They say that you don't realise how sick you are until you try to recover. Now I don't know who they are but they make a damn good point. Recovering from this transplant is both an enforced period of rest, as well as an opportunity to do some serious reflection, but the thing is, I can't remember.
Tag: Kidneys
Day +88: A Day In The Life
There are many unusual happenings in the life of a kidney patientThese happenings do not end with transplant, you simply move from a DVD to Netflix and the comedy show continues. Like this afternoon when I got a pain in my arm and was sent to A&E for emergency scans and a series of injections.
Week +12: Slow Return
It's been a very slow and uncomfortable couple of weeks. I didn't blog last week as I really didn't have a lot to say. I discovered that at this stage of recovery, it doesn't take much discomfort to for it to become a constant and all-consuming distraction. It took me to a place I wasn't overly happy in and the best thing I could do was sit quietly and wait patiently.
Week +10: A Short One
Week +10: This has been a bit of a crummy week as on Wednesday, something that first afflicted me in hospital made a painful and unwelcome reappearance.
Week +9: Goodbye Stent (and Dignity)
Week +9: Goodbye Stent (and Dignity). This blog is very much intended to be a source of information for potential transplant patients, as well as friends and family and everyone who is interested in the kidney failure/transplant journey.
Week +8: Shot Across The Bow
Week +8: This week kept me on my toes. I had my first bath in a long time, paid an unexpected and frantic visit to hospital and went for a walk in the country. A sign of things to come.
Week +7: Thinking Longevity
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 +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.
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.
#R24TRC 