All haemodialysis machines have tubes that take blood away from the body of the patient and tubes that return the blood after it has been cleaned. For ease of identification, many machines clearly mark these as red (from the body … Continue reading Not being colour-blind, blue and red should not be that easy to muddle up…
Following the monthly review by my consultant, it has been decided to increase my time on dialysis to 4 hours per session from the 3.5 hours that has been the normal since I started. The reason for this is that it should help to get me higher clearance which is better than not. So from Wednesday, I will have even longer to find things to do, listen to Audible or music. I also hope that it might stop there being so many sharp decreases in blood pressure. Continue reading Extra time on dialysis should bring improved results
As readers will know, I have to attend hospital for dialysis treatment three times each week thanks to the kidney failure due to Goodpasture Syndrome back in December 2018. It is surprising that it is nearly two years ago now. … Continue reading Fantastic new clothing for dialysis
The third step of humility is that for the love of God one should be obedient to a superior in all things imitating the Lord of whom the Apostles says, ‘He was made obedient even unto death.’ The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 7: Humility, translated by Abbot Parry OSB, Gracewing, 1990. In recent weeks and months, I have been re-reading The Rule of Saint Benedict, with a view to putting the principles of his rule into practice in my own life. A couple of Sundays ago I was on a Zoom call with the House of Initia Nova Benedictines … Continue reading Meds: a matter of obedience — thanks St Benedict
As we know, actions have consequences. The issues that I had on Thursday that prompted my trip to the North (briefly) and the telephone call to the dialysis unit, had a knock-on effect on my care for today. Always think through what will happen. And then think it through again. Double check what you think is to happen. Continue reading Bit of a mix-up: but it’s all sorted now!
Last week, just before Christmas, I requested a change in my dialysis shift to help me to get back to work. Having three days out of five of the working week on dialysis only meant I had the opportunity to … Continue reading New Year: new days for dialysis – from next week
So today is the first anniversary of a few that are coming up. A year ago today, I went to Port Laoise Accident and Emergency Department believing myself to be dehydrated. For the week before, I had been unable to … Continue reading A bear prepares for anniversaries
Today, I heard some news that is really good. The referral to have the permacath in my arm has been made. This is now possible because the fistula in my left arm is working well, and there are now two … Continue reading Dialysis progress
You can imagine my surprise when I learned that Tullamore Hospital does not have a social worker anywhere in the building. Having benefited from one in Tallaght, I am concerned that there is not one here. Continue reading Social worker needed in Tullamore hospital
It’s now a full week since the fistula was used for the first time. I can say with confidence that I am very happy that I am making the transition from hæmodialysis via permacath in my chest to hæmodialysis via … Continue reading A week in to the fistula
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