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Ollie Norman Needs a Hand! (And a Kidney!)

  • Cloudy day here!

      23 May 2017
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    Hi everyone. Last night I had a CT scan on my chest and they found a cloudy area on my lungs. I have been tested for TB (tuberculosis) but won't get the results for a couple of days. In the meantime I have to wear a mask and all those that come in contact with me. So if you were thinking of visiting, you will have to wear a hospital mask until I get the all clear. On the plus side,my potassium has come down and I've realised the terrible headaches I have been getting have been self inflicted from fluid overload. I'm going to have to be super careful to keep to my 1 litre limit. Even a mandarin has 60ml of fluid in it I've just learned. Thanks again for all your support. Ollie 👍

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  • A bug in the line......

      22 May 2017
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    Today wasn't my favourite day as a bug was discovered in my tunnel line, my potassium and calcium were too high and I was fluid overloaded. A short walk across the corridor and I have been admitted back into ward 14 again. Talk about a frequent flyer! It would be great if I could choose my favourite nurses all the time! Tomorrow I have to go again back on dialysis for 5 hours so two days in a row, not the news I wanted to hear! My Oma and mum came in to visit me tonight and smuggled in McDonald's chicken salad. Thank you for the visits, the cards, notes, prayers and support. Much appreciated. Ollie X

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  • Calci-Yum.....

      19 May 2017
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    Good news since the last update....My fluid restriction has been increased from 800ml to 1 litre a day! It may not seem much to you but to me it's a real luxury being able to drink another 200ml a day. I celebrated with my favourite drink at the moment, strawberry CalciYum. Bliss! Today after my dialysis my weight has dropped to 49kg and I am starting to feel a bit anorexic even though mum has been making heaps of my favourite toasties with cranberry sauce, ham and cheese on them. Thank you so much again Mairehau Primary School for the lovely new lot of cards and notes. I loved reading them. Also for those people who have visited on my dialysis days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It certainly makes the time go quicker. Also a huge thank you for those wonderfully generous people who have been picking me up and taking me home from hospital. I really appreciate it even though I'm not great company at the moment. Thanks again, Ollie X

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  • Big Thanks to the children at Mairehau Primary School!

      17 May 2017

    Back in hospital today for another 5 hour dialysis stint. I don't feel better yet but I'm hoping eventually I will. They took 4 kg of fluid off me today so I am down to my lowest weight off 50kg. Off home with a headache again and more sleep. Mum bought me my favourite take away. Thanks Zaafran for the extra tzatziki sauce. The highlight of my day was getting a jar from the Principal of Mairehau Primary, with hand written notes and cards from the children. It really made my day to read them all. Thanks so much to everyone who has been keeping in touch and visiting me. Your are the best and I'm always happier when around people. Ollie x

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  • Sleepless Nights.....

      15 May 2017

    I've had a rough few nights as my fluid restriction is 800ml per day and since it was Mother's Day celebrations and I was thirsty I went around 200ml over my limit and paid dearly for it. I was up all night very uncomfortable with chest pain and felt miserable. Another 5 hour dialysis stint today got rid of the fluid so I have been super careful today and have only drunk 250ml. I was so tired after a sleepless night I spent most of the time at hospital sleeping in the Lazy Boy chair while the machine did its thing! When mum picked me up I had a splitting headache. Off home to sleep some more on the couch, one day off then back to hospital on Wednesday for another 5 hour stint. Although I hate it, I know it's saving my life and I need to get well enough to go back on the transplant list for those wonderful friends that are going through the testing process for me at the moment. Thanks for all your generous donations. You have helped tremendously to take the financial stress off me. Cheers Ollie

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  • Feeling the Love!

      10 May 2017
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    Hey everyone Ollie is really feeling the love from all of you! The messages are awesome and are really making his spirits soar!

    he is doing 5 hours of Hemo today and said he is feeling a lot more relaxed with his laptop to keep him company!

    His friend is coming today to share some good vibes and after the Hemo he is off for some scans so may have to stay for another night.

    Once he is out he will have to go back in for Hemo each day for 5 hours until they can get him a machine for home. The help you are all giving him will help pay for the cost of petrol in and our each day so its a huge load off his mind.

    Check out he machine, looks like a high tech piece of equipment for sure! Go Ollie!

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  • Hemodialysis Lesson 101

      9 May 2017

    Ollie has his first hemodialysis session this morning which was 1 hour long.

    ** In hemodialysis, a dialysis machine and a special filter called an artificial kidney, or a dialyzer, are used to clean your blood. To get your blood into the dialyzer, the doctor needs to make an access, or entrance, into your blood vessels. This is done with minor surgery, usually to your arm **

    Ollie found it confusing and didnt like it much so thinks he needs more time to get the hang of it so he can judge how he really feels about it.

    He also has a crackly chest after they gave him a blood test.

    Everything takes time so fingers crossed Ollie falls in love with Hemodialysis so he can get better!

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  • New Tunnel Line

      8 May 2017
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    Ollie had a new tunnel line put in under his collar bone today so he can start with a new type of dialysis. Normally they place a line in his arm but they don't have time for it to heal ready for treatment so they start with this so he can feel better sooner. He was pretty groggy today after his proceedure but Tania and I still got a few good laughs out of him!

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