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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …