15 April: Still Getting Better - Additional Thought

I just realized that today is the two week anniversary my surgery. It is 6:55am. About the time that the anesthesiology tech came and got me from the family waiting room and we walked to the operating room. We stood outside and chatted for a while and then I walked in and climbed up on the table and got comfortable. I think that was the last time that I was comfortable for several days. Everybody was very nice and very professional. The tech said something about giving me a little anesthesia and that is the last thing that I remember until I woke up at 2pm in the afternoon.

15 April: Still Getting Better

Each day I am getting a little better. I think my energy level inched a bit higher yesterday. I hope to try a little biking today. Temperature is suppose to be in the 70s.

Kate wound up back in the hospital, but it seemed to be mostly precautionary. Her temperature was slightly elevated on Sunday night, so they told her to come in. After monitoring her temperature, white blood cell count, etc. for two days she seemed to be OK. I believe that she came home yesterday.

13 April: 12 Days after Surgery

Yesterday, I did a couple of computer repair jobs and drove for the first time. I am feeling better every day and my systems are getting back to normal. I am varying my diet more, and without any adverse effects. My appetite is not back to where it was, but I enjoy eating small meals and have cravings for different foods -- we think this means something and usually go with them.

I make it a point to sit and read and snooze between activities. Really enjoying reading with my new Kindle that the kids got for me. It is so easy and convenient.

We walked about two miles before dinner.

This morning I discovered that I had lost another 1.5 pounds (a total of 10 pounds since we left for NY on March 28th). Would all the people who have decided to donate a kidney please form a double line!

I suspect that my weight will pick up once I am able to go back to biking and weight lifting.

12 April - Monday

I seem to be inching back a little each day. My GI system is heading in the right direction and I am sleeping better because the gas pains are not keeping me awake.

I also feel like my temperature regulation system is getting better -- I was very chilled when I had to get up during the night. That didn't seem to be an issue last night.

BP: 105/70, pulse: 55 this morning. I lost another 1/4 pound (total 8.5 pounds).

I feel like my energy level is better this morning -- maybe due to sleeping better.

I got a funny note from Kate yesterday. Before the transplant, I was kidding her about how active my kidneys were. She said that yesterday was the first time in 25 years of 24 hour urine collections that she needed a second jug.

11 April. - Sunday

Thought I would go to church this morning, but eating breakfast consumed all my energy
Back to resting. Guess you can't rush mother nature.

10 April - Saturday

First day home in VA. I still have to be careful about what I eat. However, I went on the BRAT Diet (Banana, Rice, Apple Sauce, Toast) to slow things going through my system. Actually, BRAT with pizza supplements. My stomach seems to be doing better.

The weather was beautiful and we did three nice walks. I am very tired and resting a lot. The good news is that I lost eight pounds from when we left for NY. I have a feeling that I will find it when I am able to eat properly again.

T - 0 to T-2: Saturday: Calling Mother and Going Home

I wanted to catchup on this last day in the hospital while I can still remember.

Friday night to Saturday morning seemed like I had a much better night's rest with fewer interruptions. They seemed like they were being merciful and letting me sleep. However, I think I missed one of my four hour percocet fixes.

I woke up about 5am and it seemed like my GI system was showing some activity -- at least a little bit. I also felt chills and was a bit nauseous. I was able to go back to sleep.

When I woke up later, I felt terrible and could not imagine that I would go home that day. When I reported my GI activity, the food service person came right in and offered me this huge variety of food for breakfast and lunch. I thought I was on a cruise -- I expected the Viennese table for dessert. None of it really appealed to me -- I got dry toast and yogurt for breakfast and hummus and pita bread for lunch. I kept thinking of Jackie Gleason and the "Loud Mouth", where Art Carney would order a piece of toast floating in a bowl of prune juice.

I got back on the percocet. I also found that Joanne was back, something that I didn't expect because of the weekend -- things were looking up. We talked about discharge and I opted for 3pm.

Barbara and I called Kate and decided on 12:30pm to call mother and break the news. I also called my brother, Keith, and asked that he go over and be with my mother. Kate and I made the call. It was quite a shock to my mother, but she did well. At 90 years old, she has been through a lot of things. I told her that I would be home later that day and fill her in on all the details.

Barbara and I walked back to my room. Joanne came in and asked about going home (Barbara had everything packed and laid out on her bed). We said that we were ready whenever it would be good for her. She came back shortly with all of the paperwork and carefully explained everything. A couple of signatures and we were ready to go.

Fran's sister-in-law, Kay, drove us home. She was wonderful to us throughout this whole thing and I, especially, appreciated her gentile driving.

We got to my mother's in Farmingdale by mid-afternoon. I spent a lot of time talking to my mother and Barbara went to town and filled my prescriptions.