Still Dialysing

Whilst my new kidney continues it’s proceeds of bedding in I am continuing to undergo dialysis sessions. These sessions take place on the ICU ward where I remain. Up until now they have not been taking off water causing a 10 kg weight increase over the week. Today they are taking off 1 kg. The …

Central Line, Drains and a Mesh

The central line is a tube line in London which starts at Epping in the North. East, runs through central London (Oxford Street) and finishes in the West at either Ealing Broadway or West Ruislip. However, my Central Line is a tube which sticks out of my neck. It’s purpose a super cannula to allow …

Clot or Not

IMPORTANT UPDATE: There may be a clot in the Renal Vein - it is NOT definite but as the CT scan was inconclusive they need to Operate and take a look. I last ate at 14:30 so it wont be straight away but will be later today at 20:30 .IF there is a clot and …

Steroid Situation! Cortisol Conundrum!

I remained in ICU - my 5th day post-op. Why am I here? I am to all intents and purposes well in myself. I have had little, if any, pain and fairly mobile given the constraints of drips and monitors. I am nonetheless confined to bed most of the day. The monitors and drips are …

Trying in Vein

Today I had another ultrasound scan of the kidney and bladder. As expected the bladder is not visible as it has collapsed (the catheter draining it so it is essentially empty). The kidney was visible and showing good blood flow. The fluids are gradually perfusing into the kidney. There are areas where the kidney is …

Ode to Kevin

Kevin is the nickname for my new kidney Kevin the kidney,From where did you come?What brought you to Churchill?Your old life now gone. Grateful to your donorYour previous ownerWhose generous giftWill give me a ‘lift’. The sadness of death.Another’s last breath.A time of great strife,Has brought me new life. From out of the blue,I got …

Trapped

In the words of ‘80s one hit wonder Colonel Abrams “I’m Trapped”. The operation on Tuesday afternoon went smoothly and the expectation was that I would return to the Transplant ward after a time on the Recovery Ward. However, this did not happen…. I am asymptomatic in that I feel fine, ………no nausea, no dizziness, …

The Op

Following the Call and my arrival at the Churchill yesterday morning other than the blood tests I needed to have an ECG and a chest X-ray. Then lots of questions from the Anaesthetist, the Doctors and finally The consultant Renal Surgeon. He outlined the risks of the op and the range of possibilities which boiled …

The Call

I was awoken just after 6:30 with a call from The Churchill Hospital. A kidney is available for transplant. As before I needed to make the hour long journey to Oxford from my home in Milton Keynes. I phoned work to let them now I wasn’t coming in and set off. However, due to the …

750 ml

Time moves on and I still wait for a kidney transplant. Meanwhile I continue to dialyse three times each week ( four hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday). My health remains good but I do get tired. A lot has happened since my last post. Sadly Mum died in early February and much of the …

Myeloma : Then and Now

One of the programs we like to watch here in the UK is “Call the Mdwife”. It’s not my usual genre of TV, but it is a fascinating watch. The link to the title of the blog may seem tentative, but there is a point I assure you. Please read on. The plot of “Call …

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Nights

The routine is well embedded. It doesn’t matter if it’s the holidays or if I’m off work (through illness or other reasons) as I am today. Every Monday , Wednesday and Friday I leave home at 4:30pm to arrive here at 5pm for four hours of dialysis. prior to departure about an hour before, I …

Filling in the Blanks

I realise that between May and December of last year I somewhat neglected this blog so this is an attempt to fill in the blanks. In May I took up Couch to 5K and made good and steady progress reaching Week 8 and completing several 30 min runs. I was doing really well until at …

Steroid Nights

It’s just after 3am and I’m wide awake. It’s the Steroid effect!

RSV

When I was at the Churchill Hospital last week I had 15 vials of blood taken for testing. Although the outcome was not what I expected it is probably a good thing the transplant did not happen. One of the tests revealed I had a viral infection called RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). RSV is a …