Durka-Durka-Muhammed-Jihad!!
Okay, I said I'd post something about the 'cryptic' comments involving dialysis. Here it is....
Long story short: I have a kidney disease called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and have over the last three years been attempting to halt the progression of the disease.
As of November 2nd, I've been undergoing hemodialysis treatments since my kidney function has decreased below 10% into what is known as End Stage Renal Disease.
The treatments have to be performed three times a week - in my case, Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday - for four hours each time. And after each treatment, I am always 'close' to being dehydrated and hence, feel like shit for the rest of the day.
Now, you might be wondering why I'm telling you all this. The short answer is: I don't really have a specific reason. I have toyed with the idea for several months and thought: Well, it is a significant part of my life and I write about my observations in life.... So, I thought I'd 'spill the beans' - so to speak.
I seriously am not looking for pity or sympathy - I get plenty of it from friends & family. Just thought I'd explain some of the factors that make Mikey what he is.
It has contributed to my decline in posting since November 2nd; I seriously thought my lack of enthusiasm was from being burned out on politics, but in hindsight, it's more of a general lack of energy and the increasing toll that dialysis taking on me in my daily life.
There are a few people in the blogsphere that are aware of this and they've been very cool in keeping it to themselves. Stevie, Ruthie & Scroff, deuddersun, Citizen Smash, Da Goddess, and a couple of others that I cannot recall at this moment (I'm sorry) have been taken into my confidence and have earned the trust that I extoll to them.
To these folks I say Thank You!! for your discression and your support.
For some simple questions that I somewhat anticipate:
Until a donor kidney can be found and implanted in me.
It used to be blood type was the major concern, but advances in anti-rejection medications increases the chances of say someone with blood type A+ donating a kidney to me and having the kidney not being rejected.
Incidently, I'm O+.
Yes, but it isn't just a simple choice of offering one; the prospective donor's health is seriously evaluated before they even begin to consider a full medical workup.
Additionally, a good chunk of my family members are.....older and the viability of an older person's kidney in a transplant situation is deminished because the donor kidney has more 'wear-n-tear' on it.
Not yet, but that's because I'm still working through all of the medical tests before I can become a candidate for transplant. The reasoning is that they want to 'solve' any other medical problems that I might have before they put me on a nation-wide list.
Well, I'm still working part-time - approxiamately 16 hours a week - and I'm still going to school full-time. Making room in my schedule for the dialysis treatments has been a serious excercise in time management; the tricky part was trying to get the classes I need this quarter to 'fit' into my work/dialysis schedule.
Luckily, the university has been very accomedating and my bosses at the navy base I work at have been just plain outstanding in working with me to make it easier for me to continue working and go to school and take care of my medical problems.
If I had any doubt that working for the U.S. government wasn't cool before this, that's all gone now. I want to work for a 'company' that strives to help their employees beyond what most other companies would consider support.
Yeah - think good thoughts and don't 'blow off' that organ donation box on your drivers license. That and if you feel like donating to kidney research, I wouldn't be offended.
Yup - that would be me. Both immunosuppressives AND steroids failed to do anything. As a matter
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Macgrath said:
The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is usually unknown. A small number of cases resu
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Stuart said:
As a fellow dialysis patient (here in Australia), all I can say is best of luck, and hang in ther
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Tetzman said:
Wow! Thanks for the link to my site! I just noticed it on your main page!
Hang in there!<
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Kristie said:
I hope you get well mike, (both my father and my brother are mike too!) if I wasn't donating my k
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Kevin Tierney said:
Mike, I am sorry to hear you have FSGS. I work for The NephCure Foundation, which is the only or
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Comments on Mystery Explained
Hey Mikey,
Guess I'll be nice to you here 'cause I'm gonna slam one of your other posts, lol!
Listen, Mo, the offer still stands. I'm in great physical shape ya know, just ask scroff. But ya better like Johnnie Black 'cause that's what it's used to.
Get better! I need you around to laugh at when we impeach George Bush!
d.
|| Posted by deuddersun, January 14, 2005 04:53 PM ||Sorry, dude. I've gone through dehydration and then heat stroke, it wasn't a fun time.
|| Posted by Chase, January 14, 2005 05:24 PM ||I got hit in the kidney with a baseball bat once.
I have O+ blood, too.
|| Posted by Geoffrey, January 14, 2005 06:30 PM ||Sorry to hear about all this Mikey. Hopefully you're feeling as good as you can in light of everything. Feel better!
|| Posted by jaws, January 14, 2005 06:55 PM ||But ya better like Johnnie Black 'cause that's what it's used to.
Used to??? That's what it's made of...
Glad you finally posted about this, Mad One. I was wondering how long you were going to sit on this.
btw, there's nothing wrong with a little sympathy... what are people supposed to feel... "sux to be you?" I don't think so...
|| Posted by scroff, January 15, 2005 02:40 AM ||I'm O-Pos, too.
And I might have an extra "bean" around here somewhere that you could have. I don't use it much.
I'll ask my doctor.
PS: L&R is BACK!
|| Posted by Rob@L&R, January 15, 2005 09:14 AM ||sort of.
& Thanks for YOUR offer, don't think I'll need it.
Wow, sorry to hear that Mikey. Polyscitic (sp?) kidney disease ran in our family. My grandma was a dyalisis paitent for 23 years before she dies. Grandpa used to give her her treatments at home three days a week. So I can empathise with you, I remember how it used to wipe out my grandma.
|| Posted by Maeve, January 15, 2005 09:17 AM ||Mikey- good luck! My mom had a kidney transplant back in the 70s (my parents were very involved with the Kidney Foundation for many years- very worthwhile organization for anyone interested in making a donation!). Her donor kidney came from her mother. Long story short (2 rejection attempts, etc) both Mom and Grandma are still doing great. Honestly, with the advances in medicine that have taken place since Mom's transplant, things are looking up for patients like you!! :-)
One thing about what you said about "what people can do to help." It's not enough that you simply check the organ donor box on your driver's license. You need to also share your wishes with your family, because in some states, the family makes the final call.
|| Posted by Beth, January 15, 2005 09:31 AM ||having never been hit in the kidneys with a baseball bat or otherwise, (plus i'm female),I can't identify on that level. :)
|| Posted by Shae, January 16, 2005 02:15 PM ||but man, some days I feel 85 or so, and then I get to thinking about what you're going through, and I'll get over my whining.
really enjoy reading your blog, Mike. If anything can be said about the blogosphere, it's that you'll find some good supporters out there. I wish the best for you!
Anything for you, Darlin'.
*hugs ya while grinning thru tears*
|| Posted by Stevie, January 16, 2005 03:54 PM ||oy vey! *please* let me know if there's anything I can do to help (but not your labs or other school assignments... ;-)) I'm going make a donation to the National Kidney Foundation in your name, if you don't mind.
|| Posted by nathalie, January 18, 2005 01:46 PM ||oh, yeah-- take care of yourself. your family needs you!!!
|| Posted by nathalie, January 18, 2005 01:47 PM ||You rock, Mike. Seriously.
|| Posted by caltechgirl, January 18, 2005 05:58 PM ||Mike, you are very awesome and I pray that one day when I get my license Ill be brave and unselfish enough to check the organ donation box. Anyways Ill be praying for you.
|| Posted by ladyi_15, February 23, 2005 08:07 AM ||Mike, I am sorry to hear you have FSGS. I work for The NephCure Foundation, which is the only organization solely seeking a cause and cure for FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. Please check out our site and shoot me an email.
|| Posted by Kevin Tierney, April 11, 2005 07:48 AM ||I hope you get well mike, (both my father and my brother are mike too!) if I wasn't donating my kidney to my uncle this month (may!) I'd give you one, I'm terrified of the procedure , it happens near the 10th their setting the date this week, he has Polycystic Kidney Disease and he's in rough shape, he has 4 kids and is the only family I have besides my brother, so I know what your going through in a way, well sort of. But anyway, I wish you the best of luck and hope things end well for you, take care!
|| Posted by Kristie, May 2, 2005 04:38 PM ||Kristie
Wow! Thanks for the link to my site! I just noticed it on your main page!
Hang in there!
|| Posted by Tetzman, May 25, 2005 11:58 AM ||T minus 6 days for me.... I'll be blogging from the University Hospital in Denver after 5/31...
I'm nervous as hell, and my wife's a wreck, but I'm pretty sure transplant will be better than dialysis!
As a fellow dialysis patient (here in Australia), all I can say is best of luck, and hang in there!
Cheers
Stu
|| Posted by Stuart, May 28, 2005 04:13 AM ||The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is usually unknown. A small number of cases result from reflux nephropathy. The condition affects both children and adults. Males are affected slightly more often than females, and it also occurs more frequently in African-Americans.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis causes about 10 to 15% of all cases of nephrotic syndrome. In this condition, protein is persistently released in the urine, especially in the form of urine albumin. Most cases will progress to long term, chronic renal failure.
Although the disorder seems to be immune-system related, response to corticosteroid or immunosuppressive medications, which modify our immune response, is inconsistent.
|| Posted by Macgrath, September 30, 2005 08:43 PM ||Yup - that would be me. Both immunosuppressives AND steroids failed to do anything. As a matter of fact, the steroids induced Type II diabetes in me for the duration of the treatment - the worst five months of my life.
|| Posted by Mad Mikey, October 1, 2005 10:47 AM ||