hard holidays

[jennyc]

Hi guys, haven't been around much lately. Things went pretty much from bad to worse over the holidays and i need to rant a bit. Man i can't wait to get onto hemo now.

Well basically i've been getting overloaded without knowing it becuase my weight has been staying the same (well, as far as i knew). For some reason things all went wrong at once.

My GP tested me for fluid retention in the legs etc cause i was having trouble breathing (xmas eve) and there was NO sign of retention/edema. Xray showed it was all sitting in my lungs. For over a month my heart rate had been really high (over 100 b/min resting). On Xmas day i ended up in hospital with potassium of 6.4 (never had a problem before in 7 years, they think it was becuase i was on ace inhibitors for the week prior), lungs full and heart rate up to 142 beats per min (resting).

Basically my kidneys (what was left) have pretty much packed it in. In one week i went from passing almost 2lt a day to 150mls (it stopped pretty much on cmas day) but the kicker is, i apparently have an over active thyriod, so whilst my scales were reading 68kgs the whole time i was loosing weight and gaining fluid (none of which went to my legs, but straight to my lungs).

I managed to take off almost 3kgs in fluid and now i'm literally watching myself loose weight (yeh i know what a shame, but i'm thinking the stupid thyriod issue is what killed my residual function) i'm really careful with my fluid, i can take off upto 1.2lt a day but i'm only drinking about 900mls-1.1lt so i have to really watch what i'm taking off. Thanks to the xmas hols my fistula still isn't fixed, the surgeon gets back on monday so i'm ringing at 8.30am when the secretary get in.

So i'm on Inderol (?) and lasix and they've upped my pd perscription. but the thyroid is only a guess at this stage, at least the tablets are keeping my heart rate below 100 (93-99 b/min) and with them i can't take any BP meds cause i drop way too low.

anyway needed to let off a bit of steam, apart from that had a good holidays, hope your xmas and new year was good!

[willowtreewren]

So let's start this year off getting better, huh?

The fluid issue is serious. Have you had your PTH levels checked recently? My husband has had a time getting his down. It took a year of tweaking his meds, but his PTH levels are finally within acceptable range.

Sorry you had to go through this. 

[jennyc]

thanks Willow,

Yeh my pth is slowly going down, Dr check PTH religiously, it is one of his pet peeves (he's a really good neph, i'm kinda blessed. acutally haven't come across a bad one in my whole area) .i'm responding well to the sensipar but my calcium is apparently really low so i've self upped my caltrate hoping the high heart rate is from that and not a thyroid problem.

[monrein]

Hoping that things get back under control and that 2010 will have you feeling better.   

[cdwbrooklyn]

Sorry to hear your holidays were not what you wanted.  Going forward your situation will get better for 2010 because you are on top of what's happening.   

I have experienced that difference types of meds can make your Potassium high.   So meds are known to have  small amount of potassium in it.   You can increase your calcuim 1000mg a day to accommodate the high potassium.   When you start dialysis, your potassium level will drop some because your blood is being clean as well as some fluid being taken off.   Also, check out the side effects from each meds to see if it's causing you to have shortness of breath.  Some meds are known to do that as well.   Most of the time your problems are coming from the meds' side effects.   

Hope this helps a little; however, 2010 will be much better for you. 

CDW

[kristina]

I do hope things get better for you soon
and I am sorry that you had such a bad time.
Good luck for 2010 with best wishes from Kristina. 

[Hanify]

I know how you feel cos my fluid always went straight to my lungs too - never in my legs.  Watch out for that.  Hope thinks improve soon.

[jennyc]

Sorry to hear your holidays were not what you wanted.  Going forward your situation will get better for 2010 because you are on top of what's happening.   

I have experienced that difference types of meds can make your Potassium high.   So meds are known to have  small amount of potassium in it.   You can increase your calcuim 1000mg a day to accommodate the high potassium.   When you start dialysis, your potassium level will drop some because your blood is being clean as well as some fluid being taken off.   Also, check out the side effects from each meds to see if it's causing you to have shortness of breath.  Some meds are known to do that as well.   Most of the time your problems are coming from the meds' side effects.   

Hope this helps a little; however, 2010 will be much better for you. 

CDW

Your not going to believe this, i am on dialysis..... I'm on PD but it's failing so its a whole other kettle of fish. I'm waiting for the surgeon to get back from holidays cause my fistula has a narrowing. Pd is almost totally useless now. My creatinine hinges around 1100 (when i haven't eaten.... hate to see it after food.) my urea is around 30 ish but only cause i do 5 bags.

Anyway.... enough whinging. I'm here that's what counts. I really can't wait to start hemo, i want to be able to head straight to home training rather than clinic. Just hoping i can