Amazing!!!

That is the very best way to describe how Jim is doing.
It’s been almost 7 weeks since the transplant. The way Jim feels is truly incredible.

No more being tired, no more headaches from dialysis, no more overall yucky feeling.

Best of all no more gout!! Jim has eaten and enjoyed many things these past weeks which in the past would have caused him gout. No more....

He’s cooking again and has even started going to the gym. Part of his agreement with Al was that he must take care of “Joe”. Jim has also gone to Al’s nutrionist and has been giving him advice on eating habits. So far Jim is abiding by all the rules but he sure looks forward to his “cheat meals” once a week.

We are beyond thankful for this precious gift Al has given us. It is truly remarkable. Al, too, is doing great....and no regrets.

It will be amazing and so joyful to actually see Jim walk Lindsay down the aisle this weekend. Who knows....he may even dance up a storm!!!

Jim Update

It has been 25 days since Jim's transplant. Joe continues to work great!!

Jim's been quite busy the last 3 weeks. He has:

* got his drain removed

* got his stent removed....Ouch!!!

* got most of his staples removed

* been hospitalized for severe pain from the cysts on his old kidneys rupturing

* had a plasmapheresis treatment done due to high titer levels. Should be below 64, his had gone up to 256. We were told prior to transplant he may need some additional treatments post-transplant. It was down to 16 when he left
* had an IVIG treatment which helps with the antibiodies and helps keep the titer levels down.

This is how we spent most of our time in the hospital over the weekend just sitting around waiting....

Check up today with the transplant team was good. Other than his blood pressure being higher than normal, everything else checked out great. Creatinine level is down to 1.2 which is awesome!!!.

Keep up the good work....

 

Jim and "Joe" heading home

Tuesday was a good day to go home!!  Jim was up every couple of hours during the night. Joe was keeping him busy peeing. Drs. came in and said everything was still looking good. Creatinine was down to 2.0, titers were still 1-16 (if these go higher than 64 he may have to do plasmapheresis again) but so far everything looks great. Still some pain in incision area, a small BM too helped with his pain, but otherwise feeling pretty good. Coming home with a drain in the incision area.  

Got home and started preparing his pills. Here is what a weeks work of meds look like.

Today a home health nurse will come out and do blood draws. He will have blood draws 3 times a week for the first 2 weeks. Then blood draws twice weekly for the next 2 weeks, then once a week for the next 3 months, every other week for the next 9 months then at 1 year it will be monthly. This is how they keep a close watch on levels for possible rejection. Small price to pay to be dialysis free.

Monday

Jim had a great night. Seems to have slept better than he has in years. Actually had to wake him up at 7:00 to start his busy day.

The plan today is to start walking. He will have occupational and physical therapy. They will remove his catheter and wean him off his push pump pain meds. He is feeling really good. Creatinine levels are going down. Output is still good.

Happy birthday to Lindsay. What an awesome birthday present we both got.

Sunday....3 days post op

It's Sunday and everything is going well. Jim had a pretty good night the last 2 nights. He's been sitting up in the chair for long periods of time. Not much walking yet but that should come today. His pain is in control but still hurts terribly when moving. His belly is gurgling and a good BM should take care of that. That is on our agenda today too. He should be moving down the hall to a regular room also.

Here are some of the great gifts he has been getting.

Lucky Al, a.k.a. Chuck Norris, got to go home on Saturday. How incredible is that!!!
We promise to take great care of "Joe".

Finally Together..

This morning Jim was running a temperature. It could be because of the medicine but they took blood cultures of his 2 ports in his chest to rule out infection. His pee output has declined a bit, but again that's normal. Had a bad night when he started to get fever, then got anxious and needed his xanax. Didn't sleep too good. He's now getting oral pain meds along with his 10 minute push pump.

Feeling better by noon time. Fever gone. Got up and sat in the chair and washed off.  His buddy Al came to see him. Both are looking good.

Resting

Jiim is resting comfortably and will be in the ICU tonight. Currently he is peeing about a cup every hour which is fantastic. They are giving him lots of fluids to keep the kidney active. They will check it every hour during the night. Morning plan is to sit him in a chair and have a liquid diet for lunch and get him to a regular room. His pain button is currently his best friend. He's been using it every ten minutes.

Al is feeling better. He was quite sleepy  when he was in recovery and still up in his room. His morning plan is to get up and walk. I know you can do it "Chuck Norris"!!!

No pictures of Jim yet, but here's one of Al looking like himself with his ball cap.

Here's the happiness we were having in Jim's room.

Feeling relief, happiness and utter joy tonight. Sleep good....