Now for something constructive....
When I first started dialysis, I wanted to use that time to write a novel. Almost four years and NaNoWriMo's later, not one word has been written. I had one in mind several years ago and still want to write it. I already have the movie in mind - I think I'll have Bradley Cooper in it.
A facebook friend of mine just brought my attention to Contentpalooza. You can have your own goal, but the global intent is to write 30,000 words in 30 days or 30 images (a picture being worth a thousand words): much more manageable than NaNoWriMo's 50K words! My goal is to get started on an essay that I need for my Aikido Nidan test, get started on my novel, oh yes... blog! I guess I have to bring my laptop to dialysis now. That should cut down on eating all of those tictacs. I wolf them down when I am bored.
See you after 30,000 words!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
VINDICATION!
I received my latest phosphorus lab results yesterday: 5.3!
No change in diet, no change in food -- just stopping the lotion and my moisturizer.
I hate to say it -- but I told them so!
Back on you nutritionists and nurses who ragged on me about my diet. I know 90% of the time, hyperphosphatemia is due to food; but there is always that 10%. There is a lesson learned here - TRUST YOUR PATIENTS and THINK OUT OF THE BOX. When your patient is getting pretty close to an eating disorder due to phosphorus-phobia and half of her meal is already phosphate-binders, it must be something else. I told you I've been watching my diet and only occasionally indulging in a tasty latte. 10 M&M's, I've found, only has 8 mg of phosphorus, so if I have 12 after a meal - Give me a ---- break!
Aveeno, I love your lotion and your moisturizer. I've been using it for months, and I love how soft my skin feels. However, its really not good for someone who is watching their phosphorus. I guess that soy and oatmeal really goes in your bloodstream. Once I get a transplant, I'll probably go back to using it.
Hallelujah!!! Now to tackle the water retention....
No change in diet, no change in food -- just stopping the lotion and my moisturizer.
I hate to say it -- but I told them so!
Back on you nutritionists and nurses who ragged on me about my diet. I know 90% of the time, hyperphosphatemia is due to food; but there is always that 10%. There is a lesson learned here - TRUST YOUR PATIENTS and THINK OUT OF THE BOX. When your patient is getting pretty close to an eating disorder due to phosphorus-phobia and half of her meal is already phosphate-binders, it must be something else. I told you I've been watching my diet and only occasionally indulging in a tasty latte. 10 M&M's, I've found, only has 8 mg of phosphorus, so if I have 12 after a meal - Give me a ---- break!
Aveeno, I love your lotion and your moisturizer. I've been using it for months, and I love how soft my skin feels. However, its really not good for someone who is watching their phosphorus. I guess that soy and oatmeal really goes in your bloodstream. Once I get a transplant, I'll probably go back to using it.
Hallelujah!!! Now to tackle the water retention....
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The (continuing) case of high phosphorus syndrome
My phosphorus is still high: 7.7 - in spite of increased binders, modified diet, and now only once a month chai-latte treats. Other than not eat, I am not sure what to do anymore -- I do not know why it is increasing instead of going the other way.
After last night's treatment, I spoke to the dialysis nurse about this. This is a sore subject between us (more on this in another post), but we had a really productive chat. I've been writing down what I eat and there is very little difference between what I am eating now and what I was eating when my phosphorus is low. In fact, I am more restrictive - paying attention to protein portion sizes, increasing veggies, and limiting fluid control (I am also retaining more fluid). After a "clean week" where I did not have dairy, took my binders, and watched my diet, my phosphorus should be down - not up -- so it must be something else. We are both perplexed.
What she did say is that there may be hidden phosphorus in my vitamins, supplements, etc. What has changed: not vitamins, I am very careful of that. I did switch to a new blush and eyeshadow (Hey, you got to be trendy somehow). Then it hit me: my lotion has oatmeal in it! My facial moisturizer is soy-based. I use it everyday! A cup of oatmeal has 178 mg of phosphorus in it. One cup of soybeans have 284 mg. Could it be?
She said that the phosphorus could be absorbed by the skin and directly goes into my blood stream. If that is the case, I am thinking no amount of binder can counteract that.
For this week, I'm changing my favorite lotion and moisturizer to something hopefully more phosphorus-friendly. We'll see....
After last night's treatment, I spoke to the dialysis nurse about this. This is a sore subject between us (more on this in another post), but we had a really productive chat. I've been writing down what I eat and there is very little difference between what I am eating now and what I was eating when my phosphorus is low. In fact, I am more restrictive - paying attention to protein portion sizes, increasing veggies, and limiting fluid control (I am also retaining more fluid). After a "clean week" where I did not have dairy, took my binders, and watched my diet, my phosphorus should be down - not up -- so it must be something else. We are both perplexed.
What she did say is that there may be hidden phosphorus in my vitamins, supplements, etc. What has changed: not vitamins, I am very careful of that. I did switch to a new blush and eyeshadow (Hey, you got to be trendy somehow). Then it hit me: my lotion has oatmeal in it! My facial moisturizer is soy-based. I use it everyday! A cup of oatmeal has 178 mg of phosphorus in it. One cup of soybeans have 284 mg. Could it be?
She said that the phosphorus could be absorbed by the skin and directly goes into my blood stream. If that is the case, I am thinking no amount of binder can counteract that.
For this week, I'm changing my favorite lotion and moisturizer to something hopefully more phosphorus-friendly. We'll see....
Saturday, July 21, 2012
What the h&#! are these?
These were "growing" in my arm right after dialysis the other day. It looks rather freaky, and I am not sure what they are. After talking to the nurse, we think they are water blisters, and it's an allergic reaction to the tape.
Worse part of it -- It's summer! Bad enough to have scars on your arm and this too.
Sucks!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Shakin' and Bakin'
Apologies for not posting in a long while. As the Blues Brothers would say, I was "on a mission from God" -- just kidding.
It was sort of a mission. One of my goals late last year was to become a better wife and perhaps start doing my share of the housework (and get my butt off the computer for a change). Mind you, Martha Stewart, I am not - more like Peg Bundy. I did start doing my share in the kitchen and relearned how to bake. So since December, I've been baking away: cookies, muffins, scones. It was just in time for the holidays. I've been doing some cooking as well and applying what I learned from watching the Food Network during dialysis.
When I started dialysis, I felt that my life was put on hold. Getting back involved had given me a sense of rebirth -- a new purpose. Now I am finding little projects around the house. This year, DIY home-improvement projects... I do need a new bedroom vanity :)
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