And we’re back
December 5, 2009
It’s been a few months since (June 15) I posted a single character here. It has been a tough time; Sheila has had a lot of trouble with her health as a result of kidney failure and we’ve spent a lot of time in the hospital. I am very blessed that I’ve been able to spend so much time by her side but I have to admit it has been discouraging seeing the one you love so much become so weak and vulnerable. I’ve been spending way too much time on Facebook and not enough immersed in God’s Word. Spiritually, I feel like I’ve been wandering in the desert (see Exodus 15,16) and have needed to renew my prayerful fellowship with and dependence upon Him, the only one who sustains us, His creation and His children. I’ve been listening a lot to the new Casting Crowns CD lately called Until the whole world hears and wanted to briefly explore the inspiration behind the last song on it called Shadow of your wings. To me, the song has a very Old 97s / Rev Horton Heat guitar heavy sound to it and is really catchy. The scripture verses behind it listed in the liner notes are Psalm 36:7, 42:1 and Psalm 63:1-11. All are among my favorite Psalms.
O God, You are my God
And earnestly I seek You
O how I long for You
In this dry and weary land
I’ve seen You in the sanctuary
And I beheld Your glory
So I can think of only one thing I can doI lift my hands
I lift my hands and I will praise You all my days
I lift my voice
I lift my voice to You in this simple song of praise
I lift my eyes
So I will think of You through the watches of the night
Hear the voices ring as Your children sing
In the shadow of Your wingsHear the voices ring as the children sing
Hear the voices ring as the children sing
Hear the voices ring as the children singIn the shadow of Your wings
In the shadow of Your wings© 2009 My Refuge Music/Club Zoo Music (adm. by EMI CMG Publishing) (BMI) / Be Essential Songs (adm. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC) (BMI)
The lyrics speak for themselves; I’ve been encouraged and recharged quite a bit lately hearing them. The only thing I’d like to add is some favorite verses from Isaiah
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 NLT
That’s all folks
June 15, 2009
I think I’m done here for a while. The tourist season is over so the kitchen is closed, and we’re turning the lights off.
Back Home
May 30, 2009
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. - Psalm 23:2
I just got back to Nashville on a flight from Orlando this morning; flying down to attend my nephew Matthew’s high school graduation. Way2Go Matt!!! It was a fairly quick trip, less than 48 hours from start to finish but still good to see some family I’d not seen in a long time. Of course, it was really good to walk in the door at lunchtime today and see Sheila. Hesitant to leave Sheila, I made the trip to Florida with a heavy heart but knew it was the right thing to do - for Matt, my Mom and my sister Kathy.
I’d listened to a James MacDonald lesson via podcast on the 23rd Psalm recently and saw a new perspective in how sometimes God leaves no other choice but to stop and lie down in those “green pastures”. Sometimes we need an unexpected roadblock to make us stop, reflect and smell the roses. I think this weekend helped serve that end and hopefully helped fertilize a crop of encouragement (2-way) for my family in Florida - and for me.
Now you know the usual topics don’t have a pause button. Emily and Nate helped take care of Sheila and the dogs while I was away. Sheila’s nephrologist Dr. Venkatesh and dialysis team are still trying to baseline a new dry weight value for her and have been really cranking up the ultrafiltration goal in her dialysis sessions. I’ve never seen her come out this lightened. For her sake, I pray that they zero in on a new number soon. She’s still pretty exhausted (washed out) today after yesterday’s treatment. She’s been resting most of the day and hopefully will still be up a date night tonight. It’s been a rough few weeks and I’m really needing needing some 1 on 1 ladybug time 
And - she’s home!
May 26, 2009
But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! - Psalm 69:29
Finally, I have Sheila at home from the hospital, resting and weak but nonetheless home. Praise God, she’s home again!
Tomorrow, back to dialysis (in center) like normal
Maybe Tomorrow?
May 25, 2009
We’re hoping Sheila will get a discharge order tomorrow.The headache had finally subsided a bit and she had dialysis bedside today. It’s been almost a month since we shared a house together for more than a day. We’ll need to followup with a neurosurgeon on the outside but let’s close this chapter and get back to the game of life.
Nothing new
May 24, 2009
Sheila is still in the hospital. The fluid overload and related issues are managed and behind us but the severe unrelenting headaches are still without a diagnosed cause. We’ve done the radionuclide cisternogram, EEG, MRA, MRI, numerous lab tests. I spend all my non working, non sleeping hours at her bedside. She’s been in 10 days now and had scarecly few visitors outside of me and my Mom who came up here from Florida to lend support. At this point, I would do literally anything to take away Sheila’s pain and to have my wife (and life) back…
I’ll take radionuclide cisternogram for $250, Alex
May 19, 2009
(for non US readers, a reference to the television quiz show Jeopardy hosted by Alex Trebek)
Sheila is still in the hospital. The fluid overload problems are behind us but she also had been suffering a week of unrelenting headaches when she was admitted. About 10 years ago, Sheila had a LP Shunt put in to vent off pressure from excess csf for a condition called pseudotumor cerebri. I remember one of her doctors mentioning after a recent CT scan that the LP shunt was dislodged. I wish I remember which one said that… It’s possible that the symptoms could also be caused by the opposite problem, intracranial hypotension. All the symptoms are starting to add up so today, she got a radionuclide cisternogram (nuclear medical imaging + spinal tap) and we will anxiously await the results. Please keep Sheila in your prayers.
30 Rock promotes kidney donation
May 16, 2009
Via DSEN:
Sodium reduction is worth its salt
I spotted this article in our local paper this morning. Championing a massive reduction in our salt intake will be difficult but the payoff will be worth it.
By Meredith Cohn
THE BALTIMORE SUNAfter decades of warnings about salt, the white, grainy mineral seems poised to become the grocery’s next boogeyman.
Health and consumer advocates who see a rising epidemic of high blood pressure and related disease are making the latest push, and that has foodmakers inching toward change.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently quantified the problem with a report saying most Americans consume more than double the daily recommended level of sodium, a major component of salt. An Institute of Medicine committee has begun exploring ways to control intake that could include new regulations, education and further efforts from the food industry.
Since sodium occurs naturally in a few foods and its use is ubiquitous, eliminating it from American diets would be impossible and not advised, because a small amount is needed for proper body function. But if reduction efforts are successful, proponents say there would be less hypertension, and less heart disease and fewer strokes, the No. 1 and No. 3 killers nationwide.
Posted in: Dialysis and CKD | | Comments OffFluid Overload Round II
May 15, 2009
I’ve not been posting much lately; life has been a bit hectic. Ou daughter Emily had to drive Sheila home from her weeklong visit Tuesday night. I came home from work yesterday to take Sheila to her primary care / family doctor for followup. She’s been sick and was getting weaker. Fortunately, she (her Doctor) sent us straight to the hospital to be admitted. Our old friend nemesis fluid overload and congestive heart failure has returned. Sheila has lost some weight lately and they’ve been trying to re-baseline her “dry” weight. Looking back on recent symptoms, all the signs were there but her after-dialysis weight appeared normal. Just another reminder how those of us w/o CKD take our kidneys for granted. Fluid management seems to be as much art as science.
Posted in: Dialysis and CKD | | Comments OffNewer Posts »