Week +7: I intend to give this kidney the best chance of longevity possible, so am thinking about health and well-being like never before. I daresay there will be challenges to come but the fitter and stronger I am the better placed I will be to meet these head on. I firmly believe this is the best way to pay tribute to my donor and to all of you who have supported me throughout my journey.
Week +6: Sugar for the Pills
Week +6: Sugar for the Pills. Routine can be an anchor. No matter what’s going on in our day, the certainty of our routine can help us to manage the uncertainty that life can throw up. Coping with unpredictable periods of time can feel more doable when we have a little structure in place to look towards.
Week +5: Rough with the Smooth
Week +5: Rough With The Smooth - I am settling in for the long haul and taking my recovery one day at a time, so will be shifting to regular weekly-ish updates. I have been blown away by the response to my blog from friends and strangers alike. Thank you all. I still have many tales to tell about my journey, so watch this space.
Week +4: Realities of Recovery
Week +4: I have been at home now for just over two weeks and today is 4 weeks post-op. In many ways I feel better than I have done for years. My recovery has various aspects and each is important to focus on. The road to recovery is a bumpy one and they never really tell you about the rough stuff. They generally limit it to what life is like after recovery (those rose tinted spectacles I was talking about) but as you'll see, getting there a mixed bag.
Unexpected Praise From a Childhood Hero
Yachtsman Tracy Edwards MBE may seem like an unlikely hero for a 40-something bloke from Stoke-on-Trent. Nonetheless, Tracy's influence on me at a formative age is an important aspect of who I am today.
Day +11: Homeward Bound
The day had finally arrived. I had grown very attached to the amazing staff on ward 726 but after 13 days in a room by myself, I was ready to go home and be with my beautiful family. I had missed them terribly.
Day +10: Origins
Day +10: Origins. In contrast to my outward facing 'fitness freak' persona, many have asked how I ended up chronically ill and eventually on the slab receiving a kidney transplant. The story began two decades ago and my my eventual diagnosis which was due the curiosity of a particular GP I saw by chance and his desire to do good by his patients. Thursday was a day where I was waiting and did practically nothing - this is an appropriately long read.
Day +9: Holiday Snaps
Day +9 was a day of more positive news and moderate exercise, albeit tempered by more waiting and watching of the world go by. Sometimes you don't get exactly the news you had hoped for, but when it's for your own good you can't help but feel contented and grateful.
Day +8: Fitness Rewards
Day +8: Some time ago I made a pact with myself: To be as fit and active as possible and not to let my illness drag me down. My motto has been to 'only slow down when you have to'. Admittedly I was forced to slow down a lot, but staying active yielded tangible benefits. Exercise and healthy eating works. Trust me.
Day +7: Long Awaited Reductions
Day +7: Long Awaited Reductions - Monday became the beginning of the end of my stay on ward 726 - the end was now in sight. All I would need to see me through was a lot of patience, regular painkillers and and plenty of cardboard pee bottles.
#R24TRC 