Kevin's Kidney & me

I'm long overdue for an update here as I approach month four and last reported following reaching month two. Month three is actually the first of the major milestones following a kidney transplant. The major milestones being three months, six months, one year and three years. So what happened to month three? Here's what went down around month three. My (now) monthly doctor's visit (as opposed to weekly or bi-weekly) was a week following the literal three month anniversary and I wanted to hear her opinion before I chimed in. At 8:17 on the morning of my doctor's visit I was sitting in the lab waiting for my blood to be drawn when I felt a need to clear my throat and thought to myself.... "that feels like that first moment you feel like a cold is coming on" and I was absolutely correct, by three o'clock that afternoon I was in full on coming down with a cold mode. The doctor's visit had gone fine that day. She adjusted a med or two but otherwise ever...

I've allowed three weeks to pass without an entry and I'm feeling like I owe you an update. Its not like there's a lot to report. I still see the doctors regularly, although the visits have gone from every week to every other week to once a month so that would be the most significant news regarding the specifics relative to my kidney transplant. My meds keep getting tweaked as well. I've had issues with both magnesium and phosphorus so I've been on supplements for those. My omeprazole that I've taken for the last several years apparently has the negative impact of robbing my body of magnesium so they've swapped that out to a different but similar option. Also my peeing at night was back on the rise, especially with all of the water they wanted me to drink. At one point I was peeing every hour and 15 minutes, which is great for a body whose kidneys were only making enough urine to pee three times a day about a quarter of a cup each time, but its ridiculou...

On Monday this week I went to MGH Danvers to have labs drawn as I do every Monday. This week I went later than usual and there were a lot more people there than the prior weeks when I arrived much earlier. As I checked in the clerk was talking to herself, asking which tests I needed or didn't need. She seemed to be assuming they wouldn't need the Tacrolimus test. I mentioned that they specifically asked me not to take my Tacrolimus and therefore I would assume they want the Tacrolimus test. FYI, Tacrolimus is one of my anti rejection medications. The clerk then told me I could go sit down. I turned to the left side of the room and could see that every seat was filled. I also noticed this woman looking back over her shoulder towards me and smiling, almost as if she recognized me. I turned back towards the right side of the room and saw that there were several seats available, so I took a seat on that side. Then the woman got up from her seat and came over and sat next to me....

I was diagnosed with Kidney Disease in 2009 and at that time it was suggested that I stop eating bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, cantaloupe and similar melons. I was absolutely willing to give up all of those except tomatoes.  I eat tomatoes pretty much every day in one form or another. Many sandwiches aren't complete without a little iceberg and tomato. Pizza's not pizza with tomato. Pasta and tomato sauce are so good together. A burrito with a little pico de gallo or colorado sauce is perfection. Salads with tomato, cheese burgers with tomato, grilled cheese and tomato, Tuna fish and tomato... I could just keep going. I have to admit that I've missed the melon and have cheated on that front a few times during the eight years between diagnosis and my transplant. But every summer I just had to have one (possibly two) banana split(s). How can you let a summer go by without a banana split? But bananas are back on the diet over here thanks to Kevin's Kidney...

As another week is almost over, another regularly scheduled doctor's appointment brings small nuggets of good news. Most of my numbers continue to be good. My magnesium and phosphorus levels are still low but we're working on those. My kidney disease made me anemic as well and that' still the case but I guess it takes a bit for the new kidney to produce the hormone that tells your bones to make the red blood cells that increases your oxygen and makes you strong enough to climb stairs without feeling winded. But the best news is that my staples came out yesterday. There were 32 of them and it was a little unsettling as my doctor was trying to ask me questions and talk to me while they were being taken out by her assistant. There was a little pinch with each one and on top of that they were located in the most ticklish spot on my body so I was edgy just anticipating him accidentally tickling me and me jumping and and his tool that he snipped them with some how cutting ...

So this is a little mini update because I had a small incident yesterday and I just wanted to keep you all updated and my recovery process updated as well. Yesterday morning was a labs draw day, which means going to MGH in Danvers for 10 minutes and having my blood drawn. No big deal. But around 3:30 PM my nurse called and asked how I was feeling. I told her I felt fine. She then said well your labs came in and your Phosphorus is really low, like dangerously low. Unfortunately we need you to go to your nearest Emergency Room and get an I.V. treatment of phosphorus. So Meg took me to the ER where they drew their own labs first. Their results came up a little better than the MGH results. They decided to consult their Nephrologist, who then said he wouldn't do the treatment or even a pill but suggested instead a diet of beans, whole rice, cheeses, dairy and yogurt. So I'm off to the grocery store this morning to stock up on plenty of those. My link for phosphorus was...

So three weeks ago today I got my new Kidney... a.k.a. Kevin's Kidney. While there's not much to report on the accomplishments front, I do think a weekly update is in order for at least the next few weeks. Maybe the first two months, then after that change it up to monthly or when something interesting happens for better or worse. Speaking of better or worse... this week was much better than last week. Last week I ended up back in the hospital mid week for a single overnight. This week went swimmingly. Did labs on Monday, saw my doctor on Thursday. Numbers still look good. They swapped up a couple of my meds and asked me to make sure that I'm drinking plenty throughout the day. I also found out I have a mild case of AFib . When I came out of the hospital last week I had some new meds. I started taking them on Thursday night and on Friday I started seeing a new image show up on my Blood Pressure monitor. It was of a little heart and a jagged line like a heart beat lin...