Answering Comment Questions (and more)

Good morning everyone! It has been almost two weeks since my last post. The good news is that there continues to be nothing wrong. I am feeling well, and am enjoying having energy and motivation to do all the work that a new house requires.

I received a comment on a previous blog post:
(http://nmccart.blogspot.com/2007/07/post-transplant-glofil-3.html)

The question comes from Bmaddny on July 25:
Hey, what was your creatinine prior to your transplant?

Well, Bmaddny, I'm glad you asked! That question can be answered in multiple parts. Way back in 2005, while I still had two kidneys that soft-of worked, my creatinine was between 2 and 4.0, depending on the month they were checking. Once my left kidney got infected and removed, my creatinine shot up to 6, and then I think even higher. By the time I was on dialysis, it was not unusual to see a creatinine of 9 or 10. So, depending on when in the past you were looking, I have had a multitude of creatinine levels. The 1.0 that I am getting now, post-transplant, is the best that it has ever been (since it has been tracked). I hope that helps!

(and more)
Well, the title hinted, and here it is! I finally scheduled my bone density scan for Monday, August 6, 2007 (in the afternoon). That way, the doctors will have three weeks to review the results prior to my next appointment. Then, they can tell me if I am doing better or worse than I was on January 25 (when I had my first-ever bone density scan).

Finally, a medication update. I do not recall when the last time I updated everyone was, so here is the current list:

• 9 am: Bactrim (400mg/80mg)
• 9 am: Calcium +D (600 mg)
• 9 am: Cerefolin (PAL/M5) (two)
  
• 9 am: Folic Acid (800mcg)
• 9 am: Myfortic (360mg)
• 9 am: Prednisone (10mg)
• 9 am: Prograf (5mg)

• 9 pm: Atenolol (25mg)
• 9 pm: Calcium +D (600mg)
• 9 pm: Fish Oil (1000mg)
• 9 pm: Lovastatin (20mg)
• 9 pm: Myfortic (360mg)
• 9 pm: Prograf (5mg)
• 9 pm: Zyrtec (10mg)

Have a great week everyone!!

Post-Transplant Glofil #3

Good Morning! (And, if I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night).

Tuesday, the 17th, was my 6-months Post-Transplant Glofil appointment. As always, if you are unfamiliar with the Glofil test, you can read about it in a previous post here: http://nmccart.blogspot.com/2007/02/upcoming-first-post-transplant-glofil.html

My score this time was 76.3. That is down from the last two scores. On 2/22, I got 86.1 and on 5/14, I got 82.0. I spoke with the nurse at Dallas Transplant Institute this morning, and she said that this is not a problem. Since my creatinine is stable and my urine output is stable, then there are no worries. Speaking of that, they ran labs on Tuesday as well, and my creatinine remains at 1.0 (which is wonderful). The next Glofil comes 9 months after my transplant date, which should be around October 11, 2007.

And ... while we are talking about lab reports ... the only problem the doctor pointed out on my lab report was that my triglycerides are pretty high. The acceptable range is 32.0 to 238.0 mg/dL. On 6/19, my triglycerides were at 175.0. But, yesterday, my triglycerides were up to 281.0. The cardiologist had previously complained that my triglycerides were too high, so now I need to work with the two doctors to get on some medication to get that down. The transplant doctor suggested that I might could take Fish Oil supplements, if the cardiologist will approve. I am going to send my lab reports to the cardiologist to see what dosage of fish oil that they suggest in my case.

The only thing left to schedule for the transplant clinic will be a Bone Density test. It seems that they cannot do the bone density and the Glofil at the same time, due to the Glofil using a radioactive dye that would interfere with the bone density. The bone density test is pretty quick, so I will see if I can get one scheduled for some morning soon (they want it done this month).

So, that's all for today. Maybe I'll find out what the cardiologist wants so I can get my cholesterol down. Have a great day!

July 11, 2007

It has been over a week (almost two now) since my last blog update. I received several excited e-mails after my last post. Everyone was so happy to hear that I had nothing to update! So, that's always good news, though I don't know how exciting it is to read.

Let's see ... what can I say for this week's post? Yesterday (Tuesday the 10th) was my third wedding anniversary. Jenny and I have been through a lot over the past three years. We were glad to be able to celebrate at home (and not in the hospital) this year. We didn't have to go to dialysis or the hospital, so it was a wonderful anniversary!

I got my Glofil procedure scheduled for July 17, which is the same day as my next clinic appointment. If I am right on my timing, I think they will want to do my second bone density scan on the 17th as well. My first scan showed that I was a little light on my bone density. Hopefully, my density will not have decreased in the past six months.

The only other thing I can think of that is possible is that the doctor may take me off of the Bactrim. I've been on it for six months, and I think that the original nephrologist said that I would only be on the Bactrim for six months. If not, then I'll have to get a new prescription for it, since I have no more refills. I'm thinking it's the end of taking that one.

That's about it for today. I'm feeling healthy and drinking lots of water. I'm trying to do some exercise (either walking or riding my bike) several days a week after work, though it's not as easy as it was when I wasn't working.

See you next time!