tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:18:11 +0000I've gone through kidney failure twice. The first time in 2000, my mother donated a kidney; and again in 2008, I'm on dialysis waiting for a breakthrough in immuno-suppression medicines before seeking a new kidney.http://www.cycling-videos.com/blogger.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)Blogger645125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-8296541641030402510Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:04:00 +00002010-03-16T07:18:11.250-05:00I haven't felt like blogging lately. The truth is I have two really good days a week (Thursday and Saturday and sometimes Sunday) where I try to get as much done around the house as I can. I don't feel very inspirational. To hear a story of someone truly inspirational go To The Moon & Back a story about local cyclist Dave Berning in Spokes Magazine. I remember meeting Dave a couple times on http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/03/your-daily-inspiration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-2719148044245612094Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:45:00 +00002010-02-21T07:15:25.612-05:00This guy in Ohio, Terry Hoskins, has been in a long running court battle with his brother over a business. Along the way, Terry failed to pay his taxes and the IRS put liens on his business. It appears that the IRS is seizing his business and putting it up for auction. The bank, attempting to recoup some of the funds they loaned Terry for his business has decided to foreclose on his house. http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/02/this-guy-is-criminal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-192434623547677310Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:27:00 +00002010-02-05T06:59:32.090-05:00I got the news yesterday that Clair is not a match. Every person has 6 Antigens. You get 3 from your mom and 3 from your dad. The three antigens I received from my mom are not the same three antigens my sister received from my mom. Since I received a transplant from my mom, my body developed antibodies to the 3 antigens of hers that I wasn't born with, the three antigens that Clair got when she http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/02/clair-is-not-match.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-7169742461006354081Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:52:00 +00002010-02-04T11:03:39.747-05:00"...and I've got this big project duetomorrow for Mr. Kawasaki, and if I don't getit in, he's gonna ask me to commit HariKari...Yeah, well, you know these Japanese managementtechniques." Dade Murphy AKA Zero Cool AKA Crash Overide "Hackers"Toyota just expanded the recall list and now there are problems with the Prius...Me thinks there will be several Japanese businessmen committing Seppuku soon.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/02/my-blt-drive-on-my-computer-just-went.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-5736171531282324809Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +00002010-01-15T05:15:09.627-05:00I'm amazed I'm still alive...At the start of dialysis yesterday, I weighed 76 kilos. I asked them to take off 5 kilos to see if we could find my actual target weight. Yes, Dialysis is all about trial and error. With about an hour to go, I started cramping. I asked the Tech to stop the fluid removal, which she did, temporarily it seems. The cramping got worse with ten minutes to go and I http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/01/lesson-learned.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-4624899171458565700Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:46:00 +00002010-01-13T12:56:55.385-05:00I had fluid in my lungs Monday night...so I went to the Emergency room. They ran tests through the night and they scheduled me for early morning dialysis. The treatment session barely started when the technician (Winny) smelled something funny. When the smell reached the Nurses' station, she decided to terminate my session. She was pretty sure the smell was coming from the water purifier and not http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/01/one-more-hospital-visit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-4099982591198794143Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:39:00 +00002010-01-06T18:50:28.301-05:00We got the news yesterday that my dad's kidneys are not suitable for transplantation. My sister is still willing to go through the process, so hopefully the testing will begin ASAP. In the meantime, my Nephrologist decided awhile back that he would only cover me for 30 days, we thought that would be enough time for me to get a transplant, but that is now unlikely. Since the Davita clinic I nowhttp://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/01/denied.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-311519857470706841Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:00:00 +00002010-01-02T21:06:06.940-05:00I talked with the Nutritionist at my local clinic this week and she seemed to think that my hypertension was NOT a result of any Potassium deficiency. She thinks it was a coincidence that my hypertension came down after I increased my intake. That's certainly possible. So...my hypertension is still unexplained...luckily it's gone away.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/01/maybe-its-not-potassium.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-301668095485239888Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:46:00 +00002010-01-01T00:59:36.307-05:00US Transplant Games 2010 - Madison, Wisconsin...I'd like to be on a PACTour in July, so I'd have to miss these games. World Transplant Games 2011 - Goteburg, Sweden. Sailing anyone? I wonder if the Swedish bikini team will make an appearance??? I suggested bringing a nanny back with me from Sweden, but ABL says no way...http://www.cycling-videos.com/2010/01/transplant-games.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-8981597204546240084Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:48:00 +00002009-12-24T08:59:31.677-05:00Figuring out how much potassium is in your food...On my last hospital visit, I was discharged with the instructions to get 3 Grams of Potassium in my diet. The nurse discharged me with lots of stern warnings to do better...And to limit my fluid intake...And to reduce the potassium in my diet...Well, after doing a couple Google searches, I realized finding potassium values was going to be hard. http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/wolframalpha-is-best-search-engine-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-1559324331256069732Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:37:00 +00002009-12-20T23:50:58.289-05:00PepsiCokeRootbeerBirchbeerSnapple Lemonade (regular and pink)Orange SodaGrape SodaIce Tea (from Mix)Snapple Fruit PunchGinger AleGatoradeCran-AppleIce WaterCherry Slurpee...What I'm going to drink when I get a new kidney...http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/in-no-particular-order.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-3924812657109627538Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:01:00 +00002009-12-20T08:05:44.662-05:00I don't have details, yet. But apparently, a nurse at the Home Hemo program made a report to the transplant clinic and now I need to see a psychiatrist before they will perform the operation...The earliest appointment I can get with the psychiatrist is January 13th...Nearly a month away.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/transplant-delayed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-5987455589484855464Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:20:00 +00002009-12-17T11:26:45.508-05:00Assuming I get a transplant within the next 30 days, I think I may be able to get back in shape in time to do a PACTour Northern Transcontinental. That would be a great way to celebrate the new kidney. The first time around, I had 9 months to recover from the surgery and build up to 100 miles a day. This time around, it'll be closer to 7 months, but I have a better base to work from.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/im-thinking-of-riding-another.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-1251793794722865709Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:25:00 +00002009-12-17T10:32:32.314-05:00Last week I was in the Hospital 3 times for hypertension. Monday night, I went back in to the hospital. It took several rounds of medication and a session of dialysis to get my blood pressure down to a reasonable level. Since my blood pressure was well controlled when I dialyzed at home 6 days a week (and they won't let me back in home hemo), I'm going to request that I be allowed to dialyze a http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/yet-another-hospital-visit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-8590426223409811227Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:57:00 +00002009-12-12T04:12:50.478-05:00While in New Jersey for Thanksgiving, I dialyzed at my second Fresenius clinic. I wish I had the opportunity to dialyze with Fresenius down here. First of all, at the Fresenius clinic, there's plenty of space between chairs, enough space, that they have those hospital curtains that can give a bit of privacy if needed. Each station has a very large TV that has a touch screen. You can get TV, the http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/fresenius-vs-davita.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-7575607860886243110Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:38:00 +00002009-12-09T20:43:12.442-05:00My father is coming down to VA on Tuesday to meet with the Transplant Nephrologist. I found out today that both of my sisters completed the paperwork to start the donation process, so if my dad is rejected, one of them may donate. I had asked Clair, but I was shocked to learn that Heather volunteered to donate. I'm touched. This means a Transplant could be just around the corner for me, and http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/transplant-around-corner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-1908921113317255280Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:23:00 +00002009-12-08T11:31:13.411-05:00The Fat Cyclist has been challenged by Johan Bruyneel to raise $50,000 each for his two favorite charities (The Lance Armstrong Foundation and the World Bicycle Relief Foundation). Go to the Fat Cyclist Blog to read about the challenge. I think this is the coolest thing ever. Please make a donation for Elden aka Fatty, its going to a great cause and you could win some great prizes.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/awesome-fundraiser.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-4053118555069055468Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:28:00 +00002009-12-07T15:30:01.225-05:00It's been a rough week for me, I've been in the hospital 3 times for hypertension. I'm hoping for a kidney soon to fix all this.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/12/hypertension.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-1400144138044107795Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:02:00 +00002009-11-18T18:09:37.856-05:00I wrote a post awhile back about the tragedy in calling a bicycle/vehicle collision an "accident", but I think Bob Mionske has hit the nail on the head with his post. Bob is a lawyer and a cyclist.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/11/eloquent-plea-for-justice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-756174775893963294Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:21:00 +00002009-11-15T21:48:20.298-05:00In the span of two weeks, I lost a baby and a cousin. Davita kicking me out of the home hemo program felt like they were kicking me when I was down. I was hurt and angry and I wasn't thinking straight. I wasn't really thinking at all. Davita pulled the machine out of my house this friday. I felt some relief, but Saturday at dialysis, I saw a page out of my chart from the home hemo program and http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/11/im-so-ready-for-this-to-be-over.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-1768632434279074829Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:17:00 +00002009-11-11T16:25:25.324-05:00I just called Davita Guest Services to schedule a treatment for Thanksgiving. I gave them the address of the closest clinic to my parents house (there are 2 within 7 miles). She then asked how far would I be willing to travel in case that clinic is filled (20 miles, 30 miles, 240 miles...Hell lady, why don't I just dialyze at my home clinic.) My guess is that she will automatically put me in the http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-arrangements.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-532478949142225999Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:38:00 +00002009-11-11T10:47:00.793-05:00Davita Sucksdavita complaintApparently, One of the many documents I signed at the beginning of Home Hemo stated, "I may be discharged from the program for failing to meet the expectations of the staff..." Apparently, that trumps the other document I signed at the same time giving me the right to 30 days advance notice. It also gives them vast leeway to do whatever they want and they can use anything as an excuse to boot me http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/11/i-have-no-rights-dialysis-is-hopeless.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-641050796222740020Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:09:00 +00002009-11-10T04:26:49.172-05:00I found myself humming a Warren Zevon tune tonight. Maybe it's because I'm stuck between the rock and the hard place. Dad get me outta this. So...I met with Davita's "Care Team" on Tuesday November 3rd. They told me I was being discharged from the Home Program and I would be dialyzing In-Center. They felt I was too much of a liability to the fledgling program. They told me I was to dialyze at http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/11/send-lawyers-guns-and-money.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-616140996840101910Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:13:00 +00002009-11-08T10:26:48.321-05:00After home dialysis Tuesday, I had issues. I took an ambulance ride to the Emergency Room. They couldn't find anything wrong with me. I dialyzed in the hospital on Thursday. Friday my blood pressure spiked and I was nauseous. I started taking all the blood pressure meds I have in the house. Saturday, I dialyzed In-Center. I didn't tolerate it very well and they gave me some saline and pulled me http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/11/bye-bye-dialysis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431620.post-5455820450847567153Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:19:00 +00002009-10-31T09:22:18.264-05:00Will somebody please send Hugo Chavez a copy of Atlas Shrugged?Thank You.http://www.cycling-videos.com/2009/10/hugo-nogo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (llamoure)0