With love and gratitude

[Sunny]

Paris,I am so happy for you and your new kidney.Make sure you get lots of rest.

[kristina]

 
I do hope, things go well for you in the future.
Just imagine, I did not even know you had a transplant!
Best wishes from Kristina 

[paris]

Things continue to stay on an even keel.  Clinic is this week and I hope they take the rest of the staples out.   I don't especially like getting up early, but I do like going to clinic so they can assure me that everything is going well.   I think my husband is a little concerned because he thinks I am too tired and not doing enough.  He doesn't say it in those words,  but he mentions how much I am sleeping a lot.  I remind him that I am many years older than I was when this all started and I am not going to go back to where I was then.  I'm older and earned some rest!   I am going to continue to listen to my body and do things when I feel like it and rest or nap when the body says to stop.   How were some of you  doing at 5 weeks post?

Fourteen of the family members are all at Disney World on our wonderful family vacation that we had planned for the past year.  They are having a great time. Sunday was the "Not So Scary Halloween Party"  at the Magic Kingdom  and all their costumes looked great.  They are having a magical time!!    ( I miss them!)

[Bill Peckham]

Things continue to stay on an even keel.  Clinic is this week and I hope they take the rest of the staples out.   I don't especially like getting up early, but I do like going to clinic so they can assure me that everything is going well.   I think my husband is a little concerned because he thinks I am too tired and not doing enough.  He doesn't say it in those words,  but he mentions how much I am sleeping a lot.  I remind him that I am many years older than I was when this all started and I am not going to go back to where I was then.  I'm older and earned some rest!   I am going to continue to listen to my body and do things when I feel like it and rest or nap when the body says to stop.   How were some of you  doing at 5 weeks post?

Fourteen of the family members are all at Disney World on our wonderful family vacation that we had planned for the past year.  They are having a great time. Sunday was the "Not So Scary Halloween Party"  at the Magic Kingdom  and all their costumes looked great.  They are having a magical time!!    ( I miss them!)

There will be plenty of vacation in the future. (the photos on FB looked like a great party)

It takes a concerted effort to get back to yourself after a period of bed rest. I think I have heard a week for each day in bed so you'll have some work to get back to where you were.

[murphy]

Paris I was about like you at about 5 weeks  I started baking something every day.  Something I could sit dawn and rest when i needed to.  I gave away so much food,  some to neighbors and I took some to the food pantry, and the hospice house for visitors  I even got out my old bread machine and made lots of different kinds.  It was great therapy for me.  I felt like I was being useful again.

[Beth36]

Both my mom and my sister needed regular naps post transplant (and sister's donation to mom), so I think you are doing GREAT! You had major surgery and need to give your body time to heal. You need your rest. Your energy will come back soon enough. Just concentrate on you and getting you to feel more like yourself. My mom was so happy to hear you got a transplant. I've told her about your PRA. She said you give all high PRA people hope! 

Beth

[jbeany]

With a hemoglobin of 10, you would nap anyhow.  Add in transplant surgery, new meds to adjust to, etc....it's going to take a while to get up to speed! 

I'm glad they don't make you get rid of kitties, too.  Although I do sometimes wonder what my neighbors must think I'm doing when I take the used litter to the dumpster - dressed in gloves and a face mask! 

Disney will be even better next year when you have energy to (almost!) keep up with the kiddies!

 

[thegrammalady]

   good to hear things are going so well

[Chris]

Hopping things continue to improve Paris. I'm not a morning person either unless I didn't sleep.
Disiney won't go anywhere, hurricanes haven't moved it yet so it will be there nextyear or when you plan next family vacation.

[paris]

Clinic day.  Everything is going just the way it should       I got to talk to another patient who got her kidney a week before me and it helped to hear how she felt, energy, appetite, etc.   I feel like I am on track.  It is reassuring to have them tell me things look good.  Although, my husband is still concerned about my level of activity. He said today he worried my brain wasn't being "worked" enough.  LOL    Bless his heart!   

Last night, the gang was at Whispering Canyon's for dinner at D W.  They all were wearing buttons that said "we are celebrating our Mom's (Nana's, mother-in-laws, etc) new kidney.  The waiter wanted to know about the buttons. Beth called me during dinner and suddenly, the waiter was on the phone!  He asked for everyone's attention in the restaurant and proceeded to tell them that my family was there, but I couldn't be because I just got a new kidney.  He asked everyone there to wish me well and good luck!  So the whole restaurant is yelling good wishes to me!! Made me teary.  Then he got back on the phone and said he would be waiting for me when I could come.  Wasn't that special?  Then I talked to 4 of the grandkids. Eliza(10) lost it. She was sobbing and telling me how much she misses me.  My son, Todd, said she was having a hard time without me and just wanted me there.  Now that really made be teary!!     But, I know how fortunate I am and how much they all love me.    My cup runneth over.   

[okarol]

Made me teary too!
I know you have many more wonderful times ahead of you!
 

[Sluff]

Thanks for sharing the wealth!   

[paris]

Co-ordinator just called.   They think I have a UTI, but I have no symptoms.  They are going to grow the culture over the weekend and get a definate answer.  But, you all know the routine, if I run a fever or have pain, call immediately.   I think it is fine  (thinking positively).  Now I am going to go drink a ton of water.   

[Zach]

Paris, try some cranberry juice, too!
 

[paris]

Good idea Zach      I had forgotten about cranberry juice!

[paris]

Long day at the transplant clinic tomorrow.  1st appointment is at and 9 second at 3.  Finally get all the staples out!   My surgeon leaves them in longer than any of the others.  I wondered why. He uses a higher cauterization during surgery, so it takes a little longer for the incision to heal. Not my skin!  It heals very quick and grows over the staples.  Fun.

Then I go to have the stent removed in the afternoon.   Bassman, I am thinking of you!  Think some good thoughts for me--- a camera and 5 inches!!!!        This is the only thing in the whole transplant process that I am not looking forward to!  But, it will be over
tomorrow   

Overall, things are great.  Still need the creatinine to go down  *crossing fingers*.  Patience.  That is what kidney disease has taught me - patience.       I have not felt like taking a nap for 5 days now!  Muscle strength needs work and stamina, but I'm doing more now and feel good about it.  Week by week, I see a difference.   

[kellyt]

REMEMBER, if they say you can watch on the screen DO NOT look until the camera is in!  Learn from my  mistake...

[okarol]

 

[BASSMAN]

It's really not that bad,  I didn't mean to frighten you.  I watched the whole thing on the monitor.  Kind of cool really everything was nice and pink on the inside.

Take slow deep breaths as they guide the scope in and it is a lot easier.  Let us know how it goes!

[paris]

Thanks Kelly, Okarol, and Bassman!  The funny thing is, I never look too far ahead or worry before hand.  And I tolerate pain very well. (I think it is pointless to scream and cry).  But this just kind of creeps me out!   5 inches of anything inside of me that shouldn't be there is a little gross.    I didn't flinch at the biopsy and I love watching them do sonograms or echocardiograms.  So maybe the monitor will keep me very entertained!!!  Or I will go to my happy place and swim with the sea turtles!  (Like Kelly and her dolphins!)     Note to self, do not look until the camera is in!!!! 

I'll tell you all about it tomorrow night!   

[paris]

All foreign objects are gone from my body!!  I had such a great doctor doing the stent removal.  I told her I needed to know everything that was going on, so she was great at explaining what was going to happen.   I loved watching the monitor.  They showed me where the native kidneys were attached to the bladder and then up at the top, where the new kidney is attached.  Fascinating! And to see that pretty pink kidney was amazing.   Bassman, you would have been proud of me!  One of the easiest procedures I have had.   

Best news of the day-----creatinine is 1.8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Sean the kidney is still waking up and doing good.  It hasn't been that low in years.  They added magnesium to my pill intake.  3 times a day.  That may explain muscle weakness.   Anyone else take magnesium?  I would like to know more about it. 

Good day, good labs.  Who could ask for more?

[okarol]

  Yay for that FABULOUS number paris!!!

[kellyt]

Great creatinine level, Paris!  I'm super duper happy for you and Sean!!!    I didn't have to take magnesium.  What are you taking it for?

[natnnnat]

I think Gregory takes magnesium Paris... I must ask him why tonight.  Will report back.

[natnnnat]

Paris, I checked with Gregory about taking magnesium.  He does take it , but it wasn't prescribed by his kidney doctor.  He was seeing a psychologist for a little while, who suggested he take magnesium,  B complex and Zinc, for depression.  He did so, stopped seeing the psych, and appears happy with that.  And his skin seemed to be clearer too.