Simple things in life can be pleasurable. Saturday night I had difficulty sleeping again. I woke early on Sunday morning at three am after only 2 1/2 hours of sleep. The steroids remain a problem in disturbing the sleep cycle. You don’t even feel like napping. You’re just wired all of the time. I feel I could run a marathon—-mental energy but no physical energy.

I hated to bother a nurse at 3 am. However, I felt I needed to get up. I wanted to get ready for the day and take a shower. This is quite a challenge. They need to cover all these IV ports with a massive amount of cellophane tape to protect them. I felt like I had been bubble wrapped—-imagine the Michelin man bound in plastic !!! My nurse Christy did not complain—always seems up and cheerful, as she wrapped these catheters so carefully.

A simple shower feels so great when you’re sick. Although that was 3 in the morning, they changed my bed, cleaned up my room while I was showering. Everything had been refreshed. She peeled cellophane off my skin and I felt human again.

I actually felt that perhaps my weight had come down as though someone had injected Ozempic overnight. I was anxious to get on the scale. I found out that my weight was down only 3 pounds. However, I seemed less swollen. I didn’t think I was going to explode anymore at least. Am I turning the corner? I hope.

I had a nice visit from Justine, Nick and Martha. Nick, my good pal, snuck me in a sandwich. He did not count the salt, phosphorus, or potassium. It was a simple, pleasurable meal and the best I’ve eaten in a week! He brought me his 1300 page complete “ Lord of the Rings.” It’s so big that most think it’s my bible! He has challenged me to muster on as it will take me probably 10 years to read it! Too heavy for the lap, it’s read upon a table.

I am looking forward to a day without dialysis tomorrow. They will continue with the plasma exchange. This is in hopes of ridding this protein from my body. There is also hope that the kidneys can rally back. Let’s hope!