I got my PET results in and they amaze me. A lot of what I might say may be hard to understand, it is a lot PD dialysis lingo but you will get the point. For 10 months, I did PD through the Jonesboro clinic. I did a series of 5 cycles at night, for 8 hours, using (1) 5L bag of 2.5% solution, (1) 3L bag of 2.5% solution and (1) 1L bag of 4.25% solution, then I would dwell 1000ml during the day. This, apparently, was enough to keep me alive....but not much more. My blood work from the PET test revealed I was uremic and I had a creatinine of 16. To be frank, I was underdialyzed the entire time I was on PD here in Jonesboro. There is no wonder I puke every day and feel so yucky. Those poisons have just been building up in my body for nearly a year. What is so sad is the Jonesboro clinic could have fixed this.....it's not rocket science after all.
My new regimen following the PET is much more dialysis. My body has adjusted amazingly well to it. Now at night, I have (2) 5L 2.5% and (1) 1L 2.5% solutions and I do 4 cycles at night. During the daytime I dwell 2000mls. I carry around 4 pounds of fluid during the day but I am getting use to it. I will do whatever it takes to get a good clearance. According to the PET formula, I should be getting a clearance of 2.2 which is above Medicare standards. Medicare wants the minimum to be 2.0.........which I never obtained in Jonesboro.
I also have to get a weekly shot of epogen. This helps build up my red blood cells. I only got monthly shot in Jonesboro. I do hate shots, but I will do whatever it takes to make me better.
I had a very in depth conversation with the dietitian, regarding my diet, which was nice to have. She was a well of knowledge when it came to the renal diet. All of this was a nice change compared to Jonesboro. It is just day and night when you compared Jonesboro health care to Memphis.....regarding dialysis.
So, I feel really comfortable now having done the PET. I know I am getting an adequate treatment at night and I have a team of professionals doing their job. Great Feeling!
Linda Burke left a comment for Jeff Wilhelm
7 years ago
Hopefully you'll begin to feel much better now! So, I'm wondering do you carry around more fluid during the day than you did before in order to get this "good clearance" at night? If this is true, does this mean you can drink more fluids during the day with this better dialysis?
ReplyDeleteHeather
Thank you Heather! Theoretically, yes, I should be able to drink a little more. But I have become so adjusted to the 32oz, I am not sure if I will drink more. Thanks for reading my blog. It means a lot to me!
ReplyDeleteI hope you start to feeling better, too! I know I said something like this on one of your FB post, awhile back, but it doesn't shock me that the Jonesboro clinic just barely kept you alive. I am so glad you have found a new "team" that actually seem to truly care about your health.
ReplyDeleteI luv ya girly! I know we weren't close friends in school, but I will never forget the fun we had in health class! If I could give you one of my kidney's and make you all well again, I would!!!
Laura you are such a sweetheart! Thank you for your kind words. You have been supporting me since the beginning and I really appreciate that! God Bless U!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you finally feel like you are on the right track. I have been praying for you since this began that you would find a way to live a normal life. I am so glad that you are feeling better. I am still praying that the doctors will find a way to give you a new kidney.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amanda! I really appreciate all of the prayers. I hope someday I can post that I will be getting a transplant. I just cant even imagine!!!! xoxox
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