roller coaster

Well mom has had a bit of a roller coaster today.

The protocol they followed yesterday produced no improvement in her kidney function. The outcome was something I know she hated to hear: they would perform the arteriogram, followed directly by dialysis. And that's where she'd stay, hopefully temporarily. Possibly though, it would be permanent.

Plans can change however, and they did. My mother is being treated by doctors who simply love her. I've met them personally and I know it to be true. And her internist happens to be one of the best internists in the country. So these men -- her cardiac doctor, her internist who's been with her for a decade, and her renal doctor -- have been huddling all day, have been calling around to other specialists all day.

So this evening, they explained to her that there was a Japanese study which showed that going immediately to dialysis after the arteriogram was not a successful preventative measure, providing no significant improvement to the patient's result. In his words, "there's no reason to torture you with dialysis if it's not going to help you."

Current plan (subject to change): they will inject the dye, then monitor her. They know this will trigger a renal crisis. If she goes into renal failure, they will put her on dialysis at that point, and not before.

How's that for a game plan? Imagine planning a renal crisis. I am wondering if it could work for other crises. Cities could set up call centers.

Hello? 811, what emergency can I schedule for you today?

Um, yes. It looks like I'm going to have a heart attack, and tomorrow I'm going to be driving by the hospital with the A-rated trauma ward, so could I have it, oh let's say 3:30pm?

Yes, definitely, good planning. We've got you scheduled. I'm putting in a work ticket now.

Thanks so much!

It would take the mystery out of things, definitely.

I just wish we could start it tomorrow at 6:30am.

--Laura