I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: monrein on March 04, 2009, 10:09:20 AM

Title: Home after transplant
Post by: monrein on March 04, 2009, 10:09:20 AM
Well, I'm back home and doing well.  Had my first blood work this morning and that'll be three times a week for the foreseeable future.  I keep updating my CaringBridge but thought I'd post some transplant photos here too.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: monrein on March 04, 2009, 10:12:35 AM
Hey, what's going on?  I can't seem to post photos.  Usually I click on additional options but it only gives me "notify me of relies", "return to this topic" and "don't use smileys".  What am I doing wrong?  Enlightenment anyone?
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: willieandwinnie on March 04, 2009, 10:19:09 AM
 :waving; Gail, okarol asked that we not attached pictures and such for some reason. They are working on the problem. So glad you are home.  :cuddle;

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=12721.new#new
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: monrein on March 04, 2009, 10:37:21 AM
Thanks Kathy, I'd obviously missed that post so I'll wait.  I just added 9 new photos to Caring Bridge so that will have to do for now.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: jbeany on March 04, 2009, 11:18:27 AM
Welcome home!
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: okarol on March 04, 2009, 11:20:02 AM

Gail - I love your photos on caringbridge!
I will let you know when you can post more here. Sorry about the glitch.
 :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: paul.karen on March 04, 2009, 11:27:48 AM
 :waving;
Glad your back.
Even glader to hear you are doing so well :thumbup;

Ps.  i been here the whole time and missed the no photos thread :oops;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: charee on March 04, 2009, 12:54:53 PM
Bet it feels great to be home , and sleeping back in your own bed , can't wait to see the pics.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: donnia on March 04, 2009, 02:04:36 PM
Yay!  Fantastic news!  Glad you are home.  I soooo remember my first night home after being in the hospital 4 days then a hotel for 2 weeks..... my bed felt like heaven!  Drink your fluids and get lots of rest!   :flower;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: 2_DallasCowboys on March 04, 2009, 02:34:53 PM
So glad you are home, Gail!!!  :yahoo;


It has to feel so wonderful to be in your
own surroundings, glad the surgery went well
for you and your donor.

Anne
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Bajanne on March 04, 2009, 02:40:14 PM
I have to tell you what my sweet first form French class told me once after some time out ill.  They made an absolutely cute card for me and in the centre of it, it said "Bienvenue Dos, Madame Barker"  (think about it - it took me a while)

Bienvenue Dos, my dearest Monrein!!!!


I regret not keeping that card!!
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: David13 on March 04, 2009, 03:04:36 PM
It is great to hear the the recuperation is going so well!   :2thumbsup;

We will all be waiting for the pictures! 
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: kellyt on March 04, 2009, 03:08:31 PM
We had a meeting while you were away and we decided to kick you out!   ;D   Just joshen!   So glad you're home and doing so well.   I have no idea what's up with the photos and smilies.


I need to check out your CaringBridge link.  I've been keeping up with your progress only on IHD.  Sounds like you had an amazing transplant!

Hugs to you!  And, again, congratulations!
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Zach on March 04, 2009, 04:04:13 PM
Welcome home!!!
 :wine;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: del on March 04, 2009, 04:36:13 PM
 :flower; Glad you are home Gail and that the new kidney is working well  :beer1;  Make sure you let Lee baby you for a while.  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: monrein on March 04, 2009, 05:55:30 PM
I have to tell you what my sweet first form French class told me once after some time out ill.  They made an absolutely cute card for me and in the centre of it, it said "Bienvenue Dos, Madame Barker"  (think about it - it took me a while)

Bienvenue Dos, my dearest Monrein!!!!


I regret not keeping that card!!

Ha ha, very cute Bajanne.  Now I think I'll go take un petit pois. LOL.

(Dos is the french word for "back" so bienvenue dos is an anglicicized way of saying welcome back in student French.  Un petit pois is french for a green pea so it's a silly play on the word "pea/pee"...a little pea or a little pee.  It's the kind of thing that only a native speaker of English would 'get' though.)
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Sunny on March 04, 2009, 06:37:26 PM
Gail, I am so happy for you and your successful transplant. Good to know you're back home where you belong.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Chris on March 04, 2009, 07:35:21 PM
Glad you are home and your transplant went well.

I also missed that post about not posting pictures.. Learned two things today.  ;D
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: pelagia on March 04, 2009, 07:49:37 PM
Those are the greatest photos.  You are going to be extra happy to have them as time goes on, I think.  We have no pictures from Stephen's transplant, which I really regret now.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: rose1999 on March 05, 2009, 12:46:01 AM
 :yahoo; Welcome home Gail  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Joe Paul on March 05, 2009, 12:52:51 AM
So glad your new kidney is working well. I hope you have many good years to come with it  :thumbup;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Sluff on March 05, 2009, 06:23:17 AM
Yay! Glad you are home and things are going well.   :grouphug;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: paddbear0000 on March 05, 2009, 11:23:37 AM
Yay! Gail's back!   :bandance; :bandance; :bandance;

If you are a member of Facebook, Gail has even more photos posted there.

Here's the link to Karol's post. It's in the technical support thread - http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=12721.0
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Lucinda on March 05, 2009, 11:26:54 AM
Hey gorgeous....Welcome home.  I am so pleased to hear you are doing so well. xx
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: paris on March 05, 2009, 02:04:59 PM
Good to hear things went so well.   Living donors rock!
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: mikey07840 on March 06, 2009, 08:10:17 AM
Welcome home Gail. King Leon sends royal love in your direction.  :bow;  :waving;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Red from Canada on March 06, 2009, 08:46:20 AM
Welcome Home Gail and congratulations on a successful transplant!
 :flower;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: kitkatz on March 06, 2009, 05:11:04 PM
The IHD.com site needs some updating and the pics take up a lot of space on the site.  So for awhile no pic posting. The admins are working on it.

Kitkatz-Moderator


Good to see you home Monrein!

Kit


Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Normie on March 12, 2009, 08:10:44 PM
   :bandance;  Glad you are home Gail and everything went well for you and KD.   :bandance;

Normie
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: monrein on March 13, 2009, 12:00:32 PM
Things continue to go well for me and my creatinine is currently 90..,I think that's 1.0 in the U.S.  It was 71 at discharge but my tacrolimus level was a bit high and when they dropped my dose, the creatinine dropped too. They think that I may be particularly sensitive to the tac so we'll be monitoring thatvery closely.
Kathy left for home today and will return to work tomorrow.  She's feeling very well and insisted on visiting the museum yesterday afternoon for about three hours. 
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: monrein on March 13, 2009, 12:10:12 PM
Here are some transplant photos, starting with the evening of admission through to the day before my discharge.  Others are on my Caring Bridge and also on Facebook.  Thanks again for all your good wishes and support, they've helped us both to get through this.

1.  The evening before surgery.
2.  Pre-surgery.
3.  Kathy, pre-surgery.
4.  Kathy post-surgery.
5.  Gail post-surgery (8 kilos of extra fluid).
6.  Kathy and Gail 7 days post surgery.  (With Jill, the traveling chicken from Syd's classroom, affectionately known as The Chicken Lips Café.)
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Zach on March 13, 2009, 12:18:11 PM
Great photos!
The journey continues.

8)
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: willieandwinnie on March 13, 2009, 12:26:40 PM
 :clap; monrein. They are just great pictures. Thanks for sharing.  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: okarol on March 13, 2009, 01:34:23 PM
Thank you for posting the photos! I love to see them!  :yahoo;

Kathy wrote us such a nice note on Jenna's caringbridge. She sure is a special person - as I am sure you know!  :bow;

Best wishes to you both!  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Wattle on March 14, 2009, 01:18:29 AM
 :clap;  Wonderful photos
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Hilrose on March 15, 2009, 01:57:45 PM
Seeing the pix, brings me so much joy. I love them

Best wishes to both of you.

One Love
H :flower;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: monrein on March 15, 2009, 02:58:48 PM
Hey Hilrose, is your family originally from Jamaica by any chance?  I'm asking because of the "One Love".  I was born and grew up there and came here when I was 15.  I lived in Spanish Town and went to boarding school in Mandeville.

One Love back at ya. And I'd also add...Walk Good.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Hilrose on March 27, 2009, 02:07:39 PM
Hey, your right, my mums from JA and my dad's from St Kitts in the Caribbean.. It good to now that you were born there! I've been to JA 2 times only it's nice for holiday and reggae shows. My mums from St Elizabeth and my step dad is from St Catherine, which is near Spanish town.

Anyways' glad you doing well.

One Love
Hb
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: willieandwinnie on April 04, 2009, 08:16:48 AM
 :cuddle; Lee posted on Gails caring bridge site that she has been re-admitted to the hospital. Here's the post. Gail, I pray that they get things figured out soon.  :cuddle;

"Hi guys.You have to know that if I am doing the journal update it cant be good news.As Gail stated in her last update she was feeling great and looking forward to good weather so she could get outside.On thursday night Gail started to get pain on her right side .During the night it got worse and her temp went up.At 5am she got me to drive her to the emerg.She was admitted and during the day had a ultra sound and a cat scan done .Basically thry didnt show anything wrong.Her blood work is also good.Its as though we are in a House episode although the doctors do not appear to be strung out on anything.Gail is residing on the transplant floor and I know Dr Cole will not let her leave untill thay figure out what is going on.The good news continues to be how well her kidney function is.People often ask me how Im doing and how do I handle all this.I usually say that since I met Gail when she was 16 she has always had some health issues.With out exception she never complains or feels sorry for herself.I know I speak for a lot of people who know Gail personally when I say that it is easier to deal with ones minor  problems without complaint when Gail can handle her major ones with such stoicism and courage.I will of course be seeing Gail today and will update you all on the situation.Thanks for all the support ,it really does mean a lot.    Take care     Lee"

Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: kellyt on April 04, 2009, 09:15:28 AM
Unbelievable.  Gail, we're thinking about you girl!  Take care!    :cuddle;  :cuddle;  :cuddle;  :cuddle;  :cuddle;

Thank you Lee!
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: pelagia on April 04, 2009, 09:26:47 AM
I am saying a prayer that the docs find every single bit of knowledge they've ever had in their brains and put it together to figure out what the hell is going on. 

I am thinking of you Gail, and Lee too.  It's so frustrating.  I want to get on a plane and fly to Canada, and then what, I don't know, but it's so frustrating.  I bet everyone here feels the same. I am sending you all the healing energy I can muster.

xo Linda
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Jill D. on April 04, 2009, 11:24:07 AM
I pray that all goes well and they figure out what is causing the pain and fever. Sending a prayer for a layer of protection around her kidney!!!!  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: del on April 04, 2009, 03:35:27 PM
Sure hope the docs soon find what is causing the pain and the fever.  Take care.  :cuddle; :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Sunny on April 04, 2009, 05:24:15 PM
Praying for you Gail.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: paris on April 04, 2009, 05:31:25 PM
Saying lots of prayers for Gail.   And praying the doctors can figure this out soon.   :grouphug;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: charee on April 04, 2009, 11:48:16 PM
Thinking of you :grouphug;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: del on April 05, 2009, 05:40:11 PM
Here's the latest Lee posted on caring bridge.

Hi guys.I am happy to say Gail had a good day today.She did have a fever in the morning but seemed to get better as the day went on.Her white blood count went down and the pain in her old kidney dropped dramatically.I got to the hospital at 2pm and Gail was going for a stroll with her IV pole around the 7th floor.It would appear that the new antibiotic is making her feel much better.The big question is can the infection be cured and not require the old kidney to be removed.I hope to talk with the doctors tomorrow and get more info.At any rate things look better and Gails new kidney continues to perform very well.All in all I will take it.      Lee

Hi guys.I am happy to say Gail had a good day today.She did have a fever in the morning but seemed to get better as the day went on.Her white blood count went down and the pain in her old kidney dropped dramatically.I got to the hospital at 2pm and Gail was going for a stroll with her IV pole around the 7th floor.It would appear that the new antibiotic is making her feel much better.The big question is can the infection be cured and not require the old kidney to be removed.I hope to talk with the doctors tomorrow and get more info.At any rate things look better and Gails new kidney continues to perform very well.All in all I will take it.      Lee


Sure hope she gets it al sorted out soon.
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: del on April 05, 2009, 05:45:25 PM
Here's the other post that Lee had on caringbridge . 

Hi guys.I spent most of yesterday afternoon with Gail at the hospital.She was in not as much pain but her fever was still high.Also her white blood cells were higher.A sure sign of an infection.The doctors were in to see her and think that the problem is in her old transplanted kidney.That seems to be were the pain is.They put Gail on intervenous antibiotics and hope that will knock out the infection.The doctors feel this problem is not related to the previous infection as  it responded to treatment before Gails release last time.I asked them what they will do if the antibiotics dont work.They said they possibly could have to take the old kidney out.Wonderful!At any rate Gail is in the best possible place right now and her sister Trish is comming for a visit on wed which will cheer her up big time.Also opening day is on monday and I am going to the game.I know Gail could care less but Kathys kidney will be very interested in my detailed analysis.Talk to you soon .    Lee
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: pelagia on April 05, 2009, 06:17:37 PM
Hi Gail,  I hope you are seriously on the mend today.   :cuddle;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: kellyt on April 05, 2009, 06:23:45 PM
Wow.  I would have never have guessed it could be her old kidney.  That little booger!  I pray they don't need to do sugergy to remove said kidney, but if that is the path towards complete healing so be it.  We're with you, Gail, if only in spirit and prayer.

 :grouphug;
Title: Re: Home after transplant
Post by: Wattle on April 06, 2009, 12:36:15 AM
 :grouphug;  Thinking of you Gail