Welcome One and All!

I started this blog to chronicle the my life as a renal patient. I started having issues back in 1983. I had an infection that hadn't been treated as an infection; it had been treated as pulled muscle as I had been working as a nanny at the time. Life went on and then I dealt with a series of infections of infections which resulted in 4 minor surgeries from 1985 to 87. Than I had 3 kids; dealing with minor infections along the way. This culminated in discovering in 1998 that I was in what the call Chronic Renal Failure, my right kidney was imploding, the left was starting to go as well.

I finally had the right kidney removed in 1999, which resulted in complications. I almost didn't make it. When I moved back to Edmonton from BC, I started seeing a nephorogist, Dr. Caldwell, from the U of A. In 2007 I had 75% renal function, fast-forward to today I have 13% and it is getting worse.

I decided I needed a place to share what I am going through for a variety of reasons:

1) to get out of my head and work through the anxiety and fear that I am feeling.

2) that somehow my ramblings can be of help to others.

3) most of all to share my journey with others and to help me share with my own family.

Great Sites for Information

Kidney Foundation of Canada

Kidney Foundation of Canada

National Kidney Foundation (USA)

National Kidney Foundation (USA)

(I will Post more as I find out more information.)

Here are some great foums and educational sites...

Kidney School
Kidney School
Kidney Friends Forum
Kidney Friends


Also there are some groups on Facebook:
Canadian Kidney Connection
Canadian Kidney Connection

Ontario’s Renal Community
Ontario’s Renal Community

I will add more as they come in. Cora

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sorry it has been a while since I have posted...guess no news is good news right?

Left: Rocaltrol
Right: Sodium Bicarbonate
So I have some news. My numbers have been pretty steady, although I lost a percentage point in kidney function. I am now at 11% and my energy is down a bit. It has been decided that I need to get an iron transfusion. Most iron supplements mess with my IBS and we did try the newest iron supplement that was supposed to be easy on stomach, however the stomach cramps were so bad hubby was threatening to take me to the ER. So no oral antibiotics for me. I did try an oral herbal supplement but it wasn't giving me enough iron to help.

So now I take Imodium (for the IBS), Tylenol Migraine (self explanatory), Gravol (for nausea-use regular at home and the ginger for at work) as well as Sodium Bicarbonate (500 mg) 3 times a day and Rocaltrol once a day.

I also went to the Optometrist to get my eyes checked, hadn't had this done since the emergency visit in 2009. Turns out I have the beginnings of cataracts which is starting to affect my vision. As my eyes are dry I have to use drops twice a day, however that is easier said than done. I actually use an ointment as I can't get the drops in at all. These are not covered by Blue Cross at all. So now I have to go in every year for an eye exam, which is not covered by AB Health. We do have Blue Cross thankfully, although even that doesn't cover all things. Thankfully it did cover a 3 months supply of the Rocatrol ($116.83) paid only $20.26. The Sodium Bicarbonate doesn't appear to be covered, that cost $32.92. The cost for the eye ointment was $10.49 and I am having issues with getting this into the eye as well...frustrating!
I work at the Optic TV Lounge in Southgate (Edmonton AB).

I am enjoying my new job and got the approval from the new clinic, yeah! The other clinic wouldn't approve my working at all. I just have to make sure I don't get over tired is all. So anywho gotta run for now. See picture to the right. I have a lot of fun and it isn't a stressful job. The only thing is that I am tired and my muscles hurt at the end of the day, but I just feel so good after a good day at work. It is so much fun talking about Optik TV all day. I meet some great people. Love it!

Cora