Bie's thoughts

My name is Bie. I am single female and 43 years of age. Nothing "wrong" with me, I am just a "freemale"

My reason for doing this blog is because I want to tell you my story and my thought after a big change in my life.

It all started in 1986, I was then 21 years of age. My mother who was diagnosed with the incurable Polycistic Kidney Disease (PKD) had to undergo a kidney transplant. At that stage she already went through about 2 years of dialyses at then HF Verwoerd Hospital. She was a military patient but the military hospital did not have a kidney department so she was referred by the military, to the best kidney specialist, then Dr Carosite (I'm not sure of the spelling of his name) now Prof Carosite. I decided to go for tests to see if I am compatible to my mother, and donate a kidney. Big was my surprise when they said to me "You are compatible but you can not donate". Yes I had the same PKD as my mother. Mine were not that advanced yet but I had PKD.

At that stage it did not bother me much because I was not sick, I could still play Basketball for the SADF, I was still active.

About a year later I started having bad headaches and a lot of swelling in my ankles. I went to the dr and they said that because of my kidneys I have high blood pressure and the swelling is because of my kidneys that do not output the enough fluids. I was placed on medication for my blood pressure and to help with my urine output.

Along the years everything just went downstream, my high blood pressure medication was increased and still had to take the urine pill. This did not hold me back I was then a Sport Officer in the SADF and later the SANDF and still active in sport like netball, cycling, badminton and basketball. At this stage my "expiring date" (age) came closer, I could not do the things I was use to. But I was still active in badminton and cycling, but went more into sport administration.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with TB. My got sick and the dr could not find the problem. The dr's did some test because they thought that I got the TB in my kidneys, lucky not, only in my lungs.

In February 2008 I end up with Dr Ledwaba at 1 Mil Hosp Internal Medicine, she is a kidney specialist. She said my kidneys were not good. My creatinine at 58ml/min is still well above the cut of count for dialysis, if it go to 25 they must start thinking of dialysis for my.

She gave me the following instructions:
*Every 3 months I must do blood and urine test at a sickbay.
*A week before my 6 months visit to her I must do a 24 hour urine collection, sent it to the lab for the results to be ready when I see her on 13 August 2008.

Well I did all she said. On 13 August 2008 I went to see her. Big was my shock to see how my kidneys deteriorate in this 6 months. In 6 months time my count went down from 58ml/min to 39ml/min. My first thought was, if I had to come back in 6 months time will I still be alive. If my count went down by 20 ml in 6 months after another 6 months it will be round about 10ml/min and that is to low.

Dr Ledwaba was also surprised to see my count going down with 20 and immediately she said I must rather come back in 2 months time. So my next appointment with her is on 15 October 2008. If at my 15 Oct 08 appointment my count is still lower they need to prepare me for dialysis by putting in a "fistula" (it is when they connect a artery and vain to have a better blood flow were they can put in needles)

And this is were I am today. My story and my thoughts will start here, I hope you will find this thoughts of mine interesting, (not pity please just support)and feel free to participate in this with me.

Bie
(15 August 2008)