Newbie making progress

[RightSide]

I just got my latest blood test numbers from last week. 

After three months of Zemplar, my PTH has dropped a lot:  From 1200 back in September, now down to 380.  That's just a little higher than the reference range.  My itching seems to have gotten a little bit better too--my back no longer itches terribly (though other parts of me still do), which makes sleeping a whole lot easier.

I also got my kidney biopsy results back--and they don't look too bad.  The report says I have "MODERATELY advanced" kidney disease, with about 50% of my nephrons sclerotic (scarred).  But that still means that other nephrons are still working.  There's still more life left in my kidneys than I had thought.  That's a better biopsy result than I would have expected, given that I've been diagnosed with ESRD.

In a few weeks, I'll be going back to the hospital for a Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) procedure, to try to relieve the urinary backpressure on the kidneys due to my severe urinary retention problem blocking urinary flow.  (It was severe urinary retention that caused the damage to my kidneys in the first place.)

If that works too, my nephrologist has discussed with me the possibility that my HD schedule could be cut back, say from 3x weekly to 2x weekly, and see how I do with less dialysis.

[G-Ma]

Good for you.  I hope you can keep on track with this so you feel good.
Ann

[Lori1851]

Sounds like some good news! I will keep you in my prayers!
Lori/Indiana

[boxman55]

  ...Boxman