A patient and I were chatting about doing things which feel "normal" when life is complicated by factors such as chronic illness, Home Dialysis, 24 hour-a-day care, and so on.
"Find anything you like to do - anything!" I said. "When Steve and I were first doing Home Hemodialysis, we watched program after program of the HBO hit, Dexter. You know - the one about the Police Blood Spatter Expert who was a serial killer, but always did the right thing!"
"A Blood Spatter expert and Home Hemodialysis together?" we joked. "In the same room?"
Ironic? You bet! But Home Hemodialysis is the elephant in the bedroom that's not going away anytime soon. And Dexter provided the perfect diversion: a little dark, a little sinister, and very funny.
So, now that we're in a new chapter - with Steve experiencing mobility challenges, and new troubles with that once-perfect fistula - we're off to a new series, with DVDs lent by my friend and work colleague Brian Grev.
"This go-round, we're watching Six Feet Under!" I told my patient.
It makes the time pass, it's absorbing - and Steve and I feel more normal! A little irreverent humor is always helpful when we're looking to feel more like ourselves!
Take care,
Linda Gromko, MD
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