Did my Rituxan treatments work?
Here's what I told my kidney doctor on Sept. 29:
1. In general, I feel like I have a bit more energy.
2. The swelling in my legs, ankles and face is reduced.
3. I'm noticing less foam when I do my business.
All of these positive signs began about the second week of September -- so 10 weeks after treatment began.
My doctor then ordered blood work and a 24-hour urine test, and those results are back.
Positive news from blood work:
My serum albumin has increased. This is good! Albumin is important for tissue growth and healing. It was 3.3 before the treatments and is 3.7 now. (The target for adults with CKD is 4.0.)
Positive news from 24-hour urine:
The target range for protein in urine is 0.00 - 0.15 grams/24 hours.
My previous 24-hour urine, taken at Mayo Clinic last fall, found 3.93 grams/24 hours.
This week, I had 2.48 grams/24 hours.
Less protein spillage is good! Other than that, though, I can't draw many conclusions without talking to my doctor. I've stopped trying to figure out these tests results on my own (I was an English major for gosh sakes) -- and I don't have any psychic powers.
My rule of thumb is that if the UM Hospital # doesn't come up on my cell phone, then all is good and I should just keep rolling with things.
So I roll.
