5.4 is apparently my "magic number." I have wondered for years what it would be, and now I know... 5.4. Now, that isn't a winning lottery number, my age, or, contrary to what many people may think..my I.Q. 5.4 is the creatnine number that has made me decide it is time for me to take the next step in handling my kidney disease.
Let me give you a brief history. I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease 8 years ago. I went through a tough time initially..nothing like failing organs and a failing marriage to make you see what you are made of, real quick! I came down with pneumonia and was then diagnosed with kidney disease. I was released from the hospital after a week, and then had weekly office visits for injections and blood work. I remember one very grim day when the Doctor had me sit in an office alone and watch a video describing the various types of dialysis. Not one of my best days. Down right crappy, really. I like my nephrology office (aka Kidney Specialists), but that is one area they failed on...consoling sad patients during dismal movie viewing.
I recovered enough with salt restrictions, and a vast myriad of medicines to have remained dialysis free for the last 8 years. I have gone though the entire staff of my nephrology office, with some of the doctors retiring and others gaining seniority enough to NOT have to travel to the small town clinic where I meet with them every couple of months.
Over the last couple of years, my "renal profile", particularly my creatnine, has started to edge upwards into BAD numbers. The normal creatnine number for an adult female is less then 1. For many years, mine hung around 3.0-3.5...not great, but not horrible. Over the last couple of years, it has crept up and up..3.8..4.0..4.5. until last week. Every time I have met with my nephrologist, they have really been pushing for THE NEXT STEP. A dialysis site called a fistula. I have continually said..BLAH. It got so bad that my last doctor would walk into the exam room, take one look at me sitting in the chair, arms crossed, and would say "I see you haven't changed your mind."
Now, I am not trying to be stubborn, it was just that I haven't felt any sicker then I have for the last 8 years. Maybe a TAD more tired, but I'm on the verge of 50! Just typing it exhausts me. So I have clung to the idea that I was going to "Buck the system! Be that exception to the rule! No surgery for me! Dialysis, Schmialysis!"
Then, 5.4. I make a habit to find out my "numbers" every time I have lab work done. I like to think of it as my own personal "lottery." I recently had lab work done, and had an appointment with my regular doctor to discuss my anemia, the leading cause of piles of laundry and unwashed dishes.
My long time doctor had abandoned ship, moving away from the area, so I was meeting a new doc, her replacement I was sure to like, I was told.
She came into the exam room, and was a very nice person, indeed someone I liked immediately. She said.."Now, let me look over your history and records a bit.." She clicked a few times on the computer, and started reading..and her smile slowly disappeared. I watched her face carefully, as she read. Smile back on her face, she stood and said "Lets check you out!" She walked over to where I sat on the table, and started feeling my lymphnodes. As she felt my neck, she said.." You DO have beautiful skin...". I laughed and made a comment about how it is too bad everything inside that skin is shot!
I mentioned I had recently had lab work drawn, and was wondering "how my numbers were...". She was happy to look it up, and that was when I heard the magic number..5.4. CRAP.
I said thanks, and see ya in November. I drove home, and decided it was time to put up or shut up, as they say. Time for fistula surgery. It is still a big BLAH, but the next step in my journey. Are you familiar with the country song.."Going through the Big D, and don't mean Dallas"? Well, in the song, it was Divorce, but for me, it is Dialysis. So, I am going to share my adventure in this blog, hopefully shedding some insight into the process for anyone that stumbles across this blog, and is in the very beginning of their kidney troubles. It isn't always easy, but I am a firm believer in the power of positive thought and prayer, and I hope that sharing my story can in some small way, maybe help someone else down the road.
Next..finding a surgeon for fistula construction..
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