Post by Daniel Russow on Jul 30, 2020 15:08:17 GMT -5
So, I have been doing some thinking on this, and decided the best way is to just lay it all out there. Didn’t know where else to post it, so here it is.
Back in 2003, I received a kidney transplant. It saved my life, and the past seventeen years were possible because of it. Though I have experienced some medical issues the past few years, I have stayed kicking along.
On Christmas night of 2017, I was sent to the hospital and diagnosed with MRSA, along with other health issues stemming from it. I was told I should not have made it out of the hospital, but I was stubborn and not ready to go yet, so I pulled through. The next few months were touch and go, with multiple hospital stays due to various infections. Amazingly, my kidney stayed strong through it all. During all this, I went through a divorce, so my mental state was not the best.
I made it through though, and fast forward to 2019, when I started noticing growing weakness in my arms and legs. It got to the point where I was experiencing falls, thankfully never seriously hurting myself, but I did have to leave my job for a bit, getting two rounds of plasma exchange. It turns out I had developed a condition called CIDP, a neuromuscular disease. Thankfully, I haven’t had any flare ups since summer of last year, so it looks like the meds I’m on for it have it under control.
Now, to the reason for this post. So a little over a month ago, I was rushed to the hospital with what can best be described as drug overdose symptoms, though the only thing I took was a generic benadryl. I was diagnosed with pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, and accuse heart failure. It was said I lost oxygen to my brain for a bit, and stopped breathing at one point, which is probably why I don’t remember anything about that week, the hospital stay, coming home, or the days after. The residual effects still plaguing me now.
A couple weeks ago, I went to my primary physician for a follow up from the hospital stay. They rechecked some lab work to make sure things were good...they weren’t. Long story short, my kidney function had been gradually worsening since 2018, but nothing that the doctors were too concerned with. That has changed, the number that indicated my kidney function jumped over a full point, which is not good, and led them to think I might be going into or already in rejection. My potassium was also high, which could play a part in the increased number, so they gave me some medicine to take over the w eked to lower my potassium to see if that helped, and rechecked my levels the following Monday. The medicine is worked as for my potassium, but my kidney number had gotten even worse. It was determined that I am in rejection.
In the last couple weeks, I have had more bloodwork done, discovering that I am moderately to severely anemic, which I hope to get that fixed in the next two weeks with iron infusions. I had an ultrasound done on my kidney on Monday, and they discovered a lesion on the kidney that they couldn’t quite make out what it was, so I’m going for an MRI on Monday. It could be nothing, or it could be something. Only time will tell. After that, I have a dialysis education class next Thursday to talk to me about going on dialysis. I don’t know the exact timeline I’m looking at, but my doctors were urgent to get me in the class.
The step in the process I am at is discussing dialysis before being evaluated to see if another transplant is a viable option. And if it is, I will be going on the transplant waiting list. I was fortunate enough to not have to go through dialysis with my first transplant, but I know it is going to be a lifestyle change for me. The next couple of weeks and months will be big in determining my health going forward.
I’m saying all this to kind of explain why I’ve been distant from things lately, and to announce that effective this week, I am officially taking an LOA from PWS. I will write the hall of fame acceptance speech for the Nick Madison character (which I should have already done) but after that, both he and Daniel Russow will be taking an indefinite break, until I get things figured out a little more concrete.
This place has been great, and I consider the people here part of my extended family. I know you all will do great things, and I hope to be back someday soon to write alongside you all. Take care of the place, and take care of yourselves.
Nic
Back in 2003, I received a kidney transplant. It saved my life, and the past seventeen years were possible because of it. Though I have experienced some medical issues the past few years, I have stayed kicking along.
On Christmas night of 2017, I was sent to the hospital and diagnosed with MRSA, along with other health issues stemming from it. I was told I should not have made it out of the hospital, but I was stubborn and not ready to go yet, so I pulled through. The next few months were touch and go, with multiple hospital stays due to various infections. Amazingly, my kidney stayed strong through it all. During all this, I went through a divorce, so my mental state was not the best.
I made it through though, and fast forward to 2019, when I started noticing growing weakness in my arms and legs. It got to the point where I was experiencing falls, thankfully never seriously hurting myself, but I did have to leave my job for a bit, getting two rounds of plasma exchange. It turns out I had developed a condition called CIDP, a neuromuscular disease. Thankfully, I haven’t had any flare ups since summer of last year, so it looks like the meds I’m on for it have it under control.
Now, to the reason for this post. So a little over a month ago, I was rushed to the hospital with what can best be described as drug overdose symptoms, though the only thing I took was a generic benadryl. I was diagnosed with pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, and accuse heart failure. It was said I lost oxygen to my brain for a bit, and stopped breathing at one point, which is probably why I don’t remember anything about that week, the hospital stay, coming home, or the days after. The residual effects still plaguing me now.
A couple weeks ago, I went to my primary physician for a follow up from the hospital stay. They rechecked some lab work to make sure things were good...they weren’t. Long story short, my kidney function had been gradually worsening since 2018, but nothing that the doctors were too concerned with. That has changed, the number that indicated my kidney function jumped over a full point, which is not good, and led them to think I might be going into or already in rejection. My potassium was also high, which could play a part in the increased number, so they gave me some medicine to take over the w eked to lower my potassium to see if that helped, and rechecked my levels the following Monday. The medicine is worked as for my potassium, but my kidney number had gotten even worse. It was determined that I am in rejection.
In the last couple weeks, I have had more bloodwork done, discovering that I am moderately to severely anemic, which I hope to get that fixed in the next two weeks with iron infusions. I had an ultrasound done on my kidney on Monday, and they discovered a lesion on the kidney that they couldn’t quite make out what it was, so I’m going for an MRI on Monday. It could be nothing, or it could be something. Only time will tell. After that, I have a dialysis education class next Thursday to talk to me about going on dialysis. I don’t know the exact timeline I’m looking at, but my doctors were urgent to get me in the class.
The step in the process I am at is discussing dialysis before being evaluated to see if another transplant is a viable option. And if it is, I will be going on the transplant waiting list. I was fortunate enough to not have to go through dialysis with my first transplant, but I know it is going to be a lifestyle change for me. The next couple of weeks and months will be big in determining my health going forward.
I’m saying all this to kind of explain why I’ve been distant from things lately, and to announce that effective this week, I am officially taking an LOA from PWS. I will write the hall of fame acceptance speech for the Nick Madison character (which I should have already done) but after that, both he and Daniel Russow will be taking an indefinite break, until I get things figured out a little more concrete.
This place has been great, and I consider the people here part of my extended family. I know you all will do great things, and I hope to be back someday soon to write alongside you all. Take care of the place, and take care of yourselves.
Nic