When it became obvious to me that I was about to choose in to an elective, major surgery, I searched the internet for information. I wanted to hear facts from the kidney foundations, which I found plenty of. I also wanted to know the donor's side, which I never did find.
Correction: I just found another (2 weeks before my own surgery.). Her writing is shorter than mine and has more humor. It is interesting to me the similarities and differences in the process to donate. Hers includes pictures and includes accurate facts.Very cool. Here is her link: http://mylittlekidney.blogspot.com/2011/06/and-verdict-is.html?m=1
Because of my lifelong skepticism of the financial motivation of the medical field, I believed they would publish whatever was needed to convince people to donate. They are in sales. It is how they make their money. It is what they have to do. Well, I have changed my opinion, after this experience.
I decided a blog from a donor was needed, and almost started one right away, but my need to not be judged (as I will describe below) won on a daily basis, although I kept my intention to fill this need for a future donor. I decided not to include pictures or names, for privacy to all involved, because I am a very publicly private person, although that might surprise you if you have ever met me, as I can be quite friendly and boisterous.
I share my strong belief in God and his hand in all of this and receiving answers and whisperings from him and miracles. If you don't believe in this, I am okay with that, but please respect that I have the right to my own experience. If anything in this blog bothers you, please try to ignore what rubs you wrong and find the parts that you are looking for.
I mention my feelings of skepticism of the financial motivations of the medical field. My skepticism wasn't about the method of allopathy. I have a close family member who works in an HMO hospital, and throughout the years I have picked up on information about financial motivations of the medical field. (Yes, I know about the arguments about the financial motivation of ANYthing.)
I have always gone to the traditional doctor and the hospital and believe in the miracles of medicine and operations. I also have used (and still believe in) the benefits of, herbs, essential oils, and other homeopathic methods. I also go the the chiropractor. I also believe in nutrition and lifestyle. I have done my best to do what I believed was best for each situation, using a balance of all of the above. This has brought scolding from my both my only allopathic friends and from my only natural friends. I do my best, just as everyone else does, which in my case seems to please nobody but me and my conscience.
Please keep into consideration that this is MY own journey. I hope it will give you some idea of what you might expect if your experience is similar to mine. Maybe you can find out from one horse's mouth how accurate the factual information available on the web is. Maybe my journey will answer some of your questions or make their facts more understandable.
I have dated each post as closely to the date it actually happened, in chronological order. If you are interested in my story, please read the posts chronologically, labeled numerically as well, or by title, located by date in the lower right corner under the heading Blog Archives.
For a quick rundown list of information I found through research (and in hindsight I found to be accurate, by the way) without having to read my whole story, look at these posts:
"Research", dated July 30, 2014, and labeled "4"
"4 Phases of Testing", dated November 19, 2014, and labeled "7"
"Paired Exchange Program", dated December 3, 2014, and labeled '6.5"
Other tests are sprinkled throughout the blog. You might get some idea where to find them by looking at the post titles.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Two-Year Post-Op
Simplest. Appointment. Ever.
I filled out an online survey about my experience.
I went to my local hospital lab to pee in a cup and get one vial of blood.
Done.
No news is good news, they say, but I am more curious than that, so I contacted the kidney donor coordinator to find out the results of my tests. I can't find the results at the moment, but here were her reactions as she read them to me over the phone.
"The first one tested your ______. You did really well. Normal it is _____ and you were slightly under with ______.
"The second tested your ______. Oh, you did very well here. Normal it is ____, and you were quite a bit under. You did GREAT on this one!"
Someday I will find out what those are and fill in the blanks, but my point is that I am apparently healthier in the kidneys than the average person who has two! Yay, me!
I have gained my weight back. I don't know how much. I can fit into my size 6 business pants, but I'm pushing it with bulges. I probably ought to buy some more and find out my real size. Again, when I find out, I will let you know here. (I found out 3/4/17 ,., 149 lbs., so I should probably be wearing my size 8 or 10 pants again. It was a lot of fun being a 4!)
How I am doing with my routines? Uh......
*I was supposed to drink 8 glasses of water.
I do drink water, but I haven't been keeping track, which probably means I am getting down close to 2 or 3.
*I was supposed to take my blood pressure every month.
I forgot about that.
*I am supposed to limit my peanut butter, heavy milk products, processed meats.
Well, I eat WAY less than I did before the donation. Maybe I eat one of these a week. That's limiting, right?
*I am supposed to eat protein.
Yah. Um. I kinda forgot about this. I know most people often eat too much protein. Yah, I have the opposite problem. Four bites of animal protein or beans, and I feel SOOO heavy in my stomach. Not feeling heavy as in my weight or physical appearance, but like I just ate a bunch of really heavy food.
*I am supposed to have a regular exercise routine.
Once we fixed my car, I pretty much stopped walking. I loved walking.
This is good for me to take a look at. I recommit to being conscious of meeting my nutritional needs. I will do this by charting what I eat and drink and adjusting as needed.
There is definitely a sensation across my belly between my bellybutton and my incision at the bikini line. I can't explain it. It's not quite numb. It doesn't quite hurt. It kind of has a sensation of both. When I tighten and release my muscles there while standing up, you almost can't detect any movement of my belly, but my muscle is pretty tight and moving quite a bit on the inside, almost like it is numb, but I have feeling as I push or touch it. It's not normal, but it's not bad, it's just ... different.
If you are actively looking for my incision scars by tugging and pulling, you can find them. However, if you saw me change my clothes, the only scar you would see is my "button", but its pink discoloration is only about 1/4 inch long, and it's maybe 1/16 inch thick. It is disappearing, as well. It looks like it will actually be my skin color rather than white, pretty much disappearing.
I don't know what else to say. It's a great life!!! :) .... and I rock one kidney!
http://www.rock1kidney.org/
I filled out an online survey about my experience.
I went to my local hospital lab to pee in a cup and get one vial of blood.
Done.
No news is good news, they say, but I am more curious than that, so I contacted the kidney donor coordinator to find out the results of my tests. I can't find the results at the moment, but here were her reactions as she read them to me over the phone.
"The first one tested your ______. You did really well. Normal it is _____ and you were slightly under with ______.
"The second tested your ______. Oh, you did very well here. Normal it is ____, and you were quite a bit under. You did GREAT on this one!"
Someday I will find out what those are and fill in the blanks, but my point is that I am apparently healthier in the kidneys than the average person who has two! Yay, me!
I have gained my weight back. I don't know how much. I can fit into my size 6 business pants, but I'm pushing it with bulges. I probably ought to buy some more and find out my real size. Again, when I find out, I will let you know here. (I found out 3/4/17 ,., 149 lbs., so I should probably be wearing my size 8 or 10 pants again. It was a lot of fun being a 4!)
How I am doing with my routines? Uh......
*I was supposed to drink 8 glasses of water.
I do drink water, but I haven't been keeping track, which probably means I am getting down close to 2 or 3.
*I was supposed to take my blood pressure every month.
I forgot about that.
*I am supposed to limit my peanut butter, heavy milk products, processed meats.
Well, I eat WAY less than I did before the donation. Maybe I eat one of these a week. That's limiting, right?
*I am supposed to eat protein.
Yah. Um. I kinda forgot about this. I know most people often eat too much protein. Yah, I have the opposite problem. Four bites of animal protein or beans, and I feel SOOO heavy in my stomach. Not feeling heavy as in my weight or physical appearance, but like I just ate a bunch of really heavy food.
*I am supposed to have a regular exercise routine.
Once we fixed my car, I pretty much stopped walking. I loved walking.
This is good for me to take a look at. I recommit to being conscious of meeting my nutritional needs. I will do this by charting what I eat and drink and adjusting as needed.
There is definitely a sensation across my belly between my bellybutton and my incision at the bikini line. I can't explain it. It's not quite numb. It doesn't quite hurt. It kind of has a sensation of both. When I tighten and release my muscles there while standing up, you almost can't detect any movement of my belly, but my muscle is pretty tight and moving quite a bit on the inside, almost like it is numb, but I have feeling as I push or touch it. It's not normal, but it's not bad, it's just ... different.
If you are actively looking for my incision scars by tugging and pulling, you can find them. However, if you saw me change my clothes, the only scar you would see is my "button", but its pink discoloration is only about 1/4 inch long, and it's maybe 1/16 inch thick. It is disappearing, as well. It looks like it will actually be my skin color rather than white, pretty much disappearing.
I don't know what else to say. It's a great life!!! :) .... and I rock one kidney!
http://www.rock1kidney.org/
Friday, January 6, 2017
The Circle of Life
After the first kidney rejection attempt, which the doctors got under control, a lot of complications started. Mom got gestational diabetes, which they got under control, then high blood pressure, which they got under control, then edema, followed by chasing one of the above or another, eventually landing Mom flat for the remainder of her pregnancy, and finally landing her in the hospital at 26 weeks gestation with the goal of keeping the baby for one more day .... one more hour .... time for an emergency c-section. Baby girl was born 27 weeks and 3 days gestation. 1 lb, something ounces.
Mom watched the birth, although she has no memory, because shortly after the birth Mom suddenly flatlined, but the doctors worked quickly and, with cardio paddles and I have no idea what else, they brought her back from that trauma, but the kidney seemed to continue to be in shock for weeks. They tried different methods of bringing that kidney back into activity.
Update 2/14/17:
Today the baby is 8 1/2 weeks old (35 weeks gestation), 4 lbs. 5.5 ounces, acts like a typical 8 week old. Has lots of hair. Has enough meat on her that someone can pick her up without feeling like she is going to break. Alert. Smart. Still in the hospital with some attachments. Drinking from a bottle. Doing really well.
Mom had a biopsy yesterday. The kidney has a ton of fibrosis, which mean that it has a ton of scar tissue that has replaced regular, pliable tissue, making the kidney unusable. This could be caused by whatever is in the recipient that caused her original kidney to not work. It could be caused by injury due to biological chemicals, diabetes II (does gestational diabetes count?) Bottom line: Mom is being put on dialysis again and being put back on the donor list.
She and I have talked a few times about this possibility, and we both seem to believe the same, but I will just tell my feelings. I know I was told to give this kidney to her. It is not up to me how long her body will use that kidney, but God has always known what would happen and when it would happen. I really believe that the timing of everything has been miraculous.
I believe that Mom and Dad took this possibility of pregnancy very seriously and brought the decision to God and that he gave her peace. I believe that in HER case it was the right thing to do. I believe that if she had been given someone else's kidney, she might never have even had this choice. I am very happy that she had this baby.
She won't be getting pregnant again. There's no way the doctors could have known what would happen. The bulk of her complications were from gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, and I think edema. This might have happened to anyone even with a good original kidney.
I do not mourn my decision. As I learned and mentioned in one of my first posts, it is likely that my recipient will be the recipient of more than just my kidney. You never know when it will be time for a new kidney. Maybe this kidney that I carried for 48 years could have lasted another year had she not become pregnant, or maybe 5, but with the blessings of her doctors and having made the decision in prayer, she gave birth and lives, and it's time for God to bless someone else's life by allowing them the privilege of knowing they did something important and made a contribution in this life to assist in blessing someone else.
Mom watched the birth, although she has no memory, because shortly after the birth Mom suddenly flatlined, but the doctors worked quickly and, with cardio paddles and I have no idea what else, they brought her back from that trauma, but the kidney seemed to continue to be in shock for weeks. They tried different methods of bringing that kidney back into activity.
Update 2/14/17:
Today the baby is 8 1/2 weeks old (35 weeks gestation), 4 lbs. 5.5 ounces, acts like a typical 8 week old. Has lots of hair. Has enough meat on her that someone can pick her up without feeling like she is going to break. Alert. Smart. Still in the hospital with some attachments. Drinking from a bottle. Doing really well.
Mom had a biopsy yesterday. The kidney has a ton of fibrosis, which mean that it has a ton of scar tissue that has replaced regular, pliable tissue, making the kidney unusable. This could be caused by whatever is in the recipient that caused her original kidney to not work. It could be caused by injury due to biological chemicals, diabetes II (does gestational diabetes count?) Bottom line: Mom is being put on dialysis again and being put back on the donor list.
She and I have talked a few times about this possibility, and we both seem to believe the same, but I will just tell my feelings. I know I was told to give this kidney to her. It is not up to me how long her body will use that kidney, but God has always known what would happen and when it would happen. I really believe that the timing of everything has been miraculous.
I believe that Mom and Dad took this possibility of pregnancy very seriously and brought the decision to God and that he gave her peace. I believe that in HER case it was the right thing to do. I believe that if she had been given someone else's kidney, she might never have even had this choice. I am very happy that she had this baby.
She won't be getting pregnant again. There's no way the doctors could have known what would happen. The bulk of her complications were from gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, and I think edema. This might have happened to anyone even with a good original kidney.
I do not mourn my decision. As I learned and mentioned in one of my first posts, it is likely that my recipient will be the recipient of more than just my kidney. You never know when it will be time for a new kidney. Maybe this kidney that I carried for 48 years could have lasted another year had she not become pregnant, or maybe 5, but with the blessings of her doctors and having made the decision in prayer, she gave birth and lives, and it's time for God to bless someone else's life by allowing them the privilege of knowing they did something important and made a contribution in this life to assist in blessing someone else.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Sounds Familiar
The kidney started producing urine before it was secured completely in place. My friend, the recipient, has become stronger and stronger in her health from the get-go. It is common for the recipient's body to try to reject a kidney at least once, and possibly a few times, before the first year post-op is complete. This never happened with her. As a matter of fact, she was given the go to get pregnant, and one year and 3-4 months post-op, she did, having never experienced a single rejection! Three months later, her body recognized the intruder we know as the transplanted kidney, and it tried to reject it for the first time. (First time at a year and six months post-op! Incredible!) The hospital got the situation under control, and the baby and mother are both doing fine.
My friend is now four months pregnant. I think I have picked up that she is closely monitored by her doctors and has been admitted into the hospital a couple of times, for a couple days each, because the body is trying to reject the kidney. Again, this is normal even when not pregnant. It was a miracle the body took as long as it did to reject the kidney the first time. A miracle, because if it had tried to reject it before she got pregnant, she wouldn't have been allowed to get pregnant as soon as she was, and maybe not at all. P.S. It is a baby girl!
(My restaurant friend who is the recipient of her brother's kidney had desires to become pregnant sometime after the transplant, and her doctors told her that she cannot do that because she will die.)
My own recipient friend's husband got a new job in a town six hours away. They move next week, after only three weeks to pack, put their house up for sale, and make new living arrangements in their new location. Amongst all her hospital visits and packing, she has had to let people walk through to look at her house.
On Facebook, yesterday morning, she had had filled out one of those "getting to know me" list of questions. One of the questions was, "What's your favorite dessert." She said, "Right now, huckleberry ice cream," then mentioned where she gets it, which happens to be where I work. I knew right then that I really wanted to get her a quart of it.
When I got to work I realized that I had no time to get the huckleberry ice cream to her before it would melt in my car, so I said a prayer asking God to send someone who could deliver the ice cream to her for me. I laughed at myself for such a silly request, because we have very few common friends, and I have never seen one of them during the hours I worked. I figured if it were important, someone would show up. I was surprised and delighted when two such "someones" showed up a couple hours later!! Coincidence? I don't think so! I knew as soon as I saw them that they were on an errand for the Lord!
This morning I got a text from my friend that said, "You were an answer to my prayer," then it went on to explain that yesterday she was really feeling down. She prayed and mentioned to God that she could really use some help and huckleberry ice cream. Later that day her mom showed up as a surprise (from another state) and then a little later the huckleberry ice cream was delivered!
This reminded me of her mom's and my roles in her life, in general. This friend of mine has had medical problems her whole life. Her mom was there by her side laboring with her, raising her, teaching her, all the dedication moms do. I had something my friend needed. My role was insignificant in comparison and was only for a short time period in both cases. First, I was keeping her kidney safe in my body until she needed it, and when she did, I gave it to her. Yesterday I had her ice cream. In both cases the item came from me, but someone else delivered the item from me to her, and in both cases her mom was with her when it was received and enjoyed. These similarities are what hit me hardest with warm fuzzy amazement!
I am also deeply touched with how important each of us is to God. He (and in my opinion, angels) arrange and coordinate several of us to let one of his daughters feel His love. I don't know how I got lucky enough to be part of this, but I feel so blessed that I was somehow invited! I love watching his gifts of love unfold in our lives!
My friend is now four months pregnant. I think I have picked up that she is closely monitored by her doctors and has been admitted into the hospital a couple of times, for a couple days each, because the body is trying to reject the kidney. Again, this is normal even when not pregnant. It was a miracle the body took as long as it did to reject the kidney the first time. A miracle, because if it had tried to reject it before she got pregnant, she wouldn't have been allowed to get pregnant as soon as she was, and maybe not at all. P.S. It is a baby girl!
(My restaurant friend who is the recipient of her brother's kidney had desires to become pregnant sometime after the transplant, and her doctors told her that she cannot do that because she will die.)
My own recipient friend's husband got a new job in a town six hours away. They move next week, after only three weeks to pack, put their house up for sale, and make new living arrangements in their new location. Amongst all her hospital visits and packing, she has had to let people walk through to look at her house.
On Facebook, yesterday morning, she had had filled out one of those "getting to know me" list of questions. One of the questions was, "What's your favorite dessert." She said, "Right now, huckleberry ice cream," then mentioned where she gets it, which happens to be where I work. I knew right then that I really wanted to get her a quart of it.
When I got to work I realized that I had no time to get the huckleberry ice cream to her before it would melt in my car, so I said a prayer asking God to send someone who could deliver the ice cream to her for me. I laughed at myself for such a silly request, because we have very few common friends, and I have never seen one of them during the hours I worked. I figured if it were important, someone would show up. I was surprised and delighted when two such "someones" showed up a couple hours later!! Coincidence? I don't think so! I knew as soon as I saw them that they were on an errand for the Lord!
This morning I got a text from my friend that said, "You were an answer to my prayer," then it went on to explain that yesterday she was really feeling down. She prayed and mentioned to God that she could really use some help and huckleberry ice cream. Later that day her mom showed up as a surprise (from another state) and then a little later the huckleberry ice cream was delivered!
This reminded me of her mom's and my roles in her life, in general. This friend of mine has had medical problems her whole life. Her mom was there by her side laboring with her, raising her, teaching her, all the dedication moms do. I had something my friend needed. My role was insignificant in comparison and was only for a short time period in both cases. First, I was keeping her kidney safe in my body until she needed it, and when she did, I gave it to her. Yesterday I had her ice cream. In both cases the item came from me, but someone else delivered the item from me to her, and in both cases her mom was with her when it was received and enjoyed. These similarities are what hit me hardest with warm fuzzy amazement!
I am also deeply touched with how important each of us is to God. He (and in my opinion, angels) arrange and coordinate several of us to let one of his daughters feel His love. I don't know how I got lucky enough to be part of this, but I feel so blessed that I was somehow invited! I love watching his gifts of love unfold in our lives!
Monday, January 4, 2016
One Year Post-Op
Here it is ... one year post-op.
Since April, I decreased another pants size, down to a 3/4. While that is happy, I had promised not to lose weight for a year, so at my 6-month check up I asked the doctor about it. He asked what my pre-op weight was and what my current weight was and said that I was fine. It is normal for the donor to lose some weight for the first year. "But don't worry," he said, "you'll probably gain some of it back at the year mark."
My pooch below my bellybutton is hard for me to explain how it feels. It doesn't hurt. It's more of a sensation. If I press hard and firm it could feel a bit like pushing firmly on a bruise, but with no searing pain, just a pressure discomfort. If I press or rub with my fingers over the skin, I feel like I can feel it both on the surface and underneath, maybe because I am feeling the skin moving around it or maybe because the "numb" part is between. Most of the time I don't feel anything and it doesn't feel "numb" or "tingly", just nothing, unless I am trying to move it around and describe it. The best I can come up with is that it feels like a numb lip after a shot at the dentist. It's that "nothing" sensation, like it's not even there, just a mass. I could do sit ups, no problem, and I'm sure it would tighten it right up, but I don't, so the pooch just sits there like a bag in front of me, probably looser than if it wasn't numb, but who knows, since I'm not doing sit ups, but I do walk!
In the past few months I have been without a vehicle quite a bit. I live in a town where the farthest point is 3 miles. It's amazing how much you can fit into just 3 miles! There is a fantastic bus system that I use often, but I also walk around town a lot, because the farthest I walk (to work) is only 1 1/2 miles, so why not? I have plenty of energy for all the walking. What is always surprising to me is that when I get home and sit for a minute, I almost immediately fall asleep! My adult son asked if it was possible that I was still recovering on the inside. Oh - yep. The exercise is important. So is rest. I love that my body is so willing to do both, as needed.
My scarring. The incision which my kidney was brought through is located at the bikini line. It is so tiny, you can only see it if you know it is there and are on purpose looking for it. It is as fine as a cat's scratch scar. The only exception is less than a half inch in length and located on the right corner. I've never seen it there. It looks tender, but isn't. I am wondering if I have a tiny infection. I am watching it. I just saw it this morning. (Update: It was only swollen and pink that day. Now that part of the scar looks the same as the rest of the scar. No difference.)
My scar at the top of my bellybutton is, again, fine as a cat's scratch and located within my stretch wrinkles, so in order to see it I have to stretch my belly button skin tight, and then have to look really, really closely to find it.
The scar highest, by my diaphragm, is easy to see, but looks more like a discoloration, like a chicken pox scar that is disappearing.
The scar I call my "button" is located about 3 inches above my belly button. It was the most irritating and the thickest from front to back. A blind person would probably feel it and guess it was a mosquito bite. The reddish scar is actually about a half an inch long and runs up and down. I am amazed that even my "button" is melting away! It just looks like sometime in my life I got scratched pretty good and left a scar. Nobody would, on their own, guess that I have had surgery!
For my one year post-op check up, all I had to do was go to my local hospital lab with the orders, pee in a cup, get a couple vials of blood, and have the results sent to the kidney donation coordinators. I called the coordinator to ask a couple questions, but there was no actual doctor appointment. Apparently all of my test scores are within normal range for 1 year post-op.
I just talked with my recipient. She had great news for me. Next month the doctors are changing her medication, and she will be able to try to get pregnant!!! This is extremely good news! I am so excited for her! Not every recipient gets this opportunity. It just depends on how they are recovering. Apparently she is doing very well!!!
And, this ends one wonderful adventure of a lifetime!
Since April, I decreased another pants size, down to a 3/4. While that is happy, I had promised not to lose weight for a year, so at my 6-month check up I asked the doctor about it. He asked what my pre-op weight was and what my current weight was and said that I was fine. It is normal for the donor to lose some weight for the first year. "But don't worry," he said, "you'll probably gain some of it back at the year mark."
My pooch below my bellybutton is hard for me to explain how it feels. It doesn't hurt. It's more of a sensation. If I press hard and firm it could feel a bit like pushing firmly on a bruise, but with no searing pain, just a pressure discomfort. If I press or rub with my fingers over the skin, I feel like I can feel it both on the surface and underneath, maybe because I am feeling the skin moving around it or maybe because the "numb" part is between. Most of the time I don't feel anything and it doesn't feel "numb" or "tingly", just nothing, unless I am trying to move it around and describe it. The best I can come up with is that it feels like a numb lip after a shot at the dentist. It's that "nothing" sensation, like it's not even there, just a mass. I could do sit ups, no problem, and I'm sure it would tighten it right up, but I don't, so the pooch just sits there like a bag in front of me, probably looser than if it wasn't numb, but who knows, since I'm not doing sit ups, but I do walk!
In the past few months I have been without a vehicle quite a bit. I live in a town where the farthest point is 3 miles. It's amazing how much you can fit into just 3 miles! There is a fantastic bus system that I use often, but I also walk around town a lot, because the farthest I walk (to work) is only 1 1/2 miles, so why not? I have plenty of energy for all the walking. What is always surprising to me is that when I get home and sit for a minute, I almost immediately fall asleep! My adult son asked if it was possible that I was still recovering on the inside. Oh - yep. The exercise is important. So is rest. I love that my body is so willing to do both, as needed.
My scarring. The incision which my kidney was brought through is located at the bikini line. It is so tiny, you can only see it if you know it is there and are on purpose looking for it. It is as fine as a cat's scratch scar. The only exception is less than a half inch in length and located on the right corner. I've never seen it there. It looks tender, but isn't. I am wondering if I have a tiny infection. I am watching it. I just saw it this morning. (Update: It was only swollen and pink that day. Now that part of the scar looks the same as the rest of the scar. No difference.)
My scar at the top of my bellybutton is, again, fine as a cat's scratch and located within my stretch wrinkles, so in order to see it I have to stretch my belly button skin tight, and then have to look really, really closely to find it.
The scar highest, by my diaphragm, is easy to see, but looks more like a discoloration, like a chicken pox scar that is disappearing.
The scar I call my "button" is located about 3 inches above my belly button. It was the most irritating and the thickest from front to back. A blind person would probably feel it and guess it was a mosquito bite. The reddish scar is actually about a half an inch long and runs up and down. I am amazed that even my "button" is melting away! It just looks like sometime in my life I got scratched pretty good and left a scar. Nobody would, on their own, guess that I have had surgery!
For my one year post-op check up, all I had to do was go to my local hospital lab with the orders, pee in a cup, get a couple vials of blood, and have the results sent to the kidney donation coordinators. I called the coordinator to ask a couple questions, but there was no actual doctor appointment. Apparently all of my test scores are within normal range for 1 year post-op.
I just talked with my recipient. She had great news for me. Next month the doctors are changing her medication, and she will be able to try to get pregnant!!! This is extremely good news! I am so excited for her! Not every recipient gets this opportunity. It just depends on how they are recovering. Apparently she is doing very well!!!
And, this ends one wonderful adventure of a lifetime!
Saturday, April 25, 2015
A Better Me
For me, donating my kidney did not feel like a sacrifice from me. I acknowledge the sacrifices of many friends and family that it took to pull this off, but so far I feel that I have gained more than I lost.
First thing everyone wants to know is if I lost weight as a result. I am pretty sure the kidney only weighs a half pound. Considering how our weight fluctuates a couple pounds one way or another, depending on all sorts of factors each day, I do not consider losing a kidney to be the reason for my weight loss. Yes, I have lost weight, and I do believe it is because of this experience, but not because I am missing the weight of a body part.
In December I found out the only test I did not pass with flying colors was my cholesterol test. I actually laughed out loud when the doctor told me that I had borderline high cholesterol. My whole life I have stayed away as much as I could from fried foods, high fat content meat, and even milk, simply because I have never liked it. I must admit, however, that my husband makes some pretty amazing fried potatoes/hash browns. I also have always loved peanut butter with and in many things. I did research and, although I do not agree with the medical reasoning for cholesterol coming from outside sources, I decided to use it as an excuse (to others and to myself) for changing my diet by cutting out foods I already knew were not in my best interest: Fried potatoes, peanut butter, cream cheese, deli meats, packaged/processed foods, and donuts. Three months later, at my month post-op check up, I found out that I had not lost any weight. That was kinda disappointing, but I was okay with what I looked like, wearing a 10 at 5'7"..
Two months after that weigh-in, my adult son (who hadn't seen me since the operation) commented that I looked like I'd lost some weight. I thanked him, but assured him I hadn't. The following week a friend of mine made the same comment. I don't have a scale to weight myself, because I find that I get kind of obsessed by it, so I couldn't confirm either way. The following week I had an occasion that I needed to buy some professional pants. I have dropped two pants sizes! I now fit easily into a size 6! Yay, me!
I think there is more, however, that contributed to my weight loss than eating healthier, although eating healthier is no doubt a huge factor. One factor is that my car was totaled and, rather than buy a new car, I have been walking my child to school and back and forth to the grocery store (almost every day, since I can only carry a few bags for a half mile). Also, my taste buds have changed. I can taste the preservatives in all the food that I should not be eating, and I can only eat a few bites of anything before my stomach is completely done with that particular food in that sitting.
I think another factor is that I have a different sense of self. Whether I lost weight or not, this new sense of self is so incredibly worth the price of a kidney! Please remember, I did not donate my kidney so that I could feel like a good person or for kudos or more love or attention. I had hoped I could somehow do it in secret and not let anybody know ... take the secret to my grave. At first, I would have even loved if my receiver-friend had not known. As it turned out, I'm glad that my wish wasn't granted.
Somehow, I have more self-appreciation. I have appreciation for my body, my looks, my personality, and my worth in general. As a result, I love even more deeply, am happier, and find it even easier to give of myself to others. I feel like a people-magnet. I can feel people's love and appreciation for me more freely, and I realize that the only thing that has changed was my ability to let it in. I believe that my new sense of self has created the space for physical change.
First thing everyone wants to know is if I lost weight as a result. I am pretty sure the kidney only weighs a half pound. Considering how our weight fluctuates a couple pounds one way or another, depending on all sorts of factors each day, I do not consider losing a kidney to be the reason for my weight loss. Yes, I have lost weight, and I do believe it is because of this experience, but not because I am missing the weight of a body part.
In December I found out the only test I did not pass with flying colors was my cholesterol test. I actually laughed out loud when the doctor told me that I had borderline high cholesterol. My whole life I have stayed away as much as I could from fried foods, high fat content meat, and even milk, simply because I have never liked it. I must admit, however, that my husband makes some pretty amazing fried potatoes/hash browns. I also have always loved peanut butter with and in many things. I did research and, although I do not agree with the medical reasoning for cholesterol coming from outside sources, I decided to use it as an excuse (to others and to myself) for changing my diet by cutting out foods I already knew were not in my best interest: Fried potatoes, peanut butter, cream cheese, deli meats, packaged/processed foods, and donuts. Three months later, at my month post-op check up, I found out that I had not lost any weight. That was kinda disappointing, but I was okay with what I looked like, wearing a 10 at 5'7"..
Two months after that weigh-in, my adult son (who hadn't seen me since the operation) commented that I looked like I'd lost some weight. I thanked him, but assured him I hadn't. The following week a friend of mine made the same comment. I don't have a scale to weight myself, because I find that I get kind of obsessed by it, so I couldn't confirm either way. The following week I had an occasion that I needed to buy some professional pants. I have dropped two pants sizes! I now fit easily into a size 6! Yay, me!
I think there is more, however, that contributed to my weight loss than eating healthier, although eating healthier is no doubt a huge factor. One factor is that my car was totaled and, rather than buy a new car, I have been walking my child to school and back and forth to the grocery store (almost every day, since I can only carry a few bags for a half mile). Also, my taste buds have changed. I can taste the preservatives in all the food that I should not be eating, and I can only eat a few bites of anything before my stomach is completely done with that particular food in that sitting.
I think another factor is that I have a different sense of self. Whether I lost weight or not, this new sense of self is so incredibly worth the price of a kidney! Please remember, I did not donate my kidney so that I could feel like a good person or for kudos or more love or attention. I had hoped I could somehow do it in secret and not let anybody know ... take the secret to my grave. At first, I would have even loved if my receiver-friend had not known. As it turned out, I'm glad that my wish wasn't granted.
Somehow, I have more self-appreciation. I have appreciation for my body, my looks, my personality, and my worth in general. As a result, I love even more deeply, am happier, and find it even easier to give of myself to others. I feel like a people-magnet. I can feel people's love and appreciation for me more freely, and I realize that the only thing that has changed was my ability to let it in. I believe that my new sense of self has created the space for physical change.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Normal Activities Resume
After 2 days short of 6 weeks of rest and recovery, with my family who have been so gentle with me, last week was my first week in full activity.
I started work, again, as a teacher's aide and recess aide at an elementary school. Many kids were excited to see me back at school. They rammed into me in order to give me a big hug. At that point, just within myself, I though, "Woah - okay, I do have feeling in my stomach." What I mean is that I was reminded by the ramming that I was still recovering and that if I'm not careful, I could hurt myself.
I worked my full 3 hour and 45 minute shift each day, walked to and from school, and none of it tired me. I cleaned the house, and I even cleaned somebody else's house who is recovering from surgery, and I had no problem picking things up or moving them, but if I noticed that it would take flexing my stomach muscle, I opted to have someone else move it. I figure if it is suggested that a construction worker stay away from work for 8 weeks, that means there's still some recovery, or mending up, going on. I have no restrictions anymore, but I think it is wise that I still be careful. I don't want to push it, and end up with a hernia.
A few times in the past week I found myself worrying about this or the other, or feeling upset in some way. At these times, I had an urge to take a long walk. One day I had a big hamburger, and the next day I had a big urge to take a 3 mile walk. That may not be long to you, but it is to me. It was beautiful! It felt great!
I saw a picture of my tiny recipient friend. She has gained some weight since I saw her last, four weeks ago. Worried that the kidney I gave her may be failing her, I searched the internet for reasons for gaining weight after renal transplant. It turns out that 2/3 of renal transplant recipients gain weight after surgery. This happens for a few reasons. One is that they have such strict diet restrictions while on dialysis that have now been lifted, and everything tastes better. Another is that one of the medications they must take is a steroid. This by itself can cause weight gain, but it was explained online that the steroid makes you hungry all the time, and makes it so that you stay hungry enough to eat more than one serving, and there's not enough activity quite yet to be able to use up the extra calories. Long story short, the kidney is doing just fine, and so is my recipient. She is just in a transition period, adjusting to a freer diet and the side effects of steriods.
Today I noticed that I don't have edema in my stomach anymore. All I have left is a numbing feeling around my large scar under my belly, and maybe some tenderness to go along with that numbing feeling, but that's it! Two days from now will mark 7 weeks since my surgery.All is well.
I started work, again, as a teacher's aide and recess aide at an elementary school. Many kids were excited to see me back at school. They rammed into me in order to give me a big hug. At that point, just within myself, I though, "Woah - okay, I do have feeling in my stomach." What I mean is that I was reminded by the ramming that I was still recovering and that if I'm not careful, I could hurt myself.
I worked my full 3 hour and 45 minute shift each day, walked to and from school, and none of it tired me. I cleaned the house, and I even cleaned somebody else's house who is recovering from surgery, and I had no problem picking things up or moving them, but if I noticed that it would take flexing my stomach muscle, I opted to have someone else move it. I figure if it is suggested that a construction worker stay away from work for 8 weeks, that means there's still some recovery, or mending up, going on. I have no restrictions anymore, but I think it is wise that I still be careful. I don't want to push it, and end up with a hernia.
A few times in the past week I found myself worrying about this or the other, or feeling upset in some way. At these times, I had an urge to take a long walk. One day I had a big hamburger, and the next day I had a big urge to take a 3 mile walk. That may not be long to you, but it is to me. It was beautiful! It felt great!
I saw a picture of my tiny recipient friend. She has gained some weight since I saw her last, four weeks ago. Worried that the kidney I gave her may be failing her, I searched the internet for reasons for gaining weight after renal transplant. It turns out that 2/3 of renal transplant recipients gain weight after surgery. This happens for a few reasons. One is that they have such strict diet restrictions while on dialysis that have now been lifted, and everything tastes better. Another is that one of the medications they must take is a steroid. This by itself can cause weight gain, but it was explained online that the steroid makes you hungry all the time, and makes it so that you stay hungry enough to eat more than one serving, and there's not enough activity quite yet to be able to use up the extra calories. Long story short, the kidney is doing just fine, and so is my recipient. She is just in a transition period, adjusting to a freer diet and the side effects of steriods.
Today I noticed that I don't have edema in my stomach anymore. All I have left is a numbing feeling around my large scar under my belly, and maybe some tenderness to go along with that numbing feeling, but that's it! Two days from now will mark 7 weeks since my surgery.All is well.
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