Updates ... December 1998

I'm currently on dialysis 3 times a week.   My dialysis days are usually Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Asia Renal Care in Quezon Avenue.   The results of my lab tests for this month are:

                  Results   Normal Values
Creatinine          10.98     0.59-  1.09 mg/dl
BVN                106.72     4.76- 23.24 mg/dl
Uric Acid           12.80     3.39-  6.99 mg/dl
Potassium            4.48     3.40-  5.60 meg/l
Calcium              8.00     8.40- 10.40 meg/l
Inorganic Phosphorus 6.52     2.51-  5.03 mg/dl
SGPT                23.00     5.00- 40.00 iu/l
Hemoglobin         128.     110.  -160.   u/l
Hematocrit           0.38     0.37-  0.47
RBC                  4.4      4.0 -  4.5  xld 12/l
WBC                  4.0      5.0 - 10.0  xld 9/l

My complete thyroid examination results are all within the normal values.

TSH  1.20 u/v/ml
T3   1.34 ug/ml
T4   5.78 ug/dl

But the result of my thyroid scan shows a different story, the right lobe of the thyroid gland measures 3.6 x 0.9 x 1.5 cm with mixed echo solid nodule at the lower aspect measuring 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.5 cm.   A 0.3 x 0.2 x 0.2 cm hypoechoic solid nodule is also noted at the middle aspect.   The left lobe measures 4.9 x 1.6 x 1.4 cm with complicated cyst noted at the lower aspect measuring 1.7 x 1.0 x 1.5 cm.   My endocrinologist advises me that it should be removed through surgery, but with my present condition -- i.e. on chronic dialysis, bleeding has just stopped after two months and several other factors -- he said that it would be too risky, so I have to wait for a few months after the kidney transplant before performing the said operation.   My nephrologists agree with him.

There is no right kidney donor yet but my doctors are helping me to find the right kidney.   I hope, with God's blessing, there would be a kidney donor with the right tissues next year.

The name of my nephrologist is Dr. Benjamin Balmores.   He is with St. Luke's Hospital.   Possibly the one who would perform the transplant will be Dr. Rosemarie Liquete.

The diet I have right now is low sodium, low potassium, low phosphorus and low uric acid.   But I have to eat good quality portion each meal (at least 35 grams).