November 2010
Monthly Archive
November 29, 2010
Home Sweet Home
So, the big news for me right now is that Tony and I found a home to rent and we are moving in next month! It is going to be a big step for both of us, and a great place for us to start a new stage of our lives together.
Tony has been so wonderful trying to take care of me on the weekends, and I know I will feel safer not being alone at home. There have been so many days or nights when I really have had a hard time caring for myself. It will be great having Tony in my life full-time and not only on the weekends.
But moving will bring some sacrifices for both of us, namely our cats. It was unrealistic for us to think we can find a rental home that will allow for all five of our cats. And, there are city laws that limit the number of pets per household. So, we are going to be giving up our three oldest cats to new homes or a shelter next month, and just have Reyna and Yoshi. We have had our cats for more than a decade each, and it is going to be very sad for us to give them up. But, the added reality is that taking care of five cats will be really physically hard for me, as well as keeping up with a new home. Please pray for me during this time of transition and for the cats to find a good home.
So, it’s moving time. By the end of the year, we will finally be together in our own rental home. This move has been a quick one for us, and a wonderful Christmas gift. Who knows what other beautiful surprises the new year will bring.
And, if you have any spare spoons to help me pack and move, please share them with me.
© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com
November 18, 2010
In the midst of everything with my potassium levels and hospital visit (see previous post here), I have been frustrated because of a situation that occurred with my heart specialist. I sent her the email below. The names have been deleted for privacy.
And, really, I am just sharing this so you can get a glimpse of how frustrating it can be to get good doctor care and follow-up when you have multiple chronic conditions.
Dear Dr. Heart Specialist:
Your nurse let me know that you wanted to cancel my appointment with you tomorrow and reschedule it for December. I was quite surprised by this because I would have thought you wanted a follow up visit with me after I have returned home from the week’s stay at the hospital, and to follow up with me on my potassium levels.
Your nurse then let me know that you would rather that I get my potassium levels checked by a primary care physician and treat me “peripherally” for that aspect of my care. I let her know the reasons why I have not had time to find a new PCP and that my Rheumy is managing my care at this time.
I want you to know that I am disappointed to know that you are prefer not to be the one to follow up on my potassium levels and manage this right now. Because the potassium levels are dangerous to my heart, and because the decrease is a result of the heart medication and diuretic combination of medications necessary that you are prescribing to me, I was expecting you to continue to follow up and manage this until my levels are back to normal. I feel worse now than I did before starting all this medication, and this just adds to my frustration.
I do have an appointment next month with Dr. #2 on the 17th. Again, it is frustrating that I have to see someone new for my care rather than you.I know that Dr. #2 is your colleague, but after not seeing me this month, I would have preferred to see you next month. I would have been able to express all this to you in person rather than via e-mail.
I understand the limitations of the clinic. But, I do want you to know that the message I am getting from you is “I don’t want to be the one to care for your condition. Your body is too complicated for me to figure out. And, because I need to follow up with your reactions to medications more closely, you are too high maintenance for me.”
I know because of my multiple health conditions, I am not the easiest patient to care for, but I don’t expect you to cure me of my chronic health conditions or pain, I just was hoping you were a doctor who would not give up on me and try to make my life filled with more good days than bad ones because of the heart condition. I am not a wimp as a person, and don’t give up easily. And, if I don’t give up on me, why should you?
I do plan to continue my care with you and the pulmonary clinic, as I know the limitations of specialists with my particular condition. But, I wanted you to know that I am frustrated and disappointed.
I have not yet heard back from your nurse about the results of my blood test yesterday and what I should do with my potassium intake going forward. I am sure she will get back to me today. If not, I will be seeing my Rheumy on Dec. 1.
© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com
November 18, 2010
Expectations To Be
You don’t need to heal or cure me of all my aches and pains.
I don’t expect you to put me back together again.
To make things like they used to be.
Just hear my words. Accept them.
You don’t even have to understand them.
Just listen. And be. And, don’t give up on me.
Remind me of the good days still to come.
And help me accept the bad ones too.
Celebrate today with me. And be.
Just be. And remind me of who I really am.
A wife. A mother. A sister. A brother. A father. A husband.
Your lover. Your friend.
Not my aches and pains and chronic conditions.
Not my doctors appointments and medications.
Just me. Human. Able to love. Able to care. Able to make it to another day.
Just me. Someone who is cared for. Someone you know and love.
Just me. Someone who still matters and makes a difference in this world.
Sit with me. And listen. And just be.
© https://kkhymn.wordpress.com
November 18, 2010
Potassium Rich Fruit
Well, it has been awhile since I last posted. I have not had time to do anything but see doctors, get medicine, take blood and urine tests, and see doctors. Last week I was in the hospital for five days because I have been struggling with low potassium levels all month, and nothing was working to get the potassium levels up near normal. And, still they couldn’t figure it all out.
The heart medication I am on for my pulmonary hypertension causes fluid retention. So I have to take diuretics to eliminate the excess fluid from my body which can harm my kidneys and heart. Well, most diuretics cause potassium depletion usually taken care of with potassium supplements.
Not me, of course. My levels were going dangerously below normal – as low as 2.4. Normal levels
Potassium Rich Potatoes
are 3.6 to 4.8. And, having low potassium levels make you feel like crap, and can cause irregularities to your heart and even cardiac arrest.
While in the hospital, I was pumped with so much potassium you would think that I would have overdosed on it. But, still my body was not retaining it properly.
Some of the doctors were thinking it was a rare lupus condition with the kidneys. Others thought it was just the diuretics, but couldn’t figure out why it was going to such low extremes. And, still others blamed my body’s inability to retain potassium on my immunosuppressant medication. They really could not pinpoint the cause and sent me home with changes to how much diuretics I am taking and adding another drug that is supposed to help keep potassium in my body. But, we still don’t know if it is working. I am waiting for my latest blood tests to see what my levels are now.
Too much or too little potassium can be dangerous for your heart and kidneys. And, it can kill you. But, I never knew how important it was until now. Doctors don’t regularly check your potassium levels unless you start showing other abnormal symptoms. So, remember to ask for the test on occasion during your yearly check up.
If you are taking diuretics or steroids, get your potassium levels checked regularly as these medications can deplete you of your potassium levels. If you have excessive diarrhea, please get your potassium levels checked. Low levels of potassium has also been linked to high blood pressure.
Below are some articles regarding low or high potassium levels in your blood:
More than Bananas
So, potassium is more than just bananas and leg cramps. I never knew how important it is to manage your potassium levels until now.
Need more potassium in your diet? Click here for a list of potassium rich foods. And here for other suggestions.
Need less potassium in your diet? Click here for some suggestions.
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