter boxes of dialyzing solution. Mission #3....clean, sterilize, "dedog" the bedroom and find storage for our new house guest the cycler.

My Thoughts.....Thanks again for everyone's  love, kind words and support. I continue my search everyday for a living donor, but in the meantime, we will embrace the best we can this new life changing development and as I continue to tell Jim to keep positive thoughts. Sometimes easier said than done....