Celebrate the Small Wins

107 days since the kidney transplant

Time for an update on my kidney transplant journey.

I’ve am now 107 days since transplant and my kidney is still working well. I am celebrating the fact that I convinced my doctors to let me wean down and eventually get off the prednisone. It is a cortico-steroid that is usually used as a pulse to bring down inflammation.

When it is used in longer amounts, it can eventually shut down the adrenal glands, which means if the patient doesn’t get off the medication soon enough she will have to stay on 5 mg of prednisone for life.

I don’t like to be dependent on an every day pill unless it is essential, which is why I don’t get too bent out of shape that I have to take a thyroid pill.

So YEAH. It is a great milestone for me because I do get side effects if I am on prednisone for too long. I had a ten year experience with it when I was working on getting Wegener’s Granulomatosis under control. That disease is now in a quiet state (or remission if you prefer).

I made the mistake of exercising too hard and now have bruises on my forearm, legs, and probably places I can’t see. I learned a valuable lesson. I’m over 60 and need to take the exercise slowly. I’m not 40 anymore. Yes, that was a joke.

I haven’t felt this good in years even though my back decided to give me a few problems.

I’m still thinking of my future. That is exciting as well. I haven’t thought of the future in about 20 years. I’m hoping to walk on the beach again. I want to see Sedona with a couple of friends, but lastly I want to create.

I pulled out music and have been playing the keyboard again. It is very amateurish and not at the level I was in my 20s, but I am enjoying it. I’m also listening to classical, jazz, and blues. I’m remembering how much I enjoy the music. Maybe I can find someone or some course to learn how to lead a choir or orchestra.

I used to lead the music in church many years ago and I haven’t forgotten. Plus I had a great time pretending I was the conductor as I listened to Beethoven. This brought back many memories of music and how I loved music.

I still love music.

So one of my nurses told me to “celebrate the small wins.” It was the best advice I was ever given in a hospital.