Not how I wanted to spend the weekend...

Bench time indeed!  This sounds like a very aggressive treatment, and for a long time.  I am sure you are going to miss those dirty teenagers very shortly.  Just be careful with your back while at the bench.  

This also sounds like a good time to get some good books and movies.

Not sure what a renal diet entails.  What are you allowed (or not allowed) to eat?  Inquiring minds want to know. 

I am sure you are looking forward to getting home.  The hospital is not a fun place to be, and oddly enough, a terrible place to try and get some rest.

Please take care of yourself and keep us posted.  I am sorry you have to go through this.

I am sure the Mrs. misses you (couldn't resist the pun).  Send her my regards, as this must have been a trial for her as well as yourself.

Your friend,

Dwayne

Thanks D! I still have to sit down with the dietitian to make sure I get it, but the basics are low sodium, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. They had me on a heart monitor for a little while because my potassium was starting to rise and they wanted to make sure I didn't go into cardiac arrest (I don't blame them). Since my kidneys aren't functioning correctly I need to really monitor my intake of minerals and electrolytes. My mom was on a renal diet for the last few months of her life and while the renal diet doesn't taste bad, it just doesn't "taste" that much at all. But I can deal with bland food for a year or so if I'm going to fully recover and can indulge every once in awhile.

Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels and can occur in any blood vessels. They thought I had it in the ones supplying blood to sensory nerves, but it did not turn out to be true. I gather it can be hard to really verify since they have to biopsy the exact right vessels, ones that are affected. They may just take a guess for you and see how you respond to treatment. 

Good luck! I hope everything turns out great!

You're right about them needing to biopsy just the right tissues.  The first biopsy they did got too much of the inside of my kidney and not enough of the outer tissue.  Yesterday the doc explained that all but one of the slides they looked at showed the vasculitis.

The good news is they let me loose last night!  It was a little strange sleeping in a comfortable bed without all the background noise of a hospital, but I think I'll get used to it again.  Thank you all so much for your support and prayers.  I really can't express how much it means to me to know that you all were here for me.  

Wow, that sounds like a lot to go through in such a short time.  Good for you having a positive outlook despite everything.  I wish you the best, and for a full speedy recovery!

You were right when you said that the diet was "bland". Sometimes it tastes like cardboard and you can't believe that something that looks good tastes so blah. At least it doesn't taste bad. My wife was very good at changing diets as circumstances warranted. She has a computer for a brain and remembered all the details that the diet nurse gave her. I didn't stand a chance sneaking in something that I shouldn't. 

Will keep sending the thoughts and prayers your way for your complete reovery. 

Jim  

Thanks Keyda and Fox! It's good to be home, even if I have to go do dialysis and plasma exchanges just about every day. I'm making do with the diet, and researching all over the place for different recipes. I think I have some meal plans laid out, it's just finding the right kind of boring snacks...