I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Home Dialysis - NxStage Users => Topic started by: cherpep on March 14, 2008, 10:53:00 AM

Title: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: cherpep on March 14, 2008, 10:53:00 AM: I am very excited, and had to share.

Today, I had my first monthly appointment after starting home dialysis. My blood test report card had smiley faces all over it!! I could not have hoped for better results. My clearances are great, my levels are great, and I am feeling fantastic!! After 18 years of blood pressure medicine, I have not had 1 BP pill within the last 3 weeks - and my pressures are great! The nutritionist told me to eat even more high potassium foods. Now, when I was diagnosed about a year ago, I have been very disciplined in following the Renal diet. Oranges used to be my 3:00 snack - no more. Bananas, tomatoes, and potatoes were entirely elminated from my daily diet. Still, I was hospitalized a few months ago because my potassium was too high. That was heart-wrenching and discouraging. You try & try & try, but still it came back high. A couple of weeks ago, before I went home from training, the nutritionist told me that I should start incorporating a little potassium in my diet. So, I went home, stuck a candle in half a banana & celebrated! I didn't go crazy, because I was still a bit afraid of those levels, and didn't want to be hospitalized again. Well, this month's potassium was 3.6!!! She told me that I could eat something high in potassium every day! EVERY DAY?! That sounds crazy to me, but I am buying oranges, potatoes, bananas, and tomatoes on my way home from work tonight. I promise not to eat them all tonight, but I will savor them each day. And, guess what! She told me to start drinking more fluid! THIS IS CRAZY!! I'm almost normal... (I'm sitting at my desk right now, but in my head, I'm dancing)
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: kitkatz on March 14, 2008, 11:03:23 AM: Hurray! I bet it is great to feel better!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: okarol on March 14, 2008, 11:05:54 AM: :clap; You sound good! Glad it's working for you!
Here's a dancing banana to help celebrate :bandance;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: KR Cincy on March 14, 2008, 11:10:57 AM: YEP...those are all the great things about home hemo...they told me the same things...one high potassium food a day (that first baked potato was unbelievably good!)...fluid restrictions aren't as bad...and isn't is BIZARRE how good those smiley faces on the dietitian's report make you feel???

Good for you...glad you've found all the positives that I did...I'm a big proponent of home hemo and you see why!!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: Sluff on March 14, 2008, 11:47:27 AM: Good for you keep it up. :yahoo;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: Psim on March 14, 2008, 11:49:01 AM: :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; Yay, way to go, cherp! Eat an orange for me!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: Mimi on March 14, 2008, 11:56:39 AM: Congrats!!!!! It is so good to hear someone feels 100% You are really on the right track.
:big hug:

Love, Mimi
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: rose1999 on March 14, 2008, 01:24:44 PM: That's really good to hear :yahoo;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: kellyt on March 14, 2008, 01:42:57 PM: That's awesome!!! :clap;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: Sunny on March 14, 2008, 03:14:03 PM: That is good news. Now you can enjoy those yummy foods you've missed
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: petey on March 14, 2008, 06:11:37 PM: This is the same experience Marvin had the month after he started home hemo. For 12 1/2 years, he struggled with his labs every month. That level was too high. This one too low. Increase the BP meds (until he was on FOUR different meds just for BP). The month before we started home hemo, he was taking 16 pills a day. His energy level was zero. He watched and watched his fluids and still went in with 2-3 kilos on every treatment (3 x week). Okay, fast forward to a month after home hemo -- ALL labs great. No more BP meds. Down to only four pills a day (and one is an iron tablet and one is Colace for stool softening). He has lots more energy, and he can splurge -- just a little -- with more fluids. Home hemo changed his life, and, here's the kicker...it gets even better the longer you're on it!

Great news, cherpep! Enjoy!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: cherpep on March 14, 2008, 07:09:22 PM: Thanks, petey! That is very encouraging. I can't wait to tell my husband what you said about it getting even better. it's hard to believe it can get better than this. :shy;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: Romona on March 14, 2008, 08:22:22 PM: :yahoo;
I'm happy for you!!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: angela515 on March 14, 2008, 08:36:04 PM: :clap;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: jbeany on March 14, 2008, 10:56:27 PM: Wonderful feeling, isn't it? Welcome to the club of NxStage - this is why the members are sooooooo happy, even when there are problems!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: bolta72 on March 15, 2008, 05:33:30 AM: :2thumbsup; :clap;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: KT0930 on March 15, 2008, 08:42:43 AM: GREAT news, cherpep! Keep up the great work! :2thumbsup;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: cherpep on March 17, 2008, 01:40:15 PM: Thanks everyone!

I have to laugh. I sent my mother an email telling her the news of my great results. She is always complaining to me that I don't share enough with her about my 'condition'. I invited her over for a banana/orange/potato/tomato salad. Of course, I was kidding. Her email reply started with (direct quote) "Yuck! I'd rather have a BLT, but eat what you want". Then, her email continued on for a couple of paragraphs, just talking about diarhea. I guess that was her way of sharing information. TMI!!!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: MyssAnne on March 17, 2008, 01:45:31 PM: YAY!!!!!!! That is so wonderful!!!!! It tastes sooo good to have what you couldn't have before, doesn't it????

:beer1; :beer1;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: del on March 17, 2008, 06:08:13 PM: :clap; :clap; That's home hemo!!! Do you do short daily or nocturnal? Hubby does nocturnal. Can at and drink what he wants!!!
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: twirl on March 17, 2008, 06:13:04 PM: please drink a nice, cold glass of tea with lemon for me
then have a tomato with avocado on top
with fried bananas and ice cream for dessert :bow; :sir ken; i just like the butt thing
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: Adam_W on March 17, 2008, 06:33:39 PM: :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
Title: Re: ^hand on back^ pat! pat! pat!
Post by: annabanana on March 20, 2008, 06:22:32 PM: FANTASTIC news! I know you are loving it! (My husband is fighting the high potassium right now and HATES the diet...)