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.
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
again, post questions to the blog and ill answer for everyone!
hugzies,
cam
I don't have a question right now...just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you and I love you!
ReplyDeleteI love you too cammy cam. You can have one of my kidneys. They are pretty badass. I'm sure they would fall in the 15-20 year lifespan, and not crap out after 10. Let's just say my organs are too legit to quit. I had my tonsils taken out and felt way better afterwards so I'm thinking that getting rid of excess body parts is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though I will totally give you one if we match. Just let me know when you start testing people. I'll be there.
I'm glad you didn't chose option 2! Also, since I don't know how blogspot works, I'm posting questions from a previouse post so I know that you see them:
ReplyDeleteWhere is the Methodist Transplat Speciality Hospital?
And do you need a ride? to and/or from on the 9th?
Wish you well,
Alex Caple
the hospital is in san antonio. thanks for the ride offer, but my parents and mel and joining me for this first meeting down there. we have to go down on sunday because the appt is so early that monday morning.
ReplyDelete