This can't come soon enough, as my function has been decreasing fast. My function is at about 12% right now, and I'm really starting to feel it. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not one to sit around, I'm always on the go-I thrive on it. But recently my energy level has taken a serious downward turn, and it's hard to do any activity for any length of time without feeling wiped out. This is in large part due to the fact that loss of kidney function has caused a big dip in my numbers in a lot of important areas with my blood.
I've talked to several transplant recipients who say that they literally woke up in the hospital feeling better immediately. I'm hopeful that'll be the case for me as well, and that my recovery is speedy. I also know from my dad's experience though, that there are so many different ways in which your health can be affected with this disease post-surgery. All of his health problems since his transplant in '02(?) have had nothing to do with his kidneys, but are reactions to the immunosuppressant drugs and other complications. Hopefully that won't be the case for me.
The recovery process is a careful one. Neither of us can drive for the first 2 weeks, and we're not supposed to lift more than 10 lbs. for the first month of so. With a 2 and a 5 yr. old around this will be very difficult, so we've rallied all of the grandparents to lend a hand during the process.
If you want to help, our friend Allyson Paige is heading up a fund-raising campaign to help mitigate our medical bills and me being out of work for an unknown period of time.
Here's to a healthy and happy 2015 everybody!
