1. It's Friday morning.
Around 9:00 today's Kidneypalooza kicked in!
First, Yoke's messaged me that my new (temporary) Prednisone prescription was ready.
Second, a most animated and helpful nurse from Kootenai Health's Infusion Services called, wondering if I could come in at 11 this morning and again at 8:00 on Saturday.
I returned her genuinely positive call with a genuinely enthusiastic reply.
Yes!
I was thrilled that on such short notice they could accommodate me both days (and I didn't have to be admitted into the hospital).
Third, while at Yoke's to pick up my new prescription, Lauri called from the Transplant Clinic at Sacred Heart. We scheduled me an appointment for 1:00 p.m. No early rising. Labs will follow my chat with which ever doctor I see on Monday.
2. I realized at the Yoke's pharmacy counter that I didn't understand the details of my Prednisone prescription.
So I dashed out to the Camry, called Dr. Bieber's office, and listened to Nurse Carolyn who was made things so clear to me that I nearly wept, and I returned to the pharmacy, buoyant with understanding, and picked up the medicine.
Now I know I have a course of increased Prednisone dosage that goes from Sunday through Thursday, tapering off gradually on Wednesday and Thursday. I'll return to my regular dosage of Prednisone on Friday.
3. Fourth, kidneypalooza hit the snow-capped peak of awesomeness at Infusion Services.
I checked in and met Nurse Jemie. She and I calmly worked out what labs I needed and which tests Dr. Bieber canceled after he read the biopsy report.
She happily hustled around in earnest, making phone calls and, to make sure she had everything right, took a walk to the lab. Her extra efforts paid off. We were ready to move forward.
Nurse Jamie patiently set up my arm for a blood draw and the IV. She calmly, and in good humor, saw that Plan A wasn't working and moved gracefully to Plan B (my other arm) which did work. She filled vials and then got the steroids pumping into my arm. She brought me a couple cups of water so I'd be able to produce a urine specimen when the infusion ended. I succeeded.
I agreed to leave the IV apparatus in my arm overnight so it would be in place on Saturday morning and Nurse Jemie did a spiffy and efficient job of securing everything in place and then she sent me home.
A bonus: Jamie was a fun and fascinating conversationalist. She asked what my job used to be. Hearing I was a community college instructor opened the way for her to tell me about her studies at Central Oregon Community College and elsewhere and her determination to earn degrees in the face of demanding challenges outside the classroom.
Listening to Jamie transported me back to the many students I admired and loved working with at Lane Community College who shouldered on with similar fortitude and determination.
Nothing during today's Kidneypalooza was difficult. Everyone I worked with today made the whole 'palooza enjoyable, even uplifting, at times inspiring. Listening to Jeff's June 12th Deadish show in the car and while being infused invigorated me.
All the same, having so much information and activity (and even the driving) packed into about four hours or so wiped me out and, when I returned home, I reunited with a dear old friend:
The Coma Nap!
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