Wednesday morning I attended my monthly meeting with my Dialysis Nurse at the Granbury, TX Fresenius facility. There is lots of attention to detail and exchange of advice and information that can take place at these meetings, so herein I intend to share what may typically transpire.
Upon arrival, my temperature was checked via an ear thermometer as an antiCovid check. 98.4 and good to go. We then proceeded to the nurses’ office area. I provided the USB Thumb drive from my Cycler for their records, and also a 3×5 card with morning vitals – weight, glucose, blood pressure, pulse, and temperature – and supplies I needed to cover the following month.
After morning greetings and entering a private room in the facility, I removed my sweatshirt in preparation for the monthly blood draw. I signed some paperwork that had not been signed as required during my training back in September 2022, received a card with my Nephrologist meeting time and date in April, confirmed my March meeting date with the same, and was informed that for my April labs, I need to bring a 24-hour urine sample plus Cycler drain bags using all 2.5% dialysate.
My dialysis nurse then went through a litany of questions which in general addressed my overall health and wellness often pinpointing changes, such as weight, appetite, soreness vomiting, etc. She then used her stethoscope to listen to my ticker front and back, had me take off my shoes and socks, and thoroughly went over my feet and ankles and between my toes – said I had +pretty feet.+ She then had me uncover my catheter area where she first replaced the bitter end of the tubing that connects to the line that actually enters the stomach – this is done every four months and involves adherence to strict sterile procedures while being accomplished. Lastly, she inspected the area around where the catheter enters my abdomen for any signs of abnormalities – nada so I’m good to go.
Upon departure I was provided the Fresenius monthly education packet, this month module 9 involved Emergency Procedures and Preparedness along with my supplies and a urine sample jug – as if I could even at my best come close to needing a jug as big as the one provided.
My actual lab results should be, based on past performance, ready for my perusal online tomorrow.
An additional topic of discussion involves the life cycle of PD. Seem that it is unlikely that a PD-treated patient can count on being on this regimen forever. The Peritoneal interface becomes less viable over time and the patient may have to revert back to Hemo as a fallback. That’s why some PD patients go ahead and have a fistula installed prior to “needing it.” An alternative is getting on a/the kidney transplant list somewhere. Seems since Covid took many lives, the kidney transplant list is less lengthy and I am opting to put my name on a/the list. I asked to start the paperwork to finalize the same at my Neurologist meeting next week.
Hopefully, in Friday’s blog I will be able to bring you up-to-date on my lab results et al. I also have a meeting with my GP tomorrow wherein I am going to request a referral to a Podiatrist to start taking care of my feet, and toenails. What bell?
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