How Fragile Life Can Be

I have been working steady for 3 1/2 weeks straight away from home. I work in the Oil and Gas Industry on a Drilling Rig.

I haven't been feeling well for about 2 weeks. I have been weak and irritable. I write it off to the job. It has been quite a busy and stressful period at work. There has been lots of equipment problems that have kept me up quite a few nights.

This is nothing new, I deal with these same issues a lot at work. The only difference now is that I am not feeling well. Only 1 more week to go and I get to go home for days off.

The last week seemed like 4 weeks, I am feeling awful. Now my appetite is starting to wane and I am feeling really weak.

It is 7am and I am waiting on the tarmac for the helicopter to come and pick me up so I can get home. Feeling fine today because I will be
home this afternoon.

I arrive home with expectations of spending time with my family and catching up on the time I have been away. I am exhausted and end up sleeping the afternoon away. I am not feeling well again.

I made a Doctors appointment for a checkup and 6 month blood test. I get blood tests done every 6 months because I have type 2 Diabetes. I have had this since 1992.

I have also developed Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) in the past few years, which I take medication for.

I am 44 years old. I have a family to support, and it seems like I have spent many years putting work ahead of my health. I keep telling
myself, I will slow down when I retire.

The job I am in pays well, when times are busy. It is a business of feast or famine. You can be going flat out one week then be sitting at home for weeks waiting for work.

The Doctor checks me over and tells me my Blood Pressure is high. I tell him it has been a challenging time at work lately. I have had this same conversation quite a few times with him. I tell him how I have been feeling lately. He orders some extra tests.

He tells me to make another appointment with him in a few days to go over test results.

I have been through these appointments before, I go in and he tells me my blood sugar has been high and I need to lower my blood pressure.
This time it was different. He doesn't have the usual look on his face.

I ask him how my results are?

He tells me it is not good.

The Doctor tells me that my Kidney function is deteriorating rapidly!
I have 39% of my Kidney function remaining.

I ask him what has caused this?

He replies, your high blood sugar and high blood pressure.

This is what he calls "The Perfect Storm" for Kidney failure.

I am 44 years old and I just found out I am not invincible! I am seriously ill!

The Doctor tells me he is going to take me off my medication for diabetes and put me on Insulin. He says the medication I have been taking for years is now toxic on my Kidneys.

He also adjusts my medication for my blood pressure.

He told me he is going to refer me to a Nephrologist (Kidney Specialist) for a consultation.

After spending many years putting work ahead of my health, now my health has put work to a stop.

The Doctor tells me I have to take the time off to get my blood sugar and blood pressure under control. I will also undergo further testing.

This is not what I needed to hear, because I am not at all prepared financially.

I don't know how I am going to deal with this?

I cannot go for another month without working. I have bills piling up.

My health is far from perfect, but I must get back to work. My employer does not know what is going on. I told them I wanted 3 to 4 weeks off for holidays.

I head out for 3 weeks of work in a remote location.

I am not feeling to bad. The only issue that arises is a toothache that I can't get dealt with. I ease the pain with extra strength Advil (Ibuprofen). The pain is bad, but I get through it with Advil about 4 times a day for 2 weeks. The pain finally subsides and I finish my tour.

Oh My God! I am still in for the shock of my life!

Life takes another unexpected turn.

Please read the 2nd part of my story. "How fragile life can be" Part 2