Here we go again ...

So it has been over 7 months since my last post, but that is basically because nothing has happened regarding my kidneys during that time.   I got tested in December and my kidney function had dropped to around 25% which wasn't much decline.  So I took a break from posting until something else changed.

So here we are, I just had my scheduled appointment yesterday with my Nephrologist. My recent blood tests show my kidney function down to 18% now which is crossing into the next category called 'Stage 4 Renal Failure'.   All that means is that my time without any noticeable symptoms is over.  It also means that it's time once again to think about talking to the transplant people and or the dialysis people.  We aren't quite ready for that since we are going to adjust one of my meds to see if that helps, but are still anticipating having to talk to them in the next few weeks. 

So what does this all mean?  Well it means that my kidneys are weak enough that when something effects them to where they have to work real hard, I will definitely notice it (lethargic, tired, short term memory loss, itchy skin, metallic taste in my mouth, etc.).  I had my first, what my doctor calls, 'Bad' day on Monday where I just felt beat down for no apparent reason.  My doctor says that almost anything could trigger a 'Bad' day from an infection to the flu to exhaustion.   The more it happens, the more I will want to consider dialysis to clean my blood up.   I'm no where near being ready for that just yet, but it's on my mind.

What it all really means is that my plans for going to Ecuador this summer with the youth choir are cancelled.  It is a bad idea to be in a foreign country with the potential to get an infection or bug that will trigger a 'Bad' day or week.   Plus, who knows whether I will need dialysis in July or not, I'm guessing not.

So that's all I know for now.  I'm pretty disappointed in not getting to go to Ecuador, but that's the hand I've been dealt and I'm sure there's a reason for me not going so I'm fine with it.

Until next time ...   Stay Tuned ...