PD

So, I've started my peritoneal dialysis and it seems to be working great! I'm extremely pleased with the process (although I end up with a LOT of trash at the end of the week... miles of tubing, lots of empty bags and boxes, and endless amounts of tape and gauze... BUT IT'S WORTH IT!

Well, my surgeries are healing up nicely. I had the staples taken out of my hernia repair last Tuesday. I have had my peritoneal dialysis catheter "flushed" twice and the nurses doing the "flushing" said it was working "great". So, I'm a happy camper!

Dialysis is still taking its' toll on me. The day of, it wipes me out completely. Sometimes the day after isn't so good either. Hopefully, all that will change when I start peritoneal dialysis at home.

Went to church at First Evangelical this past Sunday. Got to see quite a few people we hadn't seen in 20 years or so! Saw Ron Mann, too. That was a real joy! Of course, Sandy and I are now scheduled for the Christmas music.

Not much else going on. Catch you later.

The surgical journey...

This past Tuesday I went in Methodist Hospital Germantown for surgery. I was having a hernia repaired and the possibility of a peritoneal dialysis catheter put in. Thankfully, God was good and lined me up with an excellent surgeon... in fact, a surgeon I have known as a good friend for over 20 years: Dr. Charles Radford Andrews!

Needless to say, Dr. Andrews did a GREAT job. He repaired the hernia and DID put in the PD catheter! Although he warned that the PD cath might not work, he also said that he had seen people with a lot more scar tissue (from previous surgeries) and the PD cath worked for them. So that's good news.

First, I have to say that the night crew at Methodist Germantown on the floor where I was, was great! Danielle (the nurse) did a great job and made me feel like I really DID matter. James (the PCA) took good care of me, too. On the other hand, Jackeline (the day nurse) was curt and almost rude. The PCA's during the day had no clue as to how to treat a person with dignity. The day crew made me feel like it was just their "job" to take care of me and they were only there for the pay check. Also, the food was always cold and tasted terrible. The only time anyone did anything for me was when I asked (including changing my bed linens, changing my gowns, etc.).

All in all, I'm doing fairly well. I went home on Friday and have already been "out and about", albeit for a very short stint.

Strike 3 for Davita!

So I'm REALLY pissed at Davita Dialysis Galleria... mostly the person who is in charge because professionalism starts at the top... and this is the most UNPROFESSIONALLY run medical facility I have EVER experienced!

Now, I haven't listed on this blog the last two strikes. I did on Facebook, so you'll have to look through some earlier posts there. This time, well, here's what happened: I have been experiencing "excessive bleeding" after my sessions when they are trying to bandage me up. So, they made an appointment with a vascular center to have my access examined. The appointment was for two o'clock yesterday. I drive down there and, after a short wait, I am ushered back to change into a gown. After I do this, they ask me when the last time I ate was. I told them I had lunch about 2 hours earlier. They said that I was supposed to have fasted for the 6 hours leading up to the procedure. NO ONE TOLD ME THIS! So, they said I had two options: 1. I could reschedule for next Tuesday or 2. I could undergo the procedure under local anesthetic. I told them I was having surgery next Tuesday, so that was out. They said, well, I could undergo the local anesthetic but I would probably experience some pain. Probably not much because they would use a pretty strong sedative. I said okay. So they took me into the surgical room. Then they asked if I drove myself. I said yes. They said that they couldn't use the strong sedative (morphine) because I had to drive afterwards. So they would have to use a much milder sedative. Long story short, I had to undergo the whole procedure (much like an angioplasty) totally awake and aware of all the details of the procedure, all because no one at the Davita center bothered to explain to me what to expect or how to prepare! I'M REALLY PISSED!!!

I called the Davita customer service line and lodged a formal complaint.I have been too angry to speak with anyone because I'm afraid I would say something I would be sorry for... and this is the best form of self control I could take.

I'm done now.

I'm on REVERBNATION!

Not only can you follow my blog, check out more photos, listen to my music, but you can actually PURCHASE my music at my REVERBNATION store! Check it out!

A LOT has transpired...

About a month ago, I spent 10 days in the hospital... 3 of which were in a coma! What happened was, I got sick and started throwing-up. That threw my blood sugar WAY off. Over 1100! I ended up in the hospital. They weren't sure I was going to make it, so they called Jessica to come from California. When I woke up, I wasn't sure who I was, where I was or anything else for that matter. They didn't let me try to walk until a few days before I was discharged.



Although I was sorry for the reason, I was SO glad to see Jess, and she brought her youngest, Emily.

Sandy's sister, Sammie, came to stay with her also. I'm glad they were all there to give Sandy support.

Now, we're packing-up for Memphis. I knew that with my health the way it is, Sandy would probably need more help and support in the future. So, we're moving back to where her family and most of our friends are. (I know, never end a sentence with a preposition...)

So, we're gonna have to get some beach time in and a couple more "cigar drives" along Longboat before we go. I'm gonna miss the sun, the palms and the beaches.

Recent event....

Well, this past Thursday was a bad day. I was to pick up Sandy from work at 4:30pm. My low blood sugar alarm went off at 4pm. I did everything I was supposed to... ate some carbs, drank a couple of glasses of "real" (non-diet) grape soda, etc. The next thing I know I'm waking up in an ambulance at the intersection of 17th avenue (where Sandy's store was located that day) and Beneva Avenue. Apparently my sugar had continued to drop even after all the things I'd done to correct it! I (while unconscious) ran the red light at Beneva and 17th and hit a brick wall.

First, I have to say that it was the grace of God that kept me from 1. hitting anyone else (at the height of rush hour) and 2. not injuring myself. The Jeep on the other hand was not so blessed (although I was told that the tow truck guy drove the Jeep onto his tow truck). They took me to the hospital anyway to insure my blood sugar was straightened out.

I've been on a new insulin pump for the past two weeks. It actually notifies me when my sugars are too high or too low. It's been working great. REALLY! But my new pump had not been adjusted much since I started wearing it.

Needless to say, we are currently without transportation (the Jeep was the only vehicle we owned). Also, needless to say, I am in the process of readjusting my pump. I have also placed myself on a one month automobile abstinence. Once we have a vehicle again, I will not be driving it until I have been "stable" for one month.

Our prayers are these: First, thanking and praising God for His grace and mercy that no one was injured in this accident! Second, that I will get my pump regulated properly and in that way, my blood sugars, and third that in some way we will gain possession of a vehicle. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you Father and thanks one and all!

My wife the life-saver

Once again, my wife saved my life. Apparently, my blood sugar dropped to the point where I was unconscious again. Sandy called the house to check on me and when I didn't answer the phone, she knew something was wrong. She came home, couldn't waken me so she called 911. I awakened to several EMT's standing over me and a couple of IV's in my arms. Apparently my blood sugar was 44. VERY low.

I'm fine now, thanks once again to my wonderful wife.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Medical experience?

So, Saturday night late I took the dog out front for a walk. According to Sandy, the dog came back in the house and I didn't! Sandy found me laying on the front lanai.

For a few hours (I presume), I awaken sporadically and see familiar faces around me ( one of my pastors, Kevin; Trace and Jeanette Altman and my wonderful wife, Sandy).. this while the hospital personnel are stripping me and poking me with needles, running CT scans, and the like.

I spent til Tuesday morning in the hospital. While there, I noticed a "spider web-like" thing in my left eye. I figure I jarred myself so hard falling that I jarred something loose in my left eye. I told my primary care physician about it and he referred me that afternoon to an ophthalmologist. Now, let me say at this point that I have the UTMOST respect and admiration for my primary care physician. And, I felt reasonably comfortable with the new ophthalmologist. Then, after an extremely long time of prodding around and shining 9 million watt kleeg lights in my left eye (necessary I should add), he said he was afraid he might have seen a tear in my retina and he was going to get me in to see a retina specialist that afternoon.

I got in to the retina specialist and he spent an extremely lengthy period of time prodding and shining a 9 million watt kleeg light in my left eye. He said he couldn't see the tear, but wanted to talk to the ophthalmologist about it. That I would need to come back in the morning.

So, I got back to the retinal specialist's office at 8:30am. They put drops in my eyes and I waited for my eyes to dilate. As soon as they were ready, I sat in the exam chair and the doctor started probing in my my eye, my RIGHT eye. After looking in my right eye for some time, and having conferred with the ophthalmologists notes, the doctor stands up and proclaims, "I believe I'm zeroing in on what [the ophthalmologist] was referring to." At that point I calmly said, "You do remember it's the LEFT eye, correct?" Needless to say, the retinal specialist was extremely embarrassed and fumbled around a bit and then looked at the CORRECT eye! Of course, he STILL didn't find anything (just blood that was causing the "spider web" effect).

What a WONDERFUL weekend and beginning to a week!