Saturday, February 17, 2024

What? Again?

Yup, another procedure this coming week.  After a month of healing, they tried to use the vein for the last 3 weeks.  Like, 2 to 3 attempts per treatment.  They could feel they're in the vein, yet once they set the (dialysis) machine and walk away, it would stop working.  The way it was explained to me, for whatever reason, the tip of the needle would stick to the wall and inhibit flow.  

Meanwhile, on the work front -- this week I started training (hopefully) my successor so that I can retire.  Unfortunately, he has zero experience or training in electronics.  But he is smart and eager to learn.  He graduated university in 2019 with a science degree but this is his first opportunity in industry/technology.  In the end I conceded to the Boss because this job really has no formal educational requirement but there are courses and degrees out there.  So I figure, we'll start on procedures so that he can feel productive.

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Another surgery

I've honestly lost count what number this was for this year alone.  But, unlike the previous two, I went under general anesthesia for this one.  Even the "advanced cannulator" was having trouble hitting my vein every time because it's still small and gets deeper in my arm as you go toward my elbow.  So the kidney doctor requested that the vein be raised closer to the surface.  I haven't seen the scar yet.  It's still bandaged up.  So that means I can't shower either, as it's not waterproof.  I can sponge bath or shower my lower half.  Can't be used for dialysis for at least a month.

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Still not using the FISH-tula

It's been frustrating. Yes, I've always been difficult to draw blood from.  Small veins, deep veins, sometimes they roll.  They're ninja veins, evasive.  So when you're just getting started on a new fistula, you need "advanced cannulators."  These techs are the most experienced and can hit your vein when nobody else can.  However, since I was temporarily moved away from my home dialysis center, it's been hard to get the advanced cannulator to get around to me.  I get it, he's busy with his own patients, but when he's not busy, he's just shooting the breeze with other techs or patients.



I bought tattoo pens to mark where the vein is on my arm.  At the last surgeon follow-up, we also noted how deep the veins are from the surface.  I've also been drawing a FISH over my fistula scar and having fun with it.  I wish I started taking a picture of it from the beginning because this is the first time I used  blue/green theme.  Previous fish were red or orange.  So I'll post it up from here on out.

Friday, September 22, 2023

And another procedure...

They tried twice to use the fistula access after the last "de-clotting procedure."  These procedures are essentially surgery.  Done in a surgical setting, just no general anesthesia so I can drive home afterward.  But the prep and the recovery are done in the post-op area.  This one involved putting balloons through my veins and blowing them up so that they manually "mature" the vein, ie. force it to grow in size so that it'll handle more volume for the dialysis machine.  Had I known it were this hard, I might have given peritoneal dialysis (PD) another shot but the hemodialysis (HD) port they've been using has been a breeze.  And I honestly feel so much better since going on HD.

Edit 9/25/23- Last Friday, the nurse decided to give the arm a rest.  That was probably a good decision, I realize now it was still sore from blowing up balloons inside my vein.  But today was a success.  They found my vein and it was big enough to accommodate the volume needed for the machine. 

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Sweet 3-day weekend

Getting alot of stuff done.  Getting alot of  self-care.  Unfortunately, I'm eating out too much.  I should cook something, eh?  Got the house cleaned yesterday, still need to get started on laundry.

I woke up with a back ache so I got a massage this afternoon.  That hit the spot.  Since I was near a beach, I went there for an hour.  It was very windy so the waves were higher than usual, was relaxing to watch.  We're in a heat wave, I thought it would be crowded, but this is a small local beach and it wasn't.  When you live this close to a beach like this, you don't need to make a day of it.  Now, why did I want to go to Santa Barbara to sit on the beach & get fish & chips? Wish I brought a sketchbook.  Then I got fish & chips a couple blocks away.  OMG, it was a pile of food.  I can make another 3 meals from the leftovers, even after throwing out the French fries.  I'm not supposed to eat potatoes, though I ate a few while it was hot & crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Tomorrow doesn't seem like a day off, even though I don't have to go to work.  There are no days off from dialysis.

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Mission impossible

Bro came back from camping.  We did go to Santa Barbara.  They didn't want to sightsee, just went there to eat, so I didn't get to sketch Santa Barbara Mission.  So I guess I'll have to go on my own once I've done a little practice from a photo.  The details are proving harder than Mission #1.  His GF has gone back home to grade final exams & prepare for her next semester.  She's a teacher from a long line of teachers.  

The sheds are now moved.  Bro thought it was expensive to move them for something he could have figured out.  But he would have had to buy a bunch of stuff and he would have hurt himself pushing 2000 lbs.  I think it was worth it.  I took measurements to check and asked "could you move it one more inch" to give me margin in case an HOA inspector or city inspector came around with a tape measure.  They did it without complaint.

Saturday, July 29, 2023

The thrill was gone

Surgery #5 or 6? I've lost count.  Almost exactly a month since I had surgery to create a fistula access for permanent hemodialysis in my arm. But Monday, the doctor came around for a checkup and couldn't feel or hear the swoosh-swoosh in my wrist (it's called a thrill.)  She asked the nurse to check.  Nope.  Nothing.  That same nurse had verified it the previous Friday (a week ago).  After a whirlwind of communication and by 2pm I was checking in for surgery.  I didn't know it was that serious.

The surgeon did a "declotting procedure" on my arm which, lol, when I described it to a co-worker, perfectly described it as a pipe cleaner.  Except the surgeon used wire & balloons.  He found scar tissue near my wrist.  Since I didn't go under anesthesia, I drove myself home by 5pm.  What a day.  I went to work the next day but by Thursday, my whole forearm is bruised from blood leakage during surgery.  But the thrill is back. 

Edit 8-3-23:  I was about to start looking for a stethoscope so I could hear the thrill. But today I had the bright idea of putting my wrist to my ear.  OMG, it's loud!  You can't do that for a pulse.  Now I know how to check the thrill every day.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Mission #1 again

 

I'm much happier with this rendering in pencil. So, I can still draw.  But I'm trying to improve my watercolor.

I actually started my art journey with watercolor.  My first attempt was very successful but everything else after was crap except for some I did in Chinese Brush style.  The best advice I saw on the webs was "learn to draw first."  But what I learned from drawing class was to draw, draw, draw.  Draw everything, draw big.  If it's challenging, draw it again.  And it lead to drawing the human form.  We had drawing exercises in that class.  1 minute sketches, 2 minute sketches, 10 sketches on top of the other on the same page, no erasing, blind contour, etc.  My severe nearsightedness became an aid rather than a handicap.  I didn't have to squint, I just had to take off my glasses! Boom, I could see tones & color blocks...as long as the subject was right in front of me, anyway.

With an eye on the goal, I started adding color and went to other media. I didn't have the patience for colored pencil or oil paints.  I was frustrated with the dusty pastels but I really clicked with oil pastels.  However, using oil pastels is like using paints straight out of the tube, then mixing colors on the canvas (with a rubber blender).  I don't mind the look for sketches but sometimes I want it to look like a painting.  To do that, I need more space for more colors & tools, and THAT doesn't travel well.  I've tried traveling with a small kit of acrylic paints.  Ugh, that really needs some dedication & desire to work.  You know what travels well?  Watercolor pans.

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Mission #1

San Buenaventura Mission from online reference photo.  Watercolor brush markers.

I could spread a little color but the original line pretty much stays.  Really hard to get lighter shades. Looks better here than it does on my sketch page.  The greys are mostly sketch & wash pencil.  I have no doubt I'll be sketching this a few more times, in different media.  

 

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Garage sale day

At least once a year, the HOA opens the gates & advertises community garage sale.  I have learned not to spend too much energy or overthinking about what to put out.  Today, I started an hour late.  I only put out a few items before things were being bought.  I was sold out in an hour, put out a few more things and gave up in another hour.  I put the rest into the car for donate.

Then I texted my friend about my success.  She recently visited California Mission San Juan Capistrano and sent me a picture.  Sweet! Add another reference for this goal of mine.  She always remembers my mom's souvenir of a pair of carved wood hand chairs from the Philippines, so I offered them to her.  She remembers Mom fondly and now has a keepsake to remember her by.  I have a miniature version up on my living room ledge.  

The chairs were stored near Auntie's stuff so I found more to donate.  OMG, I found another rice cooker still in the box.  I think that's #6.  Shhh, don't tell Bro I have more space in the garage, LOL.

This is when I put more out but these ended up for donate.

The little picnic park across the street.



Thursday, July 13, 2023

Yikes, more art supplies

When Bro gets back from his trip,  we'll take a day trip up to Santa Barbara.  I want to sketch the Santa Barbara Mission.  Then at some point, I want to sketch the San Buena Ventura Mission. So I was looking for my Sakura Koi field sketching watercolor set.  No idea where it went, I love the 18 colors and the size is so small.  You can't buy the kit anymore for a reasonable price, so I got this 24-color.  I'm a little disappointed that it's TWICE the size of the 18-color set.  I've got 3-4 weeks to practice sketching before he gets back.  I hope to sketch at least one watercolor/day until then.  Some of those sketches may be from photos, leaning toward urban sketching subjects.


My decision was split to get this Kuratake Transparent watercolor set, so I got both!  It's got 14 colors, but these half-pans are removable/replaceable.  I like the colors and the size of the set is smaller than the Sakura Koi, above.  It was described as leaning toward natural landscape colors.  


Since I decided to get back to sketching, I've been carrying my old W&N Cotman pans.  I used these before I discovered the 18-color Koi set.  I never have liked the colors in the Cotman set and it doesn't have black or a dark color I can use when sketching man-made objects.

Saturday, June 10, 2023

June

Bro is coming to visit, yay!  Until he arrives, I'm working on the back yard at my pace to put a couple sheds where the potted plants currently are.  He's going to bring his dog.  I don't have room in the house for the dog, so I'm also trying to make the yard more pet-friendly while I clear the area for two sheds.  One for me, one for him.  I just need the extra space as a staging area while I reduce the amount of stuff (Mom's stuff) in the house.  Then...I don't know...future she-shed? art studio? power tool workshop?

But the morning after he arrives, he's going to drive me to the surgery to put the hemodialysis port in my arm.  I'm done with the home dialysis.  I thought it would take less time from my day but it actually ended up taking up more.  I never felt 100% on it, not like I do now.  It takes up so much room in my house.  I had to be home every night for treatment, couldn't even do overnights unless I actually skipped a treatment.  They said I could bring the dialysis with me.  Nooo, it's more than just the machine.  Also needs 2 bags of fluid per night, one 6 liter & one 3 liter, the catheter set (one per night), and all the supplies needed to connect, un-connect, and daily wound care.  

The boss has agreed to let me take the whole week off.  I'll still need to go to dialysis on my two normal days.