Just about the time I start thinking dialysis is getting routine, I have a bad treatment. Again, on a Monday. The treatment itself wasn't all that bad, I was damn exhausted, but, the aftermath at home was horrid. I managed to have a headache by the time I left my Tx which turned into a migraine within an hour. I forget just how many Tylenol I took, surly enough to kill off my liver in addition to my dead kidneys. It didn't dull the pain in the slightest, it might have contributed to the dry heaves, though. I wanted to take an Imitrex (migraine headache medicine) but its such an old prescription that I don't know if it would interfere with any of my current meds. I need to ask the doctor tomorrow at my visit. Other than that, and on a more positive note - I haven't been needing any blood pressure drugs for almost 2 weeks. This is a first in nearly seven years! Yay!

Hey, look! My meds list is getting shorter. My BP has been so well controlled lately that I haven't even had to take my BP meds on a regular basis. I hope to be off them completely pretty soon...

MAINTENANCE MEDS
DiaTx Tablets, once daily at bedtime (Renal Vitamin)
Ortho Novum 7-7-7, once daily at bedtime (birth control pill)
Clonazepam (Klonopin) 1 MG, once daily at bedtime (for RLS)
Sonata, 10 MG, once daily at bedtime
Zocor, 20 MG once daily at bedtime
Torsemide (Demadex), 10 MG once daily at bedtime

BP MEDS
Lisinopril, 20 MG once daily in AM or after dialysis on treatment days – not taken when BP is low
Norvasc, 10 MG once daily at bedtime – not taken when BP is low (taken infrequently)

OTHER MEDS
Quinine Sulfate 324 MG, as needed for cramps (taken infrequently)
Propoxyphene-N 100 w/ APAP (Darvocet), as needed every 4 hours for access arm pain (taken very infrequently)

DIALYSIS MEDS (DURING TREATMENTS)
Heprin, not sure of the current dose
Venofer (Iron), not sure of the current dose
EpoGen, not sure of the current dose
Zemplar, not sure of the current dose

Now that I have more time to start volunteering, again, I'd like some suggestions for good organizations to get involved with. I want to do more than just be a part of my kidney disease and adoption organizations. Suggestions?

I had a really good Monday treatment... for the first time ever. Its days like today that make me think maybe there *is* a light at the end of the tunnel and that dialysis will soon become just another 'routine' thing I do in my life.

Today the two DaVita centers in this area had a patient advocacy luncheon. There were about 60 patients & family members who attended, and several staff. It was a great opportunity to network and meet others on dialysis. I had some good conversations! One of the reasons for today's get-together was because both centers are trying to start a patient support group. A sign-up sheet was passed around asking for volunteers to help start the group... of course I volunteered. :) I'm so happy to be getting back into volunteer work!! I've missed having the time over the last few years to get involved in anything and I'm excited to be getting back on the volunteer track.

How is it that another week has passed and I have failed to update? Yikes. This week's treatments are going much better than last. Monday was fine, no problems. Today was fine but I was dog tired and slept all afternoon. I did manage to wake up this evening after Alek was home from school and accomplish quite a bit. He 'helped' me clean the entire house, do 4 loads of laundry and all the dishes. So, I don't feel as though the whole day was a waste. Yesterday was the AAKP local chapter's board meeting. I was invited to attend to be considered as a board member for the 2004-2005 year. Wouldn't you know - I got nominated, to not only be on the board, but to serve as Vice President. I'm excited because I feel I have a lot to offer... and I've been missing out on having the time to do volunteer work these last few years (being a single mom of a 3.5 year old and working full-time does that to ya...) Now that I'm not working full-time I will have more time to devote to my health, as well as to the non-profit organizations I'm passionate about. So, yay for me! , you should consider getting involved in AAKP, too. You'd be good at it.

Today there was a plastic bag on my door with a note attached. It was an advertisement requesting donations for a local charity who helps single parents and people with disabilities - The attached bag was for making a donation of clothing, food, household supplies, etc. to be used in the charity's second-hand store. A truck will be coming around on Thursday to pick up donations. I feel like attaching a note to the flyer saying "Disabled Single Mother Lives Here - Fresh Out of Donations..." ... heh. No, seriously. I'm so lucky to have a supporting family so I don't need to turn to something like that. I might actually have a bunch of clothing sitting around in the garage in boxes to donate.

I feel barely alive. I'm so weak and tired, I don't know how I managed to drag myself into work today. Going to try eating some lunch... maybe that will help. If I can keep it down...

I've gotten awfully good at throwing up. I used to be so pathetic and afraid to... I would fight it to the very end and usually win (but, feel miserable at the same time.) I think I thew up like twice from the time I was 5 until I was 21... but, the last few years of kidney failure have changed all that. Now I can barf at the drop of a hat. Lucky me.

I'm really starting to hate Mondays. Really, really, really. Beginning in the late PM on Sunday I have the all-too-familiar ammonia taste in my mouth accompanied by the usual "my-kidneys-don't-work-and-I-have-dirty-blood" upset stomach. I'm not having problems with fluid, however, by Monday AM I don't feel too good at all from... eating? My last 3 Monday treatments have gone horribly as a result. Monthly labs to check my Kt/V aren't for another 2 weeks... I don't know if its possible to go from good clearances to bad - therefore resulting in not enough dialysis to tide me over a weekend. At least I made it home today before I thew up. Yuck.