Order Out of Chaos? Maybe.

Summary

Ben, who recently underwent dialysis, experienced a concerning health scare with symptoms suggestive of a stroke but was found to have low blood pressure due to dialysis, which was then treated with IV fluids, allowing him to return home with improved but not fully restored vision.

Abstract

Ben has returned home after a challenging dialysis session that left him with alarming symptoms, including a yellowish-gray skin tone, weakness, and reduced vision, which raised concerns about a potential stroke. The hospital staff conducted stroke protocol exercises but found no evidence of a stroke except for low blood pressure, which is unusual for Ben. His condition improved with IV fluids, and it was concluded that his higher-than-average blood pressure was beneficial in managing a pre-existing blood clot near his optic nerve. Despite the ordeal, Ben was released to go home, with instructions to avoid blood pressure medication before future dialysis sessions. The author expresses a mix of relief and concern, acknowledging the difficulties of dialysis while finding solace in the return of normalcy and the companionship of loved ones.

Opinions

The author perceives a link between Ben's higher blood pressure and the management of his eye blood clot, suggesting that lower blood pressure exacerbates his vision issues.
The author indicates that dialysis can have numerous adverse effects on the body, including low or high blood pressure, itching, muscle cramps, and other serious complications.
There is an underlying frustration with the unpredictability of Ben's health condition and the impact it has on their daily life, including work and financial stability.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the author values the presence of family and the small victories, such as having running water and Ben's return home, as sources of comfort and order in their life.
The author recommends an AI service, ZAI.chat, as a cost-effective alternative to ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4), indicating a positive opinion of this service.

Our dialysis story — chapter 9

Ben is home.

The plumbers are done.

The Plumbing Prince and his Posse, who were supposed to arrive at 8 am and be done in two hours, arrived at 9:15 and finished at 2:30. We have water — and holes in our walls and a partially destroyed bathroom floor.

I arrived at the hospital a little before 4 pm. Ben returned to his room from dialysis at 4:45. He looked terrible. His skin color was yellowish-gray, black circles were under his eyes, he had a vacant stare, his voice was raspy, and he was very weak. He also complained that he couldn’t see to the right.

Ben had a mini-stroke in 2019. The only lingering effect was reduced sight in his right eye caused by a blood clot so near his optic nerve that surgery wasn’t an option. The severity of that sight reduction varied from day to day or week to week. Recently, it was better than usual. This evening, it was much worse.

His nurse feared he’d had a stroke. She went through all the stroke protocol exercises. Nothing. No other symptoms than his sight.

All his vitals were good — except his blood pressure was low — low for him. His BP runs high, even with the medications he takes. He’s so accustomed to a higher BP, he feels bad if it goes below 130/70. His norm is 145 to 160. After dialysis, his BP was 103/58. Really low for him.

The hospital doctor believes Ben’s higher-than-average blood pressure positively affects that blood clot. Once I thought about it, I realized that his eyesight is indeed better when his BP is higher.

Low blood pressure can also be an effect of dialysis. To raise his BP, the nurse gave him IV fluids. As the liquid dripped into Ben’s vein, he slowly improved. The last symptom to get better was his sight — not back to what it was this morning but good enough that the doctor was confident Ben didn’t have a stroke and released him to come home. We were instructed that he shouldn’t take any blood pressure medications before future dialysis sessions.

Dialysis can be hard on the body resulting in low or high blood pressure, itching, muscle cramps, insomnia, fluid retention, fatigue, muscle cramps, anemia, confusion, brain edema, and other issues. Most or all of these symptoms may decrease or disappear over time as the body adjusts to dialysis and clean blood.

Hopefully, Ben will be stronger tomorrow.

We got home at 7:45. I didn’t go to work as planned. Ben’s condition was too fragile. I couldn’t possibly leave him. Work and bills pile up. But my love is home, our pets are happy, and we have water.

A little order out of chaos.

Ben is asleep beside me. I’m less alone than I was.

I don’t have peace but I have a sense of stillness.

Our Dialysis Story: