I think I've failed to mention that DaVita came all the way to Florida to film a documentary (of sorts) about me and my life as a dialysis patient. They are following me around (camera crew and all) today and tomorrow. Right now I'm sitting at dialysis watching the fun as they interview some of my "dialysis friends" who are undoubtedly saying who knows what about me (hopefully all good!) This film is going to be used as a company-wide patient and staff motivational video, the purpose of which is to show that life isn't so bad "in the chair". Tomorrow they will be at my house filming Ken and Alek and I living our 'normal' lives.

I have to admit, I love being the center of attention... just turn a camera on me and I get animated :)

Here is the nationally telivised news piece that was done on me while I was on the DaVita Patient Citizens Washington DC trip a few weeks ago. For a much interviewing they did with me, and following me around all day long, most of what I had to say didn't make it into the bit. I'm a little disappointed by the fact that the point of our trip wasn't really adequately conveyed, but at least 2.5 million (yes, I said MILLION) viewers were able to see a little about dialysis and the issues we are trying to change.

Watch Krissi on the National News - DaVita Patient Citizen Washington DC Trip, March 2005

My (fistula) arm has been hurting more and more, lately. Not just in the area of my fistua, but all over. My hand and wrist on that arm feels… overworked?… stretched? I’m not certain. The joints hurt, somehow. Also, my shoulder is getting more and more messed up from holding my arm in an unnatural position during treatments. The shoulder thing has been going on for over a year but seems to be getting worse recently. I have knots in my shoulder blade and neck that burn when I rub them. So, pretty much all the time my arm and shoulder hurts.

I take pain medicine more days than not. I don’t like the thought of taking it, but I don’t see an alternative. The medicine dulls the pain for awhile and allows me to do whatever without thinking of it for awhile. Then it wears off and I hold out as long as I can before I take more. The ‘negative’ side-effects of the pain medicine have long worn off and I don’t get drowsy or ‘fuzzy’ feeling anymore. I guess I’ve gotten used to them to some degree.

I fear my arm will really never be the same. Even if I were to get a transplant and not need to use the fistula I will probably always have a “bad arm”. Too bad its my right arm… I wish now that I would’ve insisted the fistual be placed in my left…

I'm sitting at dialysis ONLINE! I'm 'hooked up' in more ways than one :) This is going to be so awesome - Now I can do my (online) homework and get other stuff done while I'm here instead of just sitting around watching TV.

Thank you Dana for getting me online!!!

The internet access finally got installed today at my unit. Now I have a plug right by my chair that I can acess the internet on the LAN. I didn't have my laptop with me today so I'll try it out for the first time on Friday.

Website updates coming along nicely...

The meetings are over and they went well. I got to meet the author of the book Chronically Happy and discovered she also runs iKidney.com - Such an amazing woman and truly an inspiration. She talked to us about how to talk with the Congressional members and what to expect. She also showed us a video from the 1950's that was a documentary from "life as a dialysis patient" during that time. It was amazing to see the differences. Patients used to diaylize 12 - 18 hours overnight several times a week!! Anyway...

I'm tired, but energized for tomorrow's Hill visits. Must get up early so off for some sleep!

I'm off to our first meeting with the DaVita Patient Citizens! Today we'll just be working together, tomorrow and Fri are the Capitol Hill visits. ... And another thing (completely unexpected) - my good friends from California, Liz, Ken and their 1-year-old daughter Morgan, are all here in DC on vacation! We're going to get together tonight for dinner. I haven't seen them in about 4 years, either.

The flight was very easy - about 2 hours non-stop. The landing was a big rough... the last 10 minutes of the flight were really wobbly. I say wobbly, instead of bummpy, because the plane was wobbling side-ways because of wind sheer. It was actually a bit scary. People on the plane clapped when we finally landed. picked me up at the airport, which is our usual tradition. I think every single time but maybe once when I've come to DC he's been there to retreive me. It was so good to see him... hard to believe its been 4 years since the last time I was here. The hotel is AMAZING. The hotel room I have is honestly the nicest room I've ever stayed in - including being nicer than the honeymoon suite I had with my ex husband and the Sheraton Hotel in Warsaw, Poland. I'm very impressed. I got together briefly with some of the 'group', but not everyone had gotten in. Tomorrow will be the beginning of our meetings - first with the core group, and then on Thurs and Friday, with members of Congress. For now I'm tired, so I think I'll relax for a bit.

This afternoon I leave for DC. My friend Alan says its "snowing sideways" and getting worse in the DC area. I guess I'll check my departing flight out of Tampa before I leave home to make sure its not delayed. I'm excited! --- EDIT --- I aced one of my exams this morning (100%!) and the other one I'm pretty certain I got an A (even though I was really worried about it...) I have two more to do online while I'm on my trip, but at least I did good on the ones I had today. I can't believe midterms just HAPPEN to be the same week I'm going on this trip :P