Another Phone Call

[paris]

How was your day, Katie?  What did your loving friends bring for dinner?  And how is your son dealing with everything?    I think about you all day and hope you know how much we all care.

[KT0930]

Tonight was semi-homemade Chinese. Not even very salty, so that was great!

We made it to clinic with no problems. The sleet had changed to rain sometime overnight, so the roads were just wet by the time we left the house. Clinic went well. I had labs drawn on Tuesday, and my creatnine was .9!!! The lowest it has ever been in my life was 1.2, I believe. Just incredible! They've lowered my dose of cell-cept to try and help with the diarrhea, and I start that lower dose tonight, so we'll see how it goes. I left the hospital on a twice daily schedule of K Phos because my potassium and phosphorous were so low. Well today, the quadrupled my dosage, because my phos was .7. That's after having 2 diet cokes, pizza, some kind of chocolate, cheese and nuts everyday! I know, y'all hate me right now. I think part of it is my appetite is so small that I'm just not getting a great amount of anything.

The swelling in my tummy is way down, and I've lost about 5 pounds since Sunday. When I got the transplant, I constantly had a big belly from PD fluid, and with that gone and the swelling gone, I almost have a shape again (other than round, that is!) Give me a few months of being able to exercise, and maybe I'll be able to fit in my skinny jeans again.

Wattle, snow in Georgia depends on where you are. If you look at a map of the US, we're the state just north of Florida, which is where most people go for "escape the winter" vacations. However, our landscape varies from swamps to mountains. The mountains just north of where I live normally get a few (1-3) inches of snow year, and my parents, who live about an hour north of us, normally get snowed in about once a year. However, we're still in the foothills where we live, and only get measurable snowfall about every 5-10 years. Everything comes to a standstill, because no one knows how to deal with it.

Livecam, I switched to the cycler in May or June, I believe, so I had stopped doing exchanges at work then, but several times had to call in late because of alarms overnight, so my treatment ran late, and that made me late for work. I know my boss will appreciate not getting those calls anymore!

[KT0930]

I just thought of something that came up at clinic today and was curious what others would say. Of course, they always ask you what's the date of your transplant? Well, my surgery began on January 9 at 9:00 pm and finished on January 10 at 1:00 am. Which day did I actually receive the transplant? I'm voting for the 9th, and the doctor seemed to go for that, but I'm curious what you all would say?

[Chicken Little]

I say the 9th too.  I'm glad you're doing better.  I gave away all my skinny jeans.  I couldn't bear to look at the clothes I couldn't wear anymore.  Even though I'm dry during the day, my body has changed so much with PD.

After I get my call, I can't wait to go shoppin.   

[okarol]

I just thought of something that came up at clinic today and was curious what others would say. Of course, they always ask you what's the date of your transplant? Well, my surgery began on January 9 at 9:00 pm and finished on January 10 at 1:00 am. Which day did I actually receive the transplant? I'm voting for the 9th, and the doctor seemed to go for that, but I'm curious what you all would say?

Yes i say the 9th - because you were already in surgery and the kidney was already promised to you.

[KT0930]

I had to spend a couple of hours last night in the ER. Nothing serious. I noticed Thursday evening that two of my staples looked like they weren't quite holding on one side, and my husband confirmed that for me Friday morning. I called the transplant team, and they said to put steri-strips on it, and if it started to weep, be red, I got a fever or any of that, to come see them or go to the ER if it was after hours. Of course it started to weep at about 5:45 on Friday night. Grrr!

We got there, and my husband and I both had masks on, and told the girl at check-in that I was immuno-suppressed and please get us in as soon as possible. She said, "well, just tell the nurse when you get called back. Go wait in the waiting room." We chose to stand in the hall instead, and a minute later, a nurse walks by and tells us to wait in the waiting room. My husband explained the situation, and less than five minutes later, the nurse had us in triage and as soon as we were done there, she got us a room. Whew!

The doctor tried steri-strips, but just like the ones I tried, it just didn't work, so he ended up taking out the two staples that weren't working and replacing them with three. I'm a little sore today, but not really enough for a tylenol, even. Just moving a little slower than I was a couple of days ago. We were in and out of the ER in about 4.5 hours...a new record for a Friday night in downtown Atlanta, I believe!

This brought up a conversation on the way home, and my husband thought I should ask you all. Every transplant I've had, they use staples rather than stitches, but every other surgery seems to have been stitches. Is there just less risk of infection with staples due to them being less porous than the material used for stitches? It seems to us that stitches would hold more securely than staples. Any thoughts or knowledge on this?

[Romona]

You have had quite an adventure Katie. I am surprised you were told to wait in the waiting room. My experiences with ER for myself and when I have taken kids has been wonderful. I am put in a separate area and assessed right away. Even for my kids they move to the front of the line and they try to get us out ASAP. Especially since your transplant was so recent.

[paris]

Katie, glad your home and healing.  Rest today!   I have always had staples for surgeries.  It seems like if the scar doesn't show, they just staple.  Must be easier for them!   Hope your weekend is very uneventfull    

[Amanda From OZ]

Glad to see all is good katie. 

They used staples on all the transplant patients at RPA.

Keep up the good recovery.

Amanda 

xxoo

[KT0930]

My creatnine was down to .7 yesterday, and I got asked AGAIN if I knew what a good match I got. I'm beginning to understand! My cellcept is down to 500 mg 2x/day, prednisone is down to 10 mg/day, and prograf is holding steady at 4 mg 2x/day.

[okarol]

  Yay!

[MyssAnne]

Yay!!!

[2_DallasCowboys]

So happy for ya, Katie!!!!!

Keep up the good work, girl!

Anne

[Wattle]

   Woohoo Katie   

[tamara]

Good on ya Katie     

[Bajanne]

My %^&**()_ computer!!
I am so ashamed at all that has happened without my knowing.  I had to read the entire thread one time.  But it is such great news!    Seems that match was worth waiting for!
Told you guys January was a special month!!  Last year January was a good month for transplants too.
I am very pleased at how things are going for you, Katie.  Keep on keeping on, girlfriend!  You have a whole international family there rooting for you!
 

[KT0930]

My creatnine yesterday was 0.6! My coordinator's exact words were, "Wow, I didn't know it could get that low!" 

[kellyt]

 

[xtrememoosetrax]

Wow. That's just beautiful.

[oswald]

thats absolutely great kt.  i didn't know it could get that low either.   

[Sunny]

   Fantastic! You sound like you are doing so well. I am so happy for your good results.

[Mimi]

AWESOME!!!!!
Blessings to U.

Love, MIMI

[Wattle]

My creatnine yesterday was 0.6! My coordinator's exact words were, "Wow, I didn't know it could get that low!" 

   O.K Perfect pee..er. We need some    now!!     Just to show us how good you look!   

[kidney4traci]

I am so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Sorry I missed this thread completely but just read all of it.  God's timing!!!!!!!  Be Blessed!

[Amanda From OZ]

Thats fantastic Katie.. you are a tough cookie!