I got the list of appointments I have coming up to get the dialysis fistula. I know when and where I have to be this Wednesday, but both the other appointments I have to wait for a call before I know the when. At any rate, I will have
medical-related work scheduled from Tuesday (dialysis) through Saturday (more dialysis), then Sunday free before Monday, May 2nd, the day I have the fistula created surgically on my upper left arm.
=(^+^)=
I think you can see that I will probably be a bit preoccupied this coming week, so I may or may not post new photos of the kitties or anything else. We’ll see.
Stick your tongue out at me, buster….!
On the plus side, capturing Andy here to give him medicine is a snap.
“Hey! I’m busy! Take your photo and leave me alone!”
OK, Dougy. Just this once.
There! Two gratuitous kitty photos to hold you over till I can create new material.
Cats are great healers and your guys are the best! My three felines are sending you good wishes!
Thanks! It is nice to wake up and have two kitties purring and trying to get my attention!
A surgery week in sight but after that the things will be easier .
I wish you courage
In friendship
Michel
Yes, I think they will be! The healing time of six to eight weeks will determine when the catheters can come out.
Good thing you have a kitty to help you recover 🙂 Hope all goes well.
Two kitties – Andy and Dougy, thought they do look a lot alike. Of course, they are brothers from the same litter.
Of course! Double trouble, double the love. 💜
Exactly!
Thank you for the photos-very cute. I will be praying everything goes well for you.
I am comfortable with the surgeon and his staff. They are in a hospital, too, that is highly rated, one with which I am familiar from earlier hospitalizations.
If I haven’t already, welcome back. I am glad you are up and about…in a manner of speaking. They say time flies faster as you get older, but in relation to what? It seems to be the speed to the next doctors appointments.
Nice to see the kitties again.
Ha!Ha! You got that relationship exactly right! The good thing about having these thrice weekly dialysis treatments is I will see my doctor and physician’s assistant on a very regular basis as they are both associated with the dialysis unit.
Wonderful, killing 2 birds with one stone. I have developed a very close relationship with the DMV, (I think it’s called that in the United States) In order to keep my drivers licence, I must, at 90, report every 6 months to present a “doctors note” and redo my test. Not that I drive anymore, Tom has become my chauffeur, however it’s the principal of the thing. As I get older I find the paperwork of just proving I’m still alive takes up far too much time.
After I hit 70, I have to renew my license in person (in Nebraska). I think I have to take the written test and do a driving test, but I guess I will find out when I hit that age.
Hope all goes smoothly. The logistics of medical treatment can be daunting even when it’s minor.
Mine occur over a week in two towns 57 miles apart. The woman who marks my arm for the surgeon comes to town once a week to perform her services in a specialty clinic where out of town specialists come on a regular schedule from out of town. Same with the surgeon. Though this means some inconveniences, the good part is that people in area towns with limited medical services can get those of a larger regional hospital at my town’s general hospital, then go to the larger regional hospitals where special services are needed. The dialysis I get thrice weekly in my hometown used to not be available here, so I would have had to travel 114 miles round trip each of those three day in the bad old days. In a party of the country where blizzards, tornadoes, and wildlife wandering onto the road are typical and regular hazards faced in their seasons, that 114 miles round trip would have been a big hassle!
Thank heaven you have those people willing to be circuit-riding medicos. When i spoke of medical logistics I had no idea, must have been a really intuitive moment.
For sure! The nice thing about hospitals in this remote part of Nebraska is they have a network that promotes bringing specialists to the patients rather than making it necessary for the patient always to drive an hour or more to get to the specialists. Of course, if there is serious medical attention needed, patients are transported to hospitals best suited to care for the specific needs of the patient. That’s why I was transported four and a half hours away from my hometown to Denver during my recent illness. That’;s where the specialists familiar with Wegener’s granulomatosis are.
That’s excellent that you know and trust your surgeon. We’ll all be thinking about you, knowing you’re in good hands.
“Hi, handsome cats” says Minx. She’s such a floozy!
Ha! Ha! That the kitty brothers are! Tell Minx they say >Mrow!<
Yes, it is excellent to have that confidence in the surgeon. Though it isn't a major surgery, I will be put under for it.
Ya know, it is not just the kitty photos. OK, it is primarily the kitty photos, but mostly it is the person taking the photos and the relationship with the kitties. So come back as soon as you are able. Best wishes to all of you.
It’s OK to acknowledge Andy and Dougy”s part in the enterprise. I know my follow number skyrocketed once I brought cats into the mix. (Of course they did!)
Hope all goes well!
Thanks! I am confident it will.
Don’t worry. I’m sure it will turn out fine.
Yes.
Last week was a medical and dental week for me. So I won’t think you deserted us. For some reasons all these appointments are tiring.
Mom looked up Dialysis Fistula to see what you would have to go through. A dialysis fistula connects an artery to a vein. Good grief dude…this sounds odd. We have more questions than answers now. I gather that having this plastic tube connected makes Dialysis easier at least the attachment of the machine..do you have something sticking out? MOL Sorry, that sounds gross. Mom behave yourself! Really, I can’t take her anywhere! Mom means is there something that gets caught in your clothes now that the addition of this Fistula will get rid of?
Shoko and Jean
I don’t think anything sticks above the skin. And, yes, I have two capped catheters that stick out about four inches from the skin. The other ends are up to (may be in) my heart. The fistula supposedly is more sanitary, with fewer infections than what I have. The cather ends are taped down and the area where they come out of the chest is cleansed and disinfected, then rebandaged each time I go in for dialysis. If they weren’t taped down, I’d worry about the dangly ends attracting kitty ation! LOL!
haha….kitty action! That kind of attention you don’t need. I’m glad you like and trust your doctor. I hate surgery…like everybody else I guess. I have had so very many and don’t want anymore but I don’t necessarily have the last say….my body does. My thoughts are sure with you.
Jean
I’ve a more positive experience with surgery, I guess. I’ve never had any complication, for example, and none has been major. The main thing is to get it done and over with.
You got that right. Done and over with and back to the boys.
You’re exactly right. I had a pace maker put in due to A Fib. The surgeon implanted it wrong and there were severe complications. I was flown down to Vancouver as they drained the liquid from around my heart. Over 1/2 cup of liquid. I tell you that procedure hurt like the dickens. I want no hospitalization ever but realize that is just a dream and so life goes on as usual for me.
I wouldn’t want to go through a two month and one week ordeal like I just went through. It wasn’t pain of poor treatment I suffered, just being away from home so long, knowing things were happening over which I had little or no control.
Sending prayers, good vibes and healing energies. Love the photos of the boys and Andys beautiful face. Happy he is more cooperative taking his medication. Ali knows when it is time and hides under the sofa so I just wait and eventually she comes out and gets her meds.
I know that approach, too! I have to trick him to give him his medicine.
Betcha that if the doctors only got paid a flat fee for the procedure, you’d just need to show up a bit early on the day of the actual procedure….
You will be in my prayers on the 2nd.
I think so, too!
Good luck, Doug! Wishing you all the best for these upcoming appointments. The Cats Of Salmon Brook Farms are sending you all the Power of the Paw they can muster, and sending a big “Meow” to their favorite Persian Brothers Andy and Dougy.
Thanks, Livonia! I’ve had two other operations performed by the same surgeon, and he is very good.
Prayers and blessings
I will send you light
As always Sheldon
Thank you, Sheldon. I appreciate that!
My fingers crossed too dear Weggie, with my love and best wishes, nia
I am confident all will go well as I’ve had two other operations by this surgeon. He is very good!
Keep my fingers crossed that all goes well!
Thank you! I’ve had two operations with the surgeon who’s going to do this next one, and he is very competent.