Thursday, March 24, 2011

making progress

He goes to get labs in the morning, so I thought I'd predict what they will be!

His A1c will be higher than it last was. He's eating more. When he tests, it's still in the 280s. The Endo keeps upping his insulin....but the numbers don't go down.

He will still be very anemic. I know this because he is still taking loads and loads of naps. Sleeping way too much. Only working half days.

I'm praying that his creatinine will maintain, but I have a suspicion that it is going back up. Hopefully not too much.

His cholesterol will be off the chart. He's eating red meat trying to get the red blood cell count back up.

So, when we get the results, I'll post and we'll see how I'm doing. LOL!

It's been a nice week to tell the truth. I've had a couple of days out with girlfriends. Did a little spring yardwork. Did a little playing in my studio. He's been pretty quiet. Not talking much. Sleeping a lot. Watching way too much TV. But it's keeping him quiet. He is going to bed about 6:30 every night and that worries me. He doesn't go to sleep, but will nap off and on until about 10 pm, and then go to sleep until 7 am. And most mornings he sleeps past his alarm.

But as long as he is anemic, I would expect him to sleep too much.

He is starting to realize that he's making mistakes. He booked airline tickets and didn't put our full names on them. So I told him that he needs to call the correct that tomorrow.

I'm in the process of going through numerous pages of notes from the hospital and putting them all together. Quite a task if you ask me. But I need to do it before this next round of specialists visits that start on 4/1 so I can hand them out. I doubt they will get read....but I know no one is going to read through his 6" thick chart!

Overall, it's been a good week.

DW

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Anemia

Oh, the things you just keep learning - does it ever end?

The kidneys produce erythropoietin (EPO) which stimulates the bone marrow to produce the proper number of red blood cells neeeded to carry oxygen to viatl organs.

When the kidneys fail, EPO productions tops.

Diseased kidneys don't produce enough of it.

Anemia sets in.

When hubby was on dialysis, he got daily injections of EPO. But none since coming home.

How can you tell if you are anemic? Pull the lower eyelid down. If it is bloody red, then you are not anemic. If it is pale pink or washed out, then you are. Pretty simple, pretty accurate test for anemia.

Hubby is seriously anemic and has been since hospital discharge. Not getting any better. He goes to the nephrologist on 4/1 and we will talk to him about EPO injections.

He's taking iron pills. Not doing the trick.

He's eating red meat once in awhile, but that's hard for the kidney's to process. Sort of in a catch 22 situation.

As long as he remains this anemic, oxygen is not getting to tissue and organs. That's not so good. Reason why he seems to be confused at times? Forgetful? He's obviously weak - getting stronger, but man, is it ever a slow process.

I read somewhere that anemia can start with 50% of kidney function. I'm wondering if a unit of blood might help him out. Other than being weak, he is doing great. Recovery is just such an amazingly slow process in so many areas. We tried to go out to breakfast today - second time eating out in a month, and he needed to sleep almost all day long.

I'm starting to think life will never return to normal. Just too may complications from everything he's been through.

DW