Current mood:

relieved

Dialysis Day 19 and other stuff

Dialysis was fairly uneventful yesterday. The nurse who did my treatment was the manager of the unit, and is very nice, and did a good job of “sticking” me. In fact, she put the “arterial” needle where they usually put it (at the lump at my elbow crease where the artery and vein were surgically connected), and the “venous” needle way up towards the top of my upper left arm (my fistula has developed so well, that the vein in my upper arm enlarged a lot, thus giving them a large area in which to stick the needles). The advantage of having the needles wide apart is that when the blood in returned from the machine (the “arterial” needle), it is much less likely to return back to the machine via the venous needle, thus giving a more efficient treatment.  Beginning wt: 87.3 kg (192 lbs). End wt: 86 kg (189.2 lbs).

 The needles are underneath each of the 2 band-aids; one in the foreground, and the other toward the right of the picture; not the best pic, but I took it with my camera phone, which was somewhat awkward.

I did a 10 hour shift today at my weekend job; it was a 5 buggy/15 turkey Sunday (5 Amish buggies passed by the front of the house today, and there were 15 wild turkeys in the field across the road from the house). 

The friend at work that I mentioned that we weren’t talking-we called a “truce” and hashed everything out on the phone today. It was very stressful for both of us, having to work together yet not speaking to one another. It should be a lot easier now going to work, and not having that additional stress.  And it will be nice to once again be able to see her kids; Jackie and I both missed them.

Digger (our adolescent GoldenDoodle) had a very busy weekend. Jackie’s sister stayed over for the weekend, as did her 3 year old Rottweiler, Shamrock.  Digger and “Shammy” were non-stop playing, and both were exhausted by the time Shammy went home. 

Well, I have another new toy on the way. My employer has a program for those with specific chronic illnesses, and offers a program through our HMO to manage the illness, and provide a financial incentive when you meet the criteria. You have to meet with the nurse for a couple of visits, and in the case of the Chronic Kidney Disease program, maintain a specific blood pressure on 3 separate occasions. I got a check the other day, and used it to buy a new GPS unit. I got a good price after a $25 coupon from Overstock.com, but am not at all happy that I bought it Wednesday morning, and it hasn’t been shipped yet.  Fortunately, I don’t need it right away, although I’m anxious to get it and play around with it.