Another Hurdle Cleared!
I can play golf!! I certainly didn’t expect this now, but I got released from the care of my Transplant Clinic yesterday!! I will still have close care from my neprologist for months, but this is a big hurdle.
When I had my surgery in mid-July, the staff scheduled my care to switch to the nephrologist in early October. But I then had my setback from the infection of my incision, so I expected that switch to also be delayed. To say the least, I was quite pleasantly surprised to get the release yesterday. I have progressed rapidly enough to get the clearance.
At the clinic, the doctors have been rotating for my weekly appointments. Dr. Stratta, the surgeon who preformed my surgery met with me yesterday. It was the first time I had seen him since I left the hospital. He has that aura of professionalism one loves in a surgeon. To think he oversees the gift of life is amazing. He was very pleased with my improvement.
Oh yea……. I started by saying: “I can play golf”…… that doesn’t mean I can play golf well. And the doctor suggested I just start with a par 3 course. I hope to get out soon, but I will definitely be taking it slow. Here’s to keeping it in the fairway. At least, I can play golf!
Labels: kidney transplant
No More Man-Purse!!
I’m free!! I’m free! No more man-purse!
Yesterday, I had an appointment at the transplant clinic and was shocked to have my wound vac removed! They decided the open wound had healed enough to just finish healing with the aid of wet/dry dressings. My home health nurse had previously indicated the wound was healing great, but she had not said anything that indicated I would not need it much longer. I was really pleasantly surprised.
My shoulder and back are relieved. The vacuum pump was small, but constantly carrying it over my shoulder was beginning to weigh on me. My back has been strained from it.
Of course, I must now change the dressings, but that is a small nuisance compared to carrying the wound vac. I have never liked medical stuff, so I hadn’t even really looked too closely at the wound until I had to change it last night. I’ve been hearing for weeks about how it has reduced from 22cm long and 2cm wide down to 6cm long and less than 1cm wide. Well, looking at it myself now, it sure looks big enough! I’m glad I didn’t see it before!
Best of all, I was able to sleep last night without a tube running from my body!! I’ve had one or another for almost two years now! First, I had a catheter inserted in my stomach for peritoneal dialysis in October 2008. I then did the dialysis every night, with a connection of a long tube to my catheter. But as soon as I had it removed with the transplant, I had the infection that caused me to have to use the wound vac. It was connected by a tube that was sealed over the wound. It wasn’t into my body, but it had the same impact of having a tube from my body at night to the pump.
I was able to actually roll over last night! Of course, I was just able to…. But now my body has finally adjusted to the tubes, and I don’t know when I will get back to really feeling like there is no tube.
Same goes for being without the pump. I love not having the man-purse, but I got so accustomed to it, I still reach for it every time I move now! But that won’t be for long!
Labels: kidney transplant
Two Month Update
Today is a solemn day of memories for most of us. It’s been nine years since the horrific experiences of events around the nation on 9/11. Many of us are flying flags in rememberance of that day.
For me, I’m actually having a private celebration of another anniversary on this date. Today marks the two month anniversary of my new kidney! I’ve not got any real plans, but I am so thankful for the new lease on life that has been given me now.
The kidney is still working great. All the stats on the kidney have been terrific. The major measure is my creatinine level. It has been steadily below 1.5. That reading was over 7 when my kidneys were getting so bad.
The open wound still affects my mobility. I continue to have the “man-p
urse” for carrying my wound vac. The wound is getting better. It was over 22 cm long originally, and is now about 6 cm. But at its worse spot it is still over a centimeter deep and almost as wide. That area has been slow to heal. I’m told it may speed up now. I sure hope so. The wound vac is a pain. It is just heavy enough to be a nuisance. And I’m tired of having a tube from my stomach. I had to contend with that through dialysis, and I was hoping I would be out of that by now. I look forward to the day I can roll over when I’m sleeping without being bound up in tubes! [I’ll post a couple of recent pics of me with the wound vac, but you may have to go direct to my blog site to see those: www.abrysoninchina@blogspot.com.]
I am feeling much better and I’m told I look healthier. I feel stronger by the day. I now just look forward to getting back to work and back to a normal life. I’ve been cramped up in my home too long. It’s time to get out and move along! I hope it’s soon.
Labels: kidney transplant
