Dialysis Postings

Do Patients Ever Get Tired of Dialysis?

Julius Santos — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:55:40 +0000

I started my dialysis treatment on September 2003 and has been through it for almost seven years now. I have experienced so many things all that time, have seen fellow patients come and go , but still I’m at it up until now. A friend once asked me if I ever get tired of dialysis? Of course I do. But for someone who’s been through a lot and fought all the way, succumbing to weariness is never an option.

If you’re wondering if I ever experienced depression, well the answer is yes, I did. I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Failure at 26 and for someone who’s merely starting to make something of his life, the reality of my predicament is just too much to handle. I guess anybody, under the same circumstances, would feel the impact and would think about what tomorrow might bring. In fact, almost any patient (not just with kidney failure) would go through some form of depression or another. Maybe it’s simply human nature to ask the “Why’s” whenever we’re faced with life-changing events.

I did go through a state of depression while I was still at the early stages of my treatment. I still go through it now from time to time. The only difference I made is that I never let it show, not if I can help it. Depression, for me, is a mind set. The more you think about it, the more you would feel it’s effect on your life. I’m not saying that I’m numbing myself from all the pain and the weariness. All I’m implying is that when depression sets in, it’s still your choice whether to fight that feeling or simply succumb to it and allow it to conquer you instead.

I’m still here, fighting as best I can and looking forward to win an uphill battle someday. Need I say more that I chose the former? That I never allowed depression to take the most out of life, eve through the most wearying times of my treatment? They say that I’m an optimist and I tend to look on the brighter side of life. That I am. Why wouldn’t I? I’m already living on the side of life where darkness just looms beyond the horizon. Believe me, I wouldn’t deprive myself the pleasure of looking on the bright side.

I hope you would too.

- images courtesy of RLHyde and ktylerconk

Dialysis Update – June Laboratory Test Results

Julius Santos — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:32:28 +0000

I had my monthly laboratory test for the month of June taken last week and only just now did I find the time to post it here. The past week had been quite busy for me, redesigning Dialysis Postings and my other blogs - Private Corner and Itlog de Arina, and my grandfather being rushed to the hospital due to uncontrolled Diabetes. But that’s all behind now and I’m here once again updating DP, posting my recent lab results, and trying to spew bits and pieces of information that I hope would be quite useful to my dear readers.

Enough with the chatter. My hemoglobin is down to 8.2 gm/dL. Anemia is on the rampage again and there are numerous factors that might be causing it. It might be that I’m not having sufficient doses of EPO injections, or my body’s not responding well to my current EPO therapy. Either way, I should resolve the issue immediately or risk the possibility of my hemoglobin’s further decline and the need for blood transfusion.

My creatinine level’s a bit high at 14 mg/dL. I might be the culprit on this one because I’ve been consuming more protein than I’m allowed recently, especially red meats. The solution – stricter protein intake, less or no red meat, and back to eating fish more often. The others – Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, etc. – are fairly under acceptable levels.

I also had my Hepatitis Profile taken together with my monthly laboratory. Both the test for the virus – HBsAg and HCV – turned non-reactive, meaning I don’t have Hepatitis. The only sad outcome is that the test for my antibody against the virus – Anti-HBs – also turned out non-reactive, meaning my body’s still not producing enough antibody to have me protected.

To sum it up, I’m still doing fairly well with my lab results and treatment. Although there are certain adjustments I have to make and try to implement them as soon as I am able. But it’s all good and I’m still in business with the my battle against kidney failure.

image credit – positivenation.co.uk

Heat Reprieve

Julius Santos — Mon, 31 May 2010 08:19:19 +0000

The past few months has been difficult for me as a dialysis patient, simply because I’m having a hard time tolerating the excessive heat brought by the El Niño Phenomenon. It has always been a struggle on the aspect of transport for every treatment schedule I had these past few weeks. I am on the 3rd shift of the day, which is about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. That means I have to leave home at about 2:30 pm. I’ll let your imagination work on the scenario but to put it all in one word – it’s nightmarish.

But recently, cumulo-nimbus clouds has been frequenting the skies in Metro Manila, and has been accounted for the overcast weather we’re experiencing from time to time, and, on fortunate days, rain falls to soothe ailing body of yours truly. Even though humidity is still at its peak and it’s still oven-hot at certain days, a reprieve from these is always welcome to me. To be honest, I’d very much prefer the rainy season over summer simply because I am a kidney patient. And most kidney patients, me included, finds it very hard to tolerate heat brought by the summer months.

Ah well, my aching body (and nape) was just so relieved by the recent, if not adequate and frequent, rain that I decided to write something about it. Call me overreacting or hopelessly pathetic or anything that you want, I don’t mind.

That’s me.

- image courtesy of Central Basin

Fish be with You

Julius Santos — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:18:53 +0000

Based on randomized, controlled data, omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are now routinely used to prevent the progression of IgA nephropathy, the world’s most common glomerulopathy

Image courtesy of Club Marine

I was surfing the net and happen to pass by this article about Omega 3 fatty acids. Being a kidney patient, I am always careful on what I eat, and try to follow my prescribed diet as best as I can. Having fish in them is a good choice, if not a must. It doesn’t only gives you the protein your body needs, but fortifies your heart and brain health as well. Another advantage for dialysis patients of substituting fish for beef or pork is that you could get a much bigger portion without as much by-product or waste.

It’s true that red meat offers a higher quality of protein than fish do. But for people who have malfunctioning kidneys, acquiring protein from a source that generates less waste after being broken down by the body could mean a lot. It doesn’t just helps you keep your Creatinine level checked, but it also lowers your Triglyceride level and reduces your risk from Heart Disease.

I, for one likes fish. Since time immemorial, fish courses was already a staple in our family table. The only difference, now that I’m suffering kidney failure and under dialysis treatment, is the way I prepare or eat them. Before that, fish in any form of preparation would do. May it be fried, dried, soured, sautéed or raw like sushi, I’ll eat it no matter what. But now is a different matter because of the factors to consider. My advice for my fellow patients is that it’s best that you’ll be the one to prepare the dish. That way, you could stick with your diet restrictions without sacrificing the taste of your food.But if you can’t cook, try to explain how would you want your fish done to the person who would do the cooking.

Among the fishes that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids are Mackerel, lake Trout, Herring, Blue fin Tuna, Salmon, Albacore Tuna, and Sardines, to mention a few.

A word of advice for my fellow dialysis patients – always try to consult with your renal dietitian or nephrologist regarding your diet for the simple reason that every patient has unique dietary and nutritional needs. What’s good for others might be bad for you.

But all in all, fish is good for you. Let’s make fish a part of our diet and pave a way for a healthier life.

Fish be with you all!

El Niño – Maximum Tolerance for Dialysis Patients

Julius Santos — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:50:52 +0000

In a few hours I’ll be off to my dialysis treatment. I’m already planning in advance how I would conduct my travel from our house in Manila, to the clinic in Quezon City. It’s only about 30 minutes away from our home, that’s if you have your own car, which I don’t. I take public transports (Jeepneys) and it takes 3 transfers before getting to the clinic. It’s tedious for patients like me, but there’s no getting around it, and besides, it’s a lot cheaper than taking a cab.

~ Image courtesy of www.a2gov.org

But it’s not the travel that bothers me. It’s the heat. You can’t hide from it whenever your outside, and even when you’re in the shade, you still can palpably feel the heat. It’s summer here in the Philippines, and to make matters worse, we’re currently under the El Niño Phenomenon. I have posted before on this blog the effects of summer and heat on dialysis patients. Today I reiterate it once again that excessive heat and humidity has a significant impact on dialysis patients.

We find it hard to tolerate the heat simply because we have a higher body temperature than normal people.

Mean oral temperature in hemodialysis patients was higher than in healthy individuals [98.7 degrees F (37 degrees C) vs. 98.4 degrees F (36.8 degrees C); p < 0.001], as was the mean average axillary temperature [97.7 degrees F (36.5 degrees C) vs. 97.5 degrees F (36.3 degrees C); p = 0.02] and mean left axillary temperature [97.9 degrees F (36.6 degrees C) vs. 97.6 degrees F (36.4 degrees C); p < 0.001].

~ Pub Med

And, if bad comes to worse, when our tolerance for heat comes to an end, the first thing that comes to mind is to beat the heat – that is, to drink water to quench our thirst and alleviate the heat we’re experiencing. It’s all good and well, drinking lots of water to rehydrate oneself and avoid the dangers and perils of dehydration or heat stroke. But for us with malfunctioning kidneys, drinking too much water tells a different story and would be quite dangerous at some point.

But don’t despair my fellow patients. There are lots of ways we could tolerate excessive heat and avoid the dangers that comes with it. Here are some that helps me survive the day, and I hope would be helpful to you too.

Stay in the shade and stay away from direct sunlight, especially from 10 am – 3 pm, where it’s the hottest part of the day. If you’re not working and don’t have anything important to do outdoors, it would be best to just stay in the house.
If you really have to go outside on the hottest part of the day, bring adequate protection from the sun, like an umbrella or sun shade. Also, don’t forget your towels or an extra piece of clothing, as you might need it.
If you’re quite thirsty and finding it hard to regulate your fluid intake, go ahead – drink some water. But remember, sip and don’t gulp. But if your fluid intake is really ‘that’ restricted, try sucking on an ice cube, or some sour fruit like lime or calamansi, or brush your teeth to freshen up your mouth. It somewhat relieves your thirst.

These are some tips that worked for me and I hope would be helpful to you too, although every person is unique and has different needs. Summer time is somewhat of a punishment for us patients, but there’s no getting around it. So what can we do?

If you can’t beat ‘em… try to enjoy ‘em! A wonderful summer to you all!

Hiatus

Julius Santos — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 05:54:01 +0000

It’s been quite some time now since the last time I’ve posted on this blog. My last post, Blogging Again, is somewhat of a filler, and is actually not what you may call “article”. I may be accused of neglect. Well, I might have, and might have not. I have been busy with my dialysis treatment these past few months, among another thousand things (including Farmville in Facebook… hehehe.)

But all being said and done, I’m back to blogging. I missed postings here, the journals that I write down as I travel the life in dialysis treatment. Along with the helpful and informative articles I hope I’m able to write and provide, not just for my fellow patients, but for those interested as well. I have been fine throughout this hiatus and the same I could say for my treatment.

It’s nice to be back and writing again, that’s for sure!

An Insignificant Voice On A Significant Issue

Blogging Again

Julius Santos — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:54:02 +0000

Be what you would seem to be — or, if you’d like it put more simply — Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.

-Lewis Caroll on Alice in Woderland

Hiatus

Nature’s Wrath When Least Expected

Julius Santos — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:32:28 +0000

The previous onslaught of Tropical Storm Ondoy last Saturday, September 26 left people here in Metro Manila stunned and grieving. Floods devastated the city and left traffic almost non-existent, if not leaving them at a stand still, on streets. Here in our immediate area, where the deepest flooded area reached waist high, we weathered out the storm inside the house.

It was a devastating experience, this flash floods. I was due for a dialysis treatment on that fateful day and all I could do was call the clinic, cancel my schedule, and get listed for another session. I’m lucky enough that I wasn’t toxic and overloaded with fluid because if that were the case, I wouldn’t be able to make it that Monday. I would have gone to a hospital for an emergency dialysis if I haven’t been controlling my fluid intake.

Ah well, nevertheless, the past incidence serves a reminder for patients like me to be prepared for the unexpected. Someone like me who’s been on dialysis for quite a long time now has already grasped the importance of a regular treatment cycle. Whether I like it or not, I must admit that these treatment schedules are so important to me now, it’s been a part of my everyday existence.

Being prepared for the worse scenarios like typhoons, calamities and disaster is not being a pessimist or an alarmist. For us patients who relies on our dialysis treatments for life, being prepared is just being realistic.

(Note: By the way, I’ve decided to abuse another picture for this post. In fact, I am thinking of doing my own images for the rest of my upcoming posts… what do you think guys? Is it a good idea?)

Back from the Dead

Julius Santos — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:55:00 +0000

It has been quite some time since the last time I have updated my blog. I’ve been recently experiencing internet connection problems. This, together with my current set up of my personal small graphics design business, I have been out of touch with my blog. But now I am back and I have made some photo manipulated images just for this post.

I took some stock photos and manipulated it to my liking, and well, you guessed right, just for the hell of it. I hope you like it guys!

It’s nice to be back into blogging again.

Hiatus

Hypertension – Living with It, Dealing with It

Julius Santos — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:23:58 +0000

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure, as it is more commonly known, is one of the silent killers that plagues the general population. It owes its lethal efficiency to the fact that it goes on undetected for months, and even for years, up until a point where significant damage has already been done. Such as it was in my case, where I neglected and took it for granted, in spite of being aware of its past devastation on our family’s medical history. But that’s all in the past, and as I have always told myself, regret is one of the most futile and unproductive of all human emotions. So there’s really nosense in trying to undo what’s already been done.

What about you? Are you also suffering from Hypertension? You know you might be, and worse, you’re not even aware of it. This is a common enough scenario, especially for the population’s poorer class who’s financial capability to seek medical attention is virtually non-existent. Nobody could really blame these people the tendency to take for granted the sensibility of early detection through screening. But if you’ll ask me, however, this should not be an excuse.

Why is high blood pressure dangerous?

The higher the blood pressure, the harder the heart has to work to keep on pumping against increasing resistance. If, in the course of time, the heart muscles tires, it could eventually lead to heart failure. Because of the enormous burden it puts on the arteries, high blood pressure adds to their wear and tear, especially in the target organs, the brain, coronary and kidney vessels. Stroke and Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) are frequent and dangerous consequences of untreated hypertension.

Recognizing high blood pressure

High blood pressure is a Silent Killer simply because it doesn’t show typical symptoms that might serve as early warning signals. In fact, in certain cases, many people feel well and energetic despite their high blood pressure. There is only one way of finding out whether or not you have hypertension and that is to have your blood pressure checked. Measurements must be repeated at least once a year. If an elevated pressure is detected in time, early treatment can help prevent the possible fatal consequences.

Prevention of complications from high blood pressure

Bringing the pressure down relieves the strain on the heart and arteries; this lessen and often eliminates the dangerous consequences of elevated pressure. With proper treatment, high blood pressure can be normalized, or at least brought down to a tolerable level. The treatment does not call for any heroic measures; regular checking of the blood pressure, a few generally painless changes in one’s eating and living habits, and taking the prescribed medication everyday. If detected and treated in time, hypertension should not stop you in leading a normal and productive life. All that is required is determination and close doctor-patient cooperation.

Protect yourself against high blood pressure

A genetic predisposition is a frequent cause of hypertension. It “runs in the family”. Caution is advised if you have a family history of high blood pressure. Your way of living could have an important bearing on whether or when you will develop hypertension. If you are overweight, has a high sodium intake on your diet, under psychological stress, agitated and hyperactive, you’re more likely a candidate, or can exacerbate an existing tendency. Losing weight, cutting down on salt in the diet, and avoiding stress are useful precaution to help you keep your pressure down.

Protect your health why you still can and when you still can. As always, being well-informed is being well-prepared.

Dialysis Postings

Do Patients Ever Get Tired of Dialysis?

Related Posts

Dialysis Update – June Laboratory Test Results

Related Posts

Heat Reprieve

Related Posts

Fish be with You

Related Posts

El Niño – Maximum Tolerance for Dialysis Patients

Related Posts

Hiatus

Related Posts

Blogging Again

Related Posts

Nature’s Wrath When Least Expected

Related Posts

Back from the Dead

Related Posts

Hypertension – Living with It, Dealing with It

Recognizing high blood pressure

Prevention of complications from high blood pressure

Protect yourself against high blood pressure

Related Posts