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max
Forum Leader
Username: Max

Post Number: 61
Registered: 09-2010
Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 07:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Now that I'm home and got a really good night sleep in my own bed -I wanted to share a few things since the actual surgery. Wednesday, I was in recovery a little longer than expected - as it took me a while to get my pain in check. Let's be perfectly frank - although I was warned by many of you about the pain - nobody mentioned the 'Car', you know, the one driven by 'Faith' - the one that hits you smack dab in the middle of your stomach. Well - the 'Team' wasn't surprised - they knew all about the car. - and they did what they do best - get the pain under control. Granted, it wasn't,t really until noon the next day that I felt like we weren't playing catch up with the pain. But then there was a lot of naps.

One of the members on the 'Team' was able to let us know that my kidney was excellent and that the transplant was a success - I felt the eyes watering and that all too familiar 'Lump' in my throat.

Even with all of that - I wasn't prepared for this . . .
I have such a new - "Heightened Level Of Love And Life" A "Euphoric" feeling if you will. I literally cannot tell my wife how much I Love Her. - I realize now that the mere words "I Love You"
come no where close to telling her how I feel. My appreciation for "Life" also cannot be described by words.

Would I take this journey again - YES. And I will make myself available to anyone who is considering it. - but, like many have said there are many parts of this journey that you must walk alone.

Everyone at Transplant Buddies holds a special place in my heart - and I pray that along some life's upcoming journey's - we will actually get to meet -face to face. In fact, I am just starting to see if it's logistically possible for me to be in Utah at the end of Feb. - and possibly catch up with Chad - we'll see how the cards fall.

For now - I'm going to do exactly what everyone is telling me / "Take It Slow". I'm going to use some of this time to catch up on "Family Business" - (TB -
max


"We are continually faced with great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
Chad
Member
Username: Horace_mann

Post Number: 139
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 11:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Beautiful.....now ya got me crying. As I've read the posts and gone back and forth with you and others I've often thought the same thing about some kind of coming together of live donors. I know I've gotta be careful here because we all know where our thinking takes us!

The reflection on your feelings was right on the mark. It's quite indescribable. I've been trying to put words behind it but can't manage to say the least of what I feel. Maybe it's meant to be that way.

Not only are you a hero don't forget you're also someone's miracle. You were and are the hope of the hopeless - I don't believe there's a higher calling in life.

"Life, misfortunes, isolation, abandonment, poverty, are battlefields which have their heroes; obscure heroes, sometimes greater than the illustrious heroes." - Victor Hugo
Chad - non-directed kidney donor Oct. 2007
Rise
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 14713
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 11:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Dear Max and Chad

I am so glad that Heather contacted me back in 2000 to create this forum.

You all have to find a way to meet one day.

Max, you and your donor continue to be in my healing prayers.

You all Amaze me.
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05
Jackson Memorial Hospital

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Questions- Contact Hostess Rise

My Photos on Transplant Friends

Hostess Meagan
Forum Leader
Username: Newheart14

Post Number: 1428
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 04:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Max,

Happy to hear you're home. I'm sorry things are a little rough but time is the great healer. I am also happy to hear the transplant went well. You and Chad are heroes.

Did I see you post a welcome to a new member and you're just home from the hospital? Like Rise' said, "You are amazing".

I hope your pain goes away soon and you get strong fast.

Take care and don't over do, but it is good to do a little walking and keep that blood circulating.

Meagan
Forum Leader
Heart-Liver Transplant - February 14, 2008
Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy 1991 and CHF

- Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept trying when there seemed to be no hope at all - Dale Carnegie
- Bumps in the road can sometimes be mountains, so I have learned to climb mountains - Meagan

Heather
Forum Leader
Username: Heather

Post Number: 3112
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 10:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

so glad you are home and feeling better. Yeah..the pain is great, isn't it???? Mine was not managed well and I was miserable. but I made it through. The car ride home from Chicago was not fun either...as Chad did..I had a pillow I held to my incision..
anyway..so glad you are doing well!!
Heather

Forum Leader - Living Organ Donation
Heather's Blog

EC Illinois, USA
Kidney donor to dad 12/1/99
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes, Chicago

DONATE LIFE
Tawnya
Member
Username: Daddys_liver_girl

Post Number: 46
Registered: 04-2010
Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 11:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Max.

When your in a position like this, there really is "No Place like Home", huh? My first night home, I felt like I was floating, and told my husband "stop this cruise ship, I gotta get up and go to the bathroom." He laughed at me and I realized I was in my soft cushy bed and it was those drugs that made me feel like I was floating. I also had a lot of pain which lasted only 10 days and then I had zero pain.

You sound like your in good spirits. Glad to hear your feeling good enough to post. Take it easy, eat healthy, and relax. Your a hero!!! Way to go Max!!
Chad
Member
Username: Horace_mann

Post Number: 141
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010 - 08:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

You're right Tawnya - weird how the pain just disappears one day. The problem is in knowing what day that will be. Until then it's, "brace for impact!"

I'm fond of teasing my children and ever since donor day they tease back by saying, "Ya better stop or I'll punch you in your kidney!" Trouble is they have a hard time remembering left or right. I ain't gunna tell 'em.

So Max, take it slow EXCEPT when dodging kidney punches.
Chad - non-directed kidney donor Oct. 2007
max
Forum Leader
Username: Max

Post Number: 65
Registered: 09-2010
Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010 - 09:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Last night was the first night that I didn't wake up needing to take something for the pain - actually slept straight through. The last couple of days (today being no exception). I've been feeling quite a bit of pain /discomfort in my upper left shoulder area - the surgeon said this may happen and that it is typically related to the gas they use during the operation. Right now - I'm hoping to get that under control. As for 'That Day' - I say bring it on, the sooner the better.

Kidney Punches -
max
10.20.2010 non-directed kidney donor
'OCTODONOR'


"We are continually faced with great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
Jack R
Member
Username: Jack_r

Post Number: 52
Registered: 08-2010
Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010 - 02:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Max,
"Bravery is our most laudable attribute for without bravery all other attributes remain meaningless" {W. Churchill). Your life has changed and will never be the same.
As a Heart Transplant Recipient I thank you on behalf of all of us.
Your experience will prove to others, on this site as potential Donors, invaluable. Are several Donors or potential Donors on the Liver Forum.
Sleep well
CiscoKidney07
Forum Leader
Username: Gregg

Post Number: 4062
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010 - 05:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

max, I had the same unpleasant experience when I had a pd catheter put in. You could not be asleep, because it "snaps" into place. They turned me upside down and blew air into me as a part of the process. It makes your shoulders feel like someone took a baseball bat to them. The doctor told me that I should be able to get up and out of the hospital in about 45 minutes, post-op. Finally, about two and a half hours later, I left, still hurting. It took a few days before I was finally back to normal. Good luck!
There are not too many things in life worth working my butt off for, but my health is one of them
LadyDi
Forum Leader
Username: Ladydi

Post Number: 2479
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 07:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Welcome home Max!! Hope each day gets better and better for you. Are you keeping up on your walking? It is sometimes hard to get yourself motivated, but the walking makes you feel better and get your strength back. They also told Cisco that movement was one of the best things to work that air out that was bothering his shoulder.
Hope this is a good day for you!
Kidney Donor to Husband 10/30/07
Forum Leader-Living Organ Donation
Barnes Jewish Hospital St. Louis, Mo

My Donation Story

Post Donation Things to consider

I walk slowly, but I never walk backward - Abraham Lincoln
Tawnya
Member
Username: Daddys_liver_girl

Post Number: 47
Registered: 04-2010
Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 05:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Max,

I was told about that shoulder pain, but I never endured it. I hope yours starts to feel better soon. The hard part is over and now, it's recovery time. I hope your pain gets less and less so you can try to enjoy your down time. Shoulder pain can be a cause of those invisible angle wings god gives you after donation!! I hope to hear more updates from you soon. Tawnya
max
Forum Leader
Username: Max

Post Number: 73
Registered: 09-2010
Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 07:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Wow, I have so enjoyed all the supportive posts. And Tawyna - I can't stop smiling at knowing that the shoulder pain that has now since past, is those "Invisible Angel Wings" . I shall wear proudly.

Monday night was really an awakening in that I realized I'm not ready to actually be sitting up all day (in my recliner) - I still needed some bed rest time. That along with actually getting out and walking (Sunday and Monday - were very stormy here) has been a big change in my recovery. I'm still not ready to be up all day, but it's getting better. I'm still juggling the pain med.s and softeners - I just stopped taking the oxycodone and going to see how that goes.

Everyday is getting a little easier - I'm going to have to treat my wife to special weekend getaway when this is over - she has just been awesome, I'm so grateful she has been here to take this journey with me.
max
10.20.2010 non-directed kidney donor
'OCTODONOR'


"We are continually faced with great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
Lee
Member
Username: Mr_parfect

Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2010
Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2010 - 03:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Max,

Sounds like things are progressing well. Maybe one day, next year, I can be on the same boat, having given someone back a quality of life.
lopsided
Member
Username: Lopsided

Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Wednesday, November 03, 2010 - 08:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Max
I have not been back since my rambling about walking the lonely road by yourself, I know you will truly understand what I meant now and that having travelled there and returned you will feel empowered and triumphant. You will have days when you feel flat that is normal and you will climb back a little each day. Be proud and shed a little tear if that feels right because your body knows whats best so listen to it. Pains in the shoulder blade area was not nice I had it on both sides, just another little trial that passes as you go forward.
Look after yourself and those around you I believe that your family is your life and your friends are the flowers in your garden.

Yours etc
Les
Lopsided

You did the best you could with what you had !
Bye now.

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