Today Barbara and I head to NYC and I begin the pre-op prep. Somehow, Kate has escaped this part -- she owes me! We will not have internet access in the apartment, but will have e-mail on our phones.
I have been reflecting on this journey that began shortly before New Years and have come up with some random thoughts:
Our lives are always so busy and so full, but we are able to quickly change priorities and the things that were so important can't even be remembered.
It takes two people to have surgery and you have to be in good condition. No way could I imagine doing this alone or if I was sick.
My initial thoughts about surgery in general and doing this kidney donation was that it would be scary. Once I started to learn about it and get a handle on exactly what was going to happen, I have no apprehension or anxiety at all. Meeting the hospital staff and having confidence in them is very comforting and reassuring.
Throughout this journey I have experienced a tremendous outpouring of support from family, friends, people I hardly knew and people that I didn't know at all. Your thoughts and prayers have been very heartwarming and helpful to me.
My new friends, Jill and Emily, are donors themselves and have been very kind to answer all of my questions and offer helpful information from their experiences. This has been great.
I suspect that my next blog update will be after the operation. I will let you know where I am on the Dick Cheney pain scale.
I will try to do some Twitter updates in the interim.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
T - 2 Call from the Surgeon's Office
I got a call from the surgeon's secretary that the hospital's PR dept wants me to sign a release for them to video tape the operation. This looks like it could be my big chance to get into show business. I am looking for an agent and I heard that Brad Pitt is getting kind of worried. The only risk is if one of the drapes slip, I could suddenly become a porno star.
T - 2 (Tuesday)
Today is packing for the trip to the apartment in NYC and stay at the hospital -- one of the toughest parts of this whole thing -- I never know what to pack.
It was pouring so hard that it reminded me of being in the Philippines during a monsoon in 1972.
Kate called early this morning and asked if we wanted to go to mass. So, Barbara and I and Kate and Fran went to 9:00am mass at St Martin of Toures in Bethpage. After mass the priest annointed Kate and I.
We then went to BestBuy to get a router so that we could both be on the internet at the same time. The one that I had brought finally died -- it was pretty old and needed to be updated anyway. We also went to Target and got some last minute stuff and some food.
My friend Sr. Rosie wrote a comment about constantly checking your identity at every step along the way in the hospital. This always makes me think of going for a colonoscopy and being asked for a photo ID. My first thought was about people paying someone to take their SATs, but a colonoscopy ??
The weather showed some signs of brightening up in the afternoon, but has turned dark again. We would love to be able to go out and walk.
It was pouring so hard that it reminded me of being in the Philippines during a monsoon in 1972.
Kate called early this morning and asked if we wanted to go to mass. So, Barbara and I and Kate and Fran went to 9:00am mass at St Martin of Toures in Bethpage. After mass the priest annointed Kate and I.
We then went to BestBuy to get a router so that we could both be on the internet at the same time. The one that I had brought finally died -- it was pretty old and needed to be updated anyway. We also went to Target and got some last minute stuff and some food.
My friend Sr. Rosie wrote a comment about constantly checking your identity at every step along the way in the hospital. This always makes me think of going for a colonoscopy and being asked for a photo ID. My first thought was about people paying someone to take their SATs, but a colonoscopy ??
The weather showed some signs of brightening up in the afternoon, but has turned dark again. We would love to be able to go out and walk.
T - 2
Yesterday, Monday, Kate and I had our final testing and cross-match at Presbyterian hospital. We still have separate teams, but did meet up a lot in waiting rooms.
First, I gave more vials of blood and urine sample, then we (Barbara and I) met with my social worker, Ilana, and she gave us the 10,000 ft overview of what will happen during my time at the hospital.
Next was a meeting with Marian, my transplant coordinator. She gave us the 100 ft version and a detailed preparation list for the surgery. Only clear liquids starting at noon on Wednesday and nothing after midnight -- not even water. Plus drinking the stuff to clean out your digestive tract. Maybe I will loose those couple of stubborn pounds from the holidays!
I can't lift anything greater than 10 pounds for a month, and no driving for 10 days - I think that has to do with drugs-- don't want to get a DUI.
Then I met with the surgeon, Dr Delpizzo. We really liked him. Now we get down to where the rubber meets the road. He said that my kidneys were both the same size and that he would take out the left one because it is easier to remove and reconnect -- longer plumbing. He uses a procedure where there is one, 2 - 3 vertical incision by your navel. He has done this procedure for his last 80 plus kidney removals. It heals faster and has less scarring -- important for picking up chicks at the beach.
He said to avoid core exercise -- no ball class for a month, but I can bike after two weeks. He also said that I was the first patient on Thursday morning and that the actual surgery is about 1.5 hours, although total time (prep, surgery and recovery room) would be about three hours. We made our follow up appointment for Thursday, 7 April, so that we can drive back to VA with Patricia and Theresa on Friday.
Then I had an EKG and was done for the day.
Throughout the various visits there was a continuing discussion of pain management. They even have a rating system with a scale of one to ten with a chart. A smiley face is one (no pain) and a picture of Dick Cheney is ten.
Another recurring theme was the bloating that you feel due to the injection of carbon dioxide to expand your stomach to make it easier for the surgeon to work. One of the major criteria for being discharged is the ability to pass gas. I found this very encouraging -- I will be out of there in no time.
We said good by to Kate and Fran and headed for a NY Deli for lunch.
First, I gave more vials of blood and urine sample, then we (Barbara and I) met with my social worker, Ilana, and she gave us the 10,000 ft overview of what will happen during my time at the hospital.
Next was a meeting with Marian, my transplant coordinator. She gave us the 100 ft version and a detailed preparation list for the surgery. Only clear liquids starting at noon on Wednesday and nothing after midnight -- not even water. Plus drinking the stuff to clean out your digestive tract. Maybe I will loose those couple of stubborn pounds from the holidays!
I can't lift anything greater than 10 pounds for a month, and no driving for 10 days - I think that has to do with drugs-- don't want to get a DUI.
Then I met with the surgeon, Dr Delpizzo. We really liked him. Now we get down to where the rubber meets the road. He said that my kidneys were both the same size and that he would take out the left one because it is easier to remove and reconnect -- longer plumbing. He uses a procedure where there is one, 2 - 3 vertical incision by your navel. He has done this procedure for his last 80 plus kidney removals. It heals faster and has less scarring -- important for picking up chicks at the beach.
He said to avoid core exercise -- no ball class for a month, but I can bike after two weeks. He also said that I was the first patient on Thursday morning and that the actual surgery is about 1.5 hours, although total time (prep, surgery and recovery room) would be about three hours. We made our follow up appointment for Thursday, 7 April, so that we can drive back to VA with Patricia and Theresa on Friday.
Then I had an EKG and was done for the day.
Throughout the various visits there was a continuing discussion of pain management. They even have a rating system with a scale of one to ten with a chart. A smiley face is one (no pain) and a picture of Dick Cheney is ten.
Another recurring theme was the bloating that you feel due to the injection of carbon dioxide to expand your stomach to make it easier for the surgeon to work. One of the major criteria for being discharged is the ability to pass gas. I found this very encouraging -- I will be out of there in no time.
We said good by to Kate and Fran and headed for a NY Deli for lunch.
Monday, March 29, 2010
T - 4
We are getting ready to leave to catch the 6:30am train from Bethpage to Penn Station. It is raining cats and dogs. More later.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
T - 5
We are Cosi's restaurant waiting for the bus. Kind of a cold, damp morning, but there is a good chance that we will get to NY before the rain.
I got a call from my friend Rosie (actually, Sr Rosie) last night. She had a knee replacement this week and called to give me an update. She said that she was still nauseous from the pain killers and the morphine made her itchy. I always associate morphine with WW-II movies. I imagine that a knee replacement is much more painful than a kidney removal. I think of a kidney removal as what John Wayne would call a "flesh wound" -- where he gets back on his horse and kills 20 more bad guys and is fully recovered by the next scene.
The good news is that they let here use her Blackberry the whole time in the hospital. She has only had it a short time, but is already addicted.
I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about packing and what to bring. We have four days before surgery that look like cold and rain, then two days in the hospital and then a week that could be much warmer weather. I also need loose fitting clothes -- I am not sure how long. Plus our electronic stuff -- computers, phones, kindles, iPods and the appropriate chargers. The whole thing reminds me of doing triathlons where you need to have your swim, bike and run stuff in the right transition areas before the race.
Tomorrow we will be at the hospital most of the day, so we will try to do some Twitter updates from our cell phones.
I got a call from my friend Rosie (actually, Sr Rosie) last night. She had a knee replacement this week and called to give me an update. She said that she was still nauseous from the pain killers and the morphine made her itchy. I always associate morphine with WW-II movies. I imagine that a knee replacement is much more painful than a kidney removal. I think of a kidney removal as what John Wayne would call a "flesh wound" -- where he gets back on his horse and kills 20 more bad guys and is fully recovered by the next scene.
The good news is that they let here use her Blackberry the whole time in the hospital. She has only had it a short time, but is already addicted.
I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about packing and what to bring. We have four days before surgery that look like cold and rain, then two days in the hospital and then a week that could be much warmer weather. I also need loose fitting clothes -- I am not sure how long. Plus our electronic stuff -- computers, phones, kindles, iPods and the appropriate chargers. The whole thing reminds me of doing triathlons where you need to have your swim, bike and run stuff in the right transition areas before the race.
Tomorrow we will be at the hospital most of the day, so we will try to do some Twitter updates from our cell phones.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
T - 8
Eight days to go. We are trying to think of things that we will need for the trip. Loose clothes and a small case to pack (repack) for our two day stay in the hospital. Since it is my first time in a hospital, I really don't know what is needed. It is only two days, I should be able to get through with whatever we wind up bringing.
Amazingly enough, I don't feel anxious or apprehensive. I guess I have done enough research that I feel comfortable with the whole thing. Also, my health and conditioning are good (knock wood) so that makes me feel confident about the whole thing. I am looking at the recovery as a challenge to get back in shape quickly. Not pushing it, but the right combination of rest and exercise.
My kids surprised me with a Kindle yesterday. What a great idea. I am loving it!
Norm
Amazingly enough, I don't feel anxious or apprehensive. I guess I have done enough research that I feel comfortable with the whole thing. Also, my health and conditioning are good (knock wood) so that makes me feel confident about the whole thing. I am looking at the recovery as a challenge to get back in shape quickly. Not pushing it, but the right combination of rest and exercise.
My kids surprised me with a Kindle yesterday. What a great idea. I am loving it!
Norm
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