PKD Update

Dh and I spent last Tuesday at Mayo in Jacksonville, for an update/checkup.

We got up at 4am, and left by 4:30 for the 2 hour drive, as we had to be there at 7am. Lovely.
Got turned around once on 95 b/c of traffic not letting us get over for our exit, so had to turn
around, drive back down the interstate about 10 miles, then come back up and try it again. That
time, we made it no problems.

They did a whole barrage of tests, as usual, and between those, the social worker, the nurse, and
finally the doctor, we were there til nearly 5pm. Results are as follows....

His kidney function is UP from 14% to 17%!!! Rejoice with me over that. What a blessing! Not
sure how that came about, but we'll take it.

His potassium levels are DOWN from 5.5 to 5.2! This is also great news. He is on sodium bicarb
to lower this, so this made sense, but b/c the SB irritates his gout, he can't take much of it. So it was
nice to see a good result.

All other tests: EKG, scans, ect, were normal. A wonderful update after all!
He was hovering on dialysis b/c of the potassium. His nephrologist was concerned and had 'drawn
the line' at 5.6, so seeing it down was a relief!

Now, the worrisome stuff, b/c you KNOW there has to be some of that, right? Right. :)

The lower ab scan didn't go low enough, so the doctors are not sure there is room for a donor kidney if one should come available. Mayo Jax no longer removes the old kidneys at time of transplant we were told, so it would have to be done before.

Well, if you don't have kidneys, you have to be on dialysis, obviously. But Tony's kidney function is
UP, moving him away from that (as long as all other stuff stays good). So he has to have another scan next Friday.

If he does have room, all good, no further action necessary but to wait.
If he does NOT have room, then Mayo will put him 'inactive' on the list, wait until he does go on dialysis, and then remove the kidneys, as he will no longer need them at that time. Then he will be
'active' again, and open for a kidney if it should come available.

Sigh. Inactive status is like not being on the list. A kidney that is a perfect match would go to someone else, and we would be waiting that much longer. Frustration!

So for now, we'll have another scan, and wait and see. God is in control, and has this all worked out,
one way or the other, kidney or not. Sometimes, the answer is 'no'. ;( But we continue to pray, as we ought, and praise Him for it all. Stay tuned.

PS: Our former Sunday School teacher's wife has been battling her second go round with cancer (she had been free for many years), but has recently learned that there is nothing else to be done. She has at most, weeks. Please pray for Pam, her husband, and two sons, one of which just started college this year, the other a few years older. She was a bright, vibrant spirit who always cheered those around her. Seeing her this way now is heartbreaking, but we know the best for her is yet to come. Still, we mourn our own (temporary) loss. Again, please be in prayer for all of her family as they spend these precious last days with her.