Pre-Op Day

I am super excited. Made it this far, have my hubby with me (although that almost didn't happen due to a slight mix up with the flights and the reservations), have a place to stay and a jeep to drive around town. Thankfully the wonderful home we are staying in is quite close to the hospital which again makes life just a bit easier.

This lovely winter morning held a 10:30am appointment at the hospital for a few final tests and some pre-op stuff (more on that in just a moment). Of course there was a touch of confusion at admitting as I am out of province and therefore things like health care numbers are treated differently. Add in the fact that I don't have a current health care card in my married name (its been ordered several times and has never arrived) yet the coverage is, and it was a solid 25minutes to get through admitting.

Once that was dealt with off to the Testing Center we went. Spot urine test and a final cross match. Lovely 12 vials of blood (and for some reason unbeknowst to me, she did not use a butterfly and thus each vial managed a touch of pain and increased my hatred of needles). I keep hoping each blood test will be my last, yet I never seem to get that lucky.

From here we went up to the Pre-Op clinic where we watched a video on breathing, coughing, and leg exercises. Was beneficial. Apparently there are risks of pneumonia and whatnot if you don't clear the fluid and secretions (which can pile up if you lay in one position for too long, especially on your back). The video also showed how to support the incisions with a pillow or cushion when coughing. Good to know there is a wrong way to cough. The leg exercises are particularly important too. They help with circulation and post-op mobility. Simple exercises like pointing toes 10 times, making circles with our toes 10 times in each direction, at least once per hour while awake. Thankfully my husband was there and I know that he will take care of me and make sure I do the exercises because knowing me, I won't remember.

From the video we sat and chatted with a Nurse. We went over some specifics regarding the surgery (what to bring to the hospital, what not to bring, ie  bring slippers, leave jewellery or valuables etc), as well as a rather intimate questionnaire. Similar to donating blood, these questions are to ensure that not only am I healthy, but that the recipient is getting a healthy kidney with no surprises. As for the actual procedure, I will arrive at the clinic the morning of the 25th, they will admit me directly and I will  get changed, we will go to a pre-op room where they put me under and insert a catheter. From there into the OR and its a 3-4 hr procedure, a touch longer than if they were doing open surgery. Post-op I go into recovery for about an hour where the nurses will check my vitals and make sure I am good to go. From there I will be moved to my ward and my dear hubby will be allowed to see me. I'll be quite out of it and likely won't remember much.

They will have me up and walking the second day and I'm not to get up without a nurse handy (even if my hubby is there) the first few times. One thing they were quite adamant about its the pain post-op. I will be on a morphine drip and need to make sure that I am regulating my pain as if it goes unchecked or I let it get too bad, then it takes longer for me to come back to a good place. Communication with the nurses is also key. They need to know if something, anything, isn't feeling right. If I'm nauseated, if I hurt, am hot, cold, itchy whatever, I need to be telling the nurses as these may be side effects and we need to deal with them ASAP. Gotcha. Again, my husband was sitting there with me through all of this and rest assured, if I don't tell the nurses, he will. He is pretty worried about me not because he is scared, but because we are each other's world and he doesn't want anything to happen to me. I will be well taken care of, which I love.

If you can't tell, it was a long day at the hospital. From meeting the nurse and going over her checklist, we then met with the transplant coordinator for this center, and went over a few things. The most interesting one was the organ interview. Its a generic interview they have for all different types of donations, including cadaver donations. So my relationship to the organ is 'self'. That one made us smile. Again, a few more intimate questions, but nothing too scary. The interview with her lasted 30minutes or so, then a quick visit with the social worker, more so she had a face for the name and we were done.
At least, we were done at the hospital. The surgeon's office was not in the hospital and our appointment with him was later in the afternoon so a quick bite of lunch and a parking battle later and we got to meet the one who will be cutting me open. Well, not open. 4 'ports' for instruments and 1 incision on the lower left side of the physical extraction. Oh! Totally awesome, as we go to sit at their desk, my MRI is up and I actually get to see my insides, the veins and arteries. Very awesome (I'm a nerd like that). It was a quick visit, but was nice at least seeing this person before surgery. Not seeing them would scare me a bit I think.

Then we were done with the appointments. When we got home it was on the phone to book a flight home for my husband. Thankfully it was pretty easy and we are all taken care of. Returning home on the 30th, together. Then it was time to relax and I must admit it was nice.

So from here I have 2 days off, no appointments no tests, just hang out time in this beautiful city, then Thursday morning is the big day.

That's where we are as of today, and I do hope that if there is anyone that is reading this wanting to know what the experience is like, that this helps. If not, please comment and let me know what you would like to know more about. For those of you who have been through this, if there is anything you would like to add from your personal journey, would love to hear from you.

Another day, Another Blood Test

I hate needles. Like, a lot. Ugh. *shudder*.

I thought last week when I went and had fresh blood pulled for the cross-match that I was done, but no such luck. That blood went to the hospital I am going to be donating at for a cross match, which went well, and today's blood stayed at my local hospital for another cross match. Apparently the double check is making sure that each lab gets the same results. My local hospital's policy is that they do a final cross match 1 week before surgery, but apparently the hospital I am going to be donating at won't need that as we just did a confirmation.

So, hopefully I am done with needles until the 22nd. The 22nd is the day of my pre-op clinic, which is essentially a full day of tests to confirm that I am healthy and that all the information they have is the latest and greatest. Chest Xrays, EKGs, etc. I can do that.

I did have a chance to talk with my coordinator just after the test today and we talked about some of the specifics relating to pre and post op. Again, the different hospitals do things a bit differently, but she did give me a general idea of what to expect.

My surgery is on a Thursday, so I will either be admitted on Wednesday or even Thursday morning. The surgery is typically first thing, and I will be pretty out of it right after due to the anesthetic. Apparently most patients report nausea after surgery due to the drugs and anesthetic, and they pump my abdomen full of CO2 to give the surgeons room to work so I will be really bloated. I will be in the hospital until my bowels start working, but apparently will also have a catheter in. Yay. The good news is they put that in just before surgery when I am already out. Apparently they need to monitor what is coming out as well as what is going it.

From the sounds of things, once I am out of the hospital I am good to return home and will have my 2week post-op appointment here.

As for what life is like immediately post-op, there is no lifting (nothing over 10lbs), no bending, lots of rest, and it will take a while to get my appetite back. I will need to make sure that I am walking and not in bed all the time but still resting when I need to. I can do that.
Apparently it is 3 holes for the surgery, 1 for the camera, 1 for the instruments,  and 1 for the kidney removal. Oh! I totally forgot. Apparently it is a urologist who will be doing the surgery, a doctor who deals with nothing but the kidneys and kidney surgery. Just another one of those slightly different things, but still worth noting. Anyways, back to the holes. The one for kidney extraction is right by my bellybutton, and the others are one on each side. Apparently these take up to 6 weeks to heal (they heal from the inside out), which is one of the reasons why bending and lifting are out of the question for the first few weeks.

It will also take a while to get my appetite back and also to be on solid foods. I'm okay with that. My father-in-law (FIL) will be coming to stay with us for about a week when we get back (which might be sooner than expected) and the good news is that he makes fantastic soup. If I'm not up for solid foods or anything like that, at least I will have tasty soup waiting for me. Plus he is great company and since its getting cold out I will be pretty much confined to the condo. Will be really nice having someone there so I don't go stark raving mad because I'm alone too much.


I think I can handle everything thats going on, and know that between my husband and my mother I don't need to worry, they are doing enough of that between themselves.
I'm excited, I really am. Just not for needles. I really hate them. Hate everything about them. I'm not a fainter, but I do need to stay distracted when they take blood or it does make me light-headed and weak.
So here's my question to you: What was life like for you immediately post-op? What did it feel like? Any tips/tricks for making it easier? If you got a kidney, could you feel the change when you woke up? I'd love to hear about any/all experiences, the more I read the better prepared I am for my own.
Thanks!

I *hate* needles

24hr urine collection, not my favorite. I felt awkward and uncomfortable and chained to my home. I was scared to be out and about lest I had to pee. So I hung out at home most of yesterday. Which wasn't too bad, but it was a beautiful day out and the first Saturday hubby and I haven't either had something to do for work or been out of town in about 6 weeks. But, minor inconvenience.

So this morning I go to drop of the collection container, get a blood test, and give 1 more urine sample. I went as close to the end of the 24hr period as I could, as I was advised. But today's blood test... man do I hate needles! My left arm is typically the arm they draw from as I have skinny veins, but today after the needle was shoved in and wiggled around and I almost passed out, she decided the right arm might be the better alternative. So onto the right arm... I'm not sure if this was actually true or not, but it felt like the needle she was using was huge! It wasn't a tiny prick, it hurt! And since it was only 1 vial of blood today she didn't use a butterfly needle, the ones with the cord, she used a regular needed and so when she went to impale the vial to collect the blood she ended up digging the massive needle further into my arm and sending sparks shooting up and down. It was not a pleasant experience.

So now I have two track marks from today's test, and the urine collection is done! At least the last sample I had to give was a regular lab sample and not a 24hr one... that really sucked. I guess if I'm being honest it made me feel like I was sick, like there was something wrong with me. None of the other tests have made me feel that way, all the other tests have been to confirm that I am healthy (as I know this one was as well) and were just something I did. But this urine collection... not a fan.

I can see the bruises starting from the blood test too... long sleeves for me today so people don't think I'm turning into some sort of junkie with all the track marks I have lately. Ugh.. could never be a junkie, cannot stand needles.

So here's a question for you: what is your least favorite medical test/procedure and how do you cope?

Too low to go

On June 16th I ment with the nephrologist (and the rest of the committee) and we talked risks and the gambit. The next day I emailed my transplant coordinator with a signed copy of my Personal Directive, and a note letting her know that my husband and I had talked about the risks and were comfortable moving forward. Then I got the news regarding my low iron. Blah! My iron levels are at an 8, and the acceptable range is 12-31. Thats really low. I'll have a lot of work to do to make sure that I get my iron up. And the transplant cant move forward until I get it up. Meaning the team cannot all come together and decide if I'm fit for donation. Mentally I'm good to go, and physically all my tests have come back looking good, but the only thing is my Iron.
To me, this seemed like a really small thing, but then I did some research, and here's what I found:
"The body needs iron to make hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. Much of the iron our body is stored in the bone marrow that makes blood cells. When there is not enough iron in the bloodstream, the body uses the bone marrow reserves. If this iron stored in the bone marrow is low, red blood cells do not form properly: they are smaller than usual (microcytosis) and fewer. As a result, less hemoglobin is available to transport oxygen throughout the body."
Also: "Your body needs iron so it can make hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. Brain activity, breathing, cellular respiration and every activity of the body depends on there being enough iron in the blood."
Note to self: Get iron levels up.  My Transplant Coordinator did say that she has delt with this before and the treatment was IV iron. Eeek. I hate needles, with a passion. But, if thats what it takes, then thats what I'll do.
So today I go to my family doctor to work on this, and will be having all test results sent to the hospital as well to keep them in the loop. Cannot wait to have my iron levels back up.