The Rest of March

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Saturday, April 4, 2020
Morning 40 Degrees, Wind E at 6 to 7 Mph, Humidity 74%, sunny.

Well I am doing better, with Dialysis. Energy level is better but my ankles are a little weak and there is some dizziness, especially when I move my head too quickly. Before leaving the hospital I had three visits to Dialysis. And the next day Friday had Dialysis in Artesia and every Monday Wednesday and Friday since. In Artesia the first Friday had to be there two o’clock and hour early to do paper work. Since then about noon. On March 16 we also went to Carlsbad to get our INR (blood thickness) checked. We are trying to maintain 2.5 but we were 3.9. while I was in the hospital they had a hard time controlling that level because the doctors each wanted a different level. The surgeon wanted it 1.0 and other doctors wanted 3.0. so it was important to get to Carlsbad  Cardiologist and have the INR checked.

Me in Dialysis
I wear the visor to block out the lights

We did that again on the twenty third with an INR of 2.6 (good) and again on the thirtieth (2.5) yea. We next go on April thirteenth. On March twenty sixth we went to Roswell as the surgeon wanted me in for a post operation visit (good).

Dialysis Machine

This port I have on my left chest they now want to put another port on a arm (left or right ?). I have noticed other people at the April 4, 2020 center have ports on their arm. I don’t know another two operations, one to put in the arm port and another one to take out the one on my chest?

My energy level was very one when I went to the Renal Medicine doctor on the sixth of March. I was able to barely stand and walk a few steps. Coming out of the hospital on the twelfth of March the difference was my feet hurt and ankles were weak. Everyday since my energy level has gotten better by a small amount.

So my weight, since December I have lost weight (water removed by Dialysis). While I was in the hospital in El Paso, Texas I lost seven pounds. But then I gained fourteen pounds in February and until I went into the hospital in Roswell. Coming out of the hospital (Eastern New Mexico Medical Center) I had lost fourteen pounds while there mostly water, by Dialysis. Going to Dialysis in Artesia the rest of the month I lost another twenty pounds. That comes to since December until today I lost thirty three pounds.

 It is a lot of running around with Dialysis in Artesia and the Cardiologist in Carlsbad and the Renal Medicine in Roswell. Its twenty miles to Dialysis in Artesia and twenty three miles to Carlsbad and sixty miles to the surgeon and the Renal Medicine in Roswell, New Mexico.

We got the bill for our flight to El Paso, they charged $74,999 to medicare. Medicare paid them $4,997 and our insurance paid another $624 dollars. I have been getting bills (co pays) for doctors $ 10 dollars  Anesthesia to $ 175 for my cataract surgeon.
Artesia hospital emergency room charged $ 10,639 medicare paid $ 539 and insurance paid $ 67 and I paid a co pay of $ 93 dollars. Roswell Lovelace hospital for cataract surgery charged $ 13,608 and paid $1,403 insurence paid $ 175 and I paid $ 175. There was a repeat for the right eye.

Corona virus, I have not gone into a store since March second actually it was the low energy that kept me out for the first few times but since coming out of Eastern New Mexico Medical Center I am high risk for catching Corona virus. My lovely wife is doing all our shopping, mostly while I in Dialysis. We hace also stopped in Albertsons in Carlsbad but I waited in the car. I also waited in the car on March fourth, Low energy. On the twenty sixth we stopped at the Walmart in Roswell and I stayed in the car also. Actually I have had no contact with other people going into the post office is the only thing I have done other than walking around our motorhome Buster.

The Dialysis center has all patients wear face masks while there, the workers there all are wearing face masks also all the time.