Bad Blood


There are many advantages of having a doctor for a neighbour. Recently, I met Dr. Anthony. He stays at the block next to mine. When I told him I wanted to have my blood tested last Thursday, he instructed me to fast from 10pm onwards. The next morning, he came and extracted three vials of blood. No waiting. No fuss. I have been meaning to get my blood screened for diabetes and renal function for a while now. I should get my blood tested routinely because of my condition. What I dislike is the perennial long queue at the hospitals.

I received the report early this week. It stated that I am mildly anaemic and my Total Cholesterol/HDL is level slightly above average. Those are the least of my worries. However, my serum creatinine is way too high which is a concern. The creatinine is a yardstick for kidney health. Dr. Anthony will be making an appointment for me to see a nephrologist and urologist for further tests next week.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

6 thoughts on “Bad Blood”

  1. Who would want to kiss me and let me kiss after all that garlic? But then again, health is more important than smooching huh? Thanks for the advice.

  2. how does your condition affect the kidneys? is it medication or muscle wasting(?) overloading the kidneys?

    thanks

  3. I have a spastic bladder because of my spinal cord injury. This causes a reflux of urine back into the kidneys. After twenty years, there surely is some damage to the kidneys because of this.

  4. I read about your intake of Ketosteril, to make up for your low protein diet. Does it really work? for I am told that in the US doctors don’t prescribe Ketosteril anymore, and there has been no proof of its efficacy to make up for the otherwise deleterious consequence of a low protein diet.

    My wife’s doctor prescribes three egg whites a day, also to make up for her low protein diet, but I read somewhere that egg white in fact is very protein rich. I told her doctor that with the three egg whites intake, her urine suds or tiny bubbles have increased even more; he said to continue taking three egg whites just the same, because she needs the egg white for compensation to her low protein diet. She and I, we decided to stop it — this seems to be one instance of a doctor who does not know that egg white is rich in protein which protein is precisely to be abstained from in a low protein diet.

    You are a patient with grave kidney damage, my wife has 28% kidney efficiency. What do you say from your years of living with and being treated by doctors for your damaged kidneys?

    I am impressed by your knowledge and skill in computer work as in doing this webpage; I wished I could do something like this website myself, and know about computer and internet tasks like what you are doing. Maybe if and when we get to know each other better, you might be disposed to share with me some of your skill and time in this field of interests.

    Is Wuan your wife or sister or aunt or a man? I get the impression taht she is a woman. Sorry for the curiosity.

    How is your kidneys’ efficiency as of today?

    My email is gertes@hotmail.com; maybe you can give me a personal email.

    Thanks for your diary.

    Arnaldo

    Peter:
    The two nephrologists and two urologists that I consulted are not against Ketosteril. In fact, one cut my protein intake to the bare minimum and increased the dosage of Ketosteril to ensure that I do not go into protein depletion. I am on 38gms of dietary protein daily. That is roughly two matchbox sixe of meat. Two egg whites or one whole egg is equivalent to one portion. However, I am to consume only two eggs per week.

  5. Arnaldo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    November 12th, 2006 at 03:13

    I read the above text when I had posted my comment. That is interesting. Who is going to do the moderating of my comment, Arnaldo who wrote it? or Peter Tan? and is it already out for viewing by the general public or only I can see it?

    I guess comments have to be moderated because there are people who might put all kinds of words which instead of being instructive for life and understanding and empathy among men does the opposite, and even increases more grief in the world.

    Well, I hope my comment come out for everyone to read, because I do derive some good feeling knowing that what I have written is being read by people and they are at least satisfied in their curiosity and thereby entertained somehow if nothing else.

    I had wanted to send your an email, but when I clicked on your email link there was no automatic opening up a an email letter form for me to begin writing; so I had to write a comment instead on your blog about your health condition owing to a spinal cord injury resulting in severely damaged kidneys.

    My email is gertes@hotmail.com.

    I hope to know you better and gain a good friend in you.

    Arnaldo

    Peter:
    All comments in this blog are moderated to prevent spams and malicious messages.

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