Steve did not feel well at all today. He was very nauseous, weak and his vision was a little blurry. It was bad enough that I could tell he was a little worried. We were out side most of the day cleaning out the car and pickup, picking up walnuts in the yard, nothing to tough. Blair said she could tell when they were picking up walnuts that something was going on. He came in the house and laid down. He blamed it on eating too much the night before and at breakfast this morning. Just like a man to find another reason but the obvious one. He did feel better by evening.
Sometimes I wish he would just go ahead with the dialysis. I know it is really going to tie him down but it has to be better than the way he feels. I am afraid he is going to wait until he is really sick. It has to be better than what he is feeling the last couple of weeks.
Keep praying, thanks a bunch for all that everyone has done.
The Schmitz's
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Steve had his appointment today at KU. First time since we have been going to KU that we had to wait. His appointment for the ultra sound was at 8:30 with the appointment with Dr. Holzberlein at 9:30. We didn't get in to see the doctor until 10:30 only an hour wait which was not bad considering all the times we have been there and have only waited 15 to 30 minutes. Steve has learned that patience's is a virtue.
We had to go to the cancer center today instead of the hospital due to the mix up of the rescheduling of the cancelled appointment. This is why it took so long because he was considered a new patient there since we had never been there before.
Sometimes we feel like we are all over the place with the outcome of these appointment. We go for one thing and usually come away with something different. Ok with us if the luck stays with us. The appointment today was to determine a date to remove his kidney. After talking with the Dr. he said the ultra sound is unchanged. It looks the same as the last 3 which was good news. He says leave it in if it is still working, which is what Steve wanted to hear. Dr. feels confident that no changes in the cyst on the kidney is a good sign. We haven't talked with the transplant team in a while. Dr. today says of course it will have to be removed before transplanting. He asked Steve if he has had any fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headaches, shortness of breath, or chest pains. Steve did say all except he has not had any chest pain. Short of breath when going up stairs. The doctor wasn't surprised. He is still planning on removing it laproscopic if scar tissue allows. We made another 3 month appoint for another ultrasound. Every time we do this I think he will be on dialysis before we see them again. He has proved this wrong twice now. We are very thankful in the power of prayer.
Steve will see Dr. Brown next week. He is suppose to get a flu shot soon, his 3rd hepatitis B and sometime get a chickenpox vaccination.
Steve was tired when we got home all in all today was a good day long but good. This is kind of like playing chess. You can't hide, you can't blend in, your move!!!!
The Schmitz's & The Gockel's (Emily was feeling left out)
We had to go to the cancer center today instead of the hospital due to the mix up of the rescheduling of the cancelled appointment. This is why it took so long because he was considered a new patient there since we had never been there before.
Sometimes we feel like we are all over the place with the outcome of these appointment. We go for one thing and usually come away with something different. Ok with us if the luck stays with us. The appointment today was to determine a date to remove his kidney. After talking with the Dr. he said the ultra sound is unchanged. It looks the same as the last 3 which was good news. He says leave it in if it is still working, which is what Steve wanted to hear. Dr. feels confident that no changes in the cyst on the kidney is a good sign. We haven't talked with the transplant team in a while. Dr. today says of course it will have to be removed before transplanting. He asked Steve if he has had any fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headaches, shortness of breath, or chest pains. Steve did say all except he has not had any chest pain. Short of breath when going up stairs. The doctor wasn't surprised. He is still planning on removing it laproscopic if scar tissue allows. We made another 3 month appoint for another ultrasound. Every time we do this I think he will be on dialysis before we see them again. He has proved this wrong twice now. We are very thankful in the power of prayer.
Steve will see Dr. Brown next week. He is suppose to get a flu shot soon, his 3rd hepatitis B and sometime get a chickenpox vaccination.
Steve was tired when we got home all in all today was a good day long but good. This is kind of like playing chess. You can't hide, you can't blend in, your move!!!!
The Schmitz's & The Gockel's (Emily was feeling left out)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Steve did labs today. I know they say that his numbers will not get better but it is hard to see then decline each time. His creatinine was 7.3 today, potassium was 5.4 (out of range a little) and the phosphorus was 4.6. He is taking a phosphorus binder every time he eats a meal now so any phospharse in the food will be taken out. He had a slight headache today but didn't get him all the way down like it did last week. We are rescheduled for next week with KU again.
We have been hanging around home the last couple of weeks. Going to Blair's softball games and just taking it easy. Blair's batting average is 600 hundred and she is frustrated with that she wants it higher. She must be related to her cousins (won't mention which ones).
I will post again after our appointments a KU. Thanks for all the support and prayers.
Steve, Christy & Blair
We have been hanging around home the last couple of weeks. Going to Blair's softball games and just taking it easy. Blair's batting average is 600 hundred and she is frustrated with that she wants it higher. She must be related to her cousins (won't mention which ones).
I will post again after our appointments a KU. Thanks for all the support and prayers.
Steve, Christy & Blair
Friday, September 11, 2009
Well not much to tell after today. We were scheduled to go to KU for an ultrasound to check Steve's kidney again and an appointment with Dr. Holzberlein, the urologist. We have had this scheduled since April.
They always call the day before to confirm the appointment and we did not receive a phone call. I decided this morning before we went on a long drive to Kansas City that I would call and check to make sure he still had the appointment. You know right away when they put you on hold something is up. The girl came back on the line after a long delay and told me that he did have an appointment for an ultrasound and to see the doctor but it had been cancelled due to the doctor was out of town and they forgot to call us.
Good thing I called. Steve's blood pressure would have been off the charts if we had gone to Kansas City to find his appointment was cancelled I wouldn't have been happy either. The girl in the office said she could not reschedule him someone would have to call us Monday to do that. So we will see what happens Monday.
Steve was sick Wednesday, woke up with a headache and had it all day. He finally came home around 4:00 showered and layed down. About 6:30 he got sick enough to vomit. When he has a headache like this he usually has to go to bed. Every time he does this I think it will be the last because he will be needing dialysis. He got up Thursday morning as usual and went about the day. Today was pretty good also.
We will let you know more when we know more.
Love Steve, Christy & Blair
They always call the day before to confirm the appointment and we did not receive a phone call. I decided this morning before we went on a long drive to Kansas City that I would call and check to make sure he still had the appointment. You know right away when they put you on hold something is up. The girl came back on the line after a long delay and told me that he did have an appointment for an ultrasound and to see the doctor but it had been cancelled due to the doctor was out of town and they forgot to call us.
Good thing I called. Steve's blood pressure would have been off the charts if we had gone to Kansas City to find his appointment was cancelled I wouldn't have been happy either. The girl in the office said she could not reschedule him someone would have to call us Monday to do that. So we will see what happens Monday.
Steve was sick Wednesday, woke up with a headache and had it all day. He finally came home around 4:00 showered and layed down. About 6:30 he got sick enough to vomit. When he has a headache like this he usually has to go to bed. Every time he does this I think it will be the last because he will be needing dialysis. He got up Thursday morning as usual and went about the day. Today was pretty good also.
We will let you know more when we know more.
Love Steve, Christy & Blair
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
We made it through Labor Day weekend, not much laboring went on. Actually we had a good time. Steve and I camped the entire weekend with friends. Hung out out the lake, went to the famous Wiffle Ball Tournament in Conception Jct. that Steve and Vick host. Pretty entertaining. Our oldest grandson spent the last night at the lake with us, let me tell you he doesn't set still for a minute. All in all it was a good weekend. Steve slept one day until 9:00a.m., he is usually up no later than 6:00a.m. Today they cut silage. It is 7:00pm and he is not home yet. I am sure he is going to crash. Will let you know more after our visit to KU.
Christy Schmitz
Christy Schmitz
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I have really noticed a change in Steve in about the last 2 weeks. He is sleeping more and more which is not a bad thing but fatigue is one of the symptoms of the kidney failure. We went to St. Joe yesterday to see the Urologist Dr. Liarz (surgeon who took out the left kidney). I really like this guy. This was a six month follow up. He is the one who takes care of all your plumbing, kidneys, bladder, etc... He asked Steve how he has been feeling and he answered as always "great". Dr. Liarz looked at me, so I have to be the bad guy and say his energy level has dropped quite a bit. What is with guys and doctors. Just tell it how it is.
His creatinine has jumped to 6.6 this was the results from Mondays labs. Potassium was in range. He falls a sleep quite easy and the last time we saw doctor Brown she said to be careful about that and don't get too drowsy when driving. If he sets down his is usually asleep. He slept on the way to St. Joe yesterday and that is unusual for him to sleep in the car, that's usually me.
He has an appointment in a few days at KU for another ultrasound to check the remaining kidney to see if everything is still the same as far as it having the cysts. I am sure they are going to talk about when to take it out. Dr. Liarz says he wants them send him a letter about the results of this next ultrasound. He thinks if nothing has changed since he has been doing these that it might be reasonable to leave the kidney in. He says it will help with the water balance even after it fails. This is a scary thought, you don't want to take it out if it is ok other than failing but at the same time you don't want cancer to reoccur there either. We will have to do whatever KU says since they have control of the transplant.
Dr Liarz had some interesting statistics about renal cell cancer. He says the chances of cancer being in the other kidney is slim to none. He said the numbers just don't show this. It is more likely to reoccur in the chest or another organ and should show up if it is going to reoccur with in 12 to 18 months. That is why renal cell had a waiting period of 2 years before he could get a new kidney. Dec 17th, 2009 will be 1 year and that is just right around the corner.
You may have to do a little overtime on the praying to help us Steve make the best choice about what we are going to do when we see the KU doctors. We probably won't have a choice. I will post again to let you know the outcome of his ultra sound. Love to all.
Steve, Christy & Blair (loving softball)
His creatinine has jumped to 6.6 this was the results from Mondays labs. Potassium was in range. He falls a sleep quite easy and the last time we saw doctor Brown she said to be careful about that and don't get too drowsy when driving. If he sets down his is usually asleep. He slept on the way to St. Joe yesterday and that is unusual for him to sleep in the car, that's usually me.
He has an appointment in a few days at KU for another ultrasound to check the remaining kidney to see if everything is still the same as far as it having the cysts. I am sure they are going to talk about when to take it out. Dr. Liarz says he wants them send him a letter about the results of this next ultrasound. He thinks if nothing has changed since he has been doing these that it might be reasonable to leave the kidney in. He says it will help with the water balance even after it fails. This is a scary thought, you don't want to take it out if it is ok other than failing but at the same time you don't want cancer to reoccur there either. We will have to do whatever KU says since they have control of the transplant.
Dr Liarz had some interesting statistics about renal cell cancer. He says the chances of cancer being in the other kidney is slim to none. He said the numbers just don't show this. It is more likely to reoccur in the chest or another organ and should show up if it is going to reoccur with in 12 to 18 months. That is why renal cell had a waiting period of 2 years before he could get a new kidney. Dec 17th, 2009 will be 1 year and that is just right around the corner.
You may have to do a little overtime on the praying to help us Steve make the best choice about what we are going to do when we see the KU doctors. We probably won't have a choice. I will post again to let you know the outcome of his ultra sound. Love to all.
Steve, Christy & Blair (loving softball)
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