PD Update

Today is the beginning of Week Four of dialyzing at home.  With the increased freedom comes a lot more responsibility; as such, this has become a lot more than a change in modality.  It is, in fact, another holistic change.  when I was on hemo, I worked dialysis into my life; now I must work my life into dialysis.  PD dictates when I get up, when I eat, when I do my chores, when I can run errands, when I can work out, and when I can sleep.  These are all changes that I gladly make, as the potential upside is tremendous!

Last week I did my first exchange away from home while I was attending a MARC Medical Review Board meeting at a hotel in Arlington, VA.  I did the exchange in an unused meeting room, and washed my hands in a restroom down the hall.  My PD nurse would not have been pleased with the conditions, but I did my best to use the aseptic techniques I learned during training, and improvised the rest.  I'm glad I did it, because I showed that it could be done.  I won't let kidney failure keep me from rejoining the work force and the mainstream, and continuing my successful career.  I have a lot more to do....

This Thursday I have my kidney transplant evaluation at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  I've been through this all before at Georgetown Hospital, so the procedure won't be daunting this time around.  I will, however, have to drive to Baltimore and be where I need to be by 7AM that morning.  I'll also have to perform at least one exchange while I'm there.  Another day, another challenge.  Challenge accepted!

I have to keep track of my supplies constantly to ensure that I do not run out of anything necessary to perform exchanges at home.  Most supplies are delivered; I simply have to order them two weeks in advance.  I had twelve cases of dialysis solution delivered on Wednesday to help tide me over until October 4, the next delivery date.  On Wednesday I was bemoaning all the boxes in my bedroom; by Saturday evening I was counting them again for fear of running out before the next delivery!

All in all, I am pleased and anxious in a good way about the way things are going.