Drink More! And Other Fun on the Job

Jeff has been having fun as General Contractor for Friend Dan’s three-car garage project this summer.  He originally planned on doing more of the work himself than I thought was advisable for someone with low blood pressure who is taking an ACE inhibitor for kidney disease.  He gets dizzy sometimes and checks his blood pressure.  It is usually around 100/63.

“The roof!  You’re planning on doing the roof yourself?!”  I questioned on more than one occasion.  I was really concerned.  At first I was opposed to the project for fear of a catastrophe.  The previous four summers, Jeff took on projects that whipped him physically.  It wasn’t the size of these jobs that was the problem.   It was his body’s limitations – fatigue and loss of the strength he used to have – combined with the summer heat that made him come home red in the face and barely able to lift his feet off the ground.  A roof?  In the summer?

The subcontractors were guys he has not worked with before.  That alone could have been a source of stress - scheduling, getting materials to the jobsite on time, etc.  Working with these guys has been good for Jeff!  Mason Dan is a transplant survivor himself.  There was a nice camaraderie on the site.  Jeff learned the phrase, “I’ll buy, you fly!” (a.k.a. a coffee run).  Still that roof had me worried.

The garage grew to its full height and Jeff spent two days on top, cutting and stapling tar paper.  He came home red in the face and dragging his feet.  The next day he had blood drawn for the kidney specialist.

Usually Dr. Pat reviews the lab results during Jeff's office visit a couple of weeks after the blood draw.  This time Jeff heard from her within an hour.

“Start drinking!  You have to drink!”  the doctor scolded.  “Repeat labs next week.”

Jeff always believes he is drinking the prescribed amount of water but drinking enough water on a hot day is difficult.  It makes him feel sick. 

I checked the lab results online.  His condition now reads “Acute Kidney Failure”.  Yikes!  His BUN and creatinine were higher than when he first visited Dr. Pat!  Oh, no.  I asked Granddaughter Rosie to help remind Grandpop to drink - which she did very well. 

Realization hit Jeff: roofing is beyond his current physical capabilities.  Happily, he was able to make other arrangements for the roof installation.

I decided to go with Jeff to see Dr. Pat this week.  I had questions.  Dr. Pat showed me the lab results (she knows Jeff isn’t too concerned with the numbers) and although his BUN and creatinine were still among the highest measured they were improved.  And she was thrilled that there is no longer any protein present in his urine!  His uric acid was high and Dr. Pat accused Jeff of eating one of the forbidden foods in the 48 hours prior to his lab work.  Jeff gets mad at her for not believing his answer (“no”) while believing my answer (also “no”).

So, not only does he look bad after working hard on a hot day, it is hard on his kidneys.  My main question for Dr. Pat was, “Is it okay for Jeff to get on a ladder or a roof in the heat?”

Her answer:  “No, never.”

I asked what the biggest risk would be.  She said he could faint.

By next summer this conversation will have been forgotten and Jeff will probably schedule another outside job.  And it will be my job as caregiver to remind him what happened.

Jeff also saw Dr. Porter this week (also the dentist who finds Jeff in good dental health).  No change in medications although Dr. Porter still talks about weaning him completely off of the immunosuppressant - which has not been possible to date.  GVHD of the liver recurs if the dosage gets too low. 

  

If you are wondering about the lost necklace, I am happy to report that Jeff found it when he came home with a new hat and considered where he might keep it.  That led to him checking the basket of caps he keeps near the door and there it was!  The necklace has six strands of beads which Jeff claims he did not think about when he chose it to commemorate my six years as caregiver. 

Our social life flourishes.  We’ve been to a wedding (Interestingly, Jeff seems to count his survival by the number of weddings we’ve attended since his transplant.), we’ve have had three weekends away – one of those with all of three of our children and three grandchildren, biergarten, yoga, Granddaughter Rosie’s soccer games and more.  And Jeff went to Train Club this week – a rare thing these days.  Jeff continues his volunteer work at the church and watches our granddaughters twice a week.  Life is full - and lovely.

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month.  Prayers, please, for patients and caregivers, health care professionals and researchers.  And because so many have hit in the last month, prayers also for those affected by hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters.