I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: monrein on January 14, 2009, 03:17:11 PM
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So, we're on the schedule for Monday, February 23rd. My sister-in-law will come up a week before to do her last minute pre-testing. She's been approved for laproscopic but she's choosing to have the "minimally Invasive" technique done instead since the surgeon who does those is very experienced and skilled while the laproscopic guy is kinda new (6 months or so) and so that's what she's chosen. I'm excited and everything but I'm also scared so I am trying to be calm and collected as I imagine jumping off the transplant cliff. Nervous excitement, just like when I was about fifteen and would throw up before going to a party because I was so psyched. I'll of course be carrying all of you on this journey with me so I'll need your calmness too.
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Monrein,
I am so excited for you, I am sitting here VERY VERY calm :cheer: :shy;
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Best of luck! Everything will go just fine.
:yahoo;
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Wow, wonderful news! :2thumbsup; Stay calm, I know you'll both do fine. :cuddle; :grouphug;
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Calm...you can be calm. Best of luck to you and sis in law.
Ann
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Oh, monrein, what wonderful news! We will all be here for you!
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Wow, great news, all my thoughts and prayers will be for you, monrein and your sister-in-law who in my eyes is a hero. I look forward to following your journey...Boxman
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:bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
great news mate
:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
oh thats right - be calm
:oops;
yippee
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Oh great news!! :2thumbsup;
Only advice I can offer for staying calm:
Breathe in....Breathe out....repeat as necessary.
Best of luck!!
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WOW Monrein this is awesome news. So happy for you. :bandance;
Sure things will go great for both of you. By the way, how calm is your sister-in-law?
That will be 3 days after my 38th anniversary -- easy to remember -- I will be thinking of you.
Normie
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Calm. Hell's Bells. I am dancing the room for you! :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
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Congratulations, Monrein. I wondered lately how you were progressing in your transplant journey. I so happy to hear that you've been able to set the date and know that you'll keep us posted every step along the way. I'll be wishing the very best for you and your sis-in-law.
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I am sooooo excited for you!!! We will be weeks between getting our transplants! I know the time will go by fast for you!! :flower; :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :bandance;
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Congratulation!
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:flower; , :cheer: and ;D
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What wonderful news for our lovely Monrein! You will probably be calmer than the rest of us! So many transplants for IHD members. When I first joined (back in the day :rofl; ) it was rare when someone was transplanted. You and Kellyt both have sister-in-laws donate kidneys. Mine don't talk about kidney disease, and would never think of offering to be tested. Tell her I love her very much for doing this for you. :cuddle;
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:guitar: I am truly thankful that your sister-in-law is giving you this incredible gift and I am full of joy for you! :guitar:
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Gail I am so happy for you. I told King Leon and he told me to add his Royal Love and encouragement. Please keep us up to date on how it goes for you!
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What great news, I'm so happy for you :flower;
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Very Exciting !!!!!! :yahoo;
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Thats great news Monrein, hope all goes well for you 2 :thumbup;
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Very, very exciting news Monrein!
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:cheer: :cheer: :bandance; :bandance; You can see I am very calm! Oh Gail this is great news, love and very best wishes to you and your wonderful selfless sister in law. We will all be with you every step as I'm sure you know.
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Great news Monrein.
Ok, what's minimal invasive surgery for a kidney transplant. I was always told laproscopic removal was the minimal invasive surgery for the process. I need to get up to date on techniques.
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:bandance; :cheer: :yahoo; :2thumbsup; :clap; Monrein. I am so so happy for you and we will be there every step of the way. Please keep updating us. :cuddle; :grouphug;
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WOOHOO!!! :bandance; :bandance;
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Wonderful news!
Doin the Banana Dance for ya
:bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
Anne
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Congrats!
:wine;
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:clap; :2thumbsup; :clap; :2thumbsup; :clap;
This is very GOOD news.
P&K
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This is the best news ever.... I think it is so wonderful of your sister in law to donate, what a special person she has to be. May this new year bring many persons on this board the special gift of a new kidney!! Best wishes and prayers to you and your sister in law :flower; :flower; :clap; :grouphug;
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Wonderful news. I am thrilled for you. Your sister in law is an angel.
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:bestwishes; Yay!
This is very exciting news! :cheer:
:yahoo;
:2thumbsup;
:clap;
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Great news Monrein.
Ok, what's minimal invasive surgery for a kidney transplant. I was always told laproscopic removal was the minimal invasive surgery for the process. I need to get up to date on techniques.
Chris, my understanding of this is that it is an open surgery nephrectomy but with a much smaller scar. About four inches is what we've been told.
Thanks everyone for your support and good wishes. It means a lot to me.
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I'm so happy for you! You and I both have wonderful and caring sister-in-laws! Give her a big hug from all of us here at IHD when she arrives! Congratulations!!! :bestwishes; :cheer:
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This is wonderful news for you. Your sister in law is one of a kind. Keep us posted.
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:bandance; Best Wishes for a Speedy Recovery to both of you! :grouphug;
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I'm late, but no less excited for you. I'm so glad you have a wonderful sister-in-law!! Best of luck to both of you!
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Our transplant coordinator called today with the news that the same surgeon, Dr. Michael Robinette, will be doing both our surgeries. I'm not sure why I thought we'd have 2 surgeons, one each, but Dr. R has a great reputation here so I'm happy.
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As long as you are happy with the surgeon that's good.
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Our transplant coordinator called today with the news that the same surgeon, Dr. Michael Robinette, will be doing both our surgeries. I'm not sure why I thought we'd have 2 surgeons, one each, but Dr. R has a great reputation here so I'm happy.
Jenna had 2 different surgeons. At around 7 am Dr. Schaeffer opened Patrice, removed the kidney and closed her up. After the kidney was washed and examined, it taken to a nearby surgical room where Jenna had already been prepped, opened and was ready to have the transplant performed by Dr. Marsh. He came out at noon to say all had gone as planned.
Not sure how centers decided about the procedure, but Dr. Marsh wanted the minimum amount of time between surgeries.
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E verything sounds good, Monrein. Keep us posted.
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I'm so excited for you!!!! Excited, but calm - cool as a cucumber!! You are blessed to have such a great sister-in-law!!! What a hero.
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Stephen and Michael had three surgeons all together. One surgeon removed the kidney from Michael laparoscopically, and two more transplant specialists worked together on Stephen. One was lead and one assisted. I know that Michael was still being closed up while they were starting to work on Stephen because they were updating us regularly. I also remember something about a "rest period" for the kidney before they transplanted it. It had something to do the kidney being very sensitive and needing a careful transition.
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Monrein,
I am so happy for you and give your sis a big hug! I love DONORS!!!
Lori/Indiana
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That's great! I can't wait to hear how it goes.
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:bandance; :bandance; only a month away :bandance; :bandance; :cheer: :flower;
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Just had clinic today and my neph is very pleased overall with everything. He thinks I may be too exact with my diet and has told me to eat more potassium containing foods, so fresh mango is for dessert tonight. My heart rate runs high all the time since I quit taking beta blockers for high BP but my echo cardiogram was excellent and he said that my heart shows no signs whatsoever of being affected by dialysis. BP is very good too. He thought it might be the benefit of exercise and also my low fat diet for many years. I'm getting some iron infusions to raise that level prior to surgery. He thinks that physically the surgery should be a piece of cake and he entered my date in his blackberry so he can visit me once it's done. That's pretty nice of him since I'll be switching back to my former transplant neph as soon as I'm transplanted. I like it when things appear to be falling into place.
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:yahoo; monrein. We couldn't be happier for you. Please give that sister-in-law a big :grouphug;
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Dear Monrein,
I'm so happy to hear that things are falling into place so nicely for you. I'M JEALOUS!!! The opportunity for a transplant appears to be a little bleaker for me these days. Tomorrow (Friday), I go in for my 16th angioplasty. Unfortunately my heart is not in the excellent condition that yours is in.
I hoping you've made some sort of arrangements to keep us all updated on your journey. If you're not able to do it, I hope you're giving your hubby some lessons. Someone has to keep your IHD family informed every step of the way!
Low fat diet and exercise ... I know the drill but I just need to put it into practice more often. You are such a role model for the rest of us.
One month to go and I'm sure you're cool, calm and collected.
Hugs to you and your sis-in-law, the angel.
MiSSis/Michelle
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Great news mate
:flower; :cheer: :flower; :cheer:
Just a question about the mango
At Dad's dialysis unit there are posters everywhere stating
"Mango - not good tucker"
I am presuming this is especially for the indigenous patients who rely on this as a major staple of their diet?
Just wondering ?
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Mo - awesome news! Keep up the good work and keeping yourself healthy!! Time will be here before you know it! Mangos are loaded with potassium, as are watermelons, bannanas, avaracados, and more I am sure. I get ordered to eat more too sometimes, however MOST dialysis pts cannot eat these items. Ask your dietician first. But boy, they are yummy!!!
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I'm eating the mango because my potassium is low and I'm very strict about sticking to the renal diet. My doctor ordered me to eat more potassium rich foods and relax my grip a little. I won't be eating masses of them or anything.
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great news Monrein.
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i guess i shouldn't be allowed to leave town, i miss too much, just saw this! :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; i'm so excited for you, best of luck.
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So excited for you!!!! :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo;
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I just seen this thread Monrein!!!! WWHHHOOOO!!!! :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; I am soooo excited for you!!!
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How Exciting! Will say a Prayer for You!
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:flower; This is super fantastic news :flower;
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond.... I have been so busy I just read this!
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I haven't been out here much lately so I just saw this. I'm thrilled for you! :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
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Ah, Monrein, fantastic news.
In the lead up to my transplant I said a few times that I was really nervous, but in hindsight I was actually surprisingly calm. Especially on the day of surgery. It was almost as though I was heading on a picnic!
You will probably surprise yourself at how calm you can be, but if you do get nervous - that's okay! Jus try to relax as best you can.
Ah, just think, bye bye dialysis!! :bandance;
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It's less than a month now! :cuddle;
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Is time flying yet????
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And how!!! Appointment with surgeon tomorrow, regular dentist visit too, gym to keep my heart in shape then D. Busy busy busy. I'm going to stop going to the gym two weeks ahead of the transplant just to avoid potential cold germs. I'll jog on the spot at home for thirty minutes instead, just to keep things going. Boring as all get out but effective. I'm still doing abdominal crunches too even though I know my stomach muscles will take a big set back from surgery. I'm really looking forward to some increased energy if all goes well and then I can start back at the gym in earnest when I'm off of house arrest.
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That sounds great. I had to decline a friends kids birthday party this weekend - don't want to be around a bunch of little kids right now! Take care - it sounds like you are.
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I also stayed home in the final fortnight prior to surgery. I cancelled my weekly social outings, and basically did not go anywhere. It's only two weeks, after all! Best to keep yourself as healthy as possible for surgery.
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:flower; Take some deep, deep breaths Gail. :cuddle;
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For your amusement, here's a recent string of email exchanges between Kathy and me, regarding our rapidly approaching kidney hand-off. She is the most fanatical sports person I've ever met in my whole life and I am the least interested in watching sports of any kind. If I wake up liking sports, we'll know for sure that interests and traits are passed along with transplants. KD (as many call her) is also a really fantastic Mom and I'm so pleased that my baby brother found her, kidney donation or no kidney donation.
On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 10:34 PM, <KD wrote:
Joan left me a faint hearted message (her voice is so ultrasoft) saying my bloodwork appointment was on the 17th and another appointment was on the 20th. That was great news. I got busy at work and could not call her back in time, but she said she sent the appointments to you. I will call her tomorrow. I was happy she made them that week and not earlier. I can finish basketball season and spend valentines day here and work that last saturday..that gives the girls one extra saturday in feb. with me there. I will get my plane ticket soon...I got this computer fixed today and will have it up there...stealing your internet all the way!!! Alex ordered me a new phone today and it is rather modern. I can email and check the internet with it...not sure I need it, but our plan is a family one and the business pays for it, so I will allow the extravagance this one time!!! Alex suggested I could watch baseball on it...but that would be like doing drugs...so I will pretend he did not tell me that!!!! I bought some pajamas and hope to finish any clothing purchases this weekend. I might get a down jacket on sale....hope your prep is going well...it is a tad weird to think I am the steward of the kidney that you await!! i am currently drinking a tasty craft brewed beer, but will not overdo it....got to keep the filters in order!!! Love, KD
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Hi KD
Yes, I was given an outline of our final appointments, starting with the 17th. I also discovered that I'll be admitted on Sunday at noon and you will come in at 6:oo am the morning of surgery. I've been told that my heart is in great shape, showing zero signs of ever having had high blood pressure or of having been on dialysis. I was super pleased as you can imagine. I also laughed my head off at your comment about being the steward of my kidney. So now I guess you know how it feels (sort of) to be a surrogate mother. The absence of hormone swings probably helps however. I find myself becoming more and more anxious which manifests itself with my wanting to put (read impose) order on everything in my path. Oh joy.
Joan's voice BTW is a royal pain. I can barely hear her even live, let alone in a message.
TTYL
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KD to me
11:35 AM (6 hours ago)
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Absolutely LOVE your disclosure about control...that helps me a great deal. I am attempting to be very "unattached" to the idea of controlling any of this. I have anxiety also, but lately it has turned to a feeling of wanting to go and do it and see what the hell happens. Kind of tired of playing it out in my head. I have always said, "Do it or don't do it...stop talking about it." I know it is bigger than you and me as individuals, so I am trying to just roll with it. Syd is ok, but really needs to see you prior....so Saturday will be a love fest between the two of you! Joan really needs her blood pressure checked!!!! PS. On a psychological level I think shifting thoughts to being a steward is good prep for waking up with one kidney.
Don't you??? I've just been cradling it all these 24 years, waiting for you to need it....Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend, and that is the day I first knew about you and your cadaver kidney. Pretty wild stuff. Jim and I celebrate that day over our actual wedding day!!! Take care...wash hands! Love, KD
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:bow; Have you told her (Kathy, great name by the way :rofl; ) that we think she is an angel, a hero, a saint. Well, I don't know about the saint part but we think she is pretty special. :cuddle;
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Actually, I emailed her the link to this page so she's read many of the comments. She remarked that she feels like all of a sudden she has some "serious" friends out there in the world. She's ben very private about the whole donating thing but is starting to let people know now. She doesn't like being called or thought of as a hero, saint would really crack her up, although of course she really is all of those things and more.
And yes, Kathies are special people, Miss Kathy. :cuddle;
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I am reminded of a statement on stewardship that I found very moving and helpful as I went through the donation process.
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A Simple Matter of Stewardship
By Jim Falsey
In April 2004, I became a non-directed kidney donor. Dr. Hawasli performed the laparoscopic surgery at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. I was inspired to do so by my younger brother, Tom, who anonymously donated one of his kidneys to a young man who was dying of kidney failure. I learned that the average person can live normally with only one kidney and still have plenty of kidney capacity to spare.
I was back to work celebrating weekend Masses three days after my surgery. For me it was simply a matter of stewardship. Stewardship begins with the basic principle that we do not 'own' anything. God 'owns' all that is. "The heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the Lord, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it." (Deuteronomy 10:14)
We are the stewards of God's creation. Everything that we claim to possess is merely entrusted to us by God to be used in accord with God's will for our good and the good of all God's creatures. Not even our bodies belong exclusively to ourselves. Every mother who has given birth or nursed a child knows that.
Learning of my brother's experience got me thinking. I have been blessed with exceptionally good health. If I could use part my body to improve the quality of life for someone who is suffering, why not? That is what led me to donate a kidney. Some have called that “heroic” or a “great act”. No, not really. It is simply a matter of stewardship. I had two functioning kidneys, someone else had none. God had entrusted those kidneys to me. I believe I took good care of them; and they took good care of me. That left kidney had served me well for fifty-nine years. Now it is someone else's responsibility. It is simply a matter of stewardship.
Does that mean that everyone should consider donating a kidney, a lung, part of their liver, or some other body part? No, absolutely not! It does mean that we should carefully consider how we use, and care for, our bodies. They are not our own. They are not entrusted to us for ourselves alone. They are entrusted to us to be cared for, and used in accord with God's will. For 99.9% of us, that means keeping our bodies intact. It means using them to make a decent living for ourselves, our families, and for the least of our brothers and sisters. It means using the time, the talents, and the treasure that God has entrusted to us to build up the Kingdom of God. If, however, you find yourself thinking: "I, too, have been exceptionally blessed. I could do that", then give it some thought. Look into it; pray over it; and follow your heart.
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:thx; extrememoosetrax, I forwarded the link again to Kath.
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Oh, another thing: I HIGHLY recommend setting up a CaringBridge web site. It's super easy -- technical know-how NOT required. I guarantee you that it will make life easier for your caregivers, and I/we also found it to be a wonderful source of moral and emotional support from friends and family. My CB site has been dormant for a while now, but it's still there if you want to take a look; the link is in my signature line below. Be sure to take a look at the journal and guest book and you will see what I mean about how helpful it can be.
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Only another few weeks Gail!! bet your getting excited, scared and every other feeling you can have. Hope everything goes well for you and your sis in law!!! :cuddle;
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Oh, another thing: I HIGHLY recommend setting up a CaringBridge web site. It's super easy -- technical know-how NOT required. I guarantee you that it will make life easier for your caregivers, and I/we also found it to be a wonderful source of moral and emotional support from friends and family. My CB site has been dormant for a while now, but it's still there if you want to take a look; the link is in my signature line below. Be sure to take a look at the journal and guest book and you will see what I mean about how helpful it can be.
:2thumbsup; Good suggestion! We have one too.
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OK, added to the to do list. Thanks everyone.
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Excellent news ! I can't wait for the updates.... :yahoo;
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When my husband was having his surgeries, I found it difficult to handle much in the way of communication with the outside world. One of my brothers-in-law and my sister graciously took on the jobs of contacting family on each side and updated key folks daily. That made life a lot easier for me. The CB site worked really well for our friends. Actually, we still use it occasionally to give everyone updates.
And Kathy, if you are reading this, please know that a kidney donor changes many lives, not just the life of the donor. The transplant clinic gave my husband and his donor a framed version of this quote, which does a better job than I can of capturing my feelings about this:
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller
:cuddle;
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It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye.
The Fox (From Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
A similar sentiment. Thanks Pelagia.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gailwhiteside.
Here's my new CaringBridge site.
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Wonderful news, Gail. I hope things go really well for both of you. Keep us posted as to how you are doing. :flower;
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:waving; Gail. 3 weeks... Wow, I hope the time will fly for you. Do you have your bag ready? I'm sure your house is spotless and you have probably already put dinners in the freezer. You always seem so together. I wish some would rub off on me lately. :cuddle;
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I seem to have given an entirely wrong impression here. Not packed yet, still have to buy a new bathrobe. House more or less ready but my new stove has issues and is being replaced on Thursday so waiting for that before having carpets cleaned. Not cooking anything before I go, but I have people who'll be taking care of all that and I have great access to all kinds of prepared foods, even with diet restrictions.. So, thank you for thinking I'm "so together" which just goes to show how deceptive appearances can be. :rofl; Mostly I'm managing my stress levels.
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Relax, take a bubble bath, have a glass of wine, just do things for the next two weeks that make you happy!
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Gail... this is getting SO exciting :clap;
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OMG Gail!!!! I have no idea how I missed this thread this whole time!
Feel free to hit me over the head! Me------> :Kit n Stik; <------You
I am so thrilled for you! I wish you and Kathy all the luck in the world. And lots of hugs!
:cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle;
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:rofl; Hey Paddbear, I'm not sure I have the energy to lift Kit's stick AND club you with it, but I'll for sure take the good wishes and the hugs. :thx;
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So excited for you!!! Saying prayers and sending blessings for speedy recoveries for you both. Can someone explain the caring bridge to me?
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NureseWratchet--
CaringBridge is a web host site that lets people who have a serious illness set up their own site so they can keep friends and family up to date on how things are going. It's sooo easy to set up as they walk you through it in a few easy steps. You can choose a background, and there are pages for your story, photos, a guestbook, and a journal that the patient (or designated 'updater') keeps. You can check mine out. The link is in my signature. You'll have to enter an email address to view it though.
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I seem to have given an entirely wrong impression here. Not packed yet, still have to buy a new bathrobe. House more or less ready but my new stove has issues and is being replaced on Thursday so waiting for that before having carpets cleaned. Not cooking anything before I go, but I have people who'll be taking care of all that and I have great access to all kinds of prepared foods, even with diet restrictions.. So, thank you for thinking I'm "so together" which just goes to show how deceptive appearances can be. :rofl; Mostly I'm managing my stress levels.
Yet there's that coachroach comment in another thread. You a chameleon? :rofl; :rofl; :rofl;
Wishing you and your donor the best along with a speedy recovery.
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Chameleon might be the culprit there Chris.
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Thanks, I had to edit it Monrein.
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Now that Traci has her transplant, we are on the serious countdown to Monrein's new kidney! :cheer:
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Thanks for the Caring Bridge site info, what a great idea. Wished I had known about that before my Mom died. She had Breast Cancer, and although I am an Oncology Certifed nurse, ALL of it went out the window when it's family. I was still the spokeperson for everyone, when I could barely manage my self. SOO much to still learn, everyday. :flower;
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Awesome!! I am so happy for you! I know you are totally excited and ready to go! I can't wait to read all about it. My mom had a Caring Bridge and it was wonderful for friends and family who weren't with us to read about my mom and all the updates. It won't be long now!! Yea!!
Beth
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WOW....
I don't know how I missed this thread..............!!!
Monrein, I am so happy for you.
It takes me right back to the weeks before my transplant :).
I'll be thinking of you and your donor....
love,
kelli
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This month sems to be going by fast.
March is coming up quick and then you'll have your transplant Monein.
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:2thumbsup; Gail, less then a week. Are you ready? I am sooooooooo excited for you. :cuddle;
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I think so Kathy. Had my last Monday D yesterday and went to the hospital this morning for our final cross match blood work. There were around 20 (no exaggeration) vials, feel drained anyone? Kathy had all sorts of plane problems yesterday but did eventually make it here. She and Lee are still down at the hospital because she has a surgical consultation mid-morning. I came home because my "policy" is to never spend one second more than I HAVE to at any hospital or medical facility. So I skipped the coffee break and came home to catch up here instead.
My brother and Syd (their 11 year old daughter) arrive on Saturday the 21st.
Thanks W&W.
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monrein, I know what you mean about all the blood draws they do. Lord, it's a wonder you have any left when they get done. I don't blame you one bit for getting out of hospital as quick as you can, there are some sick people there. :rofl; I'm happy to hear that Kathy made it safely even with plane problems. Please try and get some rest this week although I know that is a tall order. :cuddle;
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OMG last D how nice for you. :grouphug; :grouphug;
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:cuddle; I'm so excited for you Gail! :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
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:yahoo; Very exciting time!
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:cheer:
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:cheer: :cheer: :bandance; :bandance;
I don't know whether to dance or cheer....so both!
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I'm dancing and cheering right beside kitkat....this is sooo exciting Monrein!!
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I had to reread the begining of the post. I didn't realize it was coming up so quick. I thought for sure I read March.
Anyway, five days or do you say four days left and counting till big day. Hoping everything goes great for you Monrein and your donor.
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monrein, I will be thinking about you today as you get started on your new journey. Lots of thoughts and prayers coming your way and Kathy's. :grouphug;
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Dear Gail,
I'm sure that others will agree with me that this is going to seem like the longest 30 hours (or more) ever until we hear the good news. You know that your IHD family is going to be rooting for you and that we will be saying our prayers for all.
:flower; Linda
:guitar: :cheer: :bandance; :bestwishes; :2thumbsup; :wine; :rudolph; :usaflag; :canadaflag; :ausflag; :ukflag; :cheer: :-* 8) :clap; :guitar:
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Gail...
All my thoughts and prayers are yours, I know you will do amazing :cuddle;
Kim
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Good luck , Gail. Hope everything goes perfectly for both of you. I'm so happy for you!! :cuddle; :yahoo; :clap; :bandance; :cheer: :flower;
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Well, here it is, we're off to the hospital and will be updating you as we go along. Syd or Jim or Lee might come in as Monrein and post news and you all know how Okarol takes care of us all too so there's another source of info. I appreciate and care deeply about you all and thank you for all the support and kindnesses.
Lots of love
Gail
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Yay! New kidney day!!! Hope everything goes smoothly. :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
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Wishing you all the best. Good thoughts to you and your donor. Hope surgery goes well and the healing is swift!
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Gail,
Best wishes to you and Kathy and both your families! :grouphug;
:cheer: We will be thinking of you through all of this and look forward to an update soon.
Prayers, HUGS and joyful happy dancing for you! :bandance;
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:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: Keeping you and your sister-in-law in my thoughts and prayers Gail! :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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Keeping you both in my thoughts , wishing you all the best :cuddle;
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Best of luck to you and your angel of a sister-in-law, Gail. I'll certainly be thinking of both of you as you start this part of your journey.
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Wishing you all the best- I know (hope) everything will go just as planned and you will have a wonderful new transplant! Good luck, the best of luck! :flower;
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All the best! :-*
:wine;
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Wishing you and your donor the best luck in the world, M.Rein!!
Will be watching for updates! :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup;
Anne
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Happy and calm thoughts for both you and your donor! I can't wait to hear how it went! Sweet Dreams!!! :cheer: :cheer:
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Hope to see the photo of you, with pee, soon! (Where else bu here could safely say that!!!) :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
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Sending good thoughts your way, monrein! :yahoo;
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:clap; :clap;
Praying for the best possable outcome for both of you.
Your a great source of knowledge Monrein and good things happen to good people. :thumbup; :cuddle;
P&K
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:grouphug; Gail and Kathy. :cuddle;
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Gail, ma chčre, pardonne-moi ce tard terrible. J'ai eu pas mal de problčme avec l'Internet, et je ne savais pas que cette aventure merveilleuse était en train de se dérouler. Mais je suis, comme toute la famille IHD, avec toi. :grouphug; Que tout aille bien pour toi et Kathy, l'ange!
J'attends de tes nouvelles.
De grosses bises! :cuddle;
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Gail I'm wishing you and Kathy all the best, your are a lovely, kind and caring lady and Kathy must be too - she is giving you such a wonderful gift. I pray that you will both be over your ops and recovering now. :cuddle;
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Good luck :thumbup;
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I sure hope that it is going spectacularly well! :flower; I also hope that Gail's husband Lee is holding up okay through all of this. Having both his wife and his sister in surgeries at the same time must be kind of stressful. :grouphug;
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I'm thinking of you two today and hoping and praying that everything goes as planned and that you keep this kidney for the rest of your life.
:flower;
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Lots of love to you and Kathy, Gail. I hope everything goes well for both of you. Lots of love. xx
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Wow it must be over by now. Praying all went well for both of you and your families too.
Hoping to hear great news soon.
In my thoughts,
Normie :flower;
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Still waiting to hear - no news yet. :waving;
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Gail, I've been thinking about you and Kathy all day. I pray it's going smoothly and you'll post a new "healthy smile" photo soon!!
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:yahoo; Great news!
I just heard from Lee. Kathy came through surgery just fine! The doctors said she gave a "Grade A Kidney!"
Gail is just recently out of recovery and they say the kidney began working immediately. She's got a bag of liquid gold! Lee says she is tired but feeling okay. He will update the caringbridge site in a little while.
:clap;
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Great news! :yahoo;
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:2thumbsup; Wow! Wonderful news!!! :clap;
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:yahoo; :yahoo; :bandance; :bandance; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup;
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:bandance; Great news. So glad all went well. Let's hope it continues. :bandance;
Best wishes to all. :bestwishes;
Normie :cheer:
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Oh wow, this is the best news! It's the most peefect news ever!
:flower; :cheer: :bandance; :clap; :2thumbsup; :yahoo; :cuddle; :guitar: :beer1; :wine; :rudolph; :usaflag; :2thumbsup; :yahoo; :bandance; :flower; :cheer: :cuddle; :guitar: :wine; :canadaflag; :guitar: :thx; :beer1; :flower; :clap; :bow; :bandance; :-* :yahoo; :flower; :cheer: :-* 8) :guitar: :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes; :bestwishes;
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Something interesting that Lee told me. Kathy is actually Gail's brother's wife. When Kathy and Gail's brother went on their first date back in 1985 - he was very excited because his sister had just gotten a kidney (it lasted her a long time - over 23 years!) - and now Kathy is the one to donate. Isn't that wonderful!?!
:flower;
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That's great. I don't know why I thought Kathy was Lee's sister.
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:bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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Something interesting that Lee told me. Kathy is actually Gail's brother's wife. When Kathy and Gail's brother went on their first date back in 1985 - he was very excited because his sister had just gotten a kidney (it lasted her a long time - over 23 years!) - and now Kathy is the one to donate. Isn't that wonderful!?!
:flower;
Why did I think it was Lee's sister. :shy; :banghead; :urcrazy; We are just as happy. :flower;
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Wonderful news. I just am catching up on things. :cheer: :bandance; :cheer: :bandance;
:flower;
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:yahoo; Great news!
I just heard from Lee. Kathy came through surgery just fine! The doctors said she gave a "Grade A Kidney!"
Gail is just recently out of recovery and they say the kidney began working immediately. She's got a bag of liquid gold! Lee says she is tired but feeling okay. He will update the caringbridge site in a little while.
:clap;
*PHEW* AWESOME, I KNEW THIS WOULD BE THE WAY IT WAS ANYHOW!!!! :bandance;
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Yay!!! :cheer: :cheer:
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:flower; :cheer: :cheer: :flower; Glad that both of them are doing well!! :beer1;
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Have a HUGE glass of ICE cold MILK for me!
:flower; :bandance; :waving;
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Yea! :cheer: That is wonderful news! :yahoo; Congratulations Gail! We love you! And you too, Kathy! :2thumbsup;
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Holy crap Gail !! :o Very happy for you I hope everything goes well. :clap; Sounds like everything went well so far.
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From Gail's caringbridge page:
Hi everyone. We had a great day. Kathys operation went very smoothly.She gave Gail a 'grade A kidney' as her surgeon described it. I pointed out that it was imported as well.No domestic product for us. Kathy was in the OR for about 2 hrs and felt like you would expect to feel after having a kidney removed. However by 4pm she was noticably better and looking at curling on tv although on a morphine drip at the time.
Gail was in the OR for almost 3 hours and didnt get out of recovery for over 3 hrs. The kidney began producing urine immediately.The doctors gave Gail large doses of pretnisone immediately and when I finally saw her she was very puffed out. They will reduce this immune supression after about a week. As usual Gail was being stoic and concerned about how long we had to be at the hospital.
I want to thank everyone for all their support especially the people from I.H.D whom Gail and I have never met but have treated Gail like family. Of course our friends from the gym, long time buddies, family and especially all of you who offered Gail a kidney have been fabulous as well. Also what can you say about my wonderful brother in law who I have known since he was 7 and Kathy who was so selfless.
I apologize for my lack of typing skills but my usual scribe is in the hospital. I will try to keep you up to date in the following days Best wishes Lee
:bandance;
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Yay!! So happy to hear everyone's doing well and recovering. A huge THANK YOU to Kathy and :bandance; :yahoo; :bandance; to Gail!!!!
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Congrats Gail and get well soon!!!
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:yahoo; :yahoo; Hope you will soon be well and posting on here Gail - Kathy 'thank you' isn't enough but what else can we say? So thank you from all of us for what you have done :cuddle; Lee - Gail is family :)
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Glad to hear everyone is doing well :thumbup; Thanks for posting the update Karol
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:2thumbsup; :yahoo; :clap; :thumbup;
Great News all around.
I hope recovery is smooth for you booth.
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Terrific news!!!
Here is to a speedy recovery for you both! :beer1;
Anne
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:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
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Monrein,
Pelagia told me about your transplant and I had to log in and send you much love and hugs. Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you!!! Ann :bandance;
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Great news! :yahoo; Here's to a speedy recovery and another 20+ years with this new kidney! :beer1;
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Great news wishing you both a speedy recovery :bandance;
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Monrein and Kathy,
May the road to recovery be a short one!
Great news!
Kim
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Great news! :yahoo;
Hope to be getting a "live" update from Gail herself soon! :)
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:flower; Here's todays update from their caringbridge:
.............
Hi everyone. Another good day for Gail and Kathy. Got to the hospital around 12 noon and saw Kathy first. She looked great.Her pain level had dropped considerably and she had been for a breif walk with her IV etc attached. She said it was difficult to walk with a catheter attached. I think I will take her word for it.
Gail didnt remember seeing me the night before but today she was alert and her puffiness had gone down alot. The numerous tubes on her hand had been removed and she also had been for a little walk. Most importantly her urine output was continuing and her creatin levels were decreasing. Gail looked and felt much better. Good stuff.
At around 4pm Kathy walked to the elevator on the 6th floor and went up to the 10th floor to visit Gail in her room. I took a picture of them proudly holding up their urine bags. Pee,its a beautiful thing.
We have had 2 good days in a row. I sure hope this progress continues. Till tomorrow Best wishes Lee
..............
If anyone wants Gail's address to send a card, please let me know by sending a PM.
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I have Gail's home address if anyone needs it. I have a link to the hospital, as well.
Congratulations again, Gail! :cheer:
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I am so thrilled gail is doing well my fistula is throbbing extra hard!!!
Hope the recovery continues and all goes well!
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Belated Congrats to Monrein/Gail and her donor :bandance; :beer1;
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Great news! :yahoo; Here's to a speedy recovery and another 20+ years with this new kidney! :beer1;
I second that!!! :yahoo; :yahoo;
:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
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Congrats to all involved. My prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.
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:2thumbsup; Best Wishes for a fast recovery! :grouphug;
EDITED:Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,Moderator
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drink plenty,pee more,be happy,hugs for kathy :yahoo;
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Wonderful news. So glad you are both doing well. Wishing a speedy recovery.
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:yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; so glad to hear everything is going well
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:clap;
I just spoke with Lee. He says Kathy has her catheter out and is eating well. If she is feeling up to it she may go home tomorrow. She is still having some pain (she had the open procedure rather than the lap surgery, so the incision is bigger.)
Our sweet Gail is doing great. She is still on IV fluids but eating and drinking too. Today she walked around the hospital floor with Lee following behind with the pole carrying all her essential bags - he said he had a tough time keeping up with her, he was so concerned about pulling out one of the lines!
Kathy and Gail - You girls are great! :2thumbsup;
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:yahoo; :beer1;
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Makes my heart sing :guitar:
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:bandance; Wonderful news.
:bestwishes; Best wishes for a quick recovery for you both.
Normie :bandance;
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Hurry Back soon Monrein the virtual bar is going broke without you. :rofl;
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How exciting! Waiting for the photos :bandance; :bandance;
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:bandance; :cheer: :clap; can't wait for you to be back here and posting Gail. Love to you and Kathy :cuddle;
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:cuddle; I have only just found this thread, I am so pleased for you Gail, what a wonderful sister-in-Law you have, wish you both well on the road to recovery,
:flower; :cheer: Love John and Yvonne from the UK
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:clap; :clap; :beer1;
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This is the best news ever!! I hope you both have a very speedy recovery. Waiting anxiously for pics!
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:thumbup; More news today from Gail's hubby Lee on caringbridge:
Hi Guys. I got to the hospital at 1pm and was amazed to see Kathy all ready to come home. She was walking around just like it was a regular day. Apparently the combination of a catheter removal and a meal of solid food gives Kathy a lot of get up and go. In fact she had so much go that she came home. As I type this Kathy is walking around and making phone calls. I think I will inquire about a paper route to keep her out of trouble.
Gail is also doing well but last night and this morning she was miserable. She even said she wished she was on dialysis. The problem was that her catheter was not draining and her bladder was in danger of bursting. They took out the catheter and 2 litres of pee later Gail was her old self. When I arrived I expected to see Gail in a lot of distress but was pleasantly surprised to see Gail all packed up and being moved out of ICU to the normal transplant floor. They want to put another catheter in but I think Gail will put them on notice not to screw it up. Really this was just a little bump on the road back. Bottom line is Gails new kidney is really working great. See you tomorrow Lee
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It sounds like they're progressing well.
I liked to keep my hospital bed high so that my catheter drained with no problems. But everytime the nurse would come in they would freak out that "the bed was too high" - like I was going to fall/roll out - and they would lower it. It was a constant battle. When the bed was low I would feel my urine backing up and it really hurt! I would raise the bed and adjust the tube and I'd be fine again. I can't imagine the uncomfortable pain Gail was in . That's a horrible feeling.
I'm so glad you two are doing well. :clap;
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:2thumbsup;
New update from caringbridge:
Hello to all...this is Kathy or KD!!! It is my turn to update the Bridge, as I am home now and need something to do!!! Jim and Syd took off this Am to visit Gail and take in a museum and Lee is on his way to pick up Lyla and head on to see Gaila! I phoned Gaila this AM and she was fabulous!!! The catheter is back in, but placed correctly and mostly doing its job. The issue there is two fold: The new ureter needs to heal in place on the bladder, so a stent has been put there. The bladder must stay empty for this stent to work and for the ureter to heal....but alas, Gail is being pumped with lasix to perfuse (sp?) her new kidney, and this creates tremendous diuresis, filling the bladder!!! A goofy cycle, but necessary to make the kidney wake up and work out!!! The best news of all is that Gail's latest creatinine is 87!!!!! Yikes, I gave her an overachieving organ!!! My own level was only 90 yesterday...and so we compete! Her pain level is good and she got much better sleep last night. We both have decided oxycontin is overrated! We enjoyed the oxymorphone pump much more! So, today she is good. Her electrolytes are low, due to the diuresis and the new kidney trying to figure things out...it actually is clearing out the toxins at a pace inconsistent with Gail's limited intake. Where last week it simply filtered my coffee and beer consumption, now it is sitting there saying, 'What the hell? Where's the beer?' Soon Gail will crave curling and hockey and baseball on TV...if not I told her to contact the surgical nephrologist immediately for testing!!!
Gail and I want to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. It is amazing what a community of people can do for one another. If only we could generate this type of caring and compassion in the broader world!!!
We are doing just about as well as we can. Gail of course has daily issues to deal with, and will always have to look over her shoulder. For today, she has her new kidney, it is a good one, trust me, and we are both sailing along!!! The resident surgical neph told Gail I was a 'stud donor'. We laughed. Gail is the true stud, let me tell you. She is an inspiration to me, today, as she has been for the last 24 years. I was lucky enough to meet Jim, her brother, 24 years ago on Super Bowl Sunday. Gail had just received her cadaver kidney that morning I met him, and it was a most exciting day. Jim and Gail have another sister Trish, who is equally amazing. These three are the most productive, intelligent, kind, hardworking, fun-loving people on Earth! I hit the jackpot that day.
OK, so Lee will fill you in with more medical details tonite. He is attending to all of my needs. Syd has been the best little trooper, emptying Gail's pee bag on demand and generally handling the rigors of visiting two less than lovely post surgical gals in hospital!!! The kid actually sat through two surgical holdings, watching them prep each of us in turn to be wheeled away. That astounds me. Of course, as always, Jim is the rock. He is the medical man and gets all of our questions answered immediately. He has cooked some lovely meals and set me up completely. I am totally comfortable right this minute. My time is up, sorry to be so long..perhaps its is the colace and senocot working on the wrong end...Take Care. Thanks Again....KD
.........
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That's a great post! :2thumbsup;
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Here's a new post to CB by Lee:
Hi guys.I have decided not to get Kathy a paper route.No,instead she will be the assistant to the chief scribe.This is of course an important position since the chief scribe is awol.She will do all the work of chief scribe except sit on my lap while taking a memo.
Gail as Kathy mentioned is very good today.Not much to add except Gails pee is a beautiful golden yellow.This means the sutures ect are healing nicely.THe catheter is supposed to come out tomorrow so it shouldnt be too long untill Gail comes home.They are zapping her with a different drug to keep her immunity low which should reduce the swelling so all is good .Take care Lee
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Fabulous news all around! :cuddle;
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:clap; Go, Kidney,Go!"
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gold is the colour of the day. :2thumbsup;
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:cheer: Yay Gail! Yay for good news. :cheer:
:bow; Kathy - you're a goddess!
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:clap; :wine;
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Kathy, I do believe you are just as fantastic as Gail and all the others. I hope you all are healing well. :flower;
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:bandance; :bandance; :bandance; Whooohooo
Now we just need a pic of her and her golden overachieving pee!!
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We would sure love to see a picture of the Baroness with her gold! :guitar:
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I am so happy for you and your donor Gail... Lee you sound like an amazing person also!
Way to go team Gail!! :thumbup;
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I've not be on in a few days, but have had Gail and Kathy on my mind and in my prayers. I have had a smile on my face as I read the posts - great job Kathy and Gail!!! So happy surgery went well and you are both on the road to recovery. Kathy, you are an angel donor and God bless you for giving our good friend Gail such a wonderful gift!!!! :beer1;
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I LOVE the updates from Lee & Kathy - they are so well written and paint such a picture. I think I have a thing for Kathy now.. is she single? :rofl;
I also think when Gail returns the virtual bar will run out of STOCK now that she's able to eat, drink & be merry!!! :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo;
good stuff!!!
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Gail I hope you are peeing like a race horse (sorry, I just can't resist :rofl;). Kathy says that you may soon have internet access. That's great because we miss you and can't wait to hear from you!
:guitar:
******
another post from this morning on the Caring Bridge site:
Greetings from KD again. Jim reports that Gail may have internet access soon. You may soon receive direct info from the head honcho!!
Yesterday afternoon Gail's neph told her that her current creatinine (87) was better than his!!! Just now, on the phone Gail reports that is it now down to 71!!! Gail rocks! Also, officially, THE CATHETER IS OUT!!!! Nights are tough for both of us...I was in my oxycontin haze this Am and I hate it. It is difficult to sleep without it though. Gail is reporting the same. We are a little swollen and sore internally. Gail is currently taking the chemicals that will help her keep her new kidney. This delicate mix is now what they are working out. It is a bit techinical and I am totally sure you will be getting a discourse in all of it in due course! Study your terms!!!!
My first full day home yesterday I layed around and watched TV. I felt good enough to go out, but the temp. dropped like a rock and giving a kidney seemed like a good excuse to lay around a bit. It might sound crazy, but I have mentally framed this time as a "mini vacation". SO, watching curling in bed with a soft blanket is ok.
I just got off the phone with Gail and she is right on course. She was told she had 6 hours to pee on her own or the catheter would be reinserted....WELL...the girl drank 1.5 liters during the night and peed 3 times already! Her appetite is good and she has lost 3 kg of fluid. She is walking well. Today our friend Petrina visits from Ottawa and we will all meet up at the hospital. We will stop at Lyla's for lunch and Jim and Syd will say goodbye to her. They leave tomorrow and have had a great time this week...crazy as that sounds! They went to The Royal Ontario Museum yesterday and really enjoyed their day there and with Gail. They fed the black squirrels also....we do not have them in Florida and they fascinate us!!!
Lastly, I went out to eat last nite!!! Syd and Jim begged me to got to a Korean restaurant we all love, the Ichiban Fish House and I just could not disappoint! I found my largest pair of pants and just strolled right in. I had the Love Bento, which has a green salad, sushi, sushimi, maki, and the extras. We ate well and shocked the owners, who had seen Gail and I last week prepping for surgery by loading up on raw fish!!!! I promised them Gail would be in soon!!! Jim and I stayed up past mid-night watching curling!!!! AAHHH, the Canadian lifestyle!!!!
Again, thank you all for thinking of us. What a thread of good tidings....Gail will be back in control soon. Enjoy your day and keep your kidneys flushed!!!!!!!!! KD
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it's so good to hear that everything is right on course.
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:thx; Kathy thanks for keeping us up to date, but more importantly thank you for giving the gift of life to our much loved friend Gail. :yahoo; You rock! :cuddle;
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I couldn't be any happier for the both of you! Congratulations again Gail! I can't wait until you're back on-line. It's not the same around here without you! :beer1;
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:grouphug; Hugs for you Kathy for being a wonderful donor! :2thumbsup; I am so glad you are doing well Gail.
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An update from Kathy on CB - Saturday afternoon:
................
Due to gross insults concerning his spelling ability and lack of vocational direction, Lee has instructed me to update the Bridge once I finish my paper route each day. I must point out I am NOT sitting on Lee's lap as I take this dictation, though he encouraged me to do so!!!
Gail was awesome today! No IV, No catheter, NO pain pump...just a central venus line in her neck that she lovingly calls "her pony tail"!!!.She has great skin color, energy, and peed 4 times while we visited today! Her excellent creatinine has earned her much respect on the floor. Her level with a new kidney is better than my level pre-surgery with two!!! That girl, I tell you, ever the go getter!!! She has no interest in curling yet, and this remains a concern. Her electrolytes are out of whack and they give her oral magnesium and such. The tranplant nephrologist was not overly concerned. They believe the kidney is just working out, clearing away debris long fogging her system. It should level out as time goes on. She finished one chemical today, thymoglobulin. It is an immunosuppressant. Call it the first course..the appetizer was a constant course of prednisone. Next up is cellsept (sp?) and tacrolimus for life. She had to watch a movie on "medicating oneself post transplant". What a joke...Gail could write the book!!! The nurse let her go half way thru. Her swelling is down, the lasix is on hold. She is taking something to tone up her bladder. The doc thought she would be out by Tuesday!!!!
Our friend Petrina and her sister visited in the hospital today and we had a veritable party going on in there...six of us!! Gail was right into it...we were loud, breaking only to listen to her pee thru the door!!!
Syd has had a fantastic week, taking a tough life situation and making lemonade all day long. She has been a constant companion to Aunty Gaila and a HUGE mental assistant for TEAM GAIL! She hates to leave us. Jim is on his way home also; Gail and I have really enjoyed having his medical knowledge and easy going attitude. He makes a tremendous cup of coffee also and has stocked the fridge with fabulous Canadian beer, when my remaining kidney gets ready for it!!! We are about to watch some late nite curling soon!!! Lee, of course, is taking care of everything else, maintaing his winning personality all the way!
Take care all. Another great day for Gail!!!KD
..............
I started laughing - then crying a little - when I read about them being quiet to hear Gail peeing thru the door - oh man - what a joyful thing!
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A curling uniform might be what Gail needs to start that faze of her new life. Hugs all.
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I have been having connection problems. What a lovely thread to come back to!! I am so excited and happy for Gail. Thank you so much, Kathy! I can see you are really a great person as well. I have really enjoyed the updates!!!
You guys have lifted peeing to a place of honour!!
Looking forward to two things - seeing picts, and hearing from Gail!!!!
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I apologize for having been a bit busy this past week and I've missed all of you. I have a long long list of threads to catch up on and I look forward to doing so as well as reading the CaringBridge updates. I worry about sad news from any IHD members but am hoping for some transplant news also...always hoping for that.
Things have gone really well here for me and just getting up to pee all the time is a workout. I'm just two kilos over what I came in at, with a small moon face but I'll take it. The neph just told me that I could probably go home as early as tomorrow...I sure won't miss the food.
Sitting at this computer chair isn't the most comfortable but I'll check in again as soon as I can.
Thanks to you all for your support. Hugs and love
Gail
PS. We do have photos of bags of pee...man we're an odd bunch.
PPS. I'm not a big milk drinker but I did drink a full glass for Rerun, liked it too.
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Oh Gail. It is so good to see you. :flower; :bandance; :yahoo; :thumbup; :clap; :cuddle;
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Oh yes it certainly is good to have you back :cuddle; :cuddle; :yahoo;
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So nice to hear from you Gail. I'm so pleased you are doing so well. The world looks after those who look after everyone else and you and Kathy rock my world. You are absolutely amazing. Both of you. You are kicking butt because of your amazing attitude and you have a fabulous support network around you. I am really, really happy for you. Lots of love to you and Kathy. xxx
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Thanks Gail! :o
Keep up the good work!! Next I want pizza! :beer1;
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Gail, I'm so happy to hear that everything is going well for you. Reading all the updates from CB from your family was wonderful, then the final (first?) message from you sounds like you're doing great! Thanks for brightening my rainy day. :)
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Great to hear from you Gail!! So glad that both you and Kathy are doing well. Bet it will feel great to get home!!!
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so exciting and WE WANT TO SEE THE PEE!!! :rofl; yes we're odd but in a loving way!
how awesome.. this is such good news!!! :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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:yahoo; what else can I say? :yahoo;
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Great to have you back monrein! I am thrilled that things are going so well. Now....any sound bites of the golden water flowing?
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I am so happy to see that you posted Gail!
When do you go home?
:waving;
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Here's the latest post by Kathy:
.............
Gail is having another good day! Her creatinine is holding at 71, her blood pressure is perfect, and her heartbeat has normalized. This is incredible stuff. Having never experienced kidney disease, I had no idea how crucial kidney function is to the rest of the body. She does have some pain under the incision. It has changed and seems worse, but the surgeons assure her it is typical and not a major medical issue. She responds with the 1-2 punch of a sleeping pill and 2 oxycontins!!! She reports the opiate does nothing for pain, she just does't care about it while on the drug! This Am Gail asked me how I was enjoying the tournament of hearts(women's curling)......air escaped my diaphragm as surely this was a sign....when I collected myself and rambled on about the great match on last nite and did she watch and was she interested, she replied, "Kath, I am not remotely interested in curling or any other sport, I am merely being polite." I realized my DNA was circulating only in her kidney and no part had escaped and made it to her brain. Alas, sadly this also indicates Gail will not be drinking beer any time soon!!!
Monday should bring more activity in the hospital, and we hope, more movement regarding Gail's case.. The weekends there feel like Mississippi Mud....nothing bloody happens. Once all her docs are back and conferring, we think they will spring her. No sense having an immunosuppressed person LIVING in a hospital!!!! We are hoping for Tuesday, but it could be Wednesday. Lee and I have BIG Monday night plans: Dinner out and wash the bedsheets for Gail!!! A general sprucing up of the house we loving call "CAMP"! I can have my staples out the day we pick her up...2 for 1.
Jim and Syd's flight got cancelled due to a snowstorm in the southern US. On March 1, that is unusual. They are making lemonade again, visiting the ROM's new Egypt display, eating out, feeding black squirrels, and visiting their favorite transplant patient!!! Lee is on a date with the lovely Nita, seeing Cecilia Bartoli, a metza soprano. His original date was unavailable! All is good. I have been left to watch basketball, bowling, old movies, and curling....such a sad event...I hope I make it!
Gail may be able to update you this evening. She will have all the latest transplant news. I can tell you the transplant floor is a sobering place. I felt incredibly lucky yesterday to have the good health I enjoy. If you have not signed your organ donor card...please DO IT! The deceased donor wall of honor on the transplant floor is a stark reminder of how vital organ donation is. All of the people pictured there passed away, donating multiple organs so that others could have a chance at life. On Gail's floor patients have recently received new hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, and many combinations. It was a moving experience walking down those halls. Every room contained somebody's Gail!!
Must go wrap my papers and get them delivered before Lee gets home from his date! Take Care. KD
..................
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Oh my goodness - :cheer: :cheer: :yahoo; :yahoo; :bandance; :bestwishes;
I haven't been at IHD for 8 days and now am catching up - bugger
I have tears of joy in my eyes for not only you mate but that ripper of a sis in law and the rest of the family
How bloody wonderful
How bloody fan bloody tastic
Great news
Happy peeing
:flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower;
:beer1; :beer1; :beer1; :beer1;
I'll now have a VB stubbie or 2 for ya
Shit hot news mate
What a great bloody world it is
Thank God for donors
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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:cheer: :cheer: I am so happy everything went so well Gail. I hope you are home soon. :cuddle;
Kathy you are an angel! :flower;
P.s Jess you crack me up .... could you get anymore Aussie! I can say that because I am a southerner!! lol
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It is so great to hear all the good news! :yahoo;
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:bandance; :bandance; :bandance; I love reading all of the happy news! Can't wait until you are back Gail!! :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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Kathy this morning:
............
Gail phoned early today. All is in place for her to depart the Toronto General tomorrow! The remaining issues are incisional pain and tweaking medications. Gail needs to be on meds to sterilize her urine, of which she is producing litres!!! This keeps bacteria away from the new plumbing and kidney. The previous med makes Gail so dry in the nostrils and mouth she feels like the Gobe desert. They want to test this sulpha drug in house in case she react to it.. Gail is fine with the extra day because she wants resolutiion, imgaine that! They still are not worried about her incision, although it is red. They will do a dopplar study of the area and again tweak pain meds to allow her bowels to wake up...the pain is basically many things weaved together. Her central line will come out also. All of her blood levels are good. She is in good spirits and ready for the next step. She asked me how I enjoyed the curling final last nite, and then proceeded to review the match in a detailed and animated fashion...I gave the phone to Lee, lest I drop it in surprise....he later told me Gail did not watch the match, heavens no, she was just mimicking the SportCentre announcer word for word to get my goat! That girl. She has no idea the mens' curling beings this Saturday and she is in for a bombardment on all household TV'S...if you lead them to water and they refuse to drink...just shove it down their throats I say!
Jim, Syd, Lee and I were up at 3:30 this AM, getting them ready for the Atlanta Shuffle. Lee remarked that we were a motley family, so jovial at this early hour. We collectively remarked that this was our one week anniversary, and that sitting here checking flight schedules was FAR less anxious than preparing two loved ones for back to back surgery!!! He agreed, but still could not believe our sunny dispositions! We instructed him to bring the car around and warm it up please!!!!! Jim and Syd are currently on stand by in Atlanta for the next two flights, but have seats on a third at 2:45. They are making lemonade again! Have to love those two for their part in this past week. TEAM GAIL is alright!
Lee is at the gym now. We will probably visit Gail today and make preparations for her homecoming. Doesn't that sound great? Take Care. KD
...............
:yahoo;
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Today on CB:
........
Well hello everyone and thank you all for the messages, the prayers, the support and the caring. They have meant so much to us and every time KD and Lee would come to the hospital and tell me of the latest ones my room would feel crowded in the most wonderful of ways.
I got home today at around three with the help of an oxycontin at one and a buckwheat pillow padding the new USDA, Grade A, Prime, imported, grain-fed, free range, kidney.
I still feel as if a small squirrel or large rodent is sitting in my lower abdomen and every so often it stirs and starts trying to gnaw its way out of there. I stroke it gently back to sleep and Tylenol settles it down quite effectively and on we go.
The bag of drugs is a sight to behold and I feel as though I could easily qualify for admission to a degree in Pharmacy.
It feels great to be home and now the challenge is to build up my phosphorus and potassium levels which is just plain strange considering how hard I've worked for the past ten months to keep them both in check. Bring on the beans, the dairy, the almonds, the avocados, the bananas and all the rest.
I'll check in with more update tomorrow.
........
I see you posted a little today monrein - good to have you home! :yahoo;
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:flower; Welcome Home xox
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:welcomesign; home monrein
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Ooooh, have some mexican for me - refried beans, cheese and more cheese, and a gallon of ice water to wash it down. . . .
Or feed that rodent something!
:grouphug;
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:yahoo; you're home :yahoo;
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:welcomesign; love from Yvonne and John :grouphug;
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:yahoo; Gail. :clap; So happy you are home. Now get some rest, eat a banana and drink, drink, drink. Can't wait to hear you story and see pictures. :cuddle;
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:waving; Welcome home
Your bed-Your food-Your schedule-Your life back.
:beer1;
We missed you but it was well worth it.
P&K
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Thanks everyone. My creatinine was 71 yesterday, better than Kathy's with both her kidneys...and better than my neph's....how wild is that??? I just had my lunch, a delicious avocado and chopped liver sandwich with arugula on fresh whole grain bread with lots of seeds and a glass of orange juice. Low fat yogurt and half a banana plus 5 raw almonds for dessert.
I want to cook again and am dreaming about a lamb and veggie with chick peas couscous. Maybe even tomorrow.
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I am so glad you both are feeing so good and look at you, back on your wonderful meals and wanting to cook. You are fantastic. :cheer:
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Yaay! Glad your feeling good and able to eat what you want. Sounds like and your sister-in-law made it through the surgery very well.
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Tonight I cooked dinner for Lee and Kathy and it was fantastic. I made basmati rice with a chicken, shitake mushroom, onions, red pepper, carrots, baby corn, sugar snaps, water chestnuts, and cilantro stir fry and garnished with a few chopped peanuts. We also had a delicious salad that Lee made and fresh blueberries for dessert although we've postponed eating the berries because we're full. I felt terrific cooking but did take a tylenol part way through as the "squirrel" kidney was gnawing a little. I always cook for my family when we spend the Christmas holidays in Florida and Kathy loves my food so it was an extreme pleasure to feed her again. Lee is our super shopper and he has been so amazing through all this. It feels good although a bit surreal to be coming back to life again and I want you all to know how much I wish I could wave my wand and give you each the gift of health again too. I don't take even one second for granted and remain steadfastly beside all of you in the ESRD struggle. :grouphug;
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:clap; I love to hear about you cooking Gail - that makes me so happy.
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Wish I'd been there for dinner rather than stranded in Houston eating bad airport food. Hope tomorrow is more of the same for you - great, great and even better. :cuddle;
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:clap; Yay! Gail is back!! Now don't go disappearing on us now that you've gotten a transplant. ;D
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I certainly don't plan to disappear Paddbear although I must tell you that I'm looking forward to spending a bit less time in total here, only because I have so much other stuff I want to do. My connection to all of you is super strong and I'll always need to know how this crap disease is treating each and every one of you. :grouphug;
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Congratulations Gail!!! :yahoo;
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:grouphug; According to Lee's (monrien's hubby) post on her Caring Bridge Site she was admitted to the hospital today. Hope your are doing better Gail. :cuddle;
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I hope they will quickly figure out what is causing her fever. ???
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When did she start running a fever? Does anyone have any more information on Monrein? Is there a post I can read? Thanks.
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The fever started on Mar. 18th - so it's good she's gone into the hospital so they can figure out what's up. Her creatinine is great - so that a very good sign.
:grouphug; Sending you LOVE and HUGS Gail.
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Hope they figure it out and she get's better soon.
Does her hospital offer email service to send her notes?
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Hope you are back home soon and feeling better Monrein.
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:grouphug; I hope they sort it out quickly.
Sending hugs xox
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hope your home soon thinking of you :grouphug;
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No update on the CaringBridge site yet :(
Kelly, the link to Gail's CaringBridge site is at the bottom of her posts.
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Thinking of you Gail. :cuddle;
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:cuddle;
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We know you are a fighter, Gail. You can get over this bump. I will say prayers that they find the source of the fever and you start recovering. Sending love :grouphug;
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Here's Lee's latest post:
Hi everyone. I just got back from the hospital and am happy to report that Gail is doing much better.She is still in a cubby hole in the emerg but should be in a proper room by tonight.The doctors are not worried about her kidney and feel it is some infection elsewhere.Gail is on some major antibiotics and she will not be released untill she has no fever for 48 hours.They still are not sure what is wrong but it could be her gall blader. I told Gail she should have a velcro incision so they could take out and put in organs at will.At any rate Gail is feeling good and telling me how she could make the emerg run more efficiently,something about mace and a riding crop.Better them than me. Thanks for the support Lee
*****
Sending hugs Gail :cuddle; This is good news, but I'll be happy when they figure out what it is. :cuddle;
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:thumbup; Good news - let's hope it continues and they get you home soon Gail!! :cuddle;
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:thx; It's good to hear the kidney is not being damaged.
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Good news hope they sort it out soon :cuddle;
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Mace and riding crop???????? :P
Hope you are doing well......... :grouphug;
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:grouphug; John and I send our love and please have a speedy recovery :flower;
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Oh no! I've been out of commission myself for the last week and missed this!! Gail, I hope you're doing better by now! I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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No new messages on CB yet. Hope you are getting better Gail. :flower;
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Gail - hope you are home soon and cooking up a storm!
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:cuddle; Gail, I've been thinking about you all morning. I hope they find out what is causing your fever and you get home soon. :grouphug;
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I'm thinking of you and wishing you the best.
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Hi everyone
I'm on the computer at the hospital where they got me up from ER yesterday afternoon. They think (and I agree especially since I had suggested this diagnosis) that I have a flare up of diverticulitis probably a bit from all the seeds and fibre and fruit (raspberries especially) that I love. They considered some other nonsense too, like gall bladder but all was ruled out. Back on a couple of antibiotics and had my stent removed today. I feel way better and did 29 laps around the atrium which is a pretty good walk.
I'm not on the transplant floor but in the cardiac one and that alone strengthens all my resolve about eating healthy food. I asked the doc about the seeds etc but she said to change nothing that in the long run what has likely caused my diverticulitis is the overprocessed renal diet. She likes how everything looks, including me which is quite hilarious since my hair is once again a dangerous substance. My creatinine has been floating between 77 and 83 (Canadian scale).
I'm scheduled to go home tomorrow afternoon which will mark 48 hours with no fever.
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:bandance;
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Thats great news it will be good to get home :bandance;
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:cheer: Good news! :cheer:
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Thank goodness you are back on-line because I had already started having withdrawal symptoms! :cuddle;
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:clap;
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:grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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GREAT NEWS!!!
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absolutely fantastic!!
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:cheer: :cheer: Yay :cheer: :cheer:
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:flower; Gail, so happy to hear the news. I bet that fever was from that stent, glad that it's gone. You take care of yourself now (which I know you will) and try to rest just a little or Lee might have that paper route for you sooner then you want. :cuddle;
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:bandance; :2thumbsup; :clap; :bandance; :2thumbsup; :clap; YEY
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Oh Gail, that is good news. You had us worried in the beginning! Once we found out that your kidney function was doing well, we just wanted them to find out what was causing the fever, treat it and send you home!
Welcome back! Take care!
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I've been thinking about you a lot these past few days, Gail and I sure am happy to hear that it's nothing too serious and that you'll be home soon.
Take care!
Michelle
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:-) :thumbup;
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Gail is still in the hospital - you can read the last couple of days journal here - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gailwhiteside/journal - I pray they figure out if it's her old kidney and what to do about it.
Monrein - get well soon! :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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They just need to go get that old kidney out! It is a quick surgery. Just do it!
Sorry Gail that you are having problems. :cuddle;
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Get well soon Gail :cuddle;...
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Today's update from monrein's hubby:
Hi guys.I saw Gail yesterday as usual. She is continuing to feel better although her temp still fluctuates during the day.When I was there her temp was normal [36.6C].I told her it must be my soothing personality.I wont bother telling you what Gail said.The doctors were in as well and I am beginning to realize no one is quite sure what is specifically causing this problem. They know it is an infection and it is responding to antibiotics but the rest is unclear.Right after the transplant Gails temp was elevated and it is possible this current situation could have started then.As a result the docs are going to do more cat scans etc and of course keep up the IV antibiotics.The good news is that Gails new kidney is working well and this problem is not related to it.Got to go and pick up Trish. Take care Lee
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Thanks for the update. I sure wish they would get to the bottom of it. We want our Monrein back. :grouphug;
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Oh dear Gail, I didn't realize that you were back in the hospital... this sucks, but I am glad that they are trying to get to the bottom of your troubles...
I miss you and can't wait to chat about stuff..
Thinking of you
Kim
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Gail, I sure hope that the doctors get to the bottom of this. We miss you. :cuddle;
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Sorry to hear about this Gail. I hope the doctors are doing everything that they can for you and get it all worked out. So you can enjoy what lies ahead. Keep keeping your head up Gail, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
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It's just not the same without you Monrein. Get well soon. :cuddle;
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I hope you are feeling better very soon, Gail!
You are missed!
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Thanks everyone for your messages of support and I know I have a few PM's to reply to and I will eventually.
I'm feeling much better but still no one really understands why this fever thing is happening or where the infection is. I've been tested up down and sideways, everything looks fine, creatinine was 82 yesterday...what can I say other than that I feel like a very very boring episode of House. Still, boring is much better than dramatic. At first they seemed to think that my failed transplant was going necrotic, now they don't but aren't sure so yet another ultrasound is on the schedule for today. My sister is here for a six day visit and I'm beyond pissed that she has to come see me in hospital. Okay, I'll now try to be patient again.
I'll be back more regularly as soon as I can. Hugs to everyone.
Gail
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:waving;
Hope they get you sorted out fast. hate mystery illnesses.
And how sad you sister is there while your in the hospital.
Get well soon :flower;
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So glad to hear from you, Gail! Sorry about your hospitalization and the slow process of determining the cause. But, as you said, boring is definitely better than dramatic. I'm hoping things get sorted soon so you can get back to posting regularly and sharing your wisdom.
We are all here for you. Keep us updated. :cuddle;
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Gail, it's wonderful to see you posting. I sure pray they get to the bottom of this. Did you have a stent put in? Just wondering if that could be causing problems? Keep us posted and please take care of yourself. :cuddle;
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:waving; Hey Gail :waving;
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Thanks for posting, Gail. You are missed and many prayers are being said for resolution. Enjoy your sister's visit. :cuddle;
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:flower;
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I'm finally back at home and had dinner here instead of the yucky hospital attempts at food. I'm so glad that Trish and Lee don't have to visit me there any more. I'm feeling good, no more pain and the docs no longer seem inclined to think it's my old kidney. I had another ultrasound just before being discharged and everything apparently looked good. Now, can we just pretend this little episode never happened?
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:yahoo; Hey Gail!! Good to see you!!
What episode? I know nothing!
:welcomesign; Home!
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Yay!! Welcome back Gail!!! :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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:waving; Yay Gail. Glad you are home and can spend some time with your sister. :cuddle;
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I'm finally back at home and had dinner here instead of the yucky hospital attempts at food. I'm so glad that Trish and Lee don't have to visit me there any more. I'm feeling good, no more pain and the docs no longer seem inclined to think it's my old kidney. I had another ultrasound just before being discharged and everything apparently looked good. Now, can we just pretend this little episode never happened?
I know you are happy to be home. :cuddle; Now tell that old kidney to settle down. It already went into retirement, so why is it acting up now? Maybe it didn't like the new kid(ney) in town. ;D
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Gail - I'm so happy you are home and everything is looking good for you.
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glad to hear you're home. :bandance; have a wonderful visit with your sister.
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I'm willing to go along with "it never happened." Just glad to know you are back home and enjoying home cooking.
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So glad you're back home.
8)
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SOOOOO happy you are home and that things are going well! :cuddle; :cuddle;
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Glad you are home :yahoo; I don't remember anything now, so it will be easy to forget the whole thing even happened :rofl;
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Gail, Keep on keeping on, You're my hero.
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This was on Gail's Caringbridge site last night. I will pray real hard. Thinking of you and hope doctors get this resolved soon. :cuddle;
Hi guys.You all know what this means. Gail went from feeling great on Sat to feeling somewhat bum on Sun to going to the emerg at 1.30 am on Mon.Its the same problem as before ie. a worsening pain over her old transplant.Gail was really in agony this time.They gave her morphine for the pain and she had another ultra sound at 10.30am.Dr Cole came to visit and said as before there was nothing of note on the scan.He did say however that they were going to schedule an operation to remove the old kidney.He cant understand why this old kidney which hadnt caused any problem for over 24 years would act up now.To be safe he will have another cat scan done to see if any thing pops up but it appears as of now that the operation will go ahead.I sure hope this fixes the infection as it is getting Gail down as you can imagine.I will keep every one updated on tomorrows blog.Of course the good news is that the new kidney is working better than we could have ever hoped for.This fact is important to keep in mind during these set backs.I am exhausted as getting up at 1.30 am.does not seem to agree with me and therefore am going to bed.Take care and thanks for the support. Lee
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Sorry to hear about this. I haven't been reading the Caringbridge site lately or doing as much online. I feel kinda burnt out doing anything on the computer.
Hope all goes well and that the surgery will do the trick.
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:-(
Oh Monrein i hope they can fix you up so you dont have to keep wondering what is going on.
I ma SO GLAD to hear your new kidney is working so well. Hopefully if they remove the old one all will be done and over with as far as pain and infections go.
Your in my prayers....
P&K
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fingers and toes crossed for Gail (man it will be hard to walk and work now!!) hoping removing the old kidney will fix this once and for all!!!! my thoughts are with her...
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Gail - I will be praying for you and hope all goes well.
RG
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Gail
I just read your caring bridge
Please get better ASAP :cuddle; :cuddle;
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We all are praying for a solution to all of this. Hopefully, removing the old kidney will do it. Thanks to W and W for posting the caring bridge posts. It helps keep us all up to date on Gail. Sending our love and healing thoughts :grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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Lots of love!
:cuddle;
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Hope the docs get the problem with Gail resolved. :cuddle;
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I'm praying for you and send you lots & lots of good wishes. I hope all is well real soon.
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Does anyone know if we can send e-mail via the hospital that she is in?
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Sorry about this set back. Hang in there.
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I sure hope the removal of that stupid old kidney will finally do the trick Gail! We miss you!! I don't think my prayers have been working very well lately darn it!! :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle;
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Oh Gail. My thoughts and prayers go with you into surgery. I hope removing the old kidney does the trick. I know you're ready to go on with your life.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. :cuddle;
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saying a prayer for Gail now. :cuddle;
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:grouphug; I hope they have it right this time and the infection is :Kit n Stik; knocked on the head. Bye bye Kidney.... you served her well ......
Hurry back to us Gail :cuddle;
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:( :Kit n Stik; :stressed;
Another surgery does not sound like fun, but it sounds like that old kidney has got to go.
Gail, I am sending love and hugs and best wished for a speedy recovery. Linda
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Sending good thoughts your way hope all goes well :cuddle;
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UPDATE FROM GAIL'S CARINGBRIDGE PAGE:
Monday, April 20, 2009 8:08 PM, EDT
Hi guys. You all know what this means. Gail went from feeling great on Sat to feeling somewhat bum on Sun to going to the emerg at 1.30 am on Mon. Its the same problem as before ie. a worsening pain over her old transplant. Gail was really in agony this time. They gave her morphine for the pain and she had another ultra sound at 10.30am. Dr Cole came to visit and said as before there was nothing of note on the scan.He did say however that they were going to schedule an operation to remove the old kidney. He cant understand why this old kidney which hadnt caused any problem for over 24 years would act up now. To be safe he will have another cat scan done to see if any thing pops up but it appears as of now that the operation will go ahead. I sure hope this fixes the infection as it is getting Gail down as you can imagine. I will keep every one updated on tomorrows blog. Of course the good news is that the new kidney is working better than we could have ever hoped for. This fact is important to keep in mind during these set backs. I am exhausted as getting up at 1.30 am. does not seem to agree with me and therefore am going to bed. Take care and thanks for the support. Lee
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:17 AM, EDT
Hi guys. Gail was in some discomfort today and as a result it was decided to operate and remove her old transplant. They had to fit her in on a emergency basis and it didnt happen untill 9.30 pm. I didnt get to talk to Dr Robinette probably because he was operating all day but did talk to his resident at around midnight. He said the old kidney had really no substantial blood supply but had no sign of any infection either. He said Dr Robinette felt this was however the source of Gails problem. I guess time will tell. Gail is alert and in good spirits although how much of the good spirits is related to the morphine pump is any ones guess. I should have more detailed news about Gails prognosis by Wed pm. See you then. Lee
:grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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:grouphug;
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Hang in there smiley. :) Best of luck. :grouphug;
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:grouphug; :grouphug;
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Keep your chin up girl and when it gets you down, know we are cheering you on. :grouphug;
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Prayers are being said around the world for your full recovery :grouphug;
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:grouphug;
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I hope you're back to your old self really soon, Gail! We love you! :grouphug;
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Here's another update from Lee at 9:20 tonight:
Gail had a very good day and all the mover and shakers agree that the old kidney had to go.Her temp is back to normal after hitting 39C[102.1F] and Gail did 10 laps of the ward corridor.On the down side she has a large tube in her neck ,numerous IV lines and of course the dreaded catheter.Also Gail is on prednison{I know,I cant spell]which makes her all swell up.Of course Gail is complaining about all this and hopes to have most of this stuff removed tomorrow.I have to laugh when Gail tells me this operation was a snap as the old kidney was close to the surface and of course there was the old incision as a guide.I told her it was a shame they couldnt do it in the back seat of my car while we parked in the hospital drive way.Why we could have been home in time for lunch.There is actually a chance Gail will be discharged by Friday.I of course will keep you all up to date.I may have to go up to our lake cabin and move our dock before it is cut loose.If I do I will be away on Thurs night but will be back by Fri morning.Things are looking up.Take care and thanke again for the support. Lee
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Gail I've only just caught up with this, I hope by now you are on the road to recovery - please hurry back, we all love you and miss that beautiful smile :cuddle;
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Gail, I am hoping for a very quick recovery so you can get home to some real food! :cuddle;
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:cheer: You keep those laps going and you'll be home soon! :cheer:
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Thinking and Praying for you Gail and hoping for a quick Recovery :grouphug;
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Positive thoughts floating your way.
May you be yourself soon :2thumbsup;
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Gail, I hope you are feeling better...sorry you have to be on the prednisone. Must be your old kidney did not like her new healthy, sexy neighbor!
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I'm so glad to hear things are going better! :grouphug;
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Latest Caringbridge post:
Friday, April 24, 2009 7:34 PM, EDT
Hi guys. I went up to our cabin on Thurs pm and moved my dock. It was freezing but it is done. Visited Gail this aft and discovered she had a slight fever this morning. The powers that be are going to give her what is called a "broad spectrum antibiotic" by IV and keep Gail in the hospital until she is fever free for 48 hrs. I know this sounds familiar but what can you do. The old kidney had to come out and Gails new kidney is working great so we just have to hope this will be the last stay in the hospital for a while, a very long while. All the tubes that were in place post op are gone which is a good thing. I will see Gail tomorrow and keep you up to date. Lee
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Thanks for keeping us updated Karol
Gail please know we are all sending loads of love and good wishes your way, hope you will be back soon :cuddle;
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:thumbup;
Saturday, April 25, 2009 11:30 AM, EDT
Hi guys. I just talked to Gail and am happy to say she is fever free and feeling much better. Of course this has happened before but lets hope these antibiotics finish off whatever bugs are left. Gail is the toughest person I know and even she gets down with this rollercoaster ride she has been on. But as of this moment she is up, even to the point of telling me how to water the orchids. It seems that the few skills I have do not include taking watering instructions well. I told Gail that the knowledge that all her plants are dying while she is in the hospital will force her to get better. Surprisingly Gail seems not to appreciate this strategy. I want to tell Gails friends from IHD that knowing of their concern motivates me to keep this journal updated and I know Gail appreciates all her friends from IHD even though she has never met any of them. I also want to say that over the years dealing with Gails health problems I just thank God for the Canadian health system. No matter what you have heard I think it is fabulous, not perfect but life saving never the less. Take care Lee
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I am so happy to hear this. She will up and about in no time. Wait and see. ;)
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Great news thinking of you Gail xx
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That's beter news, thanks Karol and Lee for keeping us up to date.
Love to Gail as always :cuddle;
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I'm so Gail is getting better. Will continue to keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for the update.
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:cuddle; Thinking about you Gail. :cuddle;
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Hurry home Gail. We miss you. But more than anything we want you well! :cuddle;
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Hahah Lee is funny! :rofl;
Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:21 PM, EDT
I just got back from seeing Gail and she continues to improve. The plan is to put a IV connector in by her elbow and then thread a line through her vein ,up her arm and then down into her heart. They will do all this on Mon and then discharge her. This apperatus will allow Gail to give herself 10 days of IV antibiotics while being at home. I asked Gail if a homecare nurse would come over to assist. Gail said one could but why be a burden on the system. Next thing Gail will probably be operating on herself. She figures she will be able to go for walks and eat in restaurants. Gail said it will be like the bionic woman. I was going to respond with "or the bride of Frankenstein"but decided not to push my luck. At any rate things seem good. Lee
:yahoo; Best wishes to the bionic woman!
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What a good post to read! I love Lee's sense of humor. And of course, Gail will do her own antibiotics! We'll all be glad when she is home and on the mend. :cuddle;
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:clap;
Sunday, April 26, 2009 5:27 PM, EDT
Just a brief update. Gail is doing great and the plan is to release her tomorrow as expected. The nurses are calling her Sue 2 because the main nurse is also from Jamaica and apparently doesnt tolerate any nonsense. Gail has always agreed with Nietzsche ie "the purpose of life is to create order out of chaos and impose your will" Her lifes work has been to try this on me. Nice to see the 6th floor of the hospital benefitting also, hopefully with better results. Lee
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Very good news. :2thumbsup;
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:bandance; :bandance; :bandance; yay! Gail is coming home!!
I was going to mail her card today, but my husband pointed out a little snafu. Does anyone know what kind of postage you need to mail a card to Canada from the U.S.? I put a 42 cent stamp on it, but now he's got me wondering if I need more or even something else entirely. ???
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One more day and then she'll be home! :yahoo;
Monday, April 27, 2009 5:37 PM, EDT
Hi guys. There been a small change of plans. The powers that be decided that Gails IV should be done by Home Care. I think that"scrupulously clean and Lee" did not seem like a good match to them. Therefore Gail has to spend one more night in the hospital so the supplies can be delivered and Home Care set up. I am supposed to pick her up tomorrow at 10.30am. Really it is just as well since I have to get rid of the dancing girls and naturally they dont want to leave. It is tough being me. Lee
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Lee is very funny! Sorry for the days delay, but I'm glad she will finally be coming home. :2thumbsup;
Paddbear, international postage is different for each country. Check with the post office. I know a letter to France is about 72 cents. Maybe there is some place online to check rates. Let us know.
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Glad to hear the good news! :yahoo;
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That is WONDERFUL NEWS :yahoo; :clap;
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Gail said it will be like the bionic woman. I was going to respond with "or the bride of Frankenstein"but decided not to push my luck. At any rate things seem good. Lee
From the time of the first PD cath ages ago, my geek husband has referred to all such devices as "Borg implants".
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Gail said it will be like the bionic woman. I was going to respond with "or the bride of Frankenstein"but decided not to push my luck. At any rate things seem good. Lee
From the time of the first PD cath ages ago, my geek husband has referred to all such devices as "Borg implants".
:rofl; I'm so glad my husband doesn't read this anymore! Otherwise I'd be hearing that as well. Between the chest cath I had, my insulin pump infusion set and my continuous glucose monitor transmitter, I'd never hear rhe end of it.
Paddbear, international postage is different for each country. Check with the post office. I know a letter to France is about 72 cents. Maybe there is some place online to check rates. Let us know.
I tried using the post office's "calculate postage" feature on their website for international mail. It lets you select a letter, but the prices that come up start at $15. I know that's not right! I was trying to avoid a trip to the post office because it is in the total opposite direction of dialysis or any of my other errands.
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First class from USA to Canada is .63 cents for the first ounce ( a typical card/letter)
Hope this helps before you run to the Post Office.
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Hi everybody, Bride of Frankenstein here. It's fantastic to be home again, I was wearing out the linoleum in the corridors of the hospital's surgical floor. I did 40 laps yesterday and would have done even more but they kept tying me down for infusions of antibiotics. I feel very well and am just waiting for the home care nurse to come in and set up my IV pump system. I am a hundred percent certain that I could have done it like at the hospital, with a drip and a saline rinse to cap off but they were concerned that I'd be one handed. LOL. I figure that if I could cannulate 2 dialysis needles, tape myself and pull those same needles with one hand then hooking up an IV drip would be a piece of cake. I think they just want to see where I live...just kidding.
Anyhow, I made a new friend in the hospital...she's Susan, a nurse supervisor there and she's from Jamaica also, really into gardening and we have a ton in common. She's invited me out to her place in the summer to talk gardening, to see her peony and hosta collection and maybe do a Jamaican meal together. Cool. There were so many Jamaican nurses and cleaners on my ward that I barely spoke with my "regular" accent at all while I was there. We laughed quite a lot and we all know how healing that can be. I love some of the Jamaican names...like Velora, Delma, Euphenie etc. and we all reminisced about Jamaica and our favourite foods while lamenting the violence and the changes to the way of life that we grew up with. I also had the nurse (Jamaican of course) who cared for my donor, Kathy at transplant time and she also met and remembered my brother and Syd. She commented that she asked Syd how come she kept disappearing up to the 7th floor where I was instead of staying with her Mom and Syd told her that I needed her more right then (that darned catheter requiring constant draining) and that she'd be seeing a lot of Kathy back home but would'nt be seeing me again until June. Have I ever told you how terrific Syd is??? HaHa.
I've much catching up to do here and look forward to seeing what I've missed but hope there's no bad news. Thank you all for your caring comments, both here and on CaringBridge...you know I care about all of you too.
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:welcomesign; back Gail. Hope this antibiotic does the trick. Please take it easy for a few days and catch up IHD threads. We were all worried and Lee was a sweetheart to keep you caringbridge site updated. :cuddle;
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:-)
Glad your back here and back at home :thumbup;
Hopefully this IV treatment will work and you can get back to life 100%+.
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Gail welcome home. We missed you.
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It feels like the world is getting back on track----Gail is home! :2thumbsup; You have been missed!
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Glad your home Gail.
I hear yah about doing the IV set at home. Spend enough time in the hospital and you learn how to work the machine or do things to get around.
Hopefully you'll be staying out of the hospital for a long time.
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Happy to have you back! :2thumbsup;
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:cheer: Oh boy - she's back!!
Gail - tell Lee he cracks me up - and thank him for the updates!
So happy you are better! :yahoo;
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Glad to have u "home" xoxoxox :flower; :cuddle;
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:bandance; :yahoo; Gail is well again :2thumbsup;
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:flower; :guitar: :yahoo;
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:flower; :flower; :flower; :flower; :flower;
:flower; SO glad you are back Gail! :flower;
:flower; Lee is a hoot, I enjoyed his writing greatly! :flower;
:flower; Missed You!! :flower;
:flower; :flower; :flower;
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So good to hear you are home and doing well! :flower;