Not sure if it was the three days of aikido training, being that time of the month, maybe a bad dialysis session, or the macaroni salad and lamb that I had for lunch, but I had probably the worst gout attack of my life this week.
It started at about 4:00 p.m. on Monday, right before dialysis, in the middle of the day. That made my dialysis quite uncomfortable. I was chilled and near cramping through the session.
The next day, I could barely walk. Being me (ahem), I attempted to work from home. My usual spot was quite uncomfortable, so I headed for the couch by mid-morning. I was miserable the rest of the day... (but still working to keep sane!). I did not have any appetite, but I knew that I had to eat to keep the colcichine down. For the first time in my life, I took acetaminophen with codeine. Boy, that knocked me down, and Hubby (by association) and I FINALLY had a good night sleep.
Wednesday was slightly better. I still could not walk forward, but I could do my version of the moonwalk (sliding backwards). Come afternoon, I could walk like a penguin, bobbling from left to right. Hubby said I looked cute.
The pain subsides as the days pass, but the swelling is another story. As I write this, my foot is about the size of a basketball (maybe half), in honor of the NBA Finals. No dancing for me tonight.
Through all this, Hubby, even with his mending broken ribs, continues to accompany me to my dialysis sessions and wait on me while I am immobilized with gout. I guess I am lucky to have him.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Transitions...
May was a tough month for us. It did not start out that way, but it became more challenging as the month went on.
As it turns out, we decided to switch dialysis centers last month. We had an ongoing care issue with my assigned technician in Dialysis Center A. Early on in the month, an incident happened that made me very mad. I was cramping and in so much pain, and instead of helping me, my technician and the nurse were chatting and commenting on my snacks. This was not the first time that something like this happened. I got angry, and demanded that I be taken off the machine. I have not been back there again.
After a face-to-face discussion with the area manager with Dialysis Center A and the director of Dialysis Center B (courtesy of Hubby) and a lot of "make-up" dialysis sessions (usually on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday during my work hours), we are finally on a regular schedule with Dialysis Center B. The center is not as pristine as the other one and about 10 minutes further, but the staff seems to be more on top of things and more attentive. It is also near an Asian market (pork buns -- yippee!!!) and the dojo!
So far, things are going well, and I have not cramped since I started there. The only downside is that they are not used to locating my veins yet, and I am back down to size 17 needles. I am hoping that even with that I can keep to my twice a week schedule.
As it turns out, we decided to switch dialysis centers last month. We had an ongoing care issue with my assigned technician in Dialysis Center A. Early on in the month, an incident happened that made me very mad. I was cramping and in so much pain, and instead of helping me, my technician and the nurse were chatting and commenting on my snacks. This was not the first time that something like this happened. I got angry, and demanded that I be taken off the machine. I have not been back there again.
After a face-to-face discussion with the area manager with Dialysis Center A and the director of Dialysis Center B (courtesy of Hubby) and a lot of "make-up" dialysis sessions (usually on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday during my work hours), we are finally on a regular schedule with Dialysis Center B. The center is not as pristine as the other one and about 10 minutes further, but the staff seems to be more on top of things and more attentive. It is also near an Asian market (pork buns -- yippee!!!) and the dojo!
So far, things are going well, and I have not cramped since I started there. The only downside is that they are not used to locating my veins yet, and I am back down to size 17 needles. I am hoping that even with that I can keep to my twice a week schedule.
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