the next Alonzo Mourning

hello all,

i had a meeting today to receive more information on all of the treatment options for kidney disease. they are as follows:

1. dialysis

2. no treatment

3. transplant

1. there are three types of dialysis. one involves a catheder hanging out of my abdomen that i flush 4-5 times a day myself at home. as this really really weirds me out (the tube literally just hangs out of the flesh), i'm going with one of the other two options (which are very similar). they are both hemodialysis (the normal blood filtered by machine that everyone knows). the first option is hemodialysis in a dialysis center and the second is hemodialysis at home with my own "mini-kidney". before i'm able to do hemodialysis, it is necessary that i have a small surgery to have a 'fistula' installed in my arm which essentially unites an existing artery and vein to make it swell so its accessible for the constant 'poking'. so the next step is to talk to my doc and set up a referral to a surgeon to get the fistula installed. below are some helpful wikipedia links which are little to no different from the presentation i received today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peritoneal_dialysis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemodialysis

2. no treatment is not an option. 'nuff said.

3. i did learn that unfortunately a transplant is not a permanent fix as i thought it was. the woman explained that it's an average of 10 years before my replacement fails and then i start the process over again. i think my expression gave away my extreme disappointment and frustration as she quickly recovered with "i have heard some people today of going 15-20 years before needing a new one" which was still only somewhat comforting. needless to say, supremely bummed that i get to do this more than once in a lifetime. the bright side is that i have always enjoyed hospitals (mostly cafeteria food, but im not sure why). oh, also, switching tv channels by only going up and down one channel at a time is my favorite :) below is a wiki link to renal transplant that should give everyone a better idea of how it works

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renal_transplant

again, post questions to the blog and ill answer for everyone!

hugzies,

cam

timeline...without paul walker

hello all,

i have had many generous and loving requests to be tested and donate a kidney which is why i this post is about how to go about that procedure.

to some dissapointment though, there is no exact timeline on when the testing/matching will begin. there is quite a few things before we will be at the stage of testing family and friends. BUT, (haha, butt) i do promise to do my duty (haha, duty) to inform all my dedicated fans of when this process will start. just to give you a heads up, my insurance representative said that she would work with anyone that is not in my immediate family members (which i assume is just mom dad and sister) because the testing would take some funding.

if anyone has any questions about this, just reply/comment!

also, the meeting/seminar about dialysis options was moved to tomorrow, thursday at 1pm so i'll post again after that.

happy hump day, and big hugs
cam

transplant, without travis barker

hello again all,

quick update: i have an appointment at the methodist transplant specialty hospital on monday feb 8th at 9am to start the evaluation process.

peace, love and big hugs,

cam

the "beginning" of sorts

hello all,

i am starting this to keep everyone informed about my kidney journey because i know you all care and this is the best way to keep everyone informed. yay technology!

first things first: i had an appointment this morning with my doctor and found our how to proceed with what's going on. it looks like my blood levels (creatinine, hemoglobin, potassium, iron, etc) are all showing that i need to start dialysis pretty soon and that a transplant is the only thing that will work from this point on.

that being said, i'm actually very excited about this news. although surgery and all that jazz is scary as shit, it's quite nice knowing there is a definite solution and i don't need to be wasting my time with these pointless meds and guessing games as to what's wrong.

the tricky part is definitely working this in while finishing my last semester, but nothing is going to keep me from finishing (that's what she said.)

well now on to what i know in relation to the transplant procedure:

1. i need to contact Methodist Specialty Transplant Hospital in San Antonio -- it's the closest facility my insurance covers.

2. attend a meeting tomorrow afternoon about the details for dialysis and make my decision as to which way i will do dialysis until i can get a transplant

3. Personal evaluation (by Methodist Specialty): tests to see if my body is able/good for a transplant

4. A committee from the facility I choose makes the final decision

5. I am put on the waiting list at their facility

6. after initial evaluation is completed, I can request to be added to another facility’s list without redoing the eval process. They would just use my initial tests/reviews

7. Possible donors are tested to see if they are a match and if they’re able/good to donate

i. immediate family members are tested/covered

ii. other people wanting to be tested need to have their insurance worked out/will have to pay something

8. when match is found, I give the go ahead for the operation

9. the insurance assign me a case manager for 90 days to see how I’m doing/if I understand, am okay with the medicine/fill out and file my paperwork/etc

and so far that's what i know. i'll post again after tomorrow's meeting about dialysis. oh, also, i'm reducing my cellcept (the actual kidney meds) while still taking my blood pressure and potassium pills. i also have to add a phosphate-binder pill and a prescription vitamin d supplement.

post questions if you have any and i'll keep everyone updated through this.

peace, love and big hugs,

cameron