A hot topic today in the transplant world is that of the potential recipient being given enough information about risk factors relating to a potential donor. In fact, researchers at Penn have proposed major changes in informed consent policy.

So, while all my friends and family are having/attending BBQ's and drinking their faces off, where will I be?

That's right. On a date with my stupid boyfriend that I can't dump AKA the dialysis machine.

There's no justice in the world.

Well, I'm alive and well 7 weeks after my transplant. Actually, I'm doing fantastic, as evidenced by today's appointment with the surgeon.

Initially, I was told my appointments for the first 3 months would be every week, but lately, I've been getting weekly labs, and bi-weekly appointments.

Wow, it has been a while, hasn't it?

Well, summer has officially come to stay in my part of the world. Finally. And, with this brings my longing to go swimming.

Of course, I then think about what would be required for me to actually go swimming.

On second though, I'm content with parking my chair in 8 inches of water and simply lounging with my feet in the water, my sunglasses on and a nice bottle of. . . . something in my hand.

A good friend or two wouldn't hurt either.

Don't forget your sunscreen either kids!

It's hard to believe, but it's been 6 weeks since my kidney transplant. It actually seems longer than that to me, but that's probably because I'm feeling even better as each week passes, and I'm the type that usually looks ahead, and rarely back; but that's just me.

Traveling post-transplant has been... interesting. I keep expecting there to be somewhere I'm supposed to be (dialysis) or something I'm supposed to be doing (watching my fluid intake).

The change in climate (from hot/humid to hot/desert) is interesting, too. I feel as if I'm having a really hard time keep hydrated, something I never anticipated having trouble with post-transplant. I keep reminding myself "DRINK MORE WATER!" but even that feels strange!

Perm cath vs. Fistula.

Everyone has an opinion on the matter and I think I'm in the minority when I say I hate my fistula and wish I had never had it done.

Today is my "Kidnaversary!" (the one-year anniversary of my kidney transplant)...

In celebration, my nephrologist's office called and gave me the results of my bloodwork from last Friday - Creatinine .9 with a Tac (Prograf) level of 6.7. Awesome!!!

(((HUGS))) to my bro (and his kidney) that continues to produce the most wonderful pee on planet earth on an hourly basis. I wouldn't be here like I am without him.

My good friend Judy mentioned in one of her posts recently that it seems many bloggers are taking a break from writing - all for a variety of reasons. She suggested that maybe we all need a NoBloPoMo (a No Blog Posting Month)...

... I might just have one right about now.

It's not that I don't want to blog or that I don't have things to say/express/share, it's more about the timing, or the lack of time I'm going to have for to blogging in the upcoming month.

As you may know, I had gastric bypass surgery in January 2002. I had done pretty much everything to lose the weight (various diets, exercise, Fen-Phen, Redux), but I was never able to keep it off. My Nephrologist kept telling me to "get the weight off", and at the time, I was followed by a bariatric physician, who had suggested that I go for Gastric Bypass. I went for an initial evaluation in 1999, and chickened out.