Today was a wake up call.

I tried to help my wife carry groceries into the house—nothing major, just over 10 pounds. But that small act caused my fistula to start bleeding out.

I had a bandage still on from dialysis yesterday, which I usually take off after about 20 hours. But as soon as I lifted the bag, I felt the pressure shift and blood started pouring out. It got all over the place. I managed to press a new bandage on it in time to stop it, but it really shook me up.

Lesson learned: I can’t lift anything heavy anymore. No matter how much I want to help or feel “normal,” I have to respect the limits that come with this condition. Still, it’s tough accepting that.

Just needed to get this off my chest.