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From Craiyon using prompt draw a comic picture of a dialysis team

As advertised I met with my Dialysis Team (monthly meeting) with myself, my nurse, my dietician, my neurologist, and the social worker in attendance. I met with my Dialysis Nurse ahead of the meeting and we went over several of my lab readings and in general, how’s it going kind of things. Now to the Discussion list i published in the last blog post:

  1. Get on the Kidney transplant list ASAP: The social worker provided me with folders with pertinent information from three kidney transplant centers in the general area. We briefly discussed using the VA also. Tha ball in now in my court to pour through the folders, decide with whom to apply, and start the process.
  2. Discuss Cognitive Decline and Dialysis. In general, this was not discussed. We did discuss dietary aspects to the extent I was provided with a protein bar to try out, and if I tolerated it OK, will be provided with a supply by Fresenius. Also, I am to receive a subscription to vitamins that are kind to kidneys. Nothing on testing, nothing on what to be on the watch for, re cognitive decline, briefly discussed Laxative Use but the Team’s position was it is still needed for the Liberty Cycler to operate properly. On B12 intake, it was the position of the team that it was the responsibility of my GP to handle all aspects of B12 which I’m OK with.
  3. Lab Results Discussion. On item c., the wKr/V goal is 1.7 or higher which I meet so I’m OK there. Regarding Calcium, there is a corrected value on the full lab report of 8.8 which puts my readings within goal limits. I was told, paraphrasing, that usually, corrected calcium is calculated whenever albumin levels are not in the normal range, thus allowing an estimate as if the albumin values were normal. Lastly, we discussed why I listed Creatinine – just for reference. Since I am on dialysis, creatinine results are not just what my kidneys are doing but impacted by dialysis also my nephrologist inputted.
  4. My Dialysis Nurse recorded all of my vitals, I was asked if I needed any supplies, and the dietician promised an additional listing of supplemental protein products which I have received.

The bottom line is I’m hanging in there and good to go for another month “Underway as before.”