Dialysis

Since i left hospital after 7 days i have been given the opportunity to dialyse at a seperate and independsant dialysis cetre in Worcester, which is 15 mins from my home.

I was a little nervous about dialysis but have found it to be a faily relaxing and simple process.

My fistula failed in surgery so im using central lines into my chest, which are a pain to keep clean but working well so far.

After 3 weeks of dialysis im finding it difficult to get to a dry weight and to keep my fluids low, ive got swollen ankles and hands but we seem to be getting there slowly.

Hospital recovery

3 days after surgery i was put on the general ward, with my epidural taken away after 4 days. the next few days i struggled with the painkillers as they made me sick and being sick and having a 18" cut across your stomach is very very painful indeed.

the pain eased a little and i swapped between paracetamol and morphine for the next 2 days.

Over the 7 days post surgery, i was as sore as you can expect but wasn't getting sleep due to the constant hum drum of the ward and the lights. So after 7 days i asked to be discharged. As my levels were OK they agreed i could go home. I had had 2 lots of dialysis, one of which they turned of my epidural by accident, which left me in agony for 4 hours.

I have to say that the dialysis i had 5 day post operativly was very painful, and as i was left alone and had no staff contact was distressing. I hope that wont happen again.

Fistula Packed Up!

Unfortunately during surgery my blood pressure dropped so far that the fistula clogged up, i didnt know this until my wife felt my arm and didnt feel the thrill.

So they used my central line until a permanent line was put into my chest.

I went in for my kidney removal on the 2nd October, after a delay i went down and returned 3 hours later minus 10.5 kilograms (22lbs) of Kidneys. Some of the biggest the surgeon had seen!

I came back into the Acute Renal Care as my blood pressure was low and i was in need of a blood transfusion.

Still Here!

Its been a while since the operation but ill explain whats happened in chunks!

Big Op time!

Well its time for the big op - I'm in for my billateral nephrectomy tomorrow. I'm due for the op n Friday this week so i wont be posting for a few days. When I'm out i guess ill try and keep you up to date with how i feel.

Date Confirmed

The date for the kidney removal is now confirmed as 2nd October at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Birmingham (UK).

So i guess that's when this blog should start really, when I'm back in the swing of things ill re log on and hopefully with two less big lumps.