After successful surgery, a new approach to treatment

After successful surgery, a new approach to treatment

By GEORGE A. DOUGLAS
Special to the Journal Tribune
Published:
Monday, January 11, 2010 12:08 PM EST

It’s a first step, but a major one in my journey in utilizing the “kidney” I never thought I had. Peritoneal dialysis in simple terms uses the peritoneal membrane as a blood filter, and uses dialystate – a special fluid – to remove waste filtered from the blood.

Treatments are done daily or nightly at home. Of course, no one dialysis approach is the treatment answer for every patient needing dialysis to prolong life. It depends on your physical condition, age, even your lifestyle. But, I’m told, it’s the medical future of dialysis for an estimated 90 percent of patients.

Now to get personal, I’m 86 and as the late Cardinal Cushing used to say when I was a young newspaper reporter in Boston, “I’m in great shape for the shape I’m in.” I’ve been on regular dialysis for two years with the blood drawn out of my arm and returned three days a week at the York County Dialysis Center. But I was told by my nephrologist, Dr. Paul A. Parker and other staff members that I was a prime candidate for peritoneal dialysis.

With this encouragement and after having my heart regulated by a pacemaker in October, I elected for Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis or CAPD. And that major first step – it occurred this past Friday at Maine Medical Center in Portland when Dr. James F. Whiting inserted a catheter in my abdomen and another surgeon repaired a hernia.

But prior to this I was checked out by the Spectrum Medical Group regarding anesthesia for surgical, medical and diagnostic procedures. They reviewed my medical history and took an EKG and blood samples to evaluate my present condition. It was decided that a general anesthesia – I would be asleep – would be appropriate.

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I arrived at the Maine Medical Center at 11 a.m. with my friend Liz Walsh driving me. The check-in in which you sign approval for an anesthetic to put you asleep and the surgery took less than five minutes, and then I was off to the pre-operation section. Off with your clothes and on with the traditional hospital johnny, which I can never fasten in the back. A nurse introduced herself and took my blood pressure and pulse, and my medical history was checked by a resident surgeon. The chief anesthesiologist listened to my heart beat and asked a few questioned and told me I was good to go. Since I was having two procedures, the insertion of the catheter and hernia repair, the two surgeons appeared, checked me over and said they would see me shortly.

I was wheeled into the operating room and, after a minute or two, was fast asleep. The next thing I knew I was in the recovery room and was informed “all went well.” Step one had been successful.

The Maine Medical Center has a surgical short stay unit in which patients staying over night and/or the maximum of 48 hours are cared for after the procedure. All the rooms are single. Since I was staying overnight I was transferred to the unit.

I was warmly greeted by the nurses and put to bed. My night nurse, Donna, checked in and made sure I was comfortable throughout the night. Although I felt a bit of discomfort, I was not in pain and slept off and on.

In the morning, after breakfast, I had my dialysis treatment at the hospital and then was driven home. I know I’m usually upbeat, but I wish to congratulate the staff at the Maine Medical Center. From my entrance to my discharge, everyone, doctors, nurses and orderlies were pleasant and helpful. During the 24 hours, I was treated as if I was family and I thank all for making my experience a positive one.

I’m writing this column on Sunday and delighted I’m making the deadline for today’s newspaper. And now for step two – using the “ kidney “ I never knew I had.

— George Douglas is the former editor of the Boston Post. He can be contacted via e-mail at gadoug23@earthlink.net.

http://www.journaltribune.com/articles/2010/01/11/columnist/doc4b4b4e6fafe5f524209547.txt