I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: okarol on January 13, 2010, 06:58:30 PM
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:cheer: I just spoke with Joe Paul and he was calling from his hospital room in Pennsylvania! He had just made a bid on a house last Friday and found out their offer was accepted. Not 45 minutes later he got a call that there was a kidney for him. He said he sped like crazy, in the snow, to get to the hospital. His surgery went well and the kidney functioned right away. He said he felt good immediately.
Joe had originally hoped to get a kidney/pancreas but was not about to turn down the kidney offered. He's been on dialysis since 2006.
One set back was when he was on morphine, but was feeling bad chest pain, and the nurse was ignoring his complaints, thinking he was hallucinating due to the drugs. She kept telling him it was probably just gas, but Joe Paul told her it felt like a heart attack (even though he had never had one.) Luckily one of the doctors stopped by and suddenly he was whisked down stairs. Yes, he was right, he had a heart attack. Thank God they were able to stabilize him and signs are good that he will be fine.
I am so happy for JP! I have missed him since he's posted last. You may recall he lost his best buddy, his pup Bucky. He had a tough time with the loss and has since gotten a new dog. It's been an up and down year, so hopefully this a sign of more good things to come!
Love you Joe! I hope your recovery is fast and you can come on the forum again!
:yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; YAHOOOO!
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:cheer: Sounds like he was on a roll.... he should have stopped and bought a lottery ticket on the way to the hospital!
Best of luck JP.
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Great news! :flower; :cheer: :flower; :cheer:
Glad that he was able to get help for the heart attack.
Love these transplant stories!
:bandance; :bandance; :bandance;
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So happy for you Joe Paul and wishing you a smooth recovery on all fronts. Shame about the heart attack but glad that doctor stopped by. Looking forward to the updates as they come in. :yahoo;
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That's surprisingly good news for JP. Mis the fuun late night chats with him and Wenchie :rofl;
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:yahoo; :yahoo; Great news
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:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
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:yahoo; I'm sooo happy for you Joe!! Best Wishes for a smooth recovery!! :yahoo;
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Congratulations Joe Paul. I wondered where you were. Pray everything goes smoothly and your recpvery is swift.
Love, Mimi
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This is terrific news!!! As I have said, I stopped posting when my
Mom passed away, right after we moved into our new house.
When I started going back on the boards, just to read and see how
everyone was, I noticed I did not see any posts from Joe - I did not
even know he had lost bucky, - ( so sorry about that)
Congrats on the kidney, JP - sending you wonderful thoughts and
prayers from NJ! :pray; :bestwishes;
Anne and Les
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This is such wonderful news... I have been really concerned about him due to his not posting through any of the football season as he usually does. What wonderful news and so happy that a doctor happened to listen to him when he was telling them he didn't feel right. He just seems to be suh a kind and thoughtful human being, good luck and take care of that new gift you have and with the new home. Love and prayers are with you and your family. :yahoo; :yahoo;
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Oh my!!! I am sitting here in tears! Tears of joy. How exciting for our dear Joe Paul. I have been missing him so much. Thanks Okarol for letting us know. This is the best news I have had this year---we needed to hear that there are good things happening. Yea Joe Paul---sending you lots of love, hugs healing wishes :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle;
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Congratulations to you, Joe Paul! :cheer: :flower; :cheer:
What a an amazing day for you. I hope you come back to the forum and tell us all about the experience.
Best wishes for a quick recovery. :bestwishes;
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Another great read.
I am glad a doctor stopped by, that nurse needs a good talking to .
But congrats on the new Kidney, wishing you a fast and speedy recovery.
Also Great news on your new home. :thumbup;
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JP!!!!! So so so so so excited for you ! I needed this news today ! Get all better ASAP!!! :guitar:
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Wonderful news! Congratulations Joe Paul! I'm so happy for you!!! :cheer: :clap;
And, yes, that nurse needs a swift kick in the a$$.
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This is wonderful- I wish him a speedy recovery!! I miss his posting too- maybe he will come back and tell us how he is doing? Thanks Okarol!
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:bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; JP I'm soooooooo happy for u.....xoxoxox
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:beer1; :yahoo; :bandance; :bandance; :bandance; :beer1;
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I heard from Joe. If all goes well he should be able to go home tomorrow. :2thumbsup;
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WOW!! Another IHD kidney!! that is SO fantastic!!!!!
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yea paul, way to go. congrats and all the best to you.
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Awesome news JoePaul. I was thrilled to hear this earlier. Was having a lousy day until I got that call. :2thumbsup;
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Good News JP get's to go home tomorrow :bandance; :2thumbsup;
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Hello everyone, and thank you all for the warm wishes and welcome back. I got home yesterday, Friday, Jan 15th. Karol told my story, exactly as it happened, except for that I had taken my Wife Shirley to lunch to her favorite resteraunt, (Chinese for orange chicken) to butter her up as I had made arrangements to go and pick up another puppy. I went behind her back ,and, against her wishes, and purchased a Pomeranian - Chihuahua mix, who just happens to look like my buddy Bucky. We had gotten to the place around 11 am, and since they just opened, had to wait on the food. About 11:25, my Daughter Tiffany came running out of the restaurant, with her moms phone, telling me my transplant coordinator Barb was on the phone. When I answered the call, she said Joe, I have a kidney for you, we did the blood testing and its a 6 of 6 antigen match. Thats the best match you can get, in-case you didn't know.
Good old Pennsylvania weather, snowing like the dickens, we stopped by picked up Tiffany's BFF Melissa, come home, got my transplant call bag, and left for Pittsburgh, a 42 mile trip. Karol told you the rest, and thats history now my friends. The kidney the woman told me, was from a 5 year old boy, who had lost his life in a sledding accident. I made the trip with a flood of emotions, Joy for myself, grief for the boy who died to give me life. Unknown who the family is, please pray for them for comfort, and, peace knowing their son didn't die in vain, that his death helps others to live. And give thanks to the parents for the wonderful gifts of life, ask God to bless them all. Thanks Karol for posting for me, I love you and all my family here at I.H.D.
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Hi Joe Paul! This is the best news and I am thrilled for you and your family. All that time waiting and then, with one phone call, life changes. I have missed you here (you always had my back!) and it is so good to see your posting. Keep recovering and resting. I will be saying lots of prayers of thanks and prayers for quick healing. Sending you lots of love and gentle hugs :cuddle; :cuddle; :2thumbsup;
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I can't stop going between giggles and tears over this news! I am SOOOOOO happy for you! You gotta quit with the puppy sneaking stuff!! It'ss not like she won't notice once you get them home!! I bet Saint Shirley is waiting for you to feel well enough for a trip down the stairs (inside joke folks). God bless ya JP....I couldnt be happier!! Here's to feeling 100% very soon!! Love ya!
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Same here, Wenchie. I was smiling and crying at the same time. God Bless the 5-year-old and the family. And God Bless you, JP!!! Yahoo!!!
Did you get the meds worked out? What did your clinic say last night when you called?
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Same here, Wenchie. I was smiling and crying at the same time. God Bless the 5-year-old and the family. And God Bless you, JP!!! Yahoo!!!
Did you get the meds worked out? What did your clinic say last night when you called?
We used some of my old meds to cover till this morning, the coordinator called the transplant center to verify missing pills, then called my pharmacy and ordered them for me, all is well today. I'm having bouts with nausea this afternoon, so again I called the transplant center and they ordered pills for that. As I said, all is working out now, its just a matter of time till the kidney kicks in fully, then, LOOK OUT WORLD!!! love you all, Joe
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Fantastic news. :clap; :clap; :yahoo; Hope all continues to go well for him.
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Hey JP,
Glad your home and have a new puppy also. I take it that's what is in the pictures? I can't tell except for the last one maybe showing fur.
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Chris, the pictures are 1- the fluid bag from my cath. 2. my first pee after the cath comes out.3 is me
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Chris, the pictures are 1- the fluid bag from my cath. 2. my first pee after the cath comes out.3 is me
Well I was way off then wasn't I.
Those drains are a nuisance aren't they? I had two.
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OMG Congrats JP i just found this thread I'm so happy for you :grouphug;
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Joe, I am so excited for you. The weather has been so crappy until a day or two ago. As the little kidney grows, amazing things happen. Your story makes me want to cry, it is so similiar to mine. Best wishes and I hope we can get together sometime. Of course in Pennsylvania the snow might not melt until June. Enjoy the puppy, the new house and your gift.
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How wonderful for you Joe Paul. A new house, a new kidney and a new dog, and its only mid-January. Would have enjoyed chatting with you tonight, but I guess you had fallen asleep at the keyboard. Congrats and Best Wishes, on everything!!!! :thumbup;
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hey Joe have they (transplant folks) said anything regarding the new puppy? We all know new pets post transplant can be an issue in some situations.
Just curious more than anything :)
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hey Joe have they (transplant folks) said anything regarding the new puppy? We all know new pets post transplant can be an issue in some situations.
Just curious more than anything :)
Their main concern was if I had any cats at home, I told them no, because of Wife and Tiffany's allergy's, we do not own any cats, just a long hair Chihuahua puppy. They didn't say anything either way, so I am assuming all is well. Good question Richard :thumbup;
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uh oh.. I have a cat at home :(
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Congratulations. What a wonderful story on how you got your transplant. I'm glad to know you are doing well now.
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Congratulations. What a wonderful story on how you got your transplant. I'm glad to know you are doing well now.
Thanks Sunny!
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uh oh.. I have a cat at home :(
RM, you don't need to worry, you just have to take extra precautions when changing litter box and after she uses it. You may want help for the first few weeeks post, but after just wear gloves, eye protection and a mask. Then clean up and change clothes afterwards when cleaning her box. You'll be fine when you get yours.
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Well folks, another unfortunate update. Last Tuesday, I started having severe pains above, and to my right of the belly button. At discharge, I was instructed, by my transplant co coordinator, to call her with any problems I my have, and get instruction from her, on what to do next. I started making calls to her office around 8 am Wed. morning, with no return calls all day. My Wife Shirley finally took over, and called the manager of the coordinator and requested that she get Emily, my coordinator, to call immediately if not before hand, that we had an emergency and needed attention. She called back about 4 O'Clock Wed evening, and I was then told to go directly to the ER. I go to the ER, tell them my pain problem, and was sent directly to the ct scan, to have a scan done on my lower belly. When they got the results, I was immediately admitted again, problem was with my gull bladder. I was sent up to my room, where within 15 minutes, was on my way down for an immediate operation on removing my gull bladder. I woke up around 2 am, and about 20 minutes later, met my surgeon who told me the bladder was totally in-cased in some sort of bubble, and was totally gangrened, and that if it had burst, I probably would not have survived the operation, but thanks to the surgeon, and my guardian angel, I am here to tell you all about my never boring life. Thanks for looking, Joe P.S. They couldnt do laparoscopic surgey do to the size and condition of the gull bladder, so I now have another 9 inch scar with 30 staples.
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Ohm my gosh! How scary. I am so glad they caught this in time. Good thing your wife was persistent, Huh?
Keep getting better!
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I second that, Joe. Thank God for your wife and her persistence. I hope you heal easily quickly!
(Cute puppy!)
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Sorry to ear JP, glad you made it through. :beer1;
I guess one thing to learn from this is if no one calls back, go directly to the ER
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Glad you/they caught it. I hope you're back on the road to recovery. :cuddle;
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Thank goodness you're OK!
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I am so relieved you got through the surgery ok! Please heal up and get better!!
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I find it amazing that the transplant co-ordinator wouldn't call back in minutes or a couple of hours to someone who had only had their transplant less than a month ago! Yikes. Of course maybe they were away or something, but you'd think that her messages or whatever would be monitored. Good on your wife for calling her boss and getting things going along. I think this is a reminder to us that if you call and they don't get back to you in a timely manner - go higher!
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Wow - just saw this post. First of all, congrats on the new kidney! Sorry to hear about the heart attack and the gall bladder >:( but thank goodness for your guardian angel! I hope you have a uncomplicated recovery from this point on!
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Aw JP, so glad you're OK. Keep that wife Shirley, will ya. A second operation and mystery pain post-transplant is just not called for. Let the healing begin.
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Wow I'm just hearing this now. YEY! Im so happy for you. And yes very glad everything is going alright :grouphug;
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good to hear that you are ok...... sounds scary...... wish you the best..... :yahoo;
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It pays to be persistent when there is something that isn't right. That's why I post sometimes when a person is complaining of their Dr. etc. not listening to them...either go to the ER or go to the transplant center ER..your better off going to your transplant center first...but sometimes the center is hours away.
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Reminds me that days after my transplant I had started telling my team about the "fullness" in my stomach. I was blown off each and every time. I would tell them that even if I ate 1/2 a sandwhich I was horribly and uncomfortably full. Still...nothing.
I wasn't until my creatinine started creeping up in April (five months post transplant) and my BP was continuouslyhigh that they finally did some tests and found the lymphocele. Why or why don't they listen to the one with the problem???? :banghead;
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I really wonder about the follow up care of these transplant teams sometimes.
I am very glad to know things worked out for you. It pays to have a tenacious spouse. Get well.
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You are one tough cookie. I hope you feel better soon.
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We don't call her Saint Shirley for nuttin!! Stop it JP...enough hospital stays already! Take some tme to heal. Bet with that yukky gall bladder out of you healaing will go much faster!!
Love ya!!
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Believe me, Ive seen the floors of the Hospital way to much for I while ( I hope).
Today I had my staples out of the Kidney incision, and they also removed my stint. The 2nd was no fun at all. They told me (jokingly of course ) Man up, 80 year old woman take this in stride. I thought to myself, thet they probably were thrilled, its been probably at-least 40 years since anything went there hehehehehehe. I know I have a sick mind, it ran in the family hahaha. Anyways, my creatine has been a consistant 1.4 since my second blood test. Pee out- put is far more then they expected because of the "damage" from the heart attack. All other tests look well, other than both my phosphorus level is low, along with the magnesium level, so I am now on supplements to bring that in-line. Blood testing now went from 3 times a week to 2, and they cut my celcept, and lowered the prograf from 3 mg, to 2 - 2 times a day. They are very satisfied with the recovery of the kidney, and say things could not be better at this point in time :yahoo; :2thumbsup; I will update as I get updated, keep praying for me folks, its working!!!
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Whew - all sounds good.
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It's so nice to read this type of update JP. Keep it going!
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That's good news on levels JP. probably would have thought the same thing you did about that comment on stent removal. That was not fun! Also, if that 80 yr old can take it, how many times is she getting it done also or maybe it's because the nerves don't work as they use to :urcrazy; Next time if a nurse say's that, ask them to get a stent and tell me how you feel. >:D
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I continue too feel better day by day. My dear Wife has got the house almost ready to move into. She has washed every wall, scrubbed every carpet, swept up that entire house, just so I wont get sick from any remains of the previous owners cats. Thats a big job, because remember this is a big old Victorian style house *HUGE*. The kidney seems to be working well, on average producing nearly 2800 cc of urine per day.
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:clap; :2thumbsup;
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Update: The transplant team is very happy with my new kidney. In the post transplant coordinators words, she says " the kidney is functioning better then a person who has never had a kidney problem". All levels in the blood are great, creatine is at 1.1. I am feeling stronger day by day and my next appt., I should be OK to start doing more physical things, so far as lifting, etc. I cant wait to be able to start building back the muscle that dialysis stole from me, right now I'm pretty much skin and bone. Well, thats about it for now, will update when I get updates. Thanks for looking, Joe.
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Great news Joe Paul. The muscle wasting on D is amazing but at least now you can eat healthier stuff than the renal diet and have more energy for exercise. Keep it going JP and enjoy your new kidney as much as I'm loving mine. :flower;
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:beer1;
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Joe-Paul, I have not been on this site much in the last months, and it has been a real pleasure reading about your transplant adventure. I am so happy for you. I had to go through it all with you today in one shot!! :cuddle;
My caring thoughts and prayers are with you all the way.
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:bandance; Hope you're pumping iron soon!
Best wishes - so happy your kidney is doing well! :clap;
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Hurray, JP!
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JP that's the best sort of news to read. So very happy for you. May all folks that get transplants do as well as you!!
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I am so happy for you. You are doing so well.
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That's good news JP
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:cheer: Woohoo JP! That is wonderful news. :cheer: :cheer:
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JP, I am so very glad to hear that everything is going so well for you. How is the new house, where is it, was it difficult to move this time of year with all of this snow that we have had. Stay cool and take very good care of yourself..... hey how is the new little pup coming along?
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JP, I am so very glad to hear that everything is going so well for you. How is the new house, where is it, was it difficult to move this time of year with all of this snow that we have had. Stay cool and take very good care of yourself..... hey how is the new little pup coming along?
Our new home is right across the street from where we used to live. We are still in the process of moving, because of me getting my kidney (not allowed to lift over 5 pounds) and my Wife Shirley fell a couple weeks ago and sprained her left ankle and knee - needless to say, but she cant carry much at all. Looks like she will have to have her knee replaced, it was damaged before the fall, but now her Doctor says as soon as the sprain is healed, she needs to have it done for sure now. Thank the good Lord our old Landlord will let us keep that apartment for this whole month. By the middle of this month, I should be good to go, and with friends help, get the rest of what we have there, moved. The pup is 6 months old now and he just loves our new home, there are 3 floors, and he just loves the steps. He is learning very quickly, but I hate to say, is very aggressive toward strangers. I'm not sure what to do about that part, other than to try and find a muzzle small enough so that he doesn't bite anyone.
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UPDATE: I woke last night in terrible pain, coming from the new kidney area. When I got up to go to the bathroom, I peed in my jug (have to measure intake and output ) for daily records, It really hurt for a second or two, then I heard 2 "clicks". I looked in the bottom of the jug, and there sat 2 b b sized stones. Later in the night, got up to go again, and same thing, only this time there was 4 stones. After that, I called my post transplant coordinator, and she told me to go directly to the emergency room, which we did. I took the stones along in a jar, and the Doctor confirmed that they were indeed kidney stones. They did a catscan, and found that all the stones were gone, and that the pain should ease in a day or two. I'm not sure why the new kidney was producing stones, neither is the transplant team. They did say that the stones might have been in my bladder, from when my own kidneys were working. They did a bunch of bloodwork, just to be sure the kidney is OK, which it is, all bloodwork looks great. Creatine is at 1.2, and red and white blood counts are excellent. I hope the stones were a fluke, as thats the most pain I have been in since my gall bladder died a week and a half after my transplant. If I find anymore out about this, I will post again. Thanks for looking, Joe
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:o OMG Joe! I have heard that passing kidney stones is almost worse pain than giving birth (which they do an epidural for, thank God!) I hope that's the end of it, BB sized stones are huge! Poor guy! Are they having you take calcium daily? Jenna is, and I wonder if that can contribute...? xoxoxo :-* Take care.
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Dearest JP....I told ya Sunshine....gettin tossed down those steps would cause the rocks in your head to come loose! :rofl;
Now stop it with all these weird things.....GET WELL! :)
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Now stop it with all these weird things.....GET WELL! :)
Yeah JP stop it with all the weird things!
Who would have thought kidney stones! Ouch!! Thank goodness they are all out. Keep drinking and get well.
:grouphug; :grouphug; :grouphug;
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Joe Paul !!
Its been quite a long while since I last posted......What a great surprise to read about your journey!!!
......and passing stones?? what a stud...
Congrats on the new Bean!
love,
kelli :)
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......and passing stones?? what a stud...
:rofl; :rofl; :rofl;
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Whew! Glad those are gone JP. :beer1;
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WOW good to see you Kelli. Oh yeah, I resemble that ;)
Might as well update here. Hi everyone !! things are going great, getting better everyday. I just had a fight with a cold, I kicked that like a STUD should lol. We are still moving things as we can, little by little. I go Saint Patty's day to find out if I'm STUD enough to be released to work, here at our home. I have been kicking around the idea of maybe getting back into auto repair, as there are a few young men round here that need some sort of future, ill train them. It wouldn't be without some sort of cost to train, but I paid for my knowledge with blood. I am thankful to God everyday I wake now, and know if you ask,have faith, you will be blessed. Remember, I got this home, and my kidney all in the same day.
Anyways, I helped to dig up and move 16 very heavy patio stone, they were bought as a gift, and I cherish what I'm given, so now they are home. Please excuse my reference to STUD, but I found that very funny as after the years of dialysis, I got to get back to what was, body wise. TTYL, love life, Joe.
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Thanks for the update Joe Paul. It's great to hear how you're doing and the feeling of getting one's life back really is second to none. :flower;
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Thanks for the reply Monrein. Another short update ~ Kidney is doing very well, creatine was 1.0, docs had to adjust meds, but otherwise im doing good. June is when I will be able to do heavier lifting, been breaking myself in slowly. Took 4 years, im sure itll take time to get back to full power. Still lovin life again, ttyl - Joe
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:bandance; Glad you are doing well. Enjoy the awesome weather.
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:2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup;
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Today, my kidney turns 1 year. All is going great so far, still feeling good :thumbup;
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Totally awesome!!!
:2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup;
:yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo;
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:bandance; That's great Joe! Best wishes on your kidneyversary! :clap;
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Congratulations!!! :bestwishes; :clap; :clap;
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Congratulations JP :clap;
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1 year and counting woo hoo :yahoo; :2thumbsup;
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That's great Joe.