Raininggalaxies
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« on: July 08, 2013, 11:37:54 PM » |
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Hi everyone. I have posted here before but through a different topic. My grandma does dialysis. I have been kind and I'm a teen taking care of her theoug the summer. Anyways today we took my grandma to the dialysis. She does dialysis 4 times a week. Well she has not been eating her renal diet like she should and I'm concerned because of what happened today. Well we almost left to the water park (me and my aunt) and my grandma called from the dialysis. She said she couldn't do dialysis today. She told me her arm was clogged and they couldn't find the vein. We took her home and hen around 4 my uncle texted us saying that my grandma was taken to the ER. They said her arm for the catheter was clogged and they need to do surgery tomorrow. They said she has too much potassium and that's the problem. They gave her all this medication like sodium bicarbonate and stuff to help lower the potassium. Tomorrow their Gonna do surgery on her arm to help the catheter I think. The doctors even think that if she laid on her left arm by accident at night that it could have clogged but it would make sense more that her blood tests showed extremely high potassium levels. Crazy how if you don't maintain you potassium, salt, and phosphorus levels when you have dialysis that it could cause a major problem. Yesterday my grandma ate a lot of brocoli which is high in vitamin K.
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Jean
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« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2013, 01:15:40 AM » |
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Yes, that little devil potassium can be a killer. Having it too high is dangerous as is having it too low. Hope Gramma feels better tomorrow. The Drs. and nurses know what to do. They will take good care of her.
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One day at a time, thats all I can do.
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Raininggalaxies
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« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2013, 05:25:23 PM » |
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She hasn't done dialysis since Saturday and now shes doing it today and she has a lot of fluid in her body and her potassium levels were 6.7 which is dangerous. Yesterday if she didnt come in to the ER she would of had a heart stack. Crazy right.
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Angiepkd
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« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2013, 08:27:50 PM » |
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Good luck to you both! Keeping all those levels in check is really hard. I think we all have struggled with potassium and phosphorous at one time or another. Just keep working at improving her diet. It really is the only way to keep things going smoothly. Hoping they get your Grandma back to normal again. You are one very special teenager to help care for her!! Keep up the good work. You have found a great place to ask questions, and learn from others experience! Looking forward to hearing more from you!
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PKD diagnosis at 17
Cancer May 2011, surgery and no further treatment but placed on 2 year wait for transplant
October 2011 first fistula in left wrist
April 2012 second fistula in upper arm, disconnect of wrist
January 2013, stage 5 ESRD
March 2013 training with NxStage home hemo
April 2013 at home with NxStage
April 2013 fistula revision to reduce flow
May 2013 advised to have double nephrectomy, liver cyst ablation and hernia repair. Awaiting insurance approval to begin transplant testing. Surgery in June.
June 2013 bilateral nephrectomy.
August 2013 finishing testing for transplant, 4 potential donors being tissue typed.
January 2014 husband approved to donate kidney for me
March 4th 2014 received transplant from awesome hubby. Named the new bean FK (fat kidney) lol! So far we are doing great!
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Raininggalaxies
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« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2013, 11:25:49 AM » |
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Hi everyone thank you for replying today my grandm is doing dialysis again to get the fluid out of her system since its been there since Saturday. The nurse said she had fluid in her lungs which is called coronary a...something maybe coronary artery disease? I know with being a dialysis patient your at risk of coronary heart disease. Their going to check to see if my grandmas heart has been damaged through X-rays and EKG. I pray she is healthy again. I think this might make her understand more that she extremely needs to watch what she eats and moderation of potassium foods. Its been hard for her all the time she's been dialysis to eat the renal diet because most common fruits she can't eat because they have potassium in them. I am just thinking about making a page telling her each food group of what potassium foods she can and cannot eat. I know she has tons of booklets but I think she needs them written all in Spanish so she knows oh I can't have that ok.
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RichardMEL
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« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2013, 08:44:21 PM » |
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G'day Raininggalaxies - interesting nickname!  I just wanted to say good on you for helping to take care of your grandma I guess while you are on summer break. I am sure you'd rather be out with your friends enjoying summer and all - like the waterpark and the like - but it's wonderful you're spending time with her and so concerned. That's awesome and you should be recognised for that. Yes, as you know Potassium is very serious in overload, and even worse when the diet isn't followed combined with a lack of regular Dialysis - it can lead to very serious complications. I hope this incident has helped your grandma to understand the importance to keep to the diet. I know it sucks.. and I am sure she wants to enjhoy herself given all she has to deal with.. specially with a clotted access and so on. With the fluid on the lungs etc that is just as difficult so remembering fluid restrictions (even harder when it is hot - I totally understand) is just as important for her. Of course you know all this. I am glad she has been able to get back onto D with her access to get the toxins under control and the fluid off.. I hope this is a rare occurance! |
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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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Raininggalaxies
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« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2013, 07:29:25 PM » |
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renalwife
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« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2013, 11:09:51 PM » |
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What an angle of mercy you are. And your ministries to grandma is appreciated by all.
Having her diet in Spanish and the list of foods in Spanish is a great idea. Good for you for thinking about that!!!!
Having instructions, etc. in her native language will be more comprehensive to your grandma.
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Jean
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« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2013, 01:58:44 AM » |
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You are doing a wonderful job. What a good idea to make her a list of no-no's in her native language and I am sure it is going to help her a lot.
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One day at a time, thats all I can do.
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paris
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« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2013, 05:24:22 PM » |
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What a wonderful granddaughter you are. Your grandmother is very fortunate to have you in her life. Just remember that you are making her life better by being with her. I'll keep her in my prayers.  |
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It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. |
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Wildrose
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« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2013, 11:47:50 PM » |
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Your Grandmother is so lucky to have you helping to take care of her. I know she appreciates it!
I'm hoping the best for her in the future!
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1995 - Diagnosed with 'some kind' of kidney disease during first pregnancy at 16 yrs old due to excess protein in urine
1998 - Biopsy diagnosis of IGA Nephropathy at age 18
2007 - Successful second pregnancy, creatnine of 1.8 something
2009 - Successful third pregnancy creatnine of 2 something
2009-November of 2011 - Somehow went from Creatnine of 2 something to 5.43
November 2011 - Diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease
3/28/12 - Started Peritoneal Dialysis
5/21/12 - Ended up in hospital for 5 days with PD fluid leaking through hole in diaphragm to right lung
5/25/12 - IJ catheter placed, 5/26/12 - First in center hemo treatment
6/15/12 - Back on PD for three weeks and hemo at same time, 7/7/12 - PD fluid leaked again, off PD and still on hemo, 7/15/12 - on PD again and hemo
7/23/12 - chest xray shows fluid leak again, off PD for one month with possible thoracic surgery in future to fix hole in diaphragm. 5.70 creatnine
8/7/12 - 24 hr urine test shows improved kidney function. 3.47 creatnine - Dr reduced hemodialysis from 3x's to 2xs a week.
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pdpatty
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« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2013, 01:18:08 AM » |
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Tío Riñon
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« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2013, 06:00:33 PM » |
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