It is a well-documented fact that the weather here in North Texas has been brutal this summer, with forty-plus days of triple-digit temperatures. This Labor Day Weekend has been no different with highs of at least 100 both Saturday and Sunday. What has this got to do with dialysis you ask?
This past Saturday I traveled about an hour north to where our son and his spouse are building an ICF home in Palo Pinto County, Texas. As the morning progressed, we were in full sun working on putting up trim for new garage doors. Actually, our son was doing the work and I was sitting on my butt watching him and acting as a gopher. By mid-morning I was not feeling very well and headed back home; the heat was too much and I wasn’t even working. That’s hit the wall number one.
Sunday my wife and I woke up to an alarm from our septic tank informing us that the sump pump was not operating and the tank was filled up to the alarm level. Luckily, our son is an expert in these matters so at 0800 I called him and by 1100 he was at our home. Together we troubleshot the problem which turned out to be a faulty float switch power cord. While we had it opened up, we installed a new sewage sump pump and float switch. In doing so, we were working in full sun and again, I got overheated and had to escape to our air-conditioned home. Our son is 61 and works outside all the time and was sweating but OK with the heat which by this time was again 100. Hit the wall number two.
Any intelligent person would begin to get the idea that maybe, just maybe, they can’t stand the heat like they were accustomed to. Why is this? For me, is it directly related to being on peritoneal dialysis? Does PD take the starch out of your body to the extent that it drastically reduces your physical stamina? Is it a product of aging (I’ll be 85 in four months.) For me, it has not been a gradual phenomenon but like the edge of a cliff; once over the edge, that’s it.
Recognizing and understanding your physical limitations while undergoing peritoneal dialysis is crucial to maintaining a fulfilling and safe life. Embracing these limitations doesn’t mean surrendering to them; rather, it involves adapting, seeking assistance when necessary, and prioritizing self-care. That’s what I’m all about, wall or no wall.
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