A long over due update...

A fully healed fistula

   Yes, I am still alive and kicking! I wanted to get an update out on my fistula surgery a long time ago, but time got away from me in a big way. Remind me never to schedule surgery at the beginning of the holiday season again!
    After my brief stint in the hospital for an infection, I came home and rested as much as possible. It was not very hard to do, as I was very weak and anemic from blood loss. I am always anemic due to the kidney disease, but after the surgery, I was even more depleted, and felt terrible. I would huff and puff walking through the house, and doing any kind of house work ( washing dishes, folding clothes etc) made me so exhausted I wanted to collapse.
     Luckily, I have a great regular physician (..was still mad at the nephrology doctors that blew me off in my time of need...), and she ordered a 6 week round of iron infusions and hormone shots to boost me back up to "life like" again. By the third week, I was feeling so much better..whew what a relief.
Bring on the holidays!
      Thanksgiving, Christmas, New years..all done for another year. I am feeling pretty good now, and am very thankful to have had the fistula surgery done and out of the way. I am even more thankful that I still do NOT have to start dialysis, and seem to be hanging in there. My creatnine level is not good, and I can't pretend it is...BUT by the Grace of God, I am doing well enough to not need the every other day dialysis treatments yet. Yay me!
        I am 46 pounds lighter then I was last year at this time, so I think I owe that rude Dr a thank you of sorts. I am not sure what he said about getting serious about losing weight  is what made me start to be more attentive to what I was eating, but perhaps it helped. I do know the surgeon that did my surgery telling me I had to loose 50 pounds to even be able to talk to the transplant team DID have an effect. Nothing like needing a body part to light a fire under your (ample) butt!
I will be having a follow up appointment with the surgeon soon. The same doctor that developed my fistula is the Doctor that will do any transplant on me, so..gotta keep on his good side!
        My fistula is a thing of beauty and kind of fascinating actually. It does not look as gross as I thought it would, and feeling the "thrill" which is the pulse is kind of weird but a good conversation starter.." Hey, wanna see my thrill??" And yes, you can see it pulsing under my skin. THAT my friends is a good strong fistula! I will see if I can get a good video and or picture..Loads of fun! The fistula is the bulgy pulsating lump by the thickest scar..hard to see it move but it does..

         So, that is your latest update. I am alive and well, and hoping for a great year, no dialysis and/or health issues. I will continue to post as things change or even if they stay the same. Happy New Year from Carmen and her Limpy, gimpy kidneys, but wicked strong THRILL!