Covid Jab Blues

Saturday I went for my Covid Booster. I qualify as my CKD and transplant render me vulnerable. They offered me the flu jab too and I wisely declined. I already have this booked for early next month and with my immunosuppression I didn't want to take on too much on. Battling one virus, albeit in …

Finally an update!

No News is Good News is how the saying goes. However, no news in this case means nothing has changed. Until this week that is. 'Kevin' the kidney sadly has never worked properly and remains 'lazy'. So the decision has been made to put me back on the transplant list. My consultant contacted me earlier …

Straws in the Wind?

It's just over eleven weeks post-op. In short things are as they have been all along. Kevin my sulking kidney is still not doing it's main job i.e. producing urine in any significant quantity. Without specifics there has been a tiny increase in output but not in any way measurable. So dialysis continues three evening …

Kevin is having a sulk

Kevin the kidney is having a sulk.So far refusing to work in my bulk.Kevin the kidney remaining asleep.For over nine weeks now, he's made not a peep.Kevin the kidney is having a sulk. Kevin the kidney refuses to work.All kidney-like functions he chooses to shirk.Kevin quite frankly, a complete waste of space.Choosing for now not …

Stent Out

Today I am back in the Churchill for a minor procedure. It’s just over 5 weeks since the operation and my new kidney (‘Kevin’) is still fast asleep. I continue to dialyse either in MK or hear in Oxford on days like today when I have a procedure or else have clinic. The procedure today …

Back for Biopsy

I am back in the Churchill this morning. The reason - a routine biopsy to check on the kidney’s progress. As yet the kidney remains asleep - the reason I know this my complete inability to urinate in any quantity. Since the op I have probably produced about 5ml a day at most - difficult …

Home Again

Finally on Tuesday afternoon I was set free from Churchill Hospital. Following another dialysis session I was given the release notes and packed my bags. My mother in law kindly gave me a lift back to MK, living close to Oxford it was a relatively quick journey for her to get to the hospital, I …

Not Going Out

After a day of anticipation, having been told several times that I was going hone came the news at 5pm that I wasn’t. Following the ultrasound scan they had made the decision to keep me in for longer. This was a little disconcerting- especially as no doctors had been to see me in the day. …

Medication! That’s What I Need!

As I write this I’m sitting in the sunshine in the Churchill Hospital Roof Garden adjacent to the Renal Ward. My final drain was removed today leaving me unchained to any devices. You might recognise the title of this post is an analogy to 1970s -80s BBC TV Show “Record Breakers” 😀 Theme Tune. I …

Rash

Day 13 - I hope they will decide to let me go home today. I’ll find out later. I am much more mobile now and there is no pain at all from the operation, only stiffness but this is easing. My walking pace is incredibly slow but I can get about a bit. The daily …

Food Matters

I was visited by the dietician on Friday. She talked me through the dietary issues and the changes I need to make in the short term, medium and long term. Short Term The next few weeks until the new kidney kicks in Keep salt levels low Avoid high potassium foods such as bananas, avocados and …

Filling My Days

I have now been in Churchill for 11 days. Having spent much of that time in ICU and now on the Renal Transplant Ward. What exactly goes on in the day and how do I keep myself occupied? The day starts at about 6am when blood pressure, temperature and SpO2 readings are taken. These will …

Moving On

I have a new home in the Churchill. Yesterday afternoon I was discharged from ICU and sent to the Renal Ward. ICU Renal Ward I had been off noradrenaline for 18 hours. Although my BP had dropped during dialysis it had otherwise remained above 100 and with a good MAP throughout the day. Before the …

Off the Meds

Last night I was taken off noradrenaline, the medication which has been controlling my blood pressure. So far so good the blood pressures remain good. The systolic needs to be above 100 and has remained so even on sitting and standing. The MAP (in brackets) needs to be above 70. This hopefully means that today …

Weight Gain, Waiting Game

It’s a week since I came to the Churchill Hospital. In that week I have spent most of my time in the ICU confined to bed as they battle to maintain my blood pressure. In that week I have gained 10kg of weight! The lack of movement and the need to consume enough liquids to …