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Author Topic: An Update...a Saga...it's just how I do things  (Read 4523 times)
Wenchie58
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Always carrying the big silly grin!

« on: February 17, 2013, 03:03:30 PM »

Hello to all the wonderful people of IHD!  What sorts of mischief and mayhem have you been up to since last I stopped by?  Lots I hope!  I haven’t updated in a good long time, so I felt it would be time to tell a tale.  For those who do not know me, hold on..this could get bumpy!  It’s been nearly 5 years since my transplant and Kalvin the kidney has his ups and downs..but we are doing ok overall.  My creat hovers between 2.5 and 2.8, my hemoglobin is staying just high enough to keep the EPO needle at bay.  Life is good.
Prednisone….have we talked about this evil little bitch?  Although after super high doses of her when rejection occurred I have mellowed out at 5 mg per day.  Prednisone alters your sleep patterns and makes every form of food magically appear to be a good choice at the time…at….the…time.  Last year about this time I reached the 50 lbs gained since transplant stage. Now mind you…I wasn’t a skinny chick to start with…so this gain of much more me is NOT a good thing! Soooooo, I drag my 53 year old oversized butt off to the local gym, sign a few papers, smile and say “Sign me up”.  This is not the girly, treadmill walking, makeup not smeared, hair all in place kind of gym.  This is the lift weights, do some boxing, contort your body in weird ways, sweat until you’re ready to puke gym.  I don’t do girly.  I joined March of 2012…I have lost NO weight…none, zero, zilch, nada.  I am stronger…I am leaner….my clothes fit better but I weigh the same.  We use kettlebells, not the cute little pink and yellow ones at the fitness store…the cold grey steel ones.  I swing with a 40# I deadlift with 100# MULTIPLE times a class.
Now this is all leading up to something (you are really hoping by now).  I go Wed, February 13th to my regular Wed class…we jump, we stretch, we lift. I am about a half hour into the routine, doing crunches when I get a charley horse in the back of my right shoulder.  My routine called for 50. I had only done 25..so I ground my shoulder into the floor a second and did 25 more. No pain no gain, right?  I got up from the floor and began the final exercise and I couldn’t do it..it wasn’t even hard..but I couldn’t.  Then the jaw pain hit.  I was an EMT for 15 years….my next thought…..SHIT!!
I sat on a bench had a sip of water..then the chest.  Oh my lord all that is mighty..the chest.  My trainer asked if I needed something.  My answer 911.
Too late for long story short…so I’ll move on.  I get to the ER where things move very fast and the pain…whew, the pain.  A cardiologist enters the room and says…I have to cath that heart, BUT the dye that I need to use for that is going to hurt that kidney, probably kill it. Think about it, I will be back in 5 minutes.”  FIVE MINUTES????  Five WHOLE minutes?  My brain almost couldn’t wrap around the scenario.  Sure enough, in a flash the good doctor was back with a clipboard and authorization form for my signature, which I promptly SIGNED.  I signed Kalvin’s death warrant. I shed a tear.
The cath was done, 95 % blockage one artery and stent was placed, the pain subsided over the next hour or so. They ship me to ICU and the nurses begin their magic. They hang IV bags, push meds and make me swallow pills all the time saying…this is for the kidney, this is for the kidney.  I respond…his name is Kalvin, do what you’ve got to do, I ain’t going anywhere.
This all came down at a hospital I had never been to before so they ‘assigned’ me a nephrologist.  He came in the next morning and told me that my current creatinine was 2.9 and that it would get much worse from the dye.  I sulked and tried not to worry, I am a deal with things as they come kind of person. No sense in a full fledged panic until one is required.
Friday morning this Neph (who I think is a pretty cool guy) walks into the ICU and to my bedside shaking his head…my newly repaired heart just about stopped.  “You’re not normal”, he says.  “But you’ve only known me two days!” I say. “You named your kidney Kalvin.” He says.  “ I don’t know what to say about Kalvin…you’re kidney function is better…I mean  BETTER.  Creatinine is 2.1.”   “That’s how Kalvin rolls” I say.
So once again I am thankful, I am lucky and I didn’t panic.  I should be back to work in a week or so.  Do a little cardiac rehab and then back to the ‘sweat til you puke’ gym.  Kalvin and I have been through rejection, infections, CMV, BK Virus and a heart attack.  We are buddies, we are a team and that’s how we roll.
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Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning Satan shudders and says "Oh s**t, she's awake!"

Right nephrectomy 1963
Diagnosed ESRD 2007
"Listed" summer 2007
Transplant 3/6 match  10/24/08
Marsh
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« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2013, 03:30:27 PM »

Go, Wenchie and Kalvin!! :cheer:
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monrein
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Might as well smile

« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2013, 03:46:14 PM »

Great tale to tell Wenchie but I liked the ending best of all.  Keep at it and keep strong.  :flower;
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Pyelonephritis (began at 8 mos old)
Home haemo 1980-1985 (self-cannulated with 15 gauge sharps)
Cadaveric transplant 1985
New upper-arm fistula April 2008
Uldall-Cook catheter inserted May 2008
Haemo-dialysis, self care unit June 2008
(2 1/2 hours X 5 weekly)
Self-cannulated, 15 gauge blunts, buttonholes.
Living donor transplant (sister-in law Kathy) Feb. 2009
First failed kidney transplant removed Apr.  2009
Second trx doing great so far...all lab values in normal ranges
willowtreewren
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My two beautifull granddaughters

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« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2013, 04:22:52 PM »

OMG! You had me worried!!!!

All I can say is  :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; for Kalvin! I think he is a keeper!

Sorry that you have been through all this.  :cuddle;

Aleta
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Wife to Carl, who has PKD.
Mother to Meagan, who has PKD.
Partner for NxStage HD August 2008 - February 2011.
Carl transplanted with cadaveric kidney, February 3, 2011. :)
boswife
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us and fam easter 2013

« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2013, 08:22:34 PM »

Oh my goodness your a kick  :rofl;   You certainly could give me lessions in keeping my cool!!! geesh! What an amazing end to all that and thank God you knew what was happening to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I wish you all the longevity with your Kalvin , and what an amazing kidney friend you got!!!  Be nice to your heart,,mabie name it now too!!    :cuddle; 
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im a california wife and cargiver to my hubby
He started dialysis April 09
We thank God for every day we are blessed to have together.
november 2010, patiently (ha!) waiting our turn for NxStage training
January 14,2011 home with NxStage
MooseMom
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« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2013, 08:25:58 PM »

I'm a real fan of Kalvin!  He's a hero!
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"Eggs are so inadequate, don't you think?  I mean, they ought to be able to become anything, but instead you always get a chicken.  Or a duck.  Or whatever they're programmed to be.  You never get anything interesting, like regret, or the middle of last week."
Zach
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"Still crazy after all these years."

« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2013, 05:50:58 AM »

Great to hear from you and Kalvin!
 :boxing;
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Uninterrupted in-center (self-care) hemodialysis since 1982 -- 34 YEARS on March 3, 2016 !!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No transplant.  Not yet, anyway.  Only decided to be listed on 11/9/06. Inactive at the moment.  ;)
I make films.

Just the facts: 70.0 kgs. (about 154 lbs.)
Treatment: Tue-Thur-Sat   5.5 hours, 2x/wk, 6 hours, 1x/wk
Dialysate flow (Qd)=600;  Blood pump speed(Qb)=315
Fresenius Optiflux-180 filter--without reuse
Fresenius 2008T dialysis machine
My KDOQI Nutrition (+/ -):  2,450 Calories, 84 grams Protein/day.

"Living a life, not an apology."
Poppylicious
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« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2013, 01:25:49 PM »

I love a story with a happy ending. Kalvin is a pretty tough kidney (and you're a pretty tough lady!)

*huggles*
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- wife of kidney recepient (10/2011) -
venting myself online since 2003 (personal blog)
grumbles of a dialysis wife-y (kidney blog)
sometimes i take pictures (me, on flickr)

Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt.
lola
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I can fly!!!

« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2013, 01:52:57 PM »

Holy sh#$ chicka, glad u and Kalvin r ok :pray;
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cariad
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What's past is prologue

« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2013, 04:08:05 AM »

Wow! A real war story with you and Kalvin emerging victorious at the end! The humour, the suspense - this tale had it all. Glad you're OK, Wenchie, and that you have such a great partner in Kalvin. I love how you two roll.... :clap;
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Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. - Philo of Alexandria

People have hope in me. - John Bul Dau, Sudanese Lost Boy
Darthvadar
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« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2013, 06:05:13 AM »

Yippie!....

Well done to you and Kalvin!....

Darth....
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Cared for my late mum, Elsie who had Kidney Failure... Darling mum died on July 15th 2014... May her gentle soul rest in peace....
AguynamedKim
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« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2013, 07:50:26 PM »

Great to hear from you and Kalvin - what troopers!
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okarol
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Photo is Jenna - after Disneyland - 1988

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« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2013, 08:54:19 PM »

Well, my emotions reading that were up and down like your relationship with Kalvin (with a K, cool) and I am happy the end was a good one. Glad you're better Wenchie and look forward to your future adventures!
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Admin for IHateDialysis 2008 - 2014, retired.
Jenna is our daughter, bad bladder damaged her kidneys.
Was on in-center hemodialysis 2003-2007.
7 yr transplant lost due to rejection.
She did PD Sept. 2013 - July 2017
Found a swap living donor using social media, friends, family.
New kidney in a paired donation swap July 26, 2017.
Her story ---> https://www.facebook.com/WantedKidneyDonor
Please watch her video: http://youtu.be/D9ZuVJ_s80Y
Living Donors Rock! http://www.livingdonorsonline.org -
News video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-7KvgQDWpU
lmunchkin
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"There Is No Place Like Home!"

« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2013, 04:57:06 PM »

 :thumbup; :thumbup; :thumbup; & way to  :boxing; Weenchie!!

 :guitar: :guitar: to Kalvin!!!!!   :bandance; :yahoo; :bandance; :yahoo;

lmunchkin :kickstart;
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11/2004 Hubby diag. ESRD, Diabeties, Vascular Disease & High BP
12/2004 to 6/2009 Home PD
6/2009 Peritonitis , PD Cath removed
7/2009 Hemo Dialysis In-Center
2/2010 BKA rt leg & lt foot (all toes) amputated
6/2010 to present.  NxStage at home
natnnnat
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« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2013, 11:16:50 PM »

Heck that story was too much for my frazzled nerves.  Thankfully Kalvin came back with the goods.  For gosh sakes.  :beer1;
No plans to rethink the insane gym? I know half those adjectives are probably there to make a good story, which is as it should be, but now I am truly. afraid. of your gym.  Run away!! Its good for the heart to run  ::)
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Natalya – Sydney, Australia
wife of Gregory, who is the kidney patient: 
1986: kidney failure at 19 years old, cause unknown
PD for a year, in-centre haemo for 4 years
Transplant 1 lasted 21 years (Lucy: 1991 - 2012), failed due to Transplant glomerulopathy
5 weeks Haemo 2012
Transplant 2 (Maggie) installed Feb 13, 2013, returned to work June 17, 2013 average crea was 130, now is 140.
Infections in June / July, hospital 1-4 Aug for infections.

Over the years:  skin cancer; thyroidectomy, pneumonia; CMV; BK; 14 surgeries
Generally glossy and happy.

2009 - 2013 PhD research student : How people make sense of renal failure in online discussion boards
Submitted February 2013 :: Graduated Sep 2013.   http://godbold.name/experiencingdialysis/
Heartfelt thanks to IHD, KK and ADB for your generosity and support.
looneytunes
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Wishin' I was Fishin'

« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2013, 05:44:40 PM »

Wenchie...you and Kalvin should get into a writing career....maybe screenplays...what a story and what a great ending!  I'm so glad for your EMT training and that things turned out so well.  You are living a charmed life for a reason sister!   :grouphug;
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"The key to being patient is having something to do in the meantime" AU
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« Reply #16 on: February 25, 2013, 09:58:44 AM »

All I can say is WOW...
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RichardMEL
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« Reply #17 on: March 05, 2013, 03:23:11 AM »

Kalvin the Kidney - love it... and a good ending to a bit of an ordeal...

thank you so much for your update - so good to hear from you!!! :)
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3/1993: Diagnosed with Kidney Failure (FSGS)
25/7/2006: Started hemo 3x/week 5 hour sessions :(
27/11/2010: Cadaveric kidney transplant from my wonderful donor!!! "Danny" currently settling in and working better every day!!! :)

BE POSITIVE * BE INFORMED * BE PROACTIVE * BE IN CONTROL * LIVE LIFE!
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« Reply #18 on: March 05, 2013, 02:00:01 PM »

Great read! I see the force is strong in you.
All the best in your journey with Kalvin!
He serves you well!
Cheers,
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JJ
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« Reply #19 on: March 05, 2013, 04:28:53 PM »

missed you wenchie
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If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Meddle Not In The Affairs Of Dragons
For You Are Crunchy And Taste Good With Ketchup
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