A few steps closer to transplant list

I had my initial appointment at Cedars Sinai August last year (2023).  It took until November to get an appointment with my primary care physician, who requested all the specialists for their tests.  I got the first shingles shot in November but nobody ever called me back for the second.  I finally got that last week.  

Then the tests started at the beginning of the year (2024).  Mammogram, colonoscopy, different heart tests like sonogram & echocardiogram, etc.  I flunked the treadmill stress test because my back got tighter & tighter as the speed increased.  I couldn't continue.  So they did the chemical stress test.  My heart is good, but oh my, it was a roller coaster as the cardiologist manipulated my blood pressure and heart rate up & down, up & down.  I took my time going on to work until I felt I could drive the 20 miles.

I think the last step is to redo the colonoscopy.  Last finding was "no cancer" but there were a couple of spots that weren't getting blood.  Huh?  The pictures looked like undigested blueberries.  I have yet to make that appointment, but I'm dreading the prep.  That stuff is nasty!

Randomness & Fate

 All good since the last procedure.

Yesterday, I was driving through town.  A couple were walking their little overweight chihuahua.  So sorry for the little guy who couldn't keep up.  They had one of retractable dog leashes.  I think he was at the end of his rope behind them.  Pun intended, LOL.

I'm not supposed to have hot dogs (renal diet), but once in a great while it's okay as long as I take these huge pills called binders.  It's summer, I wanted a corn dog.  So I drove across town to get it, then drove to the beach to eat them.  It so happened that as I finished dinner, I got to watch the last 5 minutes of sunset until the sun disappeared behind the horizon.  It was so nice, I haven't got to do that in a while.  Half the time, overcast is rolling in but yesterday was perfect conditions.

Then driving home from the sunset, for some reason, the street was blocked off.  Waze took me through residential neighborhoods, then past Baskin Robbins which I was already debating in my head.  Call it fate.  I'm not supposed to have chocolate or nuts, either.  I had Rocky Road.  Took another binder.  So I have to be good from now until next blood test around July 1.

Oops, I did it again

Didn't complete two treatments in a row, so nurse called my surgeon, who told me to go to the hospital through Emergency and he'd meet me there.  He found a narrowing that was affecting pressure in the vein during treatment.  So the operation is done without general anesthesia.  Yea, it hurts AND THEN I have concluded I'm allergic to the antiseptic that turns my arm orange.  I get itchy after a day, even after washing it off. But as I was driving away from the hospital, dialysis center calls me to come in early.  Success!  Now I've had 3 successful treatments & feeling better.  

Oh my, we're dwindling

Another cousin passed yesterday.  That's 3 cousins down on Mom's side.  That said, this cousin seemed to have a sad life.  He was like a vampire, unseen during the day & came out at night, no idea where he went.  Never had a job, car, ambitions, or to anyone's knowledge, a girlfriend.  He was found in his room every morning.  Auntie Susie would always send his gift requests, not just because they were modest in price, but because he was the only one in the Philippines who would call after receiving the gifts to thank her.  

Cinco de Mayo (life updates)

I'll finally have my chest access out on Tuesday. I'm no longer afraid of bleeding to death (hehe, that was always in my head).  However, I was talking to a med tech who told me it can leave scars, like on the heart muscle or artery/vein, which becomes a future problem.  I am susceptible to scarring.

My bro will have hernia surgery tomorrow.  I need to remember to give him a call.  For all his recovery, he has cancelled his stay with me for the end of May without chance for travel over the summer.

This week I lost my 2nd adult tooth.  Whereas the first one was in a location that my only option to replace it is an implant, this one is in a location that I can get a bridge.  Since it's mid-year, insurance probably won't pay for the 50% I could have gotten if it were a new year ($2000 max/year). I don't think it'll help to wait because #1 the insurance didn't renew contract with my dentist, so he will be out-of-network within a couple months, and #3 I hope to be retired before end of the year.

Edit: I missed by one day.  It's supposed to be "May the Forth" be with you.

My obsession with kitchen gadgets

So, I took today off.  I wasn't feeling well in the morning and when I called out my voice wasn't cooperating so I also sounded a bit froggy.  Felt better by noon, but heck, I had the day off.  Stayed in bed til noon and just took it easy today.  I think I just needed a slow day.

BTW, the fistula is coming along.  Maybe two more weeks and I can get the ol' chest access removed.  It'll be one year on April 6, and it's really not meant to be used for that long.

I recently fell into another rabbit hole, as I guess wabbitts tend to do.  I bought a bubble waffle maker.  I've never had real eggette before, but my head just couldn't let go.  When I updated/upgraded my 20+ year old toaster oven, I decluttered the kitchen.  I got rid of a coffee maker I didn't like and at the same time, along with some other gadgets I never used, I got rid of Mom's sandwich maker (real fun when I was a kid) which I regret this year.  Fortunately they're cheap, but still, I had an original one.  Alas, I'm not going to replace it.

Of the things I kept were a waffle sticks maker (because of the unique shape of the waffle sticks) and a Delonghi version of a panini press that I used to impress my auntie by grilling asparagus and scallops.  Printed on top of the grill is "Delonghi Alfredo 3-in-1 Healthy Grill."  I got it back in the day at the height of popularity of George Foreman grills (mid-90's?) because the grill plates were removeable for washing, whereas George Foreman grills were permanently attached.  I've been searching the internet to see if maybe I've misplaced grill plates but I can't find any information on my grill, not even a picture. Anyway, after experimenting with the bubble waffle maker, I pulled out the Grill to make panini's until I finish eating my first bubble waffle experiment with banana bread mix.

What? Again?

Yup, another procedure this coming week.  After a month of healing, they tried to use the vein for the last 3 weeks.  Like, 2 to 3 attempts per treatment.  They could feel they're in the vein, yet once they set the (dialysis) machine and walk away, it would stop working.  The way it was explained to me, for whatever reason, the tip of the needle would stick to the wall and inhibit flow.  

Meanwhile, on the work front -- this week I started training (hopefully) my successor so that I can retire.  Unfortunately, he has zero experience or training in electronics.  But he is smart and eager to learn.  He graduated university in 2019 with a science degree but this is his first opportunity in industry/technology.  In the end I conceded to the Boss because this job really has no formal educational requirement but there are courses and degrees out there.  So I figure, we'll start on procedures so that he can feel productive.

Another surgery

I've honestly lost count what number this was for this year alone.  But, unlike the previous two, I went under general anesthesia for this one.  Even the "advanced cannulator" was having trouble hitting my vein every time because it's still small and gets deeper in my arm as you go toward my elbow.  So the kidney doctor requested that the vein be raised closer to the surface.  I haven't seen the scar yet.  It's still bandaged up.  So that means I can't shower either, as it's not waterproof.  I can sponge bath or shower my lower half.  Can't be used for dialysis for at least a month.

Still not using the FISH-tula

It's been frustrating. Yes, I've always been difficult to draw blood from.  Small veins, deep veins, sometimes they roll.  They're ninja veins, evasive.  So when you're just getting started on a new fistula, you need "advanced cannulators."  These techs are the most experienced and can hit your vein when nobody else can.  However, since I was temporarily moved away from my home dialysis center, it's been hard to get the advanced cannulator to get around to me.  I get it, he's busy with his own patients, but when he's not busy, he's just shooting the breeze with other techs or patients.

I bought tattoo pens to mark where the vein is on my arm.  At the last surgeon follow-up, we also noted how deep the veins are from the surface.  I've also been drawing a FISH over my fistula scar and having fun with it.  I wish I started taking a picture of it from the beginning because this is the first time I used  blue/green theme.  Previous fish were red or orange.  So I'll post it up from here on out.

And another procedure...

They tried twice to use the fistula access after the last "de-clotting procedure."  These procedures are essentially surgery.  Done in a surgical setting, just no general anesthesia so I can drive home afterward.  But the prep and the recovery are done in the post-op area.  This one involved putting balloons through my veins and blowing them up so that they manually "mature" the vein, ie. force it to grow in size so that it'll handle more volume for the dialysis machine.  Had I known it were this hard, I might have given peritoneal dialysis (PD) another shot but the hemodialysis (HD) port they've been using has been a breeze.  And I honestly feel so much better since going on HD.

Edit 9/25/23- Last Friday, the nurse decided to give the arm a rest.  That was probably a good decision, I realize now it was still sore from blowing up balloons inside my vein.  But today was a success.  They found my vein and it was big enough to accommodate the volume needed for the machine. 

Sweet 3-day weekend

Getting alot of stuff done.  Getting alot of  self-care.  Unfortunately, I'm eating out too much.  I should cook something, eh?  Got the house cleaned yesterday, still need to get started on laundry.

I woke up with a back ache so I got a massage this afternoon.  That hit the spot.  Since I was near a beach, I went there for an hour.  It was very windy so the waves were higher than usual, was relaxing to watch.  We're in a heat wave, I thought it would be crowded, but this is a small local beach and it wasn't.  When you live this close to a beach like this, you don't need to make a day of it.  Now, why did I want to go to Santa Barbara to sit on the beach & get fish & chips? Wish I brought a sketchbook.  Then I got fish & chips a couple blocks away.  OMG, it was a pile of food.  I can make another 3 meals from the leftovers, even after throwing out the French fries.  I'm not supposed to eat potatoes, though I ate a few while it was hot & crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Tomorrow doesn't seem like a day off, even though I don't have to go to work.  There are no days off from dialysis.

Mission impossible

Bro came back from camping.  We did go to Santa Barbara.  They didn't want to sightsee, just went there to eat, so I didn't get to sketch Santa Barbara Mission.  So I guess I'll have to go on my own once I've done a little practice from a photo.  The details are proving harder than Mission #1.  His GF has gone back home to grade final exams & prepare for her next semester.  She's a teacher from a long line of teachers.  

The sheds are now moved.  Bro thought it was expensive to move them for something he could have figured out.  But he would have had to buy a bunch of stuff and he would have hurt himself pushing 2000 lbs.  I think it was worth it.  I took measurements to check and asked "could you move it one more inch" to give me margin in case an HOA inspector or city inspector came around with a tape measure.  They did it without complaint.