Lee's 2nd Update:

Hi there, here is my update. [She is addressing me still: Ed]. Feel free to spice it up a bit - add some humour or whatever. I can't remember all the proper names i.e. what the proper name is for the nuclear Dept. [Nuclear Medicines Department: Ed]

It would also be nice if you could also write a little something about how you are coping. People are always asking how you are feeling now that you are on dialysis etc. I always say "much better thanks", but maybe I am wrong? . [Nope, you are right, but ok, I'll tell them myself: Ed]

Let me know once you have updated it. Thanks. [Ok, I've updated it now: Ed]

"Well despite getting to the hospital at 07h00 on Friday, 30 October for an 08h00 appointment, after sitting through the registration process and then waiting in the Nuclear …[??] Department, surrounded by sniveling, snorting, coughing, grunting open-mouthed chewing patients I only got to see the nurse at 09h20.

I was there to have a GFR – Nuclear filtration something or other! [Glomelura Filtration Rate: Ed] A radio-active liquid was injected into my left arm and one hour later (10h20) blood was drawn from the right arm. After another two hours (12h20), blood was drawn from my right arm again. Through this process they can see how my kidneys are filtrating. All went well and although I don’t have the results I am sure they are fine.

I then popped into the Renal Unit to be handed my 24 hour urine bottle. This entailed me urinating into a bottle for a 24 hour period from Sunday 06h00 to Monday 06h00. [Crikey, i did not know that was possible...I battle to do a 40 second wee...: Ed] This was then delivered to the hospital this morning when further blood tests were taken.

My last and least exciting tests will be done on Friday, 6 November. I will start with a CT Scan of the kidneys – which is fine. I will then have an angiogram. An Iodine dye will be injected into my groin (I think) and then we watch on the monitor how the iodine filtrates through the body and kidneys. As I am allergic to Iodine I have collected meds from my doctor which I need to take at various intervals before the Angiogram starting from as early as 18 hours beforehand. Once that it over – Terry needs to have some tests conducted and then we are A for away. [Thanks for affording me a whole sentence!]

Thanks to everyone for the prayers, well wishes, phone calls and e-mails."

Lee