I woke this morning at 4am with a massive #migraine already in progress. Easily an 8 on the (relatively useless) pain scale. If this one had an aura, I slept through it. Ugh.
Got up and took some Tylenol. The pain has moved from acute severe to chronic annoying. Yes, Tylenol. Can't take NSAIDs due to #CKD. No Rx meds for the migraines as they don't occur often enough to meet the criteria. 🤷♀️
Kidney issues lead to CKD, lasting damage that worsens. Severe damage ends in kidney failure (ESRD), requiring either dialysis (a machine doing the kidney's work) or a transplant (replacing them with a healthy one).
I just got around to reading, in detail, the blood work results from cardio visit. Nothing terribly surprising, except ... My eGFR was 81. I'm not going to get too excited, yet, since I am now back on low dose aspirin.
But if that holds, it means I have moved out of #CKD, and back to normal kidney health, due to dropping all NSAIDs. I guess it was worth the increase in #fibro pain if that's the case.
For those not following along, my eGFR was 51 in July 2022 when I was on Rx diclofenac for the #fibro. That was definitely stressing my kidneys. It was 57 this past July after one year of no NSAIDs. So slight recovery. Below 60 is the line for #CKD. So 81 is a huge improvement in 4 months. At my age, they look for 85 but I'll take the 81. 💯
A few of my followers have been following along with my cardiac diagnostic process, particularly with the skin irritation from the monitor I'm wearing.
For you who have, an update. I have a diagnosis, thanks to the monitor.
I didn't mention in the blog post, but the cardio doc told me to start low dose aspirin immediately. Local pharmacy was completely sold out, so I ordered a one year supply from Amazon. Less than $8. It arrived a few minutes ago and I am now officially back on aspirin.
And yes, I pointed out I had been on it before the #CKD diagnosis. He said I didn't need to worry about that.
My friend, Vanessa, is no longer homeless! She still definitely needs financial assistance if anyone can help. She didn't get anything before from anyone but me. She has a Venmo account now too.
I am a well educated #transgender woman, a demisexual lesbian, and an eclectic #Pagan. I am loving, and giving. I am a #caretaker type, who often fails miserably at self care.
I am a widow. The day that my wife died, the doctor came to me asking for my permission to stop all life-saving measures. I said “Call it” to the doctor, thereby finalizing her death.
I am a #spoonie with diagnoses of fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, moderate cervical spine stenosis, complex PTSD, epilepsy, and stage 2 chronic kidney disease. I have at least two migraines a month on average.