What a week we have been through. Tuesday morning came around and I was roaring and ready to go. I once again double checked with Aunt Kim to make sure this was ok with her, and once again she said "of course". We both checked in to registration and she was called up to "pre-op" about 20 minutes before I was. When we reached the 2nd floor she was directly across from me and we were able to talk for a few minutes while having our final check over. Nurses checked everything. IV's were inserted. Surgeons stopped by. An Anastegolist came by and discussed risks. Then my OR nurse Erica Rock came in. She is my best friend's sister in law and with her as my nurse, and her sister Kim's nurse, I felt in amazing hands. When Erica came in, I handed her my camera and told her that I always wonder what goes on in an OR, and she was totally willing to take some snapshots. (Those can be found under my Facebook account) I will probably add a few on here for the followers that don't have a FB account. The pictures were amazing, and showed me a lot of interesting information.
Kim and I were under for no more then 4 hours. I remember be woken up and Erica telling me that we were done, and heading back to recovery. It was over. I peed. I was feeling like hell, but I knew the gift was given, and things were going to be only improving. When people ask me how I feel, I tell them that I feel as if I can see more clearly. There isn't so much "fog" in my mind. I am more alert and have a lot of normal color back in my face. I was able to have visitors that evening and even had the long waited Diet Dr. Pepper from the fountain. My poor Aunt Kim wasn't snapping out of the medication as easily as I was. She had nausea and was moving slower then I was. People say that the donor does have a harder time because they are healthy up until the time of surgery and her body is like, "what happened to my buddy, the other kidney?" As where my body is like THANK YOU!!! The stress and pressure have been taken off of us, and the new guy can take over.
On day 1 post-op we were instructed to walk around and sit in a chair. Kim was great about following directions and walking the hall a few times. Me, I went for one long walk, took a 20 minute break in Kim's room, and my walk back to my room was walk 2. Loopholes. Some things about me won't ever change. People asked about the pain or discomfort I had been feeling, but the worst part was well, moving. Getting up and down was horrible. But due to my freaking out about everything, I was worried that the incision would split and I would get a hernia. But 5 days post-op I still worry about that. Probably will for months.
So, here is what has freaked me out since this all happened. The diet I was on prior is completely flipped. Everything I was told to avoid, I have been instructed to eat. And, I have been told to drink a lot more fluids so my Kidney doesn't get dehydrated. My medication which went from 2 pills in the morning to about 16 pills. No lie. Medication has to be taken 12 hours apart so my Kidney doesn't get rejected. I can't lift over 10lbs til 2011... I can't drive for 3 weeks... I think I will lose my mind before either of those deadlines occur! :)
I really really want to thank my family and friends who took time out of their day to come and check in with me. Thanks for Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff (the donors husband) for giving me a bit of her. I now can feel how much he loved her from the inside of my gut. ha ha... My sister, my mom, my brothers, my support system... everyone has been amazing and i know they will continue to support me. And now with a new Kidney, support me for many more years.
Pancreas?? Well, that is like a phone call away. My nurse will be calling me to assure me I am on the list and she said that there are only 4 other people on the Pancreas transplant list. So this may happen sooner then later. This Friday (11/5) I will be going back for outpatient to have my Dialysis Catheter taken out. The following week I will be calling to have all signs of Dialysis removed from the Schrack house.
I will keep people updated as the journey is just starting a whole new chapter!!
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