Another year of changes

Wow, it's been about 10 months since my last post. Where to start...let's see. We had a baby boy who is now 5 months old!!!

This is actually a birth picture, I'll upload more recent picture soon.

Health wise I could not be better! Everyday I remind myself this second lease on life was a gift, and I work hard to take it for granted.

Got a new position at work, much less stressful and it works around my daily life.

Coming up on my 2 year anniversary of my transplant. Ohh I'm only taking (2) pills daily of Rapamune, which is considered extremely low. The pills are a triangular and about the size of baby aspirin. I point this out because many other transplant recipients take a cocktail of meds throughout the day. Once again I am so fortunate to only take so little medication. My labs are great, in fact my creatine is hoovering around 1.5. That's a long way from my first diagnose of renal failure with a creatine of 14!!!

I will post again after my 2 year visit. Until then...

6 month kidney biopsy today

Well...well...the day has come to have my 6 month protocol biopsy to ensure continued good heath of my new kidney. Below is a picture of all the assorted tools/instruments to used during my procedure. Needless to say, I'm less then thrilled about having this foot long needle thrust into my lower abdomen. In addition to this procedure, I have also undergone an MRI with dye, which was of course injected into my arm. Just before being prepped for this biopsy I had 6-8 tubes of blood draw. And the big show is the biopsy.

So, had the biopsy, and it was nearly as terrible as I imagined. It began with two needs to humble the area, one shallow and the other deeper. Then came the foot log need gun (The gun actually extracts the tissue sample). Fortunately, I didn't actually feel the foot long 18 gauge needle, although I did feel the movements of the needle while inside me. 2-3 samples where taken, each requiring a new stick with the big needle. Afterward, I was consoled with a band-aid and instructed to lay flat with a 5 LB weight at the entry site for 3-4 hours.

Doing Great

Today, is 5 months and two since my life changing transplant. I wake up everyday thankful for my new lease on life. My energy is amazing; for instance we went dancing last weekend and Apyrl got tired before me!

Since the weather is breaking and the pollen count is normalized, I'm planning many outdoor activities. I can't say enough how blessed and fortunate I feel to be sitting here today without the aid of mechanical devices to filter toxins from my body.

That's it for now...

12 weeks since surgery

It's been about 12 weeks since the transplant and all is well. I've resumed normal activities, energy levels are on par with that of my early to mid 20's. I've begun working out, although I'm still restricted regarding heavy weights so it's basically cardio and lighter weights. My waist size has gone from 46/44 to 38/40 since the operation.

Once the weather breaks I anticipate more outdoor activities and enjoying the great weather of the south. This new kidney is simply amazing...my donor has provided me a new lease on life that will not be wasted.

Also, this research therapy is fantastic. I only take a 4 pills daily, verses the hand full of toxic medications taken by the typical kidney transplant patient. The only draw back is monthly injections/infusions, but it's well worth the time. The icing on the cake is that in less than three years I'll be phased off all the medications and infusions. The overall result of this new therapy is a chance of retaining this new organ for the reaminder of my lifespan.

What a true blessing.

7 Weeks....

Yesterday was 7 weeks, and all goes well. Since my last blog I had my stent removed...it was somewhat traumatic, but as painful as I first thought. Not to say I would like to go through it again anytime soon! 

Let me explain the process...first I was led into a type of mini operation room with a examination table located in the right corner surrounded by monitors and various equipment. Next a nurse asked me several routine medical type question, then she asked me to disrobe and handed me a hospital gown. After I got changed I was asked to get on the table, at this point the nurse began prepping ominous equipment on a table near me. I saw the nurse squirt generous amounts of KY jelly on two sections of the table, then she began to assemble the scope to be used during the removal. The scope consist of handle with controls, and a long black snake about 2 feet long. After the prep it was my turn...she took out a funnel type instrument and screwed a syringe full of lidocaine into the larger end. This where it began to get crazy...she grabbed the head of my penis and jammed the smaller end of the funnel into the tip of my penis! All the while she's telling me to relax and keep my legs open, while she pushes this lidocaine up my penis!

Once the nurse completed her prep, it was show time. The doctor suddenly appeared and without hesitation approached me, had me sign off on the routine legal matters and promptly began! This guy took the snake device and began feeding it up my penis, while trying to hold a conversion with me. Imagine being rapped while rapist ask you how your day is going, maybe about the weather, etc. So at some point the doctor ask me to look at the monitor to my left so I can see the live video from within my bladder. He shoes me the stent, remarks it's 14 french on size before grabbing it and pulling it out of my bladder/kidney/penis.

Oh yeah, at some point he mentioned something about passing water. At the time I was per-occupied with that 2 foot snake hanging out of my penis to ask questions. Afterwards I noticed everything below my waist felt wet...the nurse didn't seem like she wanted to answer questions about whether or not I pissed on the table. I can only speculate I pissed on the table!

So, there you have it...stent removal 101. 

Ohhh I forgot to say Happy New Year to those who still follow this blog.

Until next time...here a few pictures...take care!

Lil over three weeks

I'm doing great, nearly full range of motion with little to no pain. I still feel pain when doing certain things, but in general I feel improvement from day to day.

I drove myself to barbershop today...felt like I ran a marathon when I returned home. I just it takes time to regain stamina after laying around for three weeks.

Another side benefit is weight loss. MD's say it's excess water weight being stripped off by the new kidney. Not complaining in the least, I needed to loss a few pounds...I should be beach ready by summer!

I want to thank everyone who has supported me through this journey. This ordeal has changed my outlook on life and my understanding of the nature of good people. I hope to be able to pass on good deeds in the future.

I'll post some pictures from the hospital once I locate my transfer cable for the camera.

Two weeks out

It's been just over two weeks now since the transplant. Revocery seems to get better from week to week. Currently, I'm schuduled to visit the transplant clininc twice a week for the next month to check my progress and recieve my Belatecep infusion. Some days are hard to get out of bed, but I've been managing. All in all things are going well, just wish I could fast forward to the easier days.

Nexr major event is to have this stent removed from my bladder...not looking forward to that one!