Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke
Today, I’m doing something slightly less athletic but arguably just as important: planning tomorrow.
I have a nephrologist appointment in the early afternoon, which means tomorrow’s run is officially cancelled. When your kidneys are less than cooperative, you don’t negotiate with specialists—you show up. I see my nephrologist four times a year to make sure my kidneys are still doing their job and haven’t quietly decided to go on strike.
I was supposed to see him in December. That appointment? Completely forgotten.
The lab work, at least, got done—my wife made sure of that—but the results weren’t great. My kidney function had dipped back into Stage 4 territory, which understandably worried her. When numbers go down, her stress level goes up.
Missing that appointment was not something I wanted to repeat.
So this time, I’ve deployed redundancy like a NASA launch:
- Phone alarm
- Calendar reminder
- Morning check-in alert
- Uber is scheduled in advance
If I miss this appointment, it won’t be due to a lack of safeguards. If this system works, it may become the standard operating procedure for all future medical visits.
I don’t want to miss these appointments for three reasons:
- I need to understand what’s happening with my kidneys.
- I’ve accumulated a respectable list of questions.
- Uncertainty scares my wife far more than bad news with context.
On the positive side, my other biometrics look solid. My weight is stable. Blood pressure has been well-behaved. Heart rate is calm and cooperative. So while the kidneys demand attention, the rest of the system seems content.
Yes, I’m a little annoyed about skipping my run—but these appointments are rare enough that missing one workout won’t derail anything. And, conveniently, tomorrow’s forecast is rainy, which takes some of the sting out of it.
Sometimes progress isn’t about doing more—it’s about showing up where it matters most, even if that means trading running shoes for a waiting room chair.