Great news from the kidney doc!!!

I took Ron to see his kidney specialist (Dr.M) on Thursday and he was so pleased with the results of Ron's blood work that he was all smiles, laughing and joking with us. He is an awesome doctor and always remembers that we have a small dog - he always asks how she's doing.

Even though he's got a great sense of humor, Dr. M still says it like it is for Ron. He told him last time we saw him that if Ron didn't change his habits and such, that his life span was going to be greatly reduced. That was just in April. Then, Ron had surgery in May, in June, and in July and you'd think the three of those surgeries would have impacted his kidneys adversely because of him having to heal and his body having to work at healing. Evidently not... Seems like all of the doctors think that the leg was causing the rest of his body to be strained and that's why so many of his systems were having trouble.

Ron's potassium was up a bit, but Dr. M thought it wass because the rehab facility increased one of his blood pressure medicines that has a tendency to cause an increased potassium level, so he lowered it back down. Then he told me that no one changes Ron's medications without HIS permission. "No one touches this man without talking to me first." He said he has never seen Ron look this good or have this good of blood work (except for the potassium part). He did increase his Vitamin D-3 to 4,000 IUs daily (up from 2,000) and lowered the one blood pressure pill from 30 mg to 10 mg.

Dr. M really joked and kidded around a lot - it was so funny and we could tell it was because he was so happy with Ron's blood results. He said he can't remember the last time that Ron looked so good and that he could tell Ron had also lost weight, and not just because of the leg. Dr. M also said that being minus the leg would cause his creatine to go up a bit, which it did, but not by much. He asked Ron if he was "peeing" OK. "You go pee OK? Every time I see you in hospital, you don't pee - have to be catheterized."

Then, he actually got serious and said I was a good wife and wonderful woman - Ron is alive because of me and if he didn't have me he would be dead. When he did his dictation he included "and his lovely wife" in his notes into the tape. It was a great visit. He doesn't go back until December 16.
Awesome!!!