Thanks

Thanks to Beth for helping me out with some of the changes that I wanted to do to my blog and now have been done.

Changes

I felt like making some structural changes to my blogs so here it is. What do you think?

I'm trying to figure out how to do a few things like add what I am reading and listening to (like any of you really care about that kind of stuff). A few blogs I have been to have a chat room that you can go to off of their blog. Really nerdy stuff....

I have made a few modifications in the past but none were too visible. The biggest change before this one was making it so that you didnt have to register with blogger to leave a message.

Anyway, drop me a note and let me know if you like the changes or if you know how to add some of the stuff I am looking to do. Thanks.

Next time I may tell you about the new tattoo I am thinking about...

How good it feels

So last Saturday I took my first shower in over 6 months. You have no idea how good it feels nor how much you miss taking a shower.

Last Friday I got my hair cut. I have been going to this place that only cuts guys' hair. Sports and news on the flat screens. They can also shine shoes, give pedicures and manicures, and massages. Great place with no screaming kids and something to read besides old Ladies Home Journals. I got my first straight edge shave while I was there. Man was that nice.

Next week I will be on the type of peritonial dialysis that you do at night while you sleep. I am anxious to start.

The following week the wife and I will be in Vegas for a few days. I have never been and can hardly wait.

Thud

So Wednesday I went to the Doctor to have the perma-catheter removed from my chest. It was used for Hemodialysis. The procedure was done in the Doctor's office. First they gave me a shot to deaden the area around the port, which was the worst part of the whole ordeal.

This week, the Doctor had a young lady that is studying to be a medical assistant in his office. He had her come in to watch the procedure. Young african american girl. She turned whiter than me about the time he took the catheter out and she hit the floor. The nurse had to quit helping the Doctor and work on the student MA instead. I tried not to laugh too hard. When it was just the nurse and me, I asked if someone should really consider the medical proffession if they are a little squeamish at the sight of blood.....

The good news is that I can take a shower tomorrow. About time, as I am starting to reak....hahahaha.


Another potential donor had their blood typed this week. She is also A+ so that rules her out for me.

Yesterday I had my monthly visit with the nephrologist. I haven't mentioned him in my blogs but I like him SOOOOO much better than the nephrologist I used to have from his practice. My body is doing well with PD and I should be on the one you use when you go to sleep by the end of the month. The doctor asked if there was anything else I needed and so I asked what his blood type is and if he had ever thought of giving somebody a kidney. I think it was the first time anybody had ever asked him that. I laughed and offered to put him in touch with my transplant coordinator (especially after he told me his blood type is a match).

Several years ago, a friend of mine in the state legislature proposed to execute prisoners by beheading them. He reasoned that the inmates' organs could then be used by people that needed them. Just something to make you go hmmmmmmmmm.

Meaning of Life

No, not the Monty Python movie... Obviously I have had a lot to think and reflect on over the last several months. Yesterday I was given something else to think of.

By now everybody knows of the manhunt here in Georgia for the accused rapist that shot a couple of Deputies, a court reporter and a Judge. This all happened yesterday around 9 a.m. Normally I would have been at the intersection at 9 a.m. where the first car was carjacked and the second Deputy was shot. Yesterday I didnt go to work due to a slight fever and sore throat after being exposed to my neice last weekend who had just gotten over strep throat.

Several years ago I was in DC. I dated a girl there for over a year and was up to see her. We had done some touristy things and walked up the mall, past the back entrance of the Capitol, and over to Union Station to ride the subway. About the time we got to Union Station tons of police cars went racing past us with lights flashing and sirens blaring. A guy had shot his way into the back entrance of the Capitol and into an office. We missed it by maybe two or three minutes.

It is things like yesterday or the DC trip or suddenly having your kidneys shut down that really makes you stop and think about life and what is really important. Family and friends take on more importance and other things just dont seem to matter anymore.

Thank you for being a part of my life.

Changing Lives

So 2 more people ruled out of being a donor. One went to his doctor to get his blood type sent to my transplant folks. He found out he is hypertensive. Another went to her doctor and found out she is diabetic.

There are people that have quit taking the medicine I was on that caused all of this. Others are more skeptical when given a prescription and now want to know everything they can about the drugs they are given. Glad I could help.

In other news, my cousin that wanted to be tested but found out he is wrong blood type is now thinking about giving a kidney to anyone that needs it. He feels pretty strongly about this. I'll be honest and tell you that I tear up when I think about his selflessness.

I have been nominated to some national committee of dialysis patients to advocate for changes in laws and public policy. Also nominated to be on the Executive Board. Maybe this is why this happened to me....

An old roomie is going to be the next to be tested as soon as his doctor can prove his blood type, even though he is located quite some distance away. Will keep you up to date on this.

March 30 will switch to the cycler. Still peritoneal dialysis but this one you hook up to at night when you go to sleep instead of doing it 4 times a day as I do now. Next week I get the perma-cath taken out of my next that was used for hemodialysis. Cant wait to take a shower.

Lotta updating

When you are on peritonial dialysis you have to be careful and not get infections. Monday I had a fiber in my line (happens when you first start this type of dialysis) and it was hard for fluids to drain. Somehow in the rush of trying to do something about the fiber I must have touched an area that you arent to touch and got an infection. Had to call the nurse and go get some drugs. When you get an infection, you have more fibers floating around. They couldnt get the fluids out Monday afternoon so they forced more fluids in (on top of what I already had) . This cleared the lines but they couldnt drain any because the fluids they put in had medicine in it and if they had drained any, the medicine may not have stayed in to work. Let's just say walking around with 4 liters of fluid in your belly is hard on your back and is very uncomfortable. I think I know what it feels like to be pregnant....I hope I dont ever have to go through this again...

Got a call from my cousin today. He is not type O blood. Now we look at some of the other people that have expressed an interest in being tested.