Another update

I’m standing in front of my building on Friday Oct 20, 2023

I’m getting into the schedule of pre-transplant drugs, 10 minute walks, and reconciling the weakness. I’m twelve days from transplant and I need to rest after doing anything.

Part of the immuno-suppressant regimen is that when I cook before and after I have to use bleach wipes to keep my surfaces really clean. I could easily get any kind of infection. I use gloves to change my dog. She is an old blind incontinent dog. I’m so happy she survived the four days I was in the hospital.

I have to wash all of my clothes after wearing. My laundry piles up fast. Thankfully my brothers bought me a washer and dryer a few years ago when I went on PD (dialysis). I can throw my towel in there and get it washed before anything grows on it.

My Sister-in-law, Karissa, is with me on my first appointmen after leaving the hospital. She thought the magazine was pretty funny.

I’m basically in isolation for 3 months while I am on prograf—a strong anti-rejection drug. Thankfully I haven’t gotten nausea yet.

My electrolyte levels started going wonky (yes that is a technical term …NOW) so I have been put on magnesium, calcium, and D3. Also I was having constant heartburn. The labs showed that my bicarb sodium levels were low too. I started that one last night and my heartburn stopped on contact. That was a relief.

Due to Karissa’s influence, I was able to get the three months of “home health care,” which is included with the transplant package. Although there was a glitch (they said I could do self-care), except I told them that after major surgery I should at least be checked weekly in case of infections that I miss. The hospital agreed that we had a point.

I now see a nurse and physical therapist weekly. Okay I didn’t think I needed the physical therapist, but he proved very useful. And even got me to acknowledge that while I was so weak that it would be NO SHAME to use it for longer walks, then he showed me what a short walk was. I couldn’t even reach the first elevator. I then graciously accepted his advice.

I’m a leo. I’m stubborn.

On the right is my overall care nurse at the transplant office, Jennifer DelGado.

So it has been very busy. I have a list of several drugs I have to get down— either swallow or crush. I’m on 15 mg of prednisone and hope to ween again soon. At least I am not going through the crash and burn cycles of 20 mg.

My kidney keeps chugging along. I am so grateful for the person who died to give this to me. I will always remember them with fondness.

But for now I’m still in Celebration mode. I have a WORKING kidney now.

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