After Jim's post-op visit on Tuesday, He started back on dialysis. While they decreased the number of bags he does nightly from 3 to 2, they will gradually increase over the next few week. So far it seems to be going good.
His blood work showed that his phosphate was high and he was given medication for that. Otherwise, he once again got a goo report card.
His next doctor appointment is with a rheumatologist on Thursday. Hopefully she will be able to give us some good advice on treating his gout. We are experimenting with not eating hamburger for the next couple of weeks to see if that would help with gout. He also has cut out drinking soda during the week and cut out all high fructose corn syrup which I read also contributes to gout attacks.
So in the meantime, we are back on track....hoping that sometime soon we'll get the good news that a transplant is just around the corner.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Shhhhh....
I don't want to say this too loud. I'm afraid I will jinx it if I post about it too much. But here goes....
A friend of ours, Al, continues to be tested as a possible kidney donor for Jim. So far things are looking pretty good. Jim talked to his tranplant coordinator last week and said there was still some testing to do, but it could possibly happen in another 3-4 months.
After witnessing the pain Jim had to endure today, a transplant would truly be a gift. While dialysis certainly helps, it does take quite a toll on your body. I'm not sure how much more Jim can endure. It seems each setback makes it harder to recover.
So in the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that in another few months, our next trip to the hospital will be for a transplant. Our prayers will hopefully be answered.
A friend of ours, Al, continues to be tested as a possible kidney donor for Jim. So far things are looking pretty good. Jim talked to his tranplant coordinator last week and said there was still some testing to do, but it could possibly happen in another 3-4 months.
After witnessing the pain Jim had to endure today, a transplant would truly be a gift. While dialysis certainly helps, it does take quite a toll on your body. I'm not sure how much more Jim can endure. It seems each setback makes it harder to recover.
So in the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that in another few months, our next trip to the hospital will be for a transplant. Our prayers will hopefully be answered.
The Eyes Say it All
Today Jim had his catheter "tacked" down again. A different doctor at Mercy Hospital did the procedure this time around. He said that the last doctor used a type of suture that was "absorbable'. This time he used a different type. While the procedure is short, Jim's recovery time seems to take longer and longer each time. This is his 4th surgery in the last 15 months. Alot for a healthy body to endure. Even harder when you have little kidney function, bloated with excess fluids, a pain in your shoulder from the dialysis, gout in your left foot and a sore right toe from being clipped too close (sorry honey).
Hopefully he will be up and about in a couple of days. His pain meds are close by and his pillow covers his belly to ease the pain when he moves. He sees his nephrologist on Thursday to see when he can resume dialysis. In the meantime, he must watch his fluid intake as well as his potassium.
I vividly remember that far away look in his grandma's eyes and her big bloated belly while visiting her in the hospital.
I vividly remember that far away look in his mom's eyes and her big bloated belly while visiting her in the hospital.
I saw that same far away look today in Jim's eyes and his big bloated belly while seeing him come out of recovery.
The eyes say it all....I hope I never have to see that look in my kids' eyes.
Hopefully he will be up and about in a couple of days. His pain meds are close by and his pillow covers his belly to ease the pain when he moves. He sees his nephrologist on Thursday to see when he can resume dialysis. In the meantime, he must watch his fluid intake as well as his potassium.
I vividly remember that far away look in his grandma's eyes and her big bloated belly while visiting her in the hospital.
I vividly remember that far away look in his mom's eyes and her big bloated belly while visiting her in the hospital.
I saw that same far away look today in Jim's eyes and his big bloated belly while seeing him come out of recovery.
The eyes say it all....I hope I never have to see that look in my kids' eyes.
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