The "I'm Walking a Mile on Sunday to Help Fight Kidney Disease",edition.

iPod shuffled to "Stay", The Dells. RIP Marvin Junior and his magnificent voice. He died from kidney failure. :-(   I realize I am just a few missed dialysis treatments away from death. *sigh*.  Well, I have no intention of missing any. I hope to get on the transplant list by June. Even then, the waiting list for Michigan is over 2600. There is a priority list. So the good news is I'm doing pretty good.  So by my doing pretty good means that I'm probably not a priority transplant candidate. Ah well.

So I've got my new fistula. I go to dialysis the next day. Doc and others check it out. See, when you touch my arm, you can fell a buzz..you better feel it!!  It still freaks me out, but it is my lifeline.  I also  have a red rubber kidney I have to squeeze with my left hand to strengthen my fistula.  (See photo). "You Can Make It If You Try", Sly and the Family Stone. I also wore out the grooves on every Sly album lol. Props to Larry Graham funk bass.   

Staff checks fistula on Friday. It's going strong. I may touch it. The idea of this buzzing, vibrating going on in arm is just so repulsive. :-(   It gets checked on Monday. Still going. I go to vascular surgeon on Wednesday. It's not buzzing. Damn. Doc schedules me for surgery the next day. *sigh*. The fistula clotted. Yay blood. :-(  Doc gives me a megadose of blood thinner and I'm back at the hospital at 9 the next morning for round 2. I'm a little pissed off.  We had planned to go out to dinner. This was going to be my first excursion out of the house that wasn't some sort of medical appointment. I had a birthday deal from Texas de Brazil (meat heaven).  So instead on my birthday, I'm recuperating. Just like I was for my 25th wedding anniversary. :-(   Hmmm lots of frownies today. We know it goes better :-)

"I Say A Little Prayer", Aretha Franklin. Exquisite voice. I keep going because I got thangs to do. :-)  I get my Christmas shopping done entirely online. I speak to Dad daily. Once a week he calls from moms nursing home so we can talk to each other. Her voice is getting weaker and weaker each week, but she can still manage an "I love you, baby". :-). I think we both feel better after that.  I worry about Dad out in Vegas alone, but he is focused on Mom and that keeps him busy. I ask what he's eating. After a few days I realizing he's eating a lot of kielbasa.  I need to explain that my mom did all grocery shopping and cooking. My dad didn't know jack about grocery shopping. Lol lol. He found 10 pounds of kielbasa on sale and went with a bag of potatoes and bags of salad.  Long story short, Omaha Steaks offers prepared meals and food. All you need to to is nuke it or put it in the oven.  I ordered him a variety of meals.  Oh yeah, he'd also get pizzas and KFC.  And wondered why he was gaining weight. Lol. 

"Feels Good", Rahsaan Patterson. So mellow and relaxing. It feels good!!  (Excuse me while I laugh at my bad joke - lol lol ). So I'm trying plan Christmas at home and making sure Mom and Dad are going to be ok. Vegas is so very far when you use a walker. Somehow everything gets done. Shawn and Brian are just wonderful in assisting me. :-)

Signing off with "You Are The Sunshine of My Life", Stevie Wonder. Happy song. :-). I'll give a final update on the Zoo Walk on Monday. I will tell you that we've exceeded our goal!!!  I can't thank my sponsors enough. Know that I love you and appreciate you. <3.  I hope to see some walkers with me.

The "Still Looking for Walking Partners for the NKF Zoo Walk on Sunday Morning" edition.

iPod shuffled to "Happiness Is Just Around The Bend", The Main Ingredient. Cuba Gooding's voice is so unique and distinctive. It may seem I am over sharing details and information, but I subscribe that you can never have enough information.  Someone may be going through something similar, and it's nice to know you're not alone. :-)   Although there were times at work, there were things I wished I didn't know and eventually would be fine with being in the dark.  I digress. Lol 

I got called back by radiology. They wanted additional photos of my right breast. I went yesterday. I really wasn't real worried. There is no history of breast cancer in my family. Lol. We have other issues, but not that. "Nothing But Love", The Five Heartbeats (The Dells). "I Got nothing but love for you baby".  Lol I sing it to my dog. And I love "Choirboy" hitting those high notes.  So the radiologist takes more images.  Afterwards she has me wait for the doctor. He comes into the room and announces, "Your breasts are fine", with a big grin. Lol lol.  Um ok. Lol. I send a text to Brian to let him know. ;-)

"Straight Outta Compton", NWA.  I like it.  Don't judge. Apparently I graduated to larger needles today. It went smoothly. Did I tell you I have a numbing cream I apply about an hour prior to treatment?  It really works. Prior to getting my first stick, I mentioned my apprehension to my tech.  She told me there was a "stick" team and she was the lead "sticker". Well, I have a great relationship with her and trust her with my life (now that's about as literal a statement as I'm going to ever make).  My arm is tired right now.  Taking a break..........one hand typing. Sigh.  Anyway, I've learned who is on the stick team. Naturally, when my sticks started, my tech was on sick leave. ;-(   I was given a list of preferred "stickers". So of course that first day NONE of them were here. Of course.  The stick member that comes over is someone I'd never even seen before.  I tell her no. The next person is at least someone I've seen, so I let him stick me. The sticks have gone well and the flows are good.  One time the needle pressed on a nerve. Now that's something I don't need again, but that happened only once. 

Back to my tech, the lead sticker.  There are patients who will allow only her to stick them. Sometimes I hear people screaming when getting stuck :-(    She graciously goes and sticks other people. I guess I need to use the technical term for "stick". CANNULATE. Cannulate means more that just stick, but we'll go with that for now.  My first stick, I didn't put on the numbing cream. It felt like having an IV inserted. I've had so many IVs that it didn't hurt. However, I still use the numbing cream. :-)  " You Are Everything", The Stylistics. Yep, they are on my list of favorite groups. I even played this song on the piano. I still have the sheet music. :-)   

Signing off with The Roots, "What They Do". Great video.  :-)   I'm still looking for walkers for the National Kidney Foundation Detroit Zoo Walk on Sunday, June 2, 2013. 

The "It's Memorial Day and Me and My Peeps are Dialyzing"

iPod shuffled to "I'll Be Around", The Spinners. The congas make you want to move. :)  Yes, it's Memorial Day, and yes, the dialysis center is up and going. Remember, your kidneys, 168 hours a week.  My kidneys , 9 hours a week.  I need every hour I can get, and I'm takin' it!! :-). 

So on a bright and early morning in December I arrive at the hospital for outpatient surgery. I register, then go and wait in a holding area with Brian and a few other anxious people. After about 20 minutes someone comes and takes all of us to the area where we get prepped for surgery. It looks like a surgery factory to me. About 25-30 little areas with a gurney and privacy curtains for patients. Nurses galore and other assorted medical folks teaming around. I get assigned my very own little nook and nurse.  She gives me the initial disrobing instructions (all jewelry left at home). They even took my glasses. >;-(   Shoos Brian off temporarily.  "Hello Stranger", Barbara Lewis, from Ann Arbor (!).  I whined about them taking my underpants, as the surgery was on my left arm....  The nurse took pity on me and brought hospital underpants. Lololol. I never knew they even existed. You won't find them at Victoria's Secret, but they worked for the job at hand. Lol. Nurse chuckled with me. :-). I thanked her.

I get visited by the IV nurse, the surgeon's assistant, my next RN, a couple of residents and an anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist asked questions, then tells me how I'll be anesthetized.  Someone  created a binder with my information and it gets fuller an fuller right before my eyes!! My life!! At least my life since I entered the hospital. Lol.  Eventually Doc comes by and let's me know I'm next. Two surgical nurses come by and stay with me and then move me to the "operating room".  

An operating room is very bright and very full of stuff and full of people. So, people are doing stuff around the room and around me. Doc says hi.  I'm talking with the nurses. Then I wake up and it's over. Lol. No counting backwards from 100, just out for the count. "You're Still a Young Man", Tower of Power.  One of my favorite songs. Horns, vocals, lyrics, harmonies, piano, listen to that piano. It's as good as the horns, and they are known for the horns. Crank up the volume!!!!!!!!!!

Doc says its a good fistula, come see him in a week and then I get rolled to recovery. I'm not really groggy, just maybe silly and tired. The recovery area is quieter than the "getting ready for surgery" area. I have my own nurse again. He's monitoring my vitals and offers me apple juice and graham crackers (the snack of hospitals worldwide-lol). Considering I had nothing to eat or drink since I went to bed the night before, that was like manna. :-). 

My vitals are fine and I'm coherent. They let  Brian in, I get dressed and I get my post surgery instructions. The most important. Do not sleep on the left arm. Riiiiight.  I sleep on my left side. I'll figure it out.  We get home by 3PM. I'm still weak from the kidney failure thing and with the surgery that day.  Brian feeds me and I go to bed.  Tomorrow, I'll show my nephrologist and my techs my new fistula. ;-)

Signing off with "Just Shopping (Not Buying Anything)", The Dramatics. "I'd like to make you queen of my castle".  Ron Banks voice /swoon.   Y'all take care.  I'm gonna crank up the volume, close my eyes and get lost in the Dramatics. :-). <3

The "I Got Me Some Walkin' Shoes for the Zoo Walk, and I'm Ready!"

iPod shuffled to "Fall in Love, Lady Love", The Dramatics. This was on the first album. The album I played over.  And over. And over. I'm sure I wore the grooves out. I took that poor album everywhere. Bless my parents hearts, they never complained. Lol. Sadly even now I'll play the Dramatics over. And over. And over. My family rolls their eyes and go to other rooms. Lol. 

I was going to continue the saga of me and fistula, but I'm going to detour today. When I came home from the hospital, I had more questions than answers about End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).  I was commenting to Brian that when I was diagnosed with Acute Intermittent Porphyria, it seemed I had information about that than ESRD now. Amel Larrieux, "Get Up".  She was a member of Groove Theory.  We have access to more information now 30+ years later, because of the Internet. But I'm pretty sure the expectation is not for us to do our own research. Everyone doesn't have the resources. That being said, that is a topic for another day.  

So I get home and wear out Safari looking up information on ESRD. There are lots of credible sites with information...National Kidney Foundation, American Kidney Foundation, a myriad of hospitals and clinics and medical foundations. There are also sites for patients.  One of the first sites that popped up was IHateDialysis. Lol. Oh my. This a message board of dialysis users sharing experiences and really helping each out out. A giant virtual support group. I wasn't ready to join, but I'd browse topics. I did eventually join a Facebook support group. 

It's pretty sobering reading about the experiences of other people in dialysis. I understand I am in the bubble of my center. I did have the experience in Las Vegas for a different perspective, and I have a few more trips planned this summer.  The people I know on dialysis are the people I see at my center (and my Wendell and Mable).  Granted, I don't know much about the other patients, except this person was taken off of dialysis because their kidneys recovered, or that person died over the weekend. I also really wasn't aware of other reasons why kidneys fail. For me, I reject high blood pressure as it was controlled.  The nephrologist is leaning towards the Porphyria. Whatever.  

People are born with kidney issues. Other medical problems can cause medical trauma, such as Diabetes or Lupus.  Surgeries gone wrong.  Physical injuries. "Butterflies", Michael Jackson. Such a pretty song. (Volume cranked up, body rocking and smiling....and sing softly (badly) so I don't disturb anyone- lol). The ages of dialysis patients are all over the map. Young children ( represented by their parents), high school students, young adults, young parents, my peers, and seniors. Lol. I couldn't hit the senior category   There are folks 70+.  There are people who are waiting to get on dialysis, people just starting on dialysis, and those who have been dialyzing for over 20 years......

Stopping here. It's getting long. I have to say. It's been eye opening, and frankly sobering. Signing off with Ramsey Lewis, "Love Song" from the Sun Goddess album. This races me back to University of Michigan. Lol. If you heard that coming out of a dorm room, just keep on walking, don't knock. Lol. I played it for Brian, he wasn't familiar with the song. When I told him it was from the Sun Goddess album, he chuckled and said he never got past Sun Goddess. Lol. 

The "I Can Finally Complete the Tests for The Kidney Transplant" edition.

iPod set to Tavares, "Heaven Must be Missing an Angel". (Did you see what I did?). I finally went back to the basement yesterday. I hadn't been since March. I needed to get several things done on the laptop. Alas, the ipad is not omnipotent.  Last time I encountered the desktop, it had to update a lot of stuff, because I hadn't touched it in two months. Then after the updates, it wanted to reboot. I tried to sync the iPod, but the computer farted and confused the iPod.  Fortunately the iPod was able to reset.  I thought I'd lost it. PANIC. Well not that much, I have a smaller library on the ipad. But still, I've had my handy dandy iPod since 2007. 

So I've been sloppy downloading music from desktop and from the ipad.  How to get a single music library?  Apple, bless its heart, has the "cloud". BTW, Apple didn't invent the cloud.  I was seeing cloud references in the early '90s. Apple just appropriated the "cloud".  Anyway, I need the desktop to activate iTunes Match.  Now all of my music is in the "cloud" and is accessible by any Apple device I have, not that I have that many, I don't. This includes music I've downloaded from any source, music I've copied from my DVDs, and of course iTunes. Tavares, "Remember What I've Told You Forget". He is really apologizing in this song.  Poor thing. :-(

I have to take several more medical tests to have to make sure I am able to have a transplant.  I stopped for a while because of the graduation activities. Tavares, "Check It Out".  Brian likes this song. He can sing it to me anytime. :-)  <3   Yeah, I downloaded a bunch of Tavares yesterday (and other artists) and today I'm starting out with a Tavares playlist instead of the shuffle. 

So yesterday I resumed testing. All that's left are lady parts tests. Yesterday was the mammogram. It doesn't hurt, it's just uncomfortable. The good news is, it's the shortest test. I was in and out, including registration, within 30 minutes. Yay!  Next week is the final test.  Then I wait.  Man, I've seen more medical people in the last seven months, than I have in my entire lifetime. And it's not going to change. I'm annoyed by this, but I'll get over it.  Oh and the photos of me from Monday?  Everything looks better. I'm healing pretty well. We just kinda marvel at the hole in my chest lol.  I'm guessing it'll close over eventually. It's healed well enough that I can go swimming, and swimming I'm going.  Lol. Been waiting for that for a while!!  The Frankstein scar on my arm is where the two needles are inserted.  The scar is from fixing the hematoma after surgery. The patching from the initial surgery was tape or some adhesive, after the hematoma, staples were used.  The little scar dots are needle holes. Eventually they will use just two holes when the fistula is stronger. (I'm having fun and games with autocorrect -- yay?). 

Ok. Enough of a rambling blog. Thanks for hanging in with me. Signing off with Rachelle Ferrell, "With Open Arms". Best Vocal Gymnastics Ever.  She has the voice and range to pull it off, and makes the song and arrangement enjoyable. :-)

The "My Tech is Back After 6 Weeks. It's Gonna Be A Good Day", edition.

iPod shuffled to "Joy", Isaac Hayes.  One of those songs you forgot you liked until you hear it again after, oh, several decades :-)  So I'm settling into a dialysis routine. My appetite has come back...with a vengeance. I surf recipe websites. Let me tell ya, the web is the ultimate cookbook!!  Allrecipes is my go-to site. The recipes include nutrition info. That allows me to discard bad candidates at a glance. We've found a sloppy joe recipe without tomato products, mushroom lasagna, white sauce pizza, and I learned how to make killer enchiladas using tomatillos. :-) Tried chili with hominy. Sounded good on paper, but I hated the texture. Ugh. Makes me stick out my tongue just thinking about it. Yuck yuck.

"No Diggity", Blackstreet with Dr. Dre. Teddy Riley is talented as all get out. And he can put together a group.  Admit it, you liked Guy.  "Groove Me" always got the party started. As a matter of fact, I'm trying out a strawberry pudding today. Just like banana pudding...except I'm using strawberries. Well same concept. 

So one day in the chair, someone I'd never seen before came up to me and told me I needed to make decision on how I wanted dialysis. Huh?  She gave me some literature. Oh.  My choices included the catheter , which I had. According to the literature, the catheter is the worst selection ever in life and if you select it you are a loser. Well not quite those words, but I got the message. The next option was a graft. You know, I don't even recall how it worked, but the literature said it barely a step over the catheter. Hey, I fall for propaganda with the best of them. The literature called the fistula the GOLD STANDARD of dialysis. I'm all like, "Yeah, yeah I want that!!!11elelventy111!!!"  My tech had briefly explained fistulas to me and I'd been observing my fellow patients. I'd also seen the arm bulges after the needles came out and I'd also seen the bleed outs, but it was the GOLD STANDARD!!!!  

"You Haven't Done Nothing", Stevie Wonder. Do do wop, stand up and be counted"  Ack my foot is tapping and my head is bopping. Lol. And as a bonus observation, the gentleman in the chair directly across me always sleeps with his mouth open. Everyone sleeps with mouths closed. Lol. I'm the outlier who's always awake. So this someone who approached me with the literature is the lead social worker. She's all smiles all the time, has a bounce in her step, is always professional....and I find out she's a soror <3. I announce, "I want the fistula", with more confidence than I actually felt.  Everyone nods like I'd made the wisest decision I could have ever made.  I was actually scared of and repulsed  by fistulas, but the catheter had to go. Anyway, I barely said yes and was given the vascular surgeon's card, with the appointment already made. Rofl, I was a sitting duck. 

This happened the first week of December. I was scheduled for the out patient surgery December 6. I need to disclose that when I was in the hospital, someone tried to schedule me for a fistula. I wasn't having it. Didn't they know y kidneys would come back to life?  Sheesh. Ok. I'm not delusional anymore. Sometimes I wish I had got the fistula then, but I subscribe that everything happens when it's supposed to.  So no regrets. 

Photo of my fistula and photo of where the catheter used to be. Signing off with "I Just Want To Be", Cameo. I saw them in concert at Kings Domnion amusement park near Richmond Virginia.  The opening act was Roger Troutman featuring Zapp.  Yes the concert was exactly what you're thinking. A great time was held by all.  ;-D. And yeah, Roger went through the crowd in his tightie whities.  He went right past me. You are old school if you remember that. Lol.

A Saturday Interlude

I've registered Pat's Adventures for the National Kidney Foundation Zoo Walk, on June 2, 2013.  The reason I did the blog and Facebook is because some of my blog readers are not on Facebook and have no interest in joining Facebook.  

If you're feeling spicy, feel free to "stroll" through the Detroit Zoo with me. I'm gonna bring my cane, but well see just how much I need it. ;-)

Link

http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/Michigan?px=2264040&pg=personal&fr_id=5760

The "More Friends and Family, Oh My!", edition.

iPod shuffled to "I'll Be Around", The Spinners. My favorite Spinners song. :-)  So yeah, two needles attached to tubing, attached to the dialysis machine moving blood in and out on my left arm and a blood pressure cuff on my right arm while I'm doing the one hand typing trick. Left arm immobile...right arm getting choked every thirty minutes. It's all good. Besides, all my regular techs and nurses are here today. Today is a good day (paraphrasing Ice Cube - lol).

"Knights in White Satin", The Moody Blues. In high school, I though this was such a beautiful song. Today?  I still like it, but it is a bit maudlin. Lol.  So last Friday, Brian and I executed the open house plan. After he picked me up from dialysis, we headed to a bakery in Farmington for tea sandwiches (Mrs Maddox).  We ate breakfast, then it was home to rest, except I got sidetracked by the catheter removal.  By the time that was over, it was time to go to Costco.  

Once at Costco, we knew our route. First to produce..fruit tray, veggie tray. Then some wine.  Head over to the deli, pick up turkey wraps and sandwich fixins' tray.  Pick up a tub o' dip.  Go get a case of water, then a bag of chicken wings. Brian wanted me to make some hot honey wings. It's hard to say no to him. <3   "I Say a Little Prayer", Aretha Franklin. So how many singers can sound good for so long?  She's all talent.  We finish up with the biggest bag of Ruffles chips that I've ever seen. Ooh ooh, "So In Love", Jill Scott featuring Anthony Hamilton. Love both voices and the lyrics. (I can sing them Brian.. ).  I crash when we get home because I'm always beat on dialysis. I just wasn't able to break until stuff got done. 

Saturday Shawn picks up the ice and the mini cupcakes. Brian starts the chicken, I decorate and set up the table. Once the chicken is baked, I make the sauce, put chicken in the crockpots (yes crockpots - a Costco bag of chicken wings is 10 pounds!!), add the sauce and let them make the house smell good. :-). We're ready. 

Guests start arriving around 2:15. It was set up for people to come and go at their convenience. People stayed. Lol. I know I enjoyed it. Brian took photos of everyone with Shawn. Did I mention when she got her  official letter from Wayne State, it said she graduated Cum Laude?  My mom would have been beside herself with pride and joy.  

Our friends and family ate, drank and were quite merry. Somehow a German chocolate cake will be made in August. People found out exactly where Champaign-Urbana Illinois is ( 2-3 hours south of Chicago in the middle of nowhere).  We found out about green smoothies.  Detroit politics were debated. And we ate.  And ate. Lol. The last guests left around 9:30 (lol the invite said 2 to 8). We were having that much fun. Oh yeah, dad was there greeting and eating too. :-D. 

Next up?  The National Kidney Foundation Zoo walk.  I still got thangs' to do   :-)     Signing off with "Summer Madness", Kool and the Gang. Lol. I wasn't sure what synthesizer was back then. I wondered what instrument hit those notes?   

The "Don't Take Anything for Granted Edition"

iPod shuffled to The Originals, "Baby, I'm For Real" .  I had something already typed and somehow I sent it to virtual neverland. As a former technology professional, I really knew I needed to hit "save". Especially since I have to do this one hand typing trick. :-(   Anyway "Baby I'm For Real" was co-written by Marvin Gaye. Who knew?  Certainly not me lol. 

What do you take for granted? A shower. Yes, a shower. As long as I had the (life saving) catheter, I cold not take a shower. The catheter was so prone to infection that it had to remain dry at all costs. I can now disclose that before I knew that , when I came home from the hospital in November, I had a shower. Oops.  Last night I had a 20 minute soap and water extravaganza!!!!!  :-D

So after my date with karma, I settled into a dialysis routine. Watching, listening learning. I need to know what's going on and be my own health advocate. I had a few more low blood pressure incidents, but the remedy was to reintroduce fluid back into my system. The effect would be immediate. I have several techs who told me what to instruct as my maximum flow. I REALLY appreciate them. "The Delphonics", Trying to Make a Fool of Me". When I look up artists on iTunes, I tend to look for a specific song, then I find the entire catalog of songs I'd long forgotten.  It's like Christmas. Yeah so, this song hit that category. 

Knowing my maximum flow worked out because I started getting calls asking if I could come in earlier, I'd be able to inform techs. Could I come in earlier?  Are you kidding me, hell yeah!!!  After my first yes, I became a goto chair substitute. I liked the 10 o'clock time, but I like the 6AM slot even better.  One January morning I ended up in module 6, an out of the way module in the maze of modules.  The tech was Shirley. I mentioned I liked the early shift.  She told me the chair I was in was empty and to let the charge nurse know I wanted it. Ok. I can do that. 

Charge nurse is called over, and I make my request.  She let me know there was a list of patients who wanted to change shifts and she would add me to the list. /sadface.  Well I was ok with that. I was the new kid after all.  Later that afternoon, I get a call from charge nurse. She informs me that I can have the time slot. :-)  I can only hope that my pleasant demeanor worked in my favor. At any rate I don't know why, but I've really been all smiles since.  I'm the one that walks in at 6AM smiling and greeting everyone. Lol. My husband calls me Norm. :-)  

One more tidbit. I explained how towards the end of a session, my blood clotted, which upsets the machine (ya think?). That got tackled on two fronts.  First, the vascular surgeon has me on a blood thinner - that was to ensure the blood would not clot my immature fistula.  Second, during the dialysis, we all get doses of heparin, a (surprise) blood thinner or anti coagulant. I ran into that in ICU and the hospital. After I came out my fog, I realized the nurses were injecting something into my stomach (!!).  Don't  cringe. It didn't hurt --- really. I asked what it was.  Since I was immobile in the bed, it helped prevent the dreaded blood clot. (I'd had a close relative die from a traveling blood clot). They got no argument from me.

I'm feeling "So Fresh, So Clean".  Uh oh. I said I tell about the open house. Heeeee. I promise I'll do it Friday. Signing off with , "Tilt Ya Head Back", Nelly and Christina Aguillera. Don't laugh, it works. It samples Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly".  With Nelly's singsong style and Christina's powerful force, it's really good. And it makes you want to dance. /chair dance.   :-)

The "Back to Life, Back to Reality", edition

iPod shuffled to Guns N' Roses, "Welcome to the Jungle".  Lol. I want to do the head banging thing, except I need to keep still with these needles in my arm.  Weekend cleanup. First up is my teaser. My collarbone catheter came out Friday. Yay yay yay yay. Did I say yay?  Yay!!!!!   Photo is of the catheter.

Friday, we had some major running around to do, picking up items and shopping for Shawn's open house.  The plan was to go get breakfast after dialysis, then pick up the hors d'oeuvres.  After that, I'd take a break, then we'd head off to Costco.  Well, while at breakfast, I received 2 calls. Apparently Brian received 2 calls also and Shawn picked up 2 at home. I didn't recognize the number, but there was a voice mail, so I listened. It was the lead social worker from the dialysis center.  The message was, "Charge nurse, your social worker and I agreed that the catheter can come out. We talked to vascular surgeon. You need to get there within an half-hour of when this message is made". Uh oh. I had 30 minutes. ;-(      I call the social worker. She repeats the message and gives me surgeon's phone number.  She says that doc is going out of town today and won't be back for two weeks. Yeah, I get the sense of urgency.  I call. They say come on in. I holler to Brian to get the car keys. "Let's Go!!"   I had to explain to him where we were going and why as we pulled out of the driveway. :-).       Seal, "Kiss From  a Rose". Such a pretty song. But does anyone know any other Seal songs?  This song is from a Batman soundtrack. 

So, for Detroiters, this is the distance I had to go in 30 minutes or less.  Lol. We'd give Dominos a run for the money.  (Maybe close to 10 miles) I'm at 7 Mile/Livernois. Doc is at 11 Mile/Hoover. 8 Mile east to 75 north to 696 east to Hoover north. We get there. And wait.  Lol. WTF. I was led to  believe doc had one foot on the plane.  I  finally get called back after an hour.  I start to get riled up, but I remember karma ( see last weeks entry).  Doc finishes up previous patient, comes in gives me some shot of anesthesia near my collarbone....no it didn't hurt.  We're talking and joking and he says, "oh by the way, the catheter is out".  Lol. Of course. After a few minutes of applying pressure, the nurse puts a bandaid on the wound and they shoo me out.  

"Morris Brown", Outkast featuring Scar and Sleepy Brown. I love Scar's voice. I also like Sleepy Brow, but I'm not hearing him...but it's ok. I got Scar. Outkast featured some nice talent on their songs.  Doc, his staff and I say our goodbyes. I've been going to them since December for the fistula. Now that it's working, their job is done. For the record, I'd recommend this doc.  And for the added bonus, he'd bring his dog to the office. Dog would come in and visit while you were waiting. :-)   

Well this was long. Instead of being long winded, I'm typing crazy. Sorry. :-(.  I'm excited to relay how Shawn's open house went.  That has to wait for Wednesday. Suffice it to say a good time was had by all.  Signing off with "So Fresh, So Clean", Outkast. Yeah, my iPod has a mind of its own. ;-)

Another Saturday Interlude....

Just a short note before the day gets started.  I've added more photos of out graduate.  One with her grandmother and one with her great aunt.  I'm just enjoying the smiles. :-)

The "I Think This Stops the Title Redundancy", edition

iPod shuffled to "Deja Vu", Beyonce'. I have not tired of her yet. That even amazes me. Lol.

Well this week, we are celebrating Shawn's graduation from Wayne State University.  So many life changes in the last year, but we have a bona fide celebration right now!  Yesterday was the commencement at Ford Field.  We arrived early because; 1- We wanted a decent handicapped parking spot.  In additional to mobility challenged me, we also had my 87 year old dad who has had one hip replaced, and Brian's mom, who is 70+, but looks more like 50 something <3....  2-We wanted to score a good seat at Ford Field.  We were successful on all fronts. :-)

Joining us were Shawn's great aunt and Shawn's godmother. WSU graduated over 3000 people for the academic year.  The university had to have two separate ceremonies.  We had the morning shift.  We enjoyed every moment of the 2.5 hour program. This includes WSU having every single graduate named and walking across the stage..from PhDs to the Bachelors. :-)    "Killer Joe", Quincy Jones. How talented and versatile is Q?  There are still some songs I am finding that I didn't realize he was involved with. Wow!

After the ceremony We had late lunch at Motor City Casino. Lol. We weren't the only gradation groups that showed up. Heh. We couldn't get Shawn to wear her cap, but she did wear a beautiful smile. How does this tie in with my dialysis adventures?  Well. The kidney disease caused mobility issues. My challenge was navigating Ford Field. The entrance was on the opposite side of the seating.  And then there were the stairs. OMG, the stairs.  Well Ford Field has a service where staff will push you in a wheelchair to your seat.  I passed on that. I was up to the challenge. And succeeded. Hah!  Of course we'd have to climb up the stairs to get out. Lol.  Well I did that also.  I even skipped the ramp out the building. We then did the long walk to the buffet at Motor City Casino..of course by the then my muscles were protesting. Lol. I wasn't tired, I just hurt. My term for it is, "a big ole ball of pain" ;-).  I took some Tylenol and got over it.  When we got home, I slept for three hours.  Lol lol  

"DMSR", Prince. You know, this was left off the CD.  One of the best songs. I felt ripped off. ;-/   So anyway, today the family is tackling the final tasks for Shawn's open house on Saturday, so I am off and running after dialysis. We have planned this out.  I usually feel like I am on the losing side of a fight after dialysis and need to rest, but I have thangs' to do today. And do them we shall. Hope to see you Saturday and join us in Shawn's celebration. :-). 

Signing off with "You're On My Mind", Kem. I really like this arrangement. This song was meant for him. 

Pat's Adventures in Dialysis, the "I'm Anticipating A Lot Today" edition.

iPod shuffled to "Don't Look Any Further", Dennis Edwards. His is voice distinctive and recognizable. I have some of my regular techs and nurses back. I'm uncomfortable because of my position.  Taking a break. Bbl.  

Ok back. I'm getting cranky. :-(  The arm with needles needs to remain immobile for the next three hours.  Try not moving your arm for three hours.  That being said, you do what you have to do. Getting the catheter removed trumps the immovable arm. Hah!  And yeah, I'm typing this with one hand.  Ipad keyboard makes it easier though, so I'll take the whining down a notch.  How about Beyonce', "Crazy in Love"?  Makes you to the chair dance. 

I'll briefly go into my world of gaming. I left off with mentioning some of the games. What I gravitated toward were MMORPGs,  massively multiplayer online role playing games. What the heck is that, you ask?  In its basic form, I become a fictional character in a virtual world with people from all over the world intent on questing to save the virtual world from bad things. We're heroes!!!!! "Lose Control ", Missy Elliot.  The last good female rapper. Nicki Minaj does not count ;-(   .

I wish I could remember when I started playing"The Realm".  The best I can is about 15 years ago?  I have some friends that can give some guesses { looking at you DeBella and MystoWind }. That actually makes the point that I've known the characters for quite some time. So what were we and what did we do?  Well I need to list the cast of characters that I remember. DeBella, MystoWind, Ib, Jackson, Glitso...I was (and still am) Lalique, the giant warrior with a big enchanted purple axe.  We were human, elves, giants, thieves, wizards, warriors.  "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" , Tears for Fears.  Rofl.  How timely was that song.  We clearly tried to rule "Realm" world. 

Part of the allure of a MMORPG is that you need never play or quest alone. As a matter of fact many profitable quests require.....multiple players. The game had channels were people communicated and talked smack, traded items. But we also got to know each other. And then we'd group up in game. And we'd have a ball. :-)  .  One of my favorite memories was me, Annette and Bella were in a cave and my giant warrior got cursed with berserk and I proceeded to kill my group.  Lol. It took us a moment to realize what was happening. Eventually we had to fight each other. Lol. Anyway. 

That's it for today. Earth, Wind, and Fire, "Shining Star". Lol. Anything EWF takes me back to University  of Michigan. :)  

Pat's Adventures in Dialysis, the "It's Daylight When I Leave Now" Edition

iPod shuffled to Kanye West, Jamie Foxx". "I ain't sayin she's a Golddigger, but.." Props to Ray Charles. Monday at dialysis. Again, who are these people? Where ....are my regulars? Two needles working again. Keep hope alive. I seem to have so much to say. I have a list of topics, but I have to complete the ones I've started. So without further ado, I'll continue with dialysis adventures.

So I told you about Karma. I acted ugly. That same day toward the end of my session, my blood clotted and was clogging up the machine. That isn't really a problem. The nurse said I had about 20 minutes left. I could get rehooked up or just call it a day. I jumped at the chance to stop. For the record, you should get every second of dialysis because its the only time you get kidney function. Remember...your kidneys 24/7. My kidneys 9 hours/ week. Anyway at that time I was still in denial and certain that my kidneys were just temporarily malfunctioning.

Laura unhooks me. Takes my blood pressure. I'm good to go. I roll out to the waiting area. Brian is waiting. He takes my bag and we head out into the hallway. About five feet from the doorway I feel funny....lightheaded. I grab Brian, then tell him to hold me. I wrap my arms around his neck to stay standing. Then I say lets go back so I can sit down. Then I just fell on the floor. I was hot, the floor was oh so cool. I recalled saying, "a cool floor is cool". Lol. "Welcome to the Jungle", Guns N Roses". Guitar genius.

Some people saw what happened and went right back into the center to let them know what happened. A bunch of techs and nurses came out. So many white lab coats. Lol lol. They asked me questions. I recognized a few people. I apologized for passing out. I was not embarrassed. I was...surprised. I got put in a wheelchair and rolled back to my chair. My blood pressure was taken. It was 85/66. Every time I was asked to stand, the pressure would drop and I'd fall back into the chair. My pressure would not go up. Now I need to say there is remedy for this and I don't know why the entire staff brain farted this time.

The doctor was paged. He told the staff to call EMS and get me to the hospital. ;( . EMS gets there, my pressure is still low. Still can't stand up. I get loaded on a gurney and off we go. By the time I get there, I'm stabilized. Blood tests show potassium is low, so they make me drink some yuck stuff and kick me out. I really mean kick me out. "Ms Fields, you can get dressed and go now". "Other Side of the Game", Erykah Badu. "Brother has this complex occupation".

I get dressed and try to walk out, but I don't have my walker. :( I had no escort or a wheelchair. Finally someone sees me struggling and assists me. I get to the waiting area. Brian is waiting for me. <3. We get home around 9 PM. So anyway, next session I apologize profusely to my tech for being a jerk and told her what happened after she left. Karma. Of course she was gracious and I haven't had any more meltdowns. I've since had more low pressure incidents, but those are stories for other days. *****I call the hospital, the "ghetto hospital". When an administrator came to survey me about her hospital, told her it is a ghetto hospital. She was insulted. Eh ****

Signing off with "I Ain't No Joke", Eric B and Rakim. Brian helped me appreciate Rakim's flow. Lol. My younger staff were tickled that I like rap music.

Pat's Adventures in Dialysis, the "I Am a Big Ole Kid", edition

iPod shuffled to "Midnight at the Oasis", Maria Muldaur. "You don't need a camel when I take you for a ride". (!). Yeah, that lyric was over my head when the song came out in the 70s. Lol I've got 2 needles in my arm today. I'm excited. Doesn't that sound bizarre? Excited because I've been stuck with two needles. But yeah. If we keep this up, the chest catheter will be out within the next ten days. Please. Please. Please. And please. /cross fingers

Yes, I am a big ole kid. Let me explain. I still watch cartoons. I've been watching cartoons all my life. My preference is classic Warner Brothers Looney Toons, but the new Looney Toon iterations are entertaining, true to character, and sufficiently updated. I watch Cartoon Network. Yes, I like Adventure Time and The Regular Show. How can you not be taken in by a show that features a blue jay, a raccoon, a yeti, a gumball machine and a ghost with a hand on its head? Lol. I watch Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel. Dd you know that the Phineas and Ferb producer worked on Rocko's Modern Life and also on Family Guy? iPod shuffled to "Slide", Jill Scott and Jeff Bradshaw. The trombone makes the song. Sliiiiiiide, "When Mr Trombone Slides".

That being said, I am also a gamer. I started off playing pinball machines as a teen. When video games came around, you could find me and my friends in arcades mastering Pacman, Galaga, Berzerk, Centipede, or any number of games. No I didn't like Asteroids or Defenders. ;-( Brian and I bonded over Q-Bert and Tapper ( a game where you had to catch beer steins at the beer fest lol lol). Once married, we played text based adventure games. Then we played Sierra games. One game came with a disk that featured online playing with other people. This was 20 years ago. Via dial up. AOL. The game was available for 4 hours a night. The portal was The ImagiNation Network. You logged on and you went to a " lounge". You created a graphical character. Then you could play a number of games, including a flight simulator and an adventure game. I chose the adventure game, "The Shadows of Yserbius". A gamer was born. "Can't Forget About You", Nas and Chrisette Michelle.
Loved her voice the first time I heard it and of course, I enjoy Nas's lyrics.


Brian and I played Shadows, joined a guild and made online friends from all over the country. Wow. The game was turn based and quite primitive but at that time, it was fabulous and the key component was the creation on an online community. My favorite memory was when the next version came out, Fates of Twinion, I hadn't received my disk. Yes, disk, this was a few years before updates were pushed out via the internet. Heck, if Google existed, it was just a baby. Remember we were on AOL. Lol. A guild member from Texas, sent me a copy via overnight. Lol. Pirate software anyone? The friendships lasted a while, even moving to the next game, The Realm. Yes, it was also a Sierra creation, but it was online gaming 2.0. And The Realm is where this story is going. The tie in? It goes back to friends. :). I've made virtual friends online who have become real friends and real good friends. ;-) And I know people who have met online and are now married and have been married for a while, going back to my AOL game. How about that!!



Signing off with a teaser photo of some good friends and The Dells, "Stay in My Corner". Lol. That song makes me go look for Brian to get in a good slow dance. <3

Pat's Adventures in Dialysis, the "I Guess They Outsource Dialysis Technicians, Also", edition

iPod shuffled to "Superman Lover", Johnny Guitar Watson. He had me hooked the first time I heard him. I wandered over to WGPR and they were playing one of his songs. WJLB never played that. At that point, I moved up the FM dial permanently. ;-). 107.5. Who the hell are these techs and where did the regular 15 go? Lol. No seriously. Who are these people???

"Crazy on You", Heart. Where did the female groups go? Ok. I settle into the routine of dialysis. I notice the rotation of staff. Some staff float modules, some seem to never move. I notice the other people in the module with me. I notice who leaves while I'm there. I notice who has a doodad hanging off their chest like me and who doesn't. No one seems particularly friendly. One lady comes in a wheelchair. The staff has to use a hoisting thing to lift her in and out of the chair. This hoisting thing can be used by single person. I am mesmerized by it.

I watch the guy who's finishing up. He's in the one of the"other chairs". He's applying pressure to where the needles were, but there's also a huge bulge there!!! I'm grossed out but I can't look away. Some people seem to take longer than others for the access point to stop bleeding. See, the access point or fistula is really created to move blood, so stopping/slowing it would take time. For the record, my fistula is new and tiny. It stops bleeding relatively quickly....for now. I kinda get taken aback sometimes when I ease up on the pressure to peek and see a gusher of blood. Ack! Ack! Apply the pressure!!! Peek and see if the tech saw me cheating, then continue on like nothing happened. Lol.

Why is Matt Lauer interviewing a silhouette? I've gone off topic. Lol. As I come to dialysis, I thought I'd have as assigned chair, but we get whichever chair ones up 1st. Except now that I'm on first shift, I do have MY chair. (I am on only child, after all - lol). I'm embarrassed and ashamed to admit that once after I waited about an hour. I was incredibly rude to the tech when she came to get me. Really rude. Really, really rude. Profanity spewing rude. :-( Of course I felt pretty bad because someone had been bleeding out. Not to worry. I got paid back in spades. Karma, people. Always remember karma. /sigh

In current news, Friday I should go to a full stick. Right now I'm one and one, which means one of the two fistula access points is working ( out flow I believe ). In flow is still one of the two chest access points. Three successful full arm days and this crap on my chest goes away. Lets have a celebration party when that happens!

Signing off with "This Place Hotel", the Jackson's. lol. The name of the song is a big wtf. Shouldn't the title be "Heartbreak Hotel "? I actually looked this up a while ago, but apparently I thought the explanation was stupid. Lol