well....some GOOD news .....to start the weekend off.........

[RedValk]

as a few of you know, i have been sweating getting some follow up blood work done. The semi short story is...a couple of years ago...during a routine checkup....they told me my creatine levels were VERY high. me, being a weight lifter....and consuming MASSIVE quantities of "said creatine", blew off the Docs. So every 6 months, when i went in for follow up bloodwork/checkups, i'd just lay off the creatine a week before going in. Each time they said my creatine levels were up....but not up as bad as they had been. i figured, "problem" solved......

then 3 months ago they told me my levels had gotten so bad, that my kidneys were down to about 50% function! yea, like having ONE kidney. And that's when it hit home. they told me i ABSOLUTLEY HAD TO QUIT TAKING ALL THE EXCESS CREATINE AND PROTEIN....and go back in 3 months and get my bloodwork checked again...and hope...the numbers come up. basically, i think dialysis (needing a kidney transplant) comes in at about 25% function?  I had dropped about 25% over a 6 month period...going from 70 something percent to 50 something percent (53 i think to be exact). The fear was, if we waited 6 months to do bloodwork, and if i dropped another 20-25%...welll, you do the math.

i have high blood pressure (treated of course)...and high cholosterol (also treated). Coupled with my age...health issues...etc...kidney failure IS A REAL CONCERN.

so seeing mine at about 50% was....QUITE ALARMING. i came off the creatine and whey protein shakes (creatine and BUN ....are "markers" for kidney function as i understand it). my Doctor put me on a different diuretic for my blood pressure that he thought would help.

BOTTOM LINE my bloodwork today ....came back at 57% function. Ok, maybe not perfect....not something to perhaps get OVERLY excited about. BUT I'M RELIEVED. I'm NOT out of the woods....but it came up SLIGHTLY...and MORE IMPORTANTLY...did NOT go down.

i think i'm on the right track. So, i'm going to have a MUCH MORE PLEASANT Father's Day....knowing these results. And by the way, just so you know. There is nothing "so wrong" with my kidneys that would stop me from partying down with all my best friends at IZ....so....to quote Smokin Joe...sort of..."BRING IT....LET'S PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  

[G-Man]

Keep taking care of yourself, brother.  remember, nobody else will.

[big turkey]

Bring it and let's Ride.

Son you better take care of yourself, cause they ain't nobody else gonna do it for Yah.

Here's to Good Kidney Function and Good Health.

Thanks for sharing with us.

My Main Cheaha Buddy.

I liked the Limbo, that was cool,

Picture of Joe Bringing IT> Leading the Pack in front of my Mean Streak.

[SANDMAN5]

Looks like you're headed in the right direction!
Just don't turn around!!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I wish you only the best Tim and I look forward to seein' you on Cheaha mountain next spring 

Take care