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TransplantBuddies.org Forums » Kidney - Pancreas Transplant » Archive through June 17, 2011 » Gift of Life - Kidney & Pancreas « Previous Next »
Author Message
GOL
Member
Username: Life

Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2011
Posted on Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 09:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Diabetes
It all started when I was 15 years of age I became ill with appendicitis, then glandular fever and then diabetes, which was not totally alien to me as my brother had been diagnosed diabetic 6 years earlier at the age of 13.
Was a tough time especially being 15 when all I wanted to do was be with my friends having fun and just be a teenager.
This is where the damage began........ test your blood, take your insulin, eat good food, don't forget you have to go to diabetic clinic.......these words haunted me all I wanted was to have fun, play football, hockey enjoy myself not think about serious things I was 15!!!

Teenage rebellion
I was body conscience and was afraid to gain weight all emotions were running around my head I kept my blood sugars constantly high as I did not take insulin as I was supposed to because I thought this way I will not get low and have to eat, ironic as it sounds now. I really believed that.

The years passed living this way at clinic appointments I would lie about my levels and seemed to get away with it not realising what damage I was doing to my body, first it affected the nerves in my feet losing some feeling first in the toes and as time passed half way up both feet, in my twenties my eyes started to suffer and by the time I was 30 required laser treatment in both eyes to stop regrowth of vessels which I have to tell you was not a very nice treatment to undergo and to go every few weeks it took up so much of precious time.
I had made things worse from age 18 to 23 going to parties getting drunk not eating properly suffering from hangovers constantly high blood sugars from the alcohol to then dropping and falling in to hypo attacks, taking a guess at my blood sugars and insulin dose.
Why did I find this so difficult? I can say that now but looking back honestly can not give you an answer.

Taking control
It had all caught up with me I was 24 always feeling tired I looked pale and unhealthy could barely finish a days work I felt moody and at times did not have patience for people, what was wrong with me?
That is when I woke up and took control of my condition but unfortunately the damage was already done only to discover in 2005 when I went for routine check up at the diabetic clinic it was September just before my 33rd birthday.
There were the words 'your kidneys are leaking protein' it may not be too late the doctor said but there is a chance your kidneys will fail we must see you more often and keep check.......there it was the start of my sentence.

What does my future hold? What will happen to me if they fail? Will I get away with this?
THE ANSWERS ARE CLEAR
DIALYSIS -TRANSPLANT-NO

Living life to the full
I had always enjoyed to travel going on trips with friends two or three times per year I decided that's what I will do....travel because maybe I will not get the chance again so I quit my job sold my home and car and off I went first stop Australia although I was not completely free I had to get regular blood and urine tests and send them back home for doctors to check, things stayed stable for a while.
I went to the States. Canada, around parts of Europe, and Egypt I was having a great time I felt like a free spirit I was finally happy and really had my diabetes down to a tee. I ended up in the canary islands enjoying the sun, surf and the stress free life but unfortunately the kidneys started to give up my last blood results showed I only had 50% function it was now the end of 2006.

Worsening illness
I was 34 with kidney failure. I had to return home to attend clinics once a month and soon I only had 30% function I was at my worst every day being sick, lacking energy and no appetite I was really suffering, the hypos occured almost every day to the point I was afraid to go anywhere in case one struck I was testing my blood nearly every hour I was so afraid and to think if I had only done this 4 or 5 times a day in the beginning and knew what insulin dose to take this could have been avoided.

Listing for transplant
I spent 2007 going to pre dialysis clinic in Aberdeen it was only a matter of time before I needed to start dialysis and there it was December 2007 at the clinic appointment my kidney function was 12% I was being put on the list for kidney and pancreas transplant it was surreal although I knew it was coming I was not sure how I felt. Christmas was bleak I was not in the humour, new year arrived and I was depressed and feeling very ill, then out of the blue Jan 15th 2008 I got that all important call a possible donor match
I arrived there alone as my family could not be with me it was all quite scary but so much was going on I was kept quite busy with not too much time to think after a few hours the doctor came to tell me the organs were no good and to go home.....I was gutted but deep down relieved I was not ready emotionally.
Almost one month later in February the same again but organs could not be used, this time I felt disappointed, and again in March I was littrally 10 minutes at the hospital and they said no again.
This time I really felt prepared I had plenty practice I said to myself before I got there what will happen will happen and off I went back to Aberdeen quite content.

May 2008 my function was between 8 and 10% I was so depressed to think I had to have dialysis I had been so close three times for transplant and now had come to this I was ignorant and stubborn.
My options were peritoneal dialysis (pd) which is done at hospital initially then in the home and is done using a catheter in the stomach area which is put in by surgery under anaesthetic this appealed to me as doing at home instead of attending hospital so much would give me more freedom and is 30 minute exchanges 4 times per day and then through the night, or second option hemo dialysis which is done using a fistula which is put in under local anaesthetic and is to give access into an entrance way into your bloodstream that lies beneath your skin, the access is usually in your arm but sometimes in the leg and allows blood to be removed and returned quickly hemo is done in hospital and can be for 4 to 5 hours a session depending on what you require.
Decision was made pd so I got my date for procedure few weeks later I had a catheter put in my stomach, instantly I hated it what had I done? I lasted 7 days and got an infection I became extremely ill and was taken to hospital and catheter was removed I had got peritonitis which is a serious disorder caused by inflammation of the peritoneum.
What next was I ever going to get some good luck!
Next step was get the fistula put in and July it was done I had to wait 6 weeks before could start hemo dialysis, I lasted 5 I was retaining too much fluid and could not walk very far, my heart was starting to enlarge it was dangerous.
I felt my life had been taken away from me 5 hours 3 times for week how will this once free spirit cope?
Then it dawned on me....I can either let this beat me or use this time well is 15 hours each week I could do my studies time I otherwise would not have, be positive it is not the end of life and that's when I changed depression was gone that big black cloud had been lifted.

August I started dialysis I instantly felt better all that fluid drained away my weight was coming down I even looked more like me, appetite and energy levels returned, I really was ok.
I had been attending the gym but always found it quite hard but once I started treatment I was going 5 or 6 times per week I loved it my incentive was I keep fit now I will get through my transplant better and this is what gave me the drive.
I became friends with the dialysis staff and it actually felt more like a social event got to know the other patients we kept each other going and knowing the result after treatment I was happy to have I knew it made me feel better.

Christmas 2008 was a better one and new year came and I said this is it 2009 will be my year I had some great friends around me and said to them all 'lady luck she is coming for me I feel it'
My lucky day came Sunday 18th January 2009 it was 20:50 I GOT MY GIFT OF LIFE CALL.
I was excited I really felt this was my time, 4th time lucky, All thoughts going through my head but the strongest one I wondered who was my donor who was the person going to give me 'the gift of life'.

It was 1am I had arrived at ward 206 the transplant ward where I had been three times already it was all familiar and I was not afraid.
Doctors and nurses were coming and going I had some tests on my heart to check I was able to have operation, blood was taken, then I was to have what would be my last session of dialysis I was exhausted and managed to sleep during it.
7am the doctor came to tell me the organs were good the transplant would go ahead at 10am and hearing those words I broke down it was really going to happen, the nurse brought me a phone so I could call home and tell my family a sleepy voice answered it was my dad I told him the great news it was a very emotional call.
After three hours of crying and coming to terms with it all it was time to go new life was waiting for me I had to be brave.

I arrived to the preparation room I felt ok the staff were amazing we were making jokes I was laughing and crying at same time so many mixed emotions were flooding through me but mostly was joy of knowing soon I would have my life back I felt positive and was determined to make it all better again, I was having epidural which is an injection into the small of your back using a curved hollow needle, the needle goes between the vertebrae of your back and into the space outside the coverings that surround your spinal cord. A fine tube is passed through the needle and the needle is removed, the tube is taped up your back and over the shoulder and the local anaesthetic is injected, this numbs the lower part of your abdomen, generally your legs and feet also go numb.
Leaning over the anaesthetist started to do the procedure 'arch your back he said try not to flinch' it felt a bit uncomfortable but it didnt last long soon I was lying down and my legs started to feel heavy and that was it next thing I was waking up in recovery room I looked up at the man in green standing next to me I said 'have you not started yet' he replied 'its all done you have had the transplant you are in recovery room it all went well' it did not really register with me but I felt content.
After some time I was transferred to intensive care where I slept most of the time.
It was now Tuesday day 1 after operation I had no idea of time I was on a lot of medication it was all new to me I felt so tired but was comfortable and the staff were very nice to me softly spoken and very friendly I felt safe.
Next time I woke up was Wednesday I was feeling ok, soon after there was my dad walking in looking a bit unsure but a huge smile on his face of course I had three drains in my stomach with bags hanging all over the place, a catheter, tubes in my neck and oxygen it must of looked quite scary however I was unaware of it all, I was so happy to see him but I did not last long and fell asleep.

That evening I was to be moved to HDU (high dependany unit) another step in the right direction I thought to myself, I arrived there and things started to move I was assesed and doctor said to stop epidural and switch to another pain killer which was a morphine pump unfortunatley through the night I became ill I took a bad reaction to the morphine made me feel very sick was awful I wanted to put my fingers down my throat to relieve it I really did not know what to do with myself.
Doctors came with the pain team discussed what was the next option, I was to be taken off the morphine and given oral pain killers and anti sickness tablets it seemed to settle quite quickly and the relief I can tell you was great although I did not feel to eat and I was exhausted.
Tomorrow is another day and lets face it was one bad day it is a small price to pay.
Friday arrived day four after operation I was feeling good and wanted to eat and shower both very good signs so I had breakfast then was taken by chair to the shower as my legs were still numb after epidural, was so nice to have a shower and wash my hair I felt human again although I have to say it took alot out of me I returned to the room and was very tired.
Listen to your body it needs to rest and heal the signs given are very clear.
Later that afternoon the nurse came to say he could take out epidural line, catheter and one of the drains, fantastic I thought is again another step in the right direction, so now I was left with only two drains this was when I saw for the first time my wounds I had two what looked liked smiles on my stomach one for kidney and one for pancreas, how appropriate I was smiling on my face inside my soul and also where my new organs had been placed I was so happy.

Saturday arrived I could feel my legs I asked if I could walk to the shower I need to get moving I was so determined to recover well and get back to normal and go to the next step ward 206 where it had all started so I did with the nurse by me apart from feeling dizzy I did it I was so proud of myself after I was sitting on the chair which was good to be out of bed and stretch I was getting stiff I was feeling a bit strange on the medication but nothing too untoward I think I was hallusinating could see beautiful images of things in the creases of the curtains and chairs it was strange but actually quite amusing.
I had a good day I had been told my kidney was working and had not required insulin since the transplant I was no longer diabetic, all was going well and that evening off I went to ward 206.

In this ward I was able to take phone calls and my friends and dad were calling me I would get up and walk to take the calls it gave me exercise and hearing their voices was fantastic, cards started to arrive with messages of hope.
I was able to go in the shower alone, I was eating and drinking and with help of physiotherapists was walking up and down the corridors.
Everything was going well I had got lucky in my heart I was thinking of my donor but was not quite ready to know about them but something was telling me it was a young man I am not sure why I had this strong feeling I just knew.
Next day doctors had arrived to see me I had taken a shower I was feeling great and looking very well even though I had not slept all night. They were amazed at how well I was doing and one said I was extraordinary, that made me feel very proud and encouraged me even more he said was no reason why I could not be transferred to my local hospital mid week.
Monday was here one week after operation I was feeling another bit stronger and walking around by myself slowly as I was tender and very aware of my wounds, again I had not really slept perhaps an hour here and there and that is half the battle to healing ...sleep but was just not happening.
Later that day the last two drains came out and were replaced with small bags it felt great.
The lady next to me had been given a kidney transplant her second one we talked alot and helped each other with our experiences and she called me bionic woman due to the fact I was recovering so fast we had a laugh.

Laughter lifts the soul it brings great energy and positivity, my aunt once described laughter to me as 'internal jogging'.

Tuesday day 8 doctors round I was examined and told I could go home the next day and attend local hospital as an out patient.
On day 9 I was to be going home they told me I was a record breaker, has never happened before with this type of transplant I was so excited and called home my dad thought I was joking!

I had to attend the hospital ward 23 where I had previously gone for dialysis for check up and blood tests this is to see how things are going and to make sure the correct doses of medication are taken I was getting lots of hugs from the staff I had got to know so well all telling me how great I looked and how happy they were for me this made me feel great I reacted to the positvity of people around me it was all good energy.
My weight was getting back to normal I could see the shape of my face again after having been bloated with fluid for such a long time and each day I was getting stronger.

Day 25 after transplant my levels were normal I could eat anything I wanted and drink as much as I wanted which was all very strange after being on fluid and diet restrictions for so long, I no longer am a diabetic I feel fantastic, taking each day as it comes listening to my body and keeping that determination alive.
Six days after I got home I called transplant co ordinator in Edinburgh and asked about my donor I was right it was a young man I now had someone to thank I will forever be in his debt and promise to do everything in my power to help my new organs. he has given me a new lease of life is true to say 'THE GIFT OF LIFE'

To all my family and friends old and new and especially to my donor and his family I thank you all for keeping me strong and positive
****************
I hope this can give you or your loved one some inspiration and courage take each step at a time there is light at the end of it all

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