Home sweet home

I've actually been home for about 10 days, now, but when I literally dropped everything to go to the hospital,  I had plans which all got put on hold.  My brother was planning to stay at the house but I hadn't gotten around to cleaning anything.  Ants & spiders moved in.  Two of four plant propagation experiments died..  It's really hard to kill pothos, and I managed!  My brother did visit the house to put some stuff in storage, the cars were dead.  We both needed new batteries.  My brother & family were able to come out to cousin's house where I was recovering and his little girl got some play time with her younger cousins.  It was more like a baby dance party.  Nobody's walking yet, just bouncing.

Since I've been home, my cleaning abilities have been limited because I had an IV in my right (dominant) hand.  It was dangling and I couldn't get it wet.  There was a loose sleeve, too hot for summer, that I could tuck the dangly thing into but its location made it painful to move in certain ways.  I'm going to start in on the house tomorrow.  I've already sorted some clothes for donation.  

Two months ago, just out of the hospital, my weight dropped into the 150's.  I was so happy, I haven't been in the 150's since before I started driving.  Alas, from the care and food at my cousin's house I did get stronger (especially at the stairs) and I crept out of the 150's...just a little.  I'd like to get back there, it felt good.

Kidney Transplant !!

Happened so fast.  9pm Friday night got the call about a possible match, answer any phone call.  I packed a bag for hospital, no time to clean house.  Haven’t had energy for the house because dialysis went to 3 times a week.

Couldn’t find a ride to Cedars Sinai in LA, my friends don’t drive that far, so I took my first Uber.  Pleasant experience. After a half hour wait in the lobby they rushed me to dialysis then to surgery.  Woke up with a new kidney.

When I was jumping through hoops to get on kidney list they told me wait in California is 8-10 years from first day of dialysis. My wait was just short of 4 years.  My guardian angels are looking out for me.  Looks like I’ll have a good retirement after all.

Vacation is over

I did have fun in Mammoth.  I did not have time to seek out a zipline ride.  I pulled out my cameras that I could find.  I'd forgotten how to set them up, so I lost the first day, but figured it out that evening when I was able to look at footage once the cameras were properly set.  I did enjoy having bro & fam over.  I have forgotten how to make my videos.  

I attempted a couple sketches.  My landscape watercolor still sucks (of course, it's my first attempt.)  At first the fall colors looked washed out so I added ink.  Then the darkness of the ink took over, I don't like it.  I'm going to try working it over again to darken the watercolor.  If that doesn't work, I'll work over it in acrylic, not that I've ever had any success at landscape in acrylic either.  That's the plan.  I'll be referring to the photos I took on site.

RETIRED!!

I still can't believe it.  I worked my last day yesterday, though I still have hopes of going back as a 1099 contractor.  So I'm not taking social security yet, we'll see what 2026 brings.  Meanwhile, I have 2-3 weeks to get the house ready for a new little niece. I finally have time to make the calls for medical appointments to get off hold on the transplant lists.  

Among the retirement presents, 3 new canvases and a gift card to Michaels.  I was just saying I was going to be pissed if someone 3-5 years at the company gets a pizza party and I didn't at least get a cake.  I did get the big cake and presents, too.

Still here

 Wow, has it really been over 6 months since my last entry?

Just got out of hospital stay.  If Sunday was day 1, out on Wednesday...so 4 days. My BP was really really high and I felt like there was a spear going from my back under the right shoulder blade coming out my chest under my right breast.  I had a cold starting at the beginning of June then next day shingles started.  What the heck?  I'm fully vaccinated for shingles.  It was one of the requirements to get on the transplant list.  Next day, I had dialysis and that doctor sent in the prescription for shingles meds, so I got on it pretty quick.  I was told to keep my next day appintment with my PCP (primary care physician).  She confirmed the shingles & gave me medicine to help with the cold...for wheezing.  But the shingles anti-viral is strong and I wasn't eating enough so I was throwing up from both ends until I found the energy to get Mexican bread.  I'm still coughing but nobody gives the cough syrup with codine anymore.  I didn't get night sleep while in hospital because there was a screamer across the hallway from me.  I got my sleep in the daytime & binge watched the Harry Potter series.  One of the few movies I don't get enough of.  I don't subscribe to cable at home anymore.

Just heard this week...

I'm on the kidney transplant list!  The representative said I'd be on the "fast-track list."  Don't know what that means but it sounds good.  But, my brother then said, "just another 10 years to wait until you're at the top of the list."  But the countdown started on my first day of dialysis, so I'm 2 years in already.

Running out of excuses

Catching up...I had my birthday in October.  Bro came out to visit.  So I've continued to pay on Mom's storage out of the Estate account.  She passed 3-1/2 years ago now.  This year they increased rent by about $40/mo.  I've got to get out of there.  It's my stuff now.

I've been wanting a truck so I can clear out the storage at my pace, considering my energy level is so up & down around the dialysis treatments.  Bro found an old truck on Craigslist that met my minimum requirements:  I don't care about extended cab/crew cab.  I want basic transportation & cargo space.  I would have preferred a stick shift, but oh well.  I got a new-to-me truck.  Previous owners didn't do any maintenance other than oil changes.  So I've been working on maintenance:  new tires, rear brakes, replace drive belt.  For some reason, my mechanic shop doesn't care about boots and other plastic parts. Bro says it's a requirement in Hawaii,.  Whatever.  So I'm 90% confident in the mechanics of this 14 year old truck.  Once I get the fluids changed I'll have another 5% confidence.

I've already made 3 trips to storage to get enough boxes to sort through in a day. Wow, I've lost alot of strength.  I originally moved all the stuff in myself, now I ask for help to carry stuff. I only try to get as many boxes as I can deal with in the same day so that it's not so overwhelming.

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.