Tuesday, December 28, 2010 - 28 weeks post-op

Almost the end of the year - 28 on the 28th - weeks since I had surgery.

I am feeling fine. I started being more active in the past 4-5 weeks. Every time I do something strenuous I am really sore afterward. I haven't been doing much of anything for so long, no wonder. I am no longer exhausted though after I exert myself.

I have noticed in the past 2-3 weeks that my chest or pec muscles are really tight and sore. I saw an RMT and CD regularly over that time which really helps. My neck and shoulders are as well. I think it's due to my desk position but I feel like I stretch often.

In any case, I feel pretty good and am looking forward to a New Year!

tibialis posterior tendinitis

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 - 20+ weeks post-op


I sprained my foot. It was a really stupid incident but I know a brilliant master of physio therapy. Or physical therapy. Either one he performed 5 different physio treatments on me 3 days in a row.

It happened Saturday night just before bed. I couldn't walk all day Sunday so worked from home Monday then finally called around 2:30 p.m. I got in by 3 and had the following:

Day 1

1. ultrasound - tough on the tissues, feels like electricity running through you or else your foot is on fire

2. magnet therapy where it seems nothing is happening for 20 minutes
3. soak in very hot bubbling water for 20 minutes
4. hop on a bicycle for 15 minutes
5. get on a balance ball, low to the ground, and I have to step on the outside of the wooden circle, and point my toes together FORWARD then point my heels BACK - and forth. And back and forth. It was tough!

Day 2

Same deal - both sessions last 90 minutes. At the beginning I said I was about 40% better. After therapy he said to walk on it, so I did but by the end of the day I cannot walk on the sprained foot.

Day 3

I can get out of bed and go to the toilet without hobbling! It is still sore but I can almost put my heel down to walk. An hour-long session of therapies and I feel no pain on the balance ball in the end. I can walk nearly 'normal'. I am happy and declare no more sessions required.

It is still sore to walk on so I'll take it slow but I will definitely be going downtown tomorrow. I'm going a little stir crazy at home.

18 weeks post-op

Tuesday, October 19, 2010


I feel pretty good. I am a little stressed (hmmm, note to self - pick up more B-complex vitamins).

Even work, which is completely crazy-busy right now, is fun and exciting. I'm head deep into it all and loving the chaos. Enjoyable and sufficiently challenging allowing me to rise in the face of adversity as I learn new tools, relearn skills and manage things like I've never done before. Fun times!

My abs, arms and shoulders are still sore from Saturday's cool-down, i.e. 100 push-ups and 300 crunches. I had to lead them... and I just plowed right along. I barely managed 20 push-ups on my toes... after the first set of 20 push-ups, 60 crunches, at the second set of 20 push-ups I reverted to my knees. In any case, I feel my ab muscles all the way from under my chest to the pubic line. I had to use my core muscles in both these basic exercises and I can feel it!

I need to incorporate into my life regular lower body exercises like lunges and squats.

I'm going to invest in a resistance band (Chapters, under $20).

I brisk walk 15-minutes twice daily (to and from Union station for work) 5 times a week.

I brisk walk 12-minutes twice daily (to and from Pickering station for home) 2-3 times a week.

I really, really should invest in more cardio but... it's so tough! I need a serious attitude adjustment.

16 weeks post-op

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Wow, I have to say I don't feel like I had major surgery 4 months ago. However, I have been sick twice and this last time is going on 4 weeks! That's utterly ridiculous!!

It occurred this week to me that my energy still comes and goes. Sometimes I feel so drained and tired. I have been pushing myself to climb the stairs at work every time but this week I can barely breathe, my chest feels tight and I still have a phlegm cough so I've resorted to using the elevator...

Today is my parents 53rd wedding anniversary!
It was so great to be able to spend some quality time with them this summer (a whole 12 days!). I can't remember when that last happened. I love them and miss them! Sometimes I wish I lived closer.

15 weeks post-op

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

I feel better but still have a lot of phlegm in my cough. I am drinking more water and taking more vitamins. I picked up some Vitamin D today with 1000 IUs. Took a couple at lunch and a couple in the evening. Same with Vitamin C. I also have a B-complex vitamin that I need to remember to take daily.

I have 2 weeks until I meet the kidney expert to review test results. I hope my ill health does not show in my blood work. I have 10 weeks until I do my final set of tests. I will be healthy again!

Then, I'll have to figure out what to do in 2011....

Still... sick as a dog

Sunday, September 26, 2010

I have been sick twice since I started back to work almost 7 weeks ago. I am coughing and feel warm and my head is full of mucus. This bout has lasted 10 days!

I need to get healthy!

Blood work 3 months post-op

Thursday, September 23, 2010

A single vile of blood tests whether I'm as healthy with one kidney as I was with two. :)

My appointment with Dr. R. Richardson to discuss his review of my blood test results is Wed October, 13, 2010 @ 9:00 am at the Toronto General Hospital Renal Clinic.

At 6 months I need to complete blood tests again and a 24-hour urine test.

14 weeks post-op

It's Tuesday, September 21, 2010 and I'm sick again!

It started with a headache/migraine all weekend then finally early Monday morning I resorted to taking a Tylenol 3 from my surgery. It dulled the headache and made the day tolerable.

I was feeling cold and tired last night but don't feel the need to sleep other than at night. I was never a day-time napper.

I think I am more prone to getting run-down when I get inadequate sleep. However, in the past 4 weeks I have been considerably busy. My dog got in a fight and needed surgery so that was very stressful. Work is busy busy busy. Social events, karate and referee clinics and tournaments; plus this week we have a house guest. Life is good, life is moving along. I just need to catch up!

I've said it before but it's really something I have to work on. As much as I enjoy sleep, I don't know why I don't get enough. :)

10 weeks post-op

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Starting to feel better, healthy. Work is seeming more like normal. Picking up where I left off.

Karate is good, sleep is getting better.

Karate.... hiiiii-yaaaaaa!

Saturday, August 21, 2010
It was so good to be back at karate. I helped teach the first 2 classes and participated in and instructed in the last two. I did some ab work as well and decent stretching so I'm off to a good start. It was light training and I did feel tired but I have been nothing but sedentary for so long so I'm trying to take it slow. Brittany helped at the store and did some training too.

After, we shared homemade lasagna, pizza, wine and fruit salad at our Sensei's place wit him and his girlfriend, Morana. Brittany didn't have any wine. She's 17 and says it tastes like cough syrup. ;)

I was so sleepy when we got home, I ended up watching Spiderman 2 on TV (recorded) then decided I'm not going to bed at 6 p.m. Saturday night so make some coffee. Everybody else is out of the house.

Solitude.

Still sick

Friday, August 20, 2010
Feeling far better but still coughing up phlegm and sniffling. Weird! I am never sick. However, I'm not getting a lot more sleep like I should be either. Close to 7 hours each week night. I take my vitamins twice daily most of the time. I must drink *more* water. Coffee is a good friend right now. :)

I'll be starting back at karate tomorrow - after 10 weeks of inactivity! I find the walk to and from work (at either end of my train commute) noticeable in increased movement.

I can feel 'stitching' going on in my lower abdomen. Funny/new sensation - probably brought on by me moving around much more now.

On a special note, my brother Rollie, the baby of the family, would have been 37 years old today.

9 weeks post-op

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Feeling pretty good this week. The transition back has been fairly seamless. Lots of work to do and mostly I'm just picking up where I left off. I enjoy my job and it's exciting to be back at work!

I have been arriving early (630-830am arrivals) and *trying* to leave by 530pm. I need to schedule bedtime earlier though. I need more sleep.

Sleep is my friend. My husband, even before the surgery, referred to 'sleep' as my mistress. Now, it has become my second husband. :)

Sleep is so rejuvenating. Sleep heals. Health and recovery has been found in sleep. Lots and lots of sleep. I managed to maintain my sanity in the hospital due to the amount of sleep I got there. It was largely interrupted sleep, however, because I was simply lying in bed all the time, I was able to easily doze randomly. Not as easily accomplished outside that setting.

Sleep is much of what I need for improved health anyway even without having had surgery. I need to make it a point to get more sleep.

Zzzz.....

Run-down

Monday, August 16, 2010

I am working from home today. I was feeling a bit run-down after last week. Even Friday, at the hotel where my husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary I was physically ill!

Saturday I just felt extremely fatigued and Sunday was a little more of the same with some nausea. So today, I opted to work from home.

My throat is a dry and I occasionally cough but the main thing is my low energy.

I read from different sources that fatigue could last a year. I find that ridiculous! I think I have just been doing too much too soon... I immediately went back to my regular routine - jam-packed weekends included. That's too much.

Plus I need to focus on getting adequate sleep. I almost got 8 hours last night. I need that. Six to seven is insufficient. I'm sure I will suffer if I don't work at it.

8 weeks post-op

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Today I start back to work! I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am up by 6 a.m. and walking into the office by 8. I only have a 3-day work week so it shouldn't be too bad.

7 weeks post-op

Tuesday, August 3, 2010
I'm scheduled to return to work in 1 week! I am looking forward to getting back into a regular routine... not one of being laid up and healing although it has been fantastic to have the time to do just that.

I still have some numbness in the surgical area and can "feel" it when I move around too much but I am otherwise feeling very much back to 'normal'.

I will be starting karate again in a couple of weeks as well but my surgeon suggested to take it slow... just like it is something new because I have not been active whatsoever and literally very sedentary for weeks! Walking any great distances does not yet appeal to me, I prefer to stay close to home but I don't have any issues getting up from the couch anymore, nor do I want to be firmly planted on a couch any longer!

I will be nicely wrapping up the next 7 days of 'recovery' and starting work with a new lease on life!

5 weeks of 'home rest'

Friday, July 24, 2010
I've been home from the hospital for 5 weeks now! I'd have to say I underestimated the healing powers of time, solitude, peace and quiet. Not doing anything but allowing one's body to heal (all the while eating well and taking vitamins).

I probably haven't been as active as I thought I'd be but definitely in the past 2 weeks my energy has been such that I don't just sit around any more. My body has been telling me to move more. I often feel tired afterward and if I've been standing around too long, I need to sit down to rest my weary body however, I wonder if that's still just the humidity sapping the life out of me.

In any case, I'm feeling far better and life is good.

5 weeks post-op

Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tired. Not sleeping well. I think it's mainly the humidity but it's stealing all energy from me.

4 weeks post-op

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Despicable Me, Steve Carell's new animation movie. I'm going to see it tonight - first night out. :) And it's cheap night.

It was hot enough by noon that I had to turn the A/C back on. Outside wasn't too bad I didn't think so I weeded the lawn a bit. I got very light-headed standing up from bending down. The dizziness continued as I moved around the house so just planted myself for half an hour - I am feeling better. Hmmm, I cannot imagine I was actually hungry! :) I had buttermilk pancakes for brunch then made spaghetti for a mid-afternoon meal (4 p.m.) Yes, I guess I could have used some nourishment.

I got on the Wii Fit and gained 0.7 kg since 'last time'.

Initially after the operation, within 11 days I had lost 3.5 kg! I continued to lose 0.5 kg more but within the last 2 weeks I gained 0.1 kg each week. And now today, 0.7. That is only a total of < 1 kg and I had lost 4 in total but I would really like to slow this upward trend!

I will be more active now - it is bound to help in all areas.

1 month post-op - Sugerical Consultation

Today is Monday, July 12, 2010 and I had a surgical consultation with my kidney surgeon, Dr. A. Ghanekar, 4 weeks after my nephrectomy. He is such a kind and down-to-earth soul. A wonderful professional who released any apprehensions we may have had. Unless something bothers or concerns me there is no reason I have to see him again and that part is sad but he is an excellent surgeon and I was so lucky to be in his care.

I am able to bathe and swim like usual now but should wait 3-4 weeks before participating in karate. Even then I need to take it slow as I have been fairly sedentary till now. I will increase walking and other light exercises but I'm still to avoid lifting and pulling.

The numbness and tingly sensation is normal but still odd to me. It is numb close to the main incision and tingly above, like pins and needles. That is supposed to indicate that the tiny muscle fibers are mending. Healing is good!

I learned from my surgeon that he kept my left adrenal gland intact! This is good news - it controls hormones and other things... important bodily functions particularly when I'm without my left kidney. :) I had read that without the adrenal gland, fatigue could be an issue. I still have some fatigue but obviously it's unrelated to not having both adrenal glands. I am completely thrilled to have had such an *excellent* Nephrologist!

Now I need to get into the right head space before I start work. I've begun to go through the 850+ emails but I'm still uncertain when I will start taking my role back. Ayron has been so great in making the transition seamless; I appreciate her help!

3 Letters of Gratitude (2001 and 2010)

Friday, July 9, 2010; it's been 3 weeks today since I got home from the hospital. I am feeling considerably better. It's amazing what time and a little Tender Loving Care can do!

I reminisced on the gifts of organ donation. I have wanted to share the first two letters {below} since I started writing over a year ago but now having with the third, I think it it's an appropriate time to post them.


On May 20, 2001, my brother Rollie never knew what was going to happen. He was 27 and generated both grief and gratitude within such a short span of time... depending on whose vantage point.

In the early hours of May 21, 2001, my brother gave several gifts of 'life' as the process of donating his organs was initiated by my father to whom two of the below letters are addressed.

The third letter is from the recipients of my living kidney donation.

Letter 1

New Brunswick Eye Bank
St. Joseph's Hospital
130 Bayard Drive, Saint John, NB, Canada, E2L 3L6
Tel (506) 632-5541 Fax (506) 632-5573


May 24, 2001

Mr. Walter Corey
(NB address)

Dear Mr. Corey;

At this time of extreme personal sorrow for you and your famiy, I wish to thank you for your son Rowland's great gifts.

Rowland's corneas were sent to Halifax where they were used for transplant and because of him, two people have been blessed with restored vision. We can only imagine how wonderful that must be for them. On their behalf, I thank you for the ability to see family, friends, and beautiful surroundings.

On behalf of the New Brunswick Eye Bank I extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family, and I trust that you will find comfort in the knowledge that Rowland's gifts of sight are a living tribute to his life.

With gratitude and respect,

Mary Gatien, RN, CEBT
Director NB Eye Bank

Letter 2

Health and Wellness New Brunswick

May 29, 2001

Mr. Walter Corey
(NB address)

Dear Mr. Corey,

Please accept my sympathy on the recent death of your son, Rowland. At the same time I want to thank you and your family for the donation of Rowland's organs and corneas for transplantation. Because of your generosity at the time of deep sadness 6 people have greatly had their lives improved.

The recipients of the organs are all doing very well at this time.

The liver recipient is a 61-year old man. The recipient of Rowland's heart is a 49-year old woman. Both kidney recipients are young women. One is 18 years old and the other is 23.

Again Mr. Corey, on behalf of these recipients and their families my thanks for agreeing to organ donation. If you have any questions in the future please contact me.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Ann Secord, RN
Organ Procurement Officer
Hospital Services Branch

Letter 3

Received June 16, 2010

Dear Donor

Hi, I am the wife of your recipient. It is hard to find the words to tell you how much your gift means to us as we are overwhelmed with the generosity of your spirit. I am also donating a kidney to a stranger but I am doing it for my husband, to see him healthy again and off dialysis.

Thank you from all of us in our extended families - this is a great and wonderful thing you are doing and you are a hero to us, and always will be.

Friend:

I'm the husband with the bad kidneys. My wife and I have been married 20 years this year. We're crazy about each other. No kids, but we have the cutest dog you ever saw. We're very lucky.

I've know for years that I had kidney disease, but the reality of kidney failure hit us like a thunderbolt three years ago. Being on dialysis is like being on a long, extremely boring and inconvenient march.

Your gift is giving us our lives back. Thank you so much.

We wish you a speedy recovery and a long, happy life.

My first big walk!

I felt pretty good today and had new-found motivation to get out and walk! The family went on a new trail in a conversation area where signage indicates dogs can go off-leash. It's in Ajax on Church north of Taunton Rd. The trails, shaded with openings of sun blasts, led to a small creek. The dogs ran in and we all waded in the bathtub warm water. It was refreshing as I sat on a fallen tree with my legs dangling in the water. We walked and waded for almost an hour. It felt great and it sufficiently tired everybody out for the day. I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep. :)

Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since I've returned home from the hospital. I am thankful for time and health and healing.

3 weeks post-op

It's Wednesday, July 7, 2010. I had my nephrectomy 3 weeks ago yesterday.

I took it relatively easy all of the past week needing to get more rest and to not move as much as I had been doing.

Monday, July 5 though I had Brittany drive us to the dojo. She had to train so I just observed. Last night, she was tested for her next belt in karate and passed! Again, I just sat, observed and took pictures. Well, that's not entirely the truth. I was up walking around and tried to simulate some moves to help the students with some curriculum before class. I didn't go full tilt but when I got home I felt "sore" in the lower abdomen and swollen as well. It still looked swollen today so I am not moving around very much.

It surprises me how little exertion I can put forth yet have larger than expected repercussions! Other than some fatigue, I feel pretty good. I am still moving around slowly. Sometimes I can get up off the couch with ease, other days I take my good ol' time! I cannot stand for long periods of time without feeling tired which is really weird.

I want to be more active but I also know that will come in time. I don't want to injure myself and end up needing more time to heal than necessary. I don't want any permanent damage just because I was impatient! I find the numbness is strange and some of that numbness is now feeling tingly, like the pins and needles are coming out but I was told that sensation is normal and that it will subside. It's just that the fine nerves are mending and my muscles are healing.

It was suggested to me that that I should be consuming protein to help those muscles heal too. I had been focusing on taking lots of high-quality vitamins and eating lots of fruits, vegetables, grains and fiber but being vegetarian I neglected to make protein a focus point too, so yesterday I made a large pot of chili with lots of beans. I am also eating nuts, seeds, kamut pasta and spelt flakes which is more easily digestible and has protein and fiber in it as well!

I made a new 'kidney donor' friend online who lives in Dubai... Samah found me on Living Donors Online and we became friends on Facebook. My blog and messages to her have helped ease her mind with her surgery being Monday, July 12 so I'm really glad about that. That has sort of been the point of my blog. First, it was to document everything for myself but secondly and just as importantly, it's to help anybody else going through the same experience. By far, message boards and speaking with others is the greatest way to gain knowledge about what is to come from this.

What has been unexpected by me is the emotional side of things. I've had outstanding support from friends, family and colleagues alike and it is almost overwhelming. I've heard many good - and bad - 'kidney stories' from various people and it just makes me well up with emotion. I felt weird starting this process but in the end, there was nothing that could keep me from going through with it. I would do it again.

I haven't taken anything for pain in 2 days and it was 2 days before that that I had needed anything. I haven't needed stool softeners for a week or more now. I feel my digestion is nearly back to normal with a daily bowel movement but I'm still eating lots of fiber, fruits, vegetables, yogurt; drinking lots of water and 100% pure cranberry juice and black coffee (which I am slowly cutting back on). Overall, I feel pretty good other than some sporadic dips in energy levels which may be due to restless nights of sleep but every day is better than the day before!

I just read this today on a message board:

If you had your left kidney removed, your left adrenal gland was also disabled during surgery. For some donors this can cause fatigue, etc. An MD suggest to add DHEA as a supplement. There are published studies that indicate DHEA's improvement in adrenal function.

I'll have to research this further!

2 weeks post-op

It's Tuesday, June 29, 2010. I had a bit of a rough weekend (from Friday till Sunday) so I planned to take it easy and I did. I was sore in my lower abdomen and took a pain pill regularly. Eating, drinking, having to go to the bathroom and even menstruating causes pressure and discomfort.

Unfortunately yesterday I had made the mistake of not getting a coffee. I'd been drinking strong stuff all week then WHAM! The caffeine withdrawal triggered a migraine. I had gone to bed around 3 p.m. because food didn't help and woke around 4:30 p.m. with a excruciating pain in the right side of my head. I took 2 pain pills instead of the usual one but within 20 minutes I was in tears. I got out of bed and got my husband to take me with him. I felt better once out in some fresh air and sunshine by the lake.

I do not walk long nor far yet. I still find when I move around too much I feel it soon after and/or the next day.

Today, I feel better but decided to take it easy. I managed to get somebody from work to troubleshoot my work laptop so it's functional now. I installed Microsoft Office on the home desktop. I did some budgeting but don't have the energy to do much else.

I had a nice conversation with my Sensei and contemplated life some.

The television is free so I think I'll plant myself on the sofa; so little else to do and I'm really starting to feel sleepy. Tomorrow is another day with good intentions. :)

1 week after getting home from the hospital after donor kidney surgery

It's Friday, June 25, 2010. I feel fine but tired. I haven't taken any pain medication or stool softeners. I had a BM when I got out of bed.

I woke at 7:40 a.m. to wait for a Bell technician to arrive this morning between 8 a.m. and Noon. He arrived at 9 a.m. and was helpful but didn't solve the problem of my work laptop being able to connect to the internet. I'm not connecting to the network to work yet but I have lost internet capability on my work machine. I have to contact work. :( Coincidentally, my workplace is moving to another building (next door) and yesterday and today people were to work from home. Today, they finish setting up all the desks in the new place then hook up the network (flip the switch) in the new place on the weekend. I don't know yet what is going on.

I am reading some of a Women's Health magazine today (that the ladies at Points gave me) and watching the live FIFA game. Brazil vs. Portgual. I think I'll route for Portugal.

1 week post-op (summary of my 1st week)

It's Tuesday, June 22, 2010. My appetite for food is very low right now. I hadn't eaten in 72 hours and hadn't had water for 36 hours (they only gave me ice chips after surgery until the next day). At first the problem with eating and drinking too much was that they were worried I'd feel nauseous (that never happened once fortunately!) but later it was because it put a lot of pressure on my torso/chest.

Because of the laparoscopic procedure, they pumped air into me so that they could maneuver around in my torso but when they stitched me up some of that air remained. I anticipated that I'd experience it, I just never knew what to expect and to be honest I had one bout of 'gas pain' that was one of the most painful experiences I ever had - that was 5 a.m. the next morning after surgery and I had just moved around a bit more than I had been I guess and that prompted the 'gas' to push out again my chest - oh, the pain! I groaned out in agony and the nurse heard me and arrived before I could even push the button to call her. I had also hit the morphine drip just beforehand which only activates every 5 minutes so I had to 'breathe it out'.

Later the gas felt like sharp pains in my shoulder bones or chest. They don't want anything to happen to donors so they gave me x-rays and an ECG again to be sure that's what it was but assured me it was just the gas. Only time, breathing deeply (I have this little breathing machine contraption to use) and walking will work it out. It seems to be all out now but I still kinda feel bloated...

June 16, 2010 - Day 2

I have been waking up all through the night but have been relatively "comfortable" other than my back which aches from lying down for so long.

Then around 5 a.m. I must have shifted in bed a bit too much.

I woke up moaning in agony! I had just hit the morphine drip (can only do so every 5 minutes). The night nurse heard me before I managed to hit the button to call for her. Two of them came in and because I was so comfortable until then they weren't sure what was happening but finally determined it was gas pain.

Gas
I'd like to point out that by 'gas' I don't mean in my bowels (there is *nothing* in my bowels). It's the air they had to pump into me for the laparoscopic procedure that is trapped inside my body. The only way it comes out is with time, really.

The nurses said all I could do was breathe through it. I outstretched my chest like I wanted it to open up to escape. It was so painful! Finally I could hit the morphine again but it takes a few minutes to kick in. That was the worst bout of pain ever! I proceeded to make every effort to do what I can to not experience that again. Walking will help (but I wouldn't do that for 2 more days).

Along with breathing deeply as much as I could myself, the nurse increased my oxygen to alleviate the discomfort.

June 15, 2010 - Day 1 (surgery) - Laparoscopic Live Donor Nephrectomy

1. Was up until 1:30 a.m. Had the alarm set for 4:28 a.m. because we had to be at the hospital for 6. Can you believe I had my cell phone on silent and just *happened* to wake up at 5:22 a.m.! Frantically, my husband and I got up and drove downtown Toronto and arrived exactly at 6 a.m. Whew!

2. Checked-in; de-robed and got to wear a couple of hospital gowns and pair of disposable slippers. Several nurses come to prep me.

3. Surgery at 8 a.m. I'm wheeled down a few halls into a large, chilly Operating Room. Looking up from flat on my back I see those huge lights above me ready to illuminate my body for surgery and I feel a pang of nervousness. The O.R. nurse, Julie, is helpful and kind. She gives me a mask to breathe into deeply. I take several - nothing seems to be happ...

4. I awake! I can't remember if I wake up in a recovery room first then my room or just my hospital room. It is very fuzzy. My husband has waited the whole time. Apparently the surgery took a little longer than expected because I have intricate blood vessels or something so they needed more time. Also recovery was a couple of hours but my husband saw me around 2 p.m.

5. My husband returns a couple hours later with our daughter. She happily snaps photos which she kindly shares with our Facebook world. :) I feel like I can get up and walk. The nurse says I can't right now but I've been lying for several hours and I start to feel uncomfortable.

6. No nausea whatsoever. I'm on an I.V. for fluids and pain medication (morphine). They will only give me ice chips. I'm *so* thirsty!

My Photo Journal

June 14, 2010 - Final Countdown!

I will be checking into Toronto General Hospital at 6 a.m. tomorrow. I am not nervous yet but running out of time to do all the things I won't be able to do after tomorrow (for a few weeks anyway).

June 8, 2010 - Final Blood Tests

Work in Progress....

Did another ECG and gave 18 viles of blood before meeting with a pharmacist, a swab nurse, another nurse who discussed the anesthesia with me and then the anesthesiologist.

More juicy details soon!

June 1, 2010 - Meet the surgeon, i.e. Dr. Anand Ghanekar

Work in Progress

NSAIDS and Kidney Damage (Advil, Nuprin,etc)

NSAIDS and Kidney Damage (Advil, Nuprin,etc) « Kidney in the News..

By the numbers - STATS

35,000: Number of Canadians who have kidney disease

60: Estimated deaths each year of people waiting for a kidney transplant

4,000: Approximate number of people on the wait list for a kidney from a deceased person

$300,000: Amount in health-care costs that could be saved over a patient's lifetime if a faulty kidney is replaced

40: Percentage of last year's 1,200 kidney donations that came from living donors

90 to 95: Percentage of transplanted kidneys from living donors that work well after a year

15 to 20: Number of years, on average, that successfully transplanted kidneys from living donors last

85 to 90: Percentage of transplanted kidneys from deceased donors that work well after a year

10 to 15: Number of years, on average, that successfully transplanted kidneys from deceased donors last

Marina Jiménez and Dakshana Bascaramurty; Sources: Kidney Foundation of Canada; Dr. John Gill

Follow the events of the day when Lisa Sayer donated her kidney in June

This article is fantastic... I can see me in it. Make sure you read not just this page but the links under Related Information (it's a continuation of Lisa's story).

How history was made - The Globe and Mail

This won't be my experience but here's an excerpt from the point of view of the recipient. Interesting information!

It's not necessary to remove the diseased kidneys – instead Dr. Robinette makes a six-inch incision just below the appendix near the groin, cuts through three layers of skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle to the external iliac artery and vein in the right leg; this artery and vein are used to implant the kidney. The renal artery and vein are sewn to these vessels.

Once the vascular clamps are released, blood begins to flow to the kidney. First the vein is opened and the kidney turns purple, then arterial blood begins flowing and the kidney turns pink. “It suddenly jumps to life. It's very exciting,” Dr. Robinette says.

Doctors watch to see that the patient is putting out urine, which means the kidney is working: “The pee in the bag is like liquid gold.”

My *new* transplant surgeon!

UHN: Focus of Care - Multi-Organ Transplant - Liver Transplant - Staff Profiles:Anand Ghanekar, MD PhD FRCSC

A new surgeon?

I just got a call from Sherry, my transplant coordinator assistant. She said there will be a minor change. I got worried for a second. A major change would be that the surgery was rescheduled - again.

The minor change is that I will be getting a new surgeon, possibly. She wanted to change my surgeon so that I would get a laparascopic surgery. "WHAT?!", I said to her. I was not told that it *wouldn't* be laparascopic! She says, "So this is good news." Yes, yes, it is! My goodness, I have not even prepared for the possibility it would be the 'traditional' slice-open-my-left-side and take out the kidney. Ugh! Laparascopic is the way to go!!

The kidney expert with whom I consulted at the end of last summer, Dr. Richardson, suggested that I adamantly request for laparascopic; that if I am doing this donation altruistically that I deserve the 'elite' operation. I expressed my preference at least twice to Michael Garrels, the transplant coordinator so I just assumed that that was the way it would be. He never said it was a sure thing. He said he would try. So Sherry is trying! She was about to give me the new surgeon's name but said she had jumped the gun and first had to speak with Michael. But that's OK. Go, Sherry. Get my laparascopic surgeon. I prefer 4 little incisions over 1 big one! Please and Thank you!

Just this morning I was going over in my mind what my recovery would be like. Maybe it is positive thinking but I really feel after 3 weeks I should be fairly functional again. I mean as far as my job goes, which I can do from home. If I get sliced open recovery will definitely be much longer. I really, really want the more advanced method. Yes, the actual surgery takes an extra hour... but what will I care, I'll be snoozing.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada | La Fondation canadienne du rein

The Kidney Foundation of Canada - Deceased Donation

Talk to your family about organ donation - Healthcare in Canada

In order to be an organ donor, the donor must die from brain death, also referred to as neurological death. In laymen's terms, this form of death results from a severe injury to the brain, whereby the brain ceases to function because of insufficient blood or oxygen. If the person does not die before reaching a hospital, the organs can be kept alive for a short period of time, allowing for them to be donated. This is highly uncommon, occurring in just 1% to 2% of all deaths. People who die from other causes cannot donate organs, although they may still be able to donate tissue, including eyes, skin, bones, veins, and heart valves.

Talk to your family about organ donation

Foley's catheter insertion in male and female

NOTE: This is a bit graphic (even though demonstrated on a "dummy") so unless you are going to have this done....

Foley's catheter insertion in male and female

I just found out this will happen to me while I'm under the knife... and I was curious as to how it's actually done so I'm really glad I'll be asleep when they do it!!

My surgeon - Dr. Michael Robinette, M.D.

Michael Robinette, M.D. has over 30 years experience in the field of urology. He is an Associate Professor, Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and serves as a Consultant in Urology at Toronto General Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

Dr. Robinette received his medical degree from the University of Toronto and completed his postgraduate surgical urology fellowship training in Toronto. He also spent a year in London, England at the London Hospital studying transplant and tumour immunology.

Dr. Robinette has been published in over 30 peer reviewed journals and has given multiple lectures and presentations at hospitals, universities and conferences. He is a member of the Canadian Urological Association, the American Urological Association and the International Society of Urology. Dr. Robinette's primary areas of interest are renal transplantation, urological cancer and stone disease.

Medical School, University of Toronto
Fellowship, University of Toronto
Canadian Urological Association (CUA)
American Urological Association (AUA)
Canadian Urological Academy
International Society of Urology
Associate Professor, University of Toronto
Partner, Can-Am HIFU (1 of 7 partners)

Address:
University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital
585 University Avenue
11-1264 NCSB
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2N2
Phone: 416-340-3855

Email: michael.robinette@uhn.on.ca

URL: www.Can-AmHIFU.com or www.Can-AmHIFU.ca

Dr. Robinette is one of seven partners in Can-Am HIFU which has a small ownership interest in Toronto HIFU LP.

Appointment with my transplant surgeon

Sherry, the transplant assistant, called to inform me she'll be sending me a letter next week about what I need to do before surgery. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 2 p.m. for about an hour on the 12th floor of Toronto General. I have to sign a consent form too.

Dr. Robinette will be away June 3-13 so hopefully that means the surgeon comes back rested and refreshed to take out my kidney. :)

I have to go back June 8 for the final tests before the actual surgery.

Emotions

I suddenly got very emotional when my cousin Elaine Corey asked me if I would like for her to put me on the prayer list at her church. :) I said yes, of course but to particularly please mention the recipients. They are the ones waiting for new kidneys in order to lead better lives. Me, I'm perfectly healthy!

Four weeks from today the surgery will be complete and 3 recipients will be able to empty their bladders just like I do! :)

I have a transplant date!!

I spoke with Michael Garrels today (ext 5589)....

My left kidney will be removed Tuesday, June 15, 2010!

Hopefully it will proceed to benefit a kidney recipient for many years to come! I am so happy - and nervous!

My Mom

A couple weeks ago when speaking with my mother on the phone (we're long distance from one another), she asked me about my kidney donation and how it was going. I had nothing new to share so she asked confirming I was still going ahead with it. And again, I said that yes I was.

She surprised me when she said, well your father found that letter you wrote and we think you're such a good writer. He gave it to me and I re-read it so I wanted you to know that we support you in whatever you decide to do.

I am near tears writing this now so then it made me *so* happy! I said, "Thanks, Mom!" She didn't even have to say it. I knew she had concerns and still will but I always knew I had her support even unwillingly. But it was certainly nice to hear it directly from her! What a Mom I have!

I'm debating sharing the letter on my blog. Not many people read my blog, and I sent the same letter to my 3 sisters.... but it's a little personal however I will probably post it at some point prior to my surgery.

June 2010 - my kidney donation month

I called the transplant coordinator this morning to learn they are keeping the original 3 donor/recipient pairs and my surgery will be in late June! I won't have a specific date until May though as all the travel and other coordination needs to be worked out. I am excited - happy that I am not "losing" my recipient... and particularly pleased that the other recipient who has had issues being able to move forward with a transplant is still in my group. :)



Medical Minutes in Urology from Dramatic Health
(1-2 minute-long YouTube videos)

Kidney Donor Program: What Do You Know?
Kidney Donation: Medical Advances
Kidney Donation: Living With One Kidney
Kidney Donation: Impact on Lifestyle
Living Kidney Donation vs. Non-Living

3rd delay :(

I was thinking today that I should call for an update... then who should call me but my transplant coordinator, Michael Garrels, at around 4:30 p.m. today.

There is a glitch such that there is an issue with one of the recipient's in my group. My recipient is OK and we can continue as planned with just one other donor/recipient pair potentially within the same time frame. Or, in order to complete the original donor-recipient chain, we could wait until the recipient is 'better' then possibly have the surgeries done in June. That is quite a delay from March...

I don't feel I can make any type of decision regarding this. I don't feel it's up to me to decide who gets a kidney now, or who has to wait for one. I explained this to Michael who said that that made it easier to approach the other donor-recipient pair (apparently I was the first person in the 3-pair group he called, I guess because I'm the anonymous donor).

There are 3 options moving forward:
1. Don't wait - 2 transplants can take place probably in March

2. Wait - 3 transplants can take place probably in June

3. Get a different potential recipient match and possibly my transplant surgery will get done 'sooner' or just as soon


The results of each of these options is:
For #1, I could get a surgery date by the end of the week.

For #2, I won't get a date (in June) for probably another month.

For #3, it's hard to say when this will take place as I will have a new recipient; as long as my recipient is an actual match, it should be able to get scheduled fairly shortly with the other donor-recipient pairs after the new cross-match run.

I shared this news with Erika (my HR friend).

The transplant coordinator felt concern for me that I have to wait so long for this to take place but when I have this surgery is of no consequence to me. I am not going to say, "Sorry, person-needing-a-kidney; I have vacation plans, you must wait! It's the recipients who need our living kidneys sooner than later.

I just told Michael that whatever works out best for the most people is how I look at it so he said he'd get back to me within the week.

YouTube monologue

These video logs were shared on a message board.

Candid monologue by a young woman about testing, her fears, her recovery, her scars, and her tattoo months after her donation.

Part One
Part Two