My Line....
No Lock and go needed this Friday as on Monday I will be starting my treatment schedule at my local haemodialysis unit.
My main care remains at Kings as does my Consultant, the local haemodialysis unit will purely be in charge of my plasma exchanges as it logistically makes sense.
Monday afternoon at 2pm, my chest line will get its first proper run, the pressure on the line is tested slightly when it is flushed and locked but nothing beats seeing it run properly attached to machines. I am hoping in the next round of regular plasma exchanges that my brother will be able to come and my parents just to spend some time and see how it works and learn the process.
I will also attend the Unit on Tuesday and Wednesday, which will give me 3 full exchanges next week, then I believe the plan is a 4 week break and around the 7th August I will have another 2 exchanges then we will look at my symptoms and the data in a review at Kings.
My line has settled down, the skin around my line has virtually healed and my V shaped pillow has saved me hours and hours of laying awake. I have moved onto using a smaller Tegaderm dressing to allow, during this hot weather my skin to breathe.
I must be fast approaching the time to have the last stitches removed from around the exit site, this is something I am not looking forward too as the skin on my chest around the tubing has healed and started to cuff, it's slightly red but not hot so I know it's not infected and the stitches are entwined around the cuff, all I keep thinking is ouch but again momentary pain I suppose.
I am still needing help from Kim with daily tasks and really trying not to lift heavy items, over stretch my chest and reach up high. A few days I have been inpatient and stubborn and attempted to wash my own hair but Jesus, all I do is wash the cabinets, the floor and the sideboard.
I have spent, since the line being inserted, the whole time in vests, I wear them every where, believe me I wouldn't wear one anywhere before this other than in the garden or on holiday but I suffer with fever like temperatures as part of my condition and coupled with our current Summer and my line no way could I get a T-shirt on currently and would bake in it. My poor Bastille t-shirts are looking at me lovingly each day. I haven't gone completely mad though and succumbed to shorts.
I must be fast approaching the time to have the last stitches removed from around the exit site, this is something I am not looking forward too as the skin on my chest around the tubing has healed and started to cuff, it's slightly red but not hot so I know it's not infected and the stitches are entwined around the cuff, all I keep thinking is ouch but again momentary pain I suppose.
I am still needing help from Kim with daily tasks and really trying not to lift heavy items, over stretch my chest and reach up high. A few days I have been inpatient and stubborn and attempted to wash my own hair but Jesus, all I do is wash the cabinets, the floor and the sideboard.
I have spent, since the line being inserted, the whole time in vests, I wear them every where, believe me I wouldn't wear one anywhere before this other than in the garden or on holiday but I suffer with fever like temperatures as part of my condition and coupled with our current Summer and my line no way could I get a T-shirt on currently and would bake in it. My poor Bastille t-shirts are looking at me lovingly each day. I haven't gone completely mad though and succumbed to shorts.
Wishing you so much luck and sending love x (Daniel)
ReplyDeleteIt will be so much easier for family and friends to come and sit with you while your at KC and spend time seeing what happens and share a few coffees with you x
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