Today as a very small step forward. GI system issues are still the major problem. I took two tylenol in the morning and two at night -- just because they may help with gas pain. I also took two stool softeners. None of the other pain is an issue -- like there is none.
I was able to walk outside today. The weather has been beautiful.
Trying to figure this out: What to eat, how much to eat, should I take pain killers. I am erring on the side of moderation.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday - 5 April
Today was a step back day. Although I am down to 2 tylenol a day, the effects of percocet on my digestive system are in full force. A couple of donors have told us this is normal, but it is still quite unpleasant.
I think Kate is working on adjustment of anti-rejection drugs. Think it could take a couple of days. My brother, Keith, talked to her. She is walking and eating a lot.
I am still getting to walk outside, which is nice.
I think Kate is working on adjustment of anti-rejection drugs. Think it could take a couple of days. My brother, Keith, talked to her. She is walking and eating a lot.
I am still getting to walk outside, which is nice.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
T - 0 to T + 3 (Waking Up)
When I woke up I noticed that the clock was a little after 2:00pm. I was disoriented, but the pain in my gut quickly brought me to the reality that I was now a kidney donor. I asked to see Barbara and she was brought in almost instantly. (Please be reminded that things were pretty hazy at this point, but she confirmed seeing me shortly after 2pm).
(Snopes says that the story on the internet about going to sleep with a pretty nurse and waking up missing a kidney is a hoax -- I need to write to them!)
The next thing I remember was being told that I would be brought to my room. The thought of being moved was very painful. I felt every little bump, like getting on and off an elevator. Sliding from the gurney to the bed was actually worse in anticipation than the actual move.
The nurse, Steve, put some morphine in the IV and that put me in la la land and took the sharp edge off the pain. My vital signs showed that I was still alive, although my assessment was, just barely. MY BP was about 100 over 55. I may have discovered a cure for high blood pressure, but I don't recommend it.
The next time that I needed pain medication, Steve said that he was going to switch me to Percocet because I need to be on oral medication before I could be discharged. A BIG MISTAKE!! After some time I told Steve that the Percocet was not taking the sharp edge off the pain. He said that I would have to wait a little bit and he would be able to give me some more morphine. When the time came, Steve put some more in the IV and things got better.
I had no pain at the incision, it was all related to my core muscles and the bloating putting pressure on things. Actually, most of the pain was where the kidney was. Having to turn in bed was the worst part. I never thought that I would be happy to have a catheter, but not having to get up to urinate was wonderful.
I had a complete team of people attending to me and somehow they would know when I got sleep and send in the next team member.
Dr Delpizzio's Team -- They were concerned with the incision and would give me the big picture about what was going to happen.
Nurse: She answered any questions and took care of pain medications.
Nurse Assistant: She took my vital signs (BP, Heart Rate, temperature and Oxygen level) every time that I managed to get to sleep.
Nurse Practitioner: I never figured out what she did. She asked if I had any questions and every time that asked one, she told me that the nurse would answer that. I tried five or six questions, but never hit on one that was within her purview, but she was cute.
Norman came in some time early evening. It was wonderful to see him. That brightened my day.
Barbara was checking with Fran (Kate's husband) on a regular basis. Kate did well and the kidney was functioning, but she had other issues like nausea and a rash. She stayed in the recovery room until the next day (Friday )-- more due to room availability than medical reasons.
My room was great. It was quite large and the staff immediately brought in a bed for Barbara. We were treated very well.
Thursday night was pretty tough -- the percocet wasn't cutting the pain all that well.
An aside: We have learned a lot about the Civil War because of living near Manassas, VA and numerous hiking trips to battle ground area. These soldiers were in make shift hospitals with limited supplies and freezing weather and I was in one of the best transplant hospital in the nation, if not the world -- I decided that I was going to live.
(Snopes says that the story on the internet about going to sleep with a pretty nurse and waking up missing a kidney is a hoax -- I need to write to them!)
The next thing I remember was being told that I would be brought to my room. The thought of being moved was very painful. I felt every little bump, like getting on and off an elevator. Sliding from the gurney to the bed was actually worse in anticipation than the actual move.
The nurse, Steve, put some morphine in the IV and that put me in la la land and took the sharp edge off the pain. My vital signs showed that I was still alive, although my assessment was, just barely. MY BP was about 100 over 55. I may have discovered a cure for high blood pressure, but I don't recommend it.
The next time that I needed pain medication, Steve said that he was going to switch me to Percocet because I need to be on oral medication before I could be discharged. A BIG MISTAKE!! After some time I told Steve that the Percocet was not taking the sharp edge off the pain. He said that I would have to wait a little bit and he would be able to give me some more morphine. When the time came, Steve put some more in the IV and things got better.
I had no pain at the incision, it was all related to my core muscles and the bloating putting pressure on things. Actually, most of the pain was where the kidney was. Having to turn in bed was the worst part. I never thought that I would be happy to have a catheter, but not having to get up to urinate was wonderful.
I had a complete team of people attending to me and somehow they would know when I got sleep and send in the next team member.
Dr Delpizzio's Team -- They were concerned with the incision and would give me the big picture about what was going to happen.
Nurse: She answered any questions and took care of pain medications.
Nurse Assistant: She took my vital signs (BP, Heart Rate, temperature and Oxygen level) every time that I managed to get to sleep.
Nurse Practitioner: I never figured out what she did. She asked if I had any questions and every time that asked one, she told me that the nurse would answer that. I tried five or six questions, but never hit on one that was within her purview, but she was cute.
Norman came in some time early evening. It was wonderful to see him. That brightened my day.
Barbara was checking with Fran (Kate's husband) on a regular basis. Kate did well and the kidney was functioning, but she had other issues like nausea and a rash. She stayed in the recovery room until the next day (Friday )-- more due to room availability than medical reasons.
My room was great. It was quite large and the staff immediately brought in a bed for Barbara. We were treated very well.
Thursday night was pretty tough -- the percocet wasn't cutting the pain all that well.
An aside: We have learned a lot about the Civil War because of living near Manassas, VA and numerous hiking trips to battle ground area. These soldiers were in make shift hospitals with limited supplies and freezing weather and I was in one of the best transplant hospital in the nation, if not the world -- I decided that I was going to live.
T - 0 to T + 3
This is actually the first time that I have gotten to write since the operation. The previous T - 1 entry was written by Barbara with some fuzzy input from me. We are now back at my mother's house in Farmingdale.
On Thursday morning we got to the hospital at about 5:15am. It was surprising how many people were on the subway and streets at that time. Kate and Fran and Kate's sister-in-law, Kay, were all ready there. They quickly took us all to a family waiting room and then Kate and I to rooms where we could change into those famous gowns with open backs, however, they gave us nice robes to put on top. It was kind of strange to remove my wedding band for the first time since we got married, almost 46 years ago. Barbara put it on and wore it the whole time.
We went back to the family waiting room. They came for Kate first because they needed to start an IV on her. My surgeon, Dr. Delpizzo, came and got me and marked my left side with his initials.
About 7:00am the nurse anesthetist (N/A) came and got me and we walked into the operating room. I layed down on the table and there was flurry of activity. They put compression legging on my legs, something on my back and an IV port in my left hand. Everyone was very nice and they explained everything to me as they did it. I thought of a recent Netflx that we saw where everyone was singing in the operating room. However, this group seemed totally focused on the task at hand. Very comforting.
The N/A said something about starting some anesthia and that is the last thing that I remember. I thought that they ask you to count -- I guess not.
I will continue in the next installment to keep these in reasonable size pieces. I, also, might need a short snooze at this point.
On Thursday morning we got to the hospital at about 5:15am. It was surprising how many people were on the subway and streets at that time. Kate and Fran and Kate's sister-in-law, Kay, were all ready there. They quickly took us all to a family waiting room and then Kate and I to rooms where we could change into those famous gowns with open backs, however, they gave us nice robes to put on top. It was kind of strange to remove my wedding band for the first time since we got married, almost 46 years ago. Barbara put it on and wore it the whole time.
We went back to the family waiting room. They came for Kate first because they needed to start an IV on her. My surgeon, Dr. Delpizzo, came and got me and marked my left side with his initials.
About 7:00am the nurse anesthetist (N/A) came and got me and we walked into the operating room. I layed down on the table and there was flurry of activity. They put compression legging on my legs, something on my back and an IV port in my left hand. Everyone was very nice and they explained everything to me as they did it. I thought of a recent Netflx that we saw where everyone was singing in the operating room. However, this group seemed totally focused on the task at hand. Very comforting.
The N/A said something about starting some anesthia and that is the last thing that I remember. I thought that they ask you to count -- I guess not.
I will continue in the next installment to keep these in reasonable size pieces. I, also, might need a short snooze at this point.
Friday, April 2, 2010
T+1
Short note....
All went well and all kidneys are working! The pain is less today and I've been up and walking. Very tired. Visited Kate and she was sleeping.
Our son, Norm and good friend, Marion were here yesterday and today. That was so special! zzzz
All went well and all kidneys are working! The pain is less today and I've been up and walking. Very tired. Visited Kate and she was sleeping.
Our son, Norm and good friend, Marion were here yesterday and today. That was so special! zzzz
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
T - 1
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.
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.
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.
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