The little kidney that could

[coravh]

I haven't posted much the last year or so because I've had so many health problems I haven't been online much. Starting last September I kept having flu-like symptoms and ending up in hospital with vomiting and dehydration (6 hospitalizations between Sept and Feb). In October the resident in the ER tried to put in a femoral line because they couldn't get an iv in. He botched it and I ended up being rushed to the neighboring specialty hospital for emergency surgery on the femoral artery that he damaged. I ended up with a very large incision in my groin that ended up getting infected. I ended up with a vac dressing (vacuum pump dressing) for 4 months and home care 3 times a week changing the dressing. Very painful. In January, I was in for 2 weeks. It started with the vomiting, but ended up with pancreatitis in my transplanted pancreas. During that time they forgot to give me heparin and I ended up full of blood clots. So I am now a thrombosis patient on coumadin. In March I found a small black spot on my toe and after investigating they found I had a couple of blockages in my right leg. Pretty ironic as I never had circulatory problems when I had diabetes, but now that I don't, I have this. So in early July I had a femoral artery bypass surgery. I've had 2 angiograms during all this time too and believe it or not, not even a blip in my kidney function. Right now I am waiting and hoping for the toe to heal. I may still  lose it (the big right toe) but I'm hoping that it will heal. I have always healed well, even when immunosuppressed.

Amazingly enough through all this, both my transplants have been stable like a rock. My kidney function is still at the same baseline I've had for the last 5 years and a glucose tolerance test showed that my new pancreas is working perfectly. I've had a rough year, but I"m one lucky chick when it comes to the health of my transplants and I'm pretty grateful.

Cora

[Rerun]

Sounds like they were ALL unsuccessful in KILLING you.  We have the best health care in the world???  Really??? 

I just cannot believe all you have been through.  I hope you have a clean slate the rest of the year.

Yeah!  For your transplants.  They did something right!   

[okarol]

I am glad to "see" you and really sad you've been through so much!
Best wishes for healing - congrats on the tough organs - I am very glad that's going well! 

[jbeany]

Gotta love when they just keep chugging along like nothing is going wrong with the rest of you, don't you?  Mine are tough like that, too, and thank heavens!

Hope you clear this mud hole soon!