the good and the bad...

I had an appointment with my Nephrologist today, Dr. Oconer. We reviewed all of my labwork and 24-hour urine test. The news was GOOD! Finally, some good news! Three months ago, my protein was at a whopping 3,000 -- normal range is 15-220. Now it is down to 1,800. My blood pressure is still high -- 140/93, so we are increasing the Lisinopril to 10mg. He feels very optimistic that my kidney function is normal and that all of the other labwork looked good. He has recommended that I add in a Rheumatologist, as one level was in the high-risk range. He will depend on the Rheumatologist's recommendation whether I should have another kidney biopsy. It's been over 10 years since the last. Not too excited about that, so hopefully they won't see anything too alarming and I'll avoid a biopsy for another few years :)

So for now, I have an increase on the medication and I'm due back to him in three months, with another round of labs. I will also see the new guy -- hopefully they can get me in soon! And I'm working on avoiding **STRESS** and getting more physical activity. He recommends 30 minutes minimum of walking every day -- which makes me laugh because that's what my Boise Nephrologist always said! Why can't I do something so simple? Not anymore! I'm just so grateful that my health is as good as it is. Dr. Oconer talked of other patients who have Lupus and aren't as fortunate. They're either in bed or in the hospital. He said that if you could pick and choose a situation, that mine with the kidneys would be the most ideal -- the best to manage. He did caution that at any moment my Lupus could rear it's ugly-ness and give me some real problems, so I need to continue to be proactive. Will do!!!!!!!

On another note, I have a friend / ward member in the hospital right now after suffering two mini strokes. She is young, has three young daughters and a husband that travels a lot with work (sound familiar? well, except for the "young" part!). On Sunday night she was reading to her girls and became dizzy and felt ill. She had a hard time speaking, and then fell to the floor shaking. It was a stroke. She was taken to the emergency room, only to be discharged early in the morning with a "migraine". All day Monday she remained the same. On Tuesday morning, our RS President Shelley Cunningham made homemade chicken noodle soup and was dropping it off, and Marianne had gone downhill quickly -- apparently having the second stroke. Calls were quickly made to her doctor, and to a ward member who is a brain surgeon, and they advised that she was in trouble and to get her there asap. After many gruelling tests that day, they found the problem. Her husband had been gone for nearly a month, but they were able to get a hold of him and he flew in that night. His Mother also flew down from Utah to be with the girls, who were of course frightened and upset. Marianne is still in intensive care and will be for a week or two. Thankfully the blockage is gone, but the swelling is so painful and the area of the brain affected controls balance, which is why she was so dizzy and disoriented. She is young and very healthy. She doesn't have any outward problems with moving or speech, so they're sure she will recover just fine. I had heard that the pain was going to get worse before it got better, due to the swelling. You cannot even believe the outpouring of love and support from her neighbors and our ward family. Meals are being taken in every other day, carpools have been arranged for the girls, a 13th birthday party was held for the oldest daughter as her birthday was on Tuesday when Marianne went in. Everyone is stepping in. As a member of the RS Presidency, I am overwhelmed. I do have guilt that I work full-time and cannot help much during these times of need, but I'm also grateful to be in this position to help organize things and be there for these ladies as they need me. This experience has really been eye-opening. You cannot take one minute for granted. Marianne is young and healthy; she is very active, a marathon runner; she's a very talented beautician (she was going to cut Kennedi's hair for me next week! we'll reschedule with her!); and she has done and would do anything for anyone. She serves as our Compassionate Service leader -- the perfect calling for her. She organizes for the needs of others, and now it's her turn to accept. I'm so grateful to know her and her family. I'm so grateful to live in the Foothills Ward. What amazing people we are surrounded by. This community as a whole is amazing. Before we rented this home, our landlords told us that this is a very tight-nit community; that we would know everyone at the schools, the YMCA, and the grocery store. I can't say that I know everyone, but many!! We feel so safe living here. When looking for other rental options or home-buying opportunities, we do not extend outside the ward boundaries!! We just can't!! I have a lot of work to do to step outside my shell. I need to reach out to our neighbors. I guess that's what each new day if for, right? :)