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.
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.
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.
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.
Better late than never; Ireland just had their first spouse-to-spouse kidney donation/transplant. I'm certainly not criticizing it; I think it's great. But it's a little surprising that since this is relatively commonplace here in the US, that it's just now happening in Ireland.
From Ohio State University comes research implicating stem cells from a donor organ as a cause of cancer in the recipient.
I'm continuing to do well almost 5 weeks post-transplant. No incisional pain, and minimal minor annoyances (initial lack of bladder capacity which is improved, arm pain right after surgery that is no more, etc).
I got my weekly labs back, and everything is pretty much stable, except for my glucose.
But before I discuss my labs, I'll take this time to list the meds I'm on, as they are fairly standard for a post-transplant patient:
Prograf 3 mg in am and 2mg in pm. (immunosuppressant)
CellCept 500mg in am and pm. (immunosuppressant)
Kidney Foundation Admits: Kidney Patients Should be Notified of Potential Risk from Fluorides and Fluoridated Drinking Water.
... LINK ...
Ellijay, GA: June 3, 2008 – A new position paper from the National Kidney Foundation concludes that individuals with chronic kidney disease should be notified of the potential risk from exposure to fluorides. The document acknowledges gaping holes in research concerning kidney impacts from fluorides, lending new ammunition to the growing numbers of cities, health professionals, water agencies, and citizens who question industry and government assertions that water fluoridation has been proven safe. continued...
New blog and new kidney - Life is good....
I'm excited to be here as the "New Transplant" blogger (although I guess THAT will change as time goes on). I've been blogging for several years now (prior to ESRD), first on LiveJournal, and currently on WordPress, so even though I'm a transplant 'noob", I'm not a blogging noob.
I thought I'd do my first post here on how things have changed since my transplant.
Happy Earth Day, everyone! What will you be doing today, this month, every day, or all the time, to celebrate?
Our family is honoring Earth Day in several ways: My son is participating in National Turn off the TV Week (a voluntary effort to raise awareness that life without television is not torture and can even be fun!), my DH is taking our gas-"friendlier" vehicle to work (instead of his sports car), we're all taking special care to remember to turn off our lights, computers, monitors and electronic devices...
...and I'm right here, promoting National Donate Life Month.
What? NDLM and Earth day, together? Am I out of my mind? How could one possibly draw a connection between the two? Here's your answer...
Have you seen the news about "Airborne"?
"...The makers of 'Airborne'... will refund money to consumers who bought the product, as part of a $23.3 million class action settlement agreement [based on false advertising]..."
Did you know that if you're a chronic kidney disease (CKD) or kidney failure (ESRD) patient, you shouldn't be taking this stuff anyway? Wanna know why?*
