What a Surprise!

So I went to dialysis this last Tuesday prepared to learn how to self-cannulate. The most important part, getting all my proper “wincing” faces worked out, was done, although I managed to scare ZackWife and ZackKid pretty thoroughly in the process. I was pleased with the great faces I was going to make as I put a sharp object in my arm. After all, there is a different between tuning out while someone else does the deed, and doing it to your own personal body — while your personal eyes are watching!

But fate intervened with my plans and expectations.

Wednesday, I had my regular monthly visit with my nephrologist, although it’s been two months since I saw her (she was on vacation in June). She had a very large question to ask:

“Would you like to go off dialysis?”

I just about fell off the exam table!

What? Not have to have large, 14-gauge blunt knitting needles stuck in my arm, or do it myself?

Not have to sit for four hours, not able to move very much, while mu blood is circulated ten times through the machine?

Not have to deal with the “washed-out” feeling of having fluid aggressively yanked out out of my tender body?

Not having to live in fear of sudden cardiac death, access infections or failures, chemistry problems and other juicy side affects?

Nope. It means none of that. No more. All over. Call it a wrap.

Turns out that my actual kidney function has been consistently in the 32-34% range, which is actually too high to be placed on dialysis. Last October, I went into crisis with fluid overload (50 pounds worth) that my body just gave up on trying to void. I literally stopped peeing!

That’s why all my doctors agreed, get me on dialysis and get me drained!

But my body, after wight months of “The Big D”, has gotten caught up. Along the way, I improved my diet, re-started my exercise walks, and generally been a better citizen living within the biological shell. So my kidney function rebounded. Apparently, rebound is rare, but it does happen. It’s about time something good happened to me regard to m personal body!

The charge nurse mentioned a couple of months ago that she didn’t know why someone with my chemistry (perfect) and high clearance rate (24-hoiur urine tests) was even on dialysis. So now I’m off. Was due to dialysis today and didn’t go in. How nice to sleep in and not be up at 4:40 a.m.

So, as ZackWife says, we’re cautiously optimistic. I need to keep a close eye on diet, fluid and exercise. I re-started on diuretic, and may need another next month, depending on if I can keep the fluid off. My anemia will need attending to, but I’ve self-administered Procrit before dialysis, and can do it again. And I’ll still need monthly labs.

But the friggen’ large sword of dialysis is gone for the time being. And if I need to go back on, at least I know what to expect and my access is in place.

But let’s not think about going back on, because now we can plan our trip to Universal Studios without regard for the nearest Freseniuis location!

I’ll keep blogging my adventure, as there will be a lot to say about keeping healthy and keeping away from needles, so stay with me, Gentle Reader.

Later…

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