transplanted
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 3:31 pm
Well it's happened. I telephoned Southmead on Monday 20/2 as I was due to see them for the first time since I went on the list two years ago. The only time I have spoken to them in that time was to order more blood sample tubes. They said it wasn't worth discussing that as they might have a kidney for me, but they would call me back. That gave me chance to tell my work colleagues that I might be disappearing for few weeks and sure enough they rang back to say that I should make my way to Bristol. I work about 30 minutes from home by bus. So I went home, packed, caught the bus back and was planning to catch a train to Bristol. However, it happened that my son's lecturer hadn't turned up at college and he was available to drive me there. That was probably just as well from a time point of view.
Once in hospital, there was concern over some dental problems I had recently been having. My temperature was a little high and so it depended on my blood results as to whether an infection might scupper things. The results showed a slight infection, but not enough to stop the op. I eventually went down to theatre at eight in the evening, some ten hours after the call. When I came round in recovery at around midnight, I asked them to ring my wife as I knew she wouldn't be able to sleep without hearing how it had gone.
I slept ok that first night, even with all the tubes and wires. I was passing bloodied urine into the bag, so I could see something happening. The tubes and wires disappeared over the next few days and the urine cleared. I suffered very little pain, except when I moved. The toothache I had been having was more painful than the kidney transplant. On the Friday they moved me to a private room and removed the last of the tubes. The blood tests were improving and I was able to urinate in a controlled fashion, so they discharged me on the Saturday afternoon. I thought the nursing staff were brilliant.
Since then I have been going to Exeter three times a week. My creatinine has come down from over 700 pre-op to 165. I've walked to the pub for a pint. I'd like to start a staggered return to work next week, it's a desk job. I know things can still go wrong, but I feel very lucky.
Once in hospital, there was concern over some dental problems I had recently been having. My temperature was a little high and so it depended on my blood results as to whether an infection might scupper things. The results showed a slight infection, but not enough to stop the op. I eventually went down to theatre at eight in the evening, some ten hours after the call. When I came round in recovery at around midnight, I asked them to ring my wife as I knew she wouldn't be able to sleep without hearing how it had gone.
I slept ok that first night, even with all the tubes and wires. I was passing bloodied urine into the bag, so I could see something happening. The tubes and wires disappeared over the next few days and the urine cleared. I suffered very little pain, except when I moved. The toothache I had been having was more painful than the kidney transplant. On the Friday they moved me to a private room and removed the last of the tubes. The blood tests were improving and I was able to urinate in a controlled fashion, so they discharged me on the Saturday afternoon. I thought the nursing staff were brilliant.
Since then I have been going to Exeter three times a week. My creatinine has come down from over 700 pre-op to 165. I've walked to the pub for a pint. I'd like to start a staggered return to work next week, it's a desk job. I know things can still go wrong, but I feel very lucky.