After losing my job in January, my focus became a little more widespread. i.e., I am going in too many different directions at once. Attending classes at the local JC, working as an on call temp for the local school district, applying for permanent employment on a daily basis, and keeping up with my husband and two kids (all with various health issues). Yikes!
Anyway, the results from my March Dr. appointment were normal with no major surprises.
My lab work came back with slightly high triglycerides, low HDL Cholesterol, high glucose levels, and high CO2. All warning signs that I need to become more active and lose some weight before it becomes a “real” health issue. Definitely a wake up call to the possibility/high risk of developing diabetes. I have always been overweight, but this is the first time it showed up on a blood test. Working a desk job, and then taking online classes at night that leave me sitting at a computer all day combined with sloppy eating habits does not help the situation.
The EKG was within normal ranges.
The bone density test provides a reference point as I age and was currently normal. I guess individuals with PKD are at a higher risk for fractures as they age.
The kidney ultrasound showed a slight growth in the size of the cysts, but nothing major. Stress does irritate the cysts causing bouts of pain.
The mammogram shows simple cysts that I have had since I was in my early teens, most likely a side affect of the PKD. They are not anything to worry about, just a little uncomfortable at times.
Dr. Williams did contact the Nephrologist that he referred me to, and I was able to schedule an appointment in early July. At this point, I do not expect to gain much from the appointment since we already did the tests I wanted, but I do want to develop a relationship so that if I have a concern in the future, I will hopefully have better success at a timely appointment. I would also like her to keep me in mind if she learns about any new preventative options that become available.
Mostly, my goal is to focus on preventative health at this point.
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3 comments:
I am sorry that your medical care experiences are soooo poor, actually, horrendous. I am a PKD patient from Minnesota and am very spoiled with the incredible medical care I receive here. I want to encourage you to seek a specialist in PKD, not just any Nephrologist or family practitioner. I don't know if you have any family in Minnesota, but if you did, I could help you and your daughter get connected to Dr. Vicente Torres, one of the leading PKD research physicians in the world, and Chair of the Nephrology Department and Hypertension Department at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. You and your daughter may be eligible to participate in PKD drug trials and would receive the care you deserve. I can promise you, they leave no stone unturned. The care is totally marvelous. Anyway, I am sure that there may be very good PKD Nephrologists in California, but if not, again, I would be pleased to be of any help. My sister passed away from a post-surgical problem related to PKD, and only a year ago, my brother-in-law found out he has PKD!!! Can you imagine?? No family history and his wife,my sister, died from post-surgical complications. The odds of him spontaneously mutating a PKD gene is astronomical, but then being the spouse of a PKD patient on top of that??? Don't forget that you will need to have an MRI of the brain to make sure you don't have any aneuryisms.(sp?) Blessings to you!! Scott , Willmar, Minnesota sjandkj@charter.net
Scott,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my blog. I am sorry to hear about your sister, and you are quite right, the medical experience has been scary. The chances that your sister would find and marry someone with PKD is hard to believe, but I guess that just shows how many people are out there with the disease and probably have no idea.
My daughter did have an MRI of her brain. Nothing has been said about scheduling one for myself yet, but I suspect that will be up to my Nephrologist once I see her. If I don’t feel that she is specialized enough with PKD and its complications, I will search out someone else.
Margaret
Hi, Margaret. Hope all is well with you as I attempt to catch up on my blog reading. Have you had a chance to see the nephrologist yet? Are you planning on participating in the Walk for PKD this year?
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