idneys-kay

sometimes when i run wearing tights i feel like i'm going to an important business meeting in my pajamas.

i'm really glad i have healthy, functioning kidneys. after spending the day at the dialysis center with some pretty amazing people, i don't see how they possibly maintain any semblance of a normal life.

1. they have to spend 4-5 hours 3-4 times a week at the center being dialyzed. or they will be really, really sick. and then die.

2. in between these sessions they may gain 2-5 kilograms (5-10 pounds) in water and waste products that our normal healthy kidneys would filter out. this means that they feel tired and gross because they are basically being slowly poisoned for a couple of days, but then when they are dialyzed they feel terrible for a while because their body has just lost several liters of fluids, making them dizzy, nauseous, etc. if too much fluid is removed they could have heart failure.

3. your kidneys control all kinds of important stuff. they make a hormone that tells your bone marrow to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the rest of the cells in your body. they make a chemical that regulates your blood pressure. they make vitamin d, which makes it possible for your body to absorb calcium which is necessary for pretty much every process in your body from blood clotting to muscle contraction and regulating your heartbeat. and for strong bones.

without kidneys you're pretty much screwed.

there are some days when i realize i worry about the pettiest things in the world.