When I woke up this morning, I didn't think I'd end the day by researching the link between Prograf and creatinine, how to prepare for dialysis and where's the nearest center, yet that's what's happened today.
Around 6:00pm, my doctor at Mayo called with my lab results, and seemed a bit freaked out. Here's why:
My creatinine has jumped from 1.8 to 2.8 in two months. That's a BIG jump. This is a bad jump.
A creatinine of 2.8 lowers my kidney function to an eGFR of 19, which puts me solidly in stage 4 CKD. According to what I read, at an eGFR of 20 you can get put on "THE LIST". Yes people, I'm talking about the UNOS Transplant list.
I'm clearly peeing less and less....another indicator of decreased kidney function. Did you know that lots of dialysis patients don't pee? Won't that just be WEIRD? Okay, the ONLY upside is no need to use those ultra-creepy restrooms at gas stations :)
My protein loss hasn't changed much...still hovering around 12000 mgrams. A normal person averages less than 150.
And clearly, based off of this following graph, I'm having some electrolyte issues.
The funny thing is, I feel pretty OK. I think I got a definite boost from the albumin infusions (still minimal swelling, and I've spent A LOT of time in a car this week).
So the plan is to stop taking Prograf/tacrolimus (which is great because it gives me the shakes) and bactrim (which is also great because it causes thrush) immediately, and then do another blood creatinine test on Monday when I get my INR checked.
I seriously don't know what to think. I think I'm in shock. I know I'm happy for happy pills, 'cause if it weren't for them, I fear I'd be a babbling mess. This is where it's good to be numb.
Wish me luck folks, this journey's about to get bumpy.