I'm going to leave this post at the head of my LJ to allow people who may want to volunteer to become a living kidney donor to me to leave me a note. All replies are screened and will remain screened for privacy. This post is open to all and anyone, LJ user or not, may leave comments here.

I am posting this so prospective donors can get an idea of what the surgery preparation and aftermath is like. The author had a transplant recently; the kidney came from his wife Heather.

- We had to go for blood tests 2 weeks before surgery. I had to go through blood tests the day before the surgery and Heather (my wife) had to have a pregnancy ( Read more... )

One thing that charlesks wants me to do is go to the gym consistently. I've been making a concerted effort to do that, taking a spinning class last Thursday, a yoga class last Friday, enjoying a break on the weekend, taking a core exercise class AND a yoga class back-to-back on Monday, a "body pump" (fast-paced workout with barbell weights) class on Tuesday ( Read more... )

I know some of my friends are going to be staying at the con hotel at Norwescon, and I know at least a couple of others live nearby. I'm going to need a place to heat up my bag (several hours in a heating pad, or a few minutes in a microwave) and to do two exchanges during the day on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday. One will be around noon and ( Read more... )

( Update on me and my PD )

I start dialysis training today at 8:30 a.m. I'm leaving the house in about 10 minutes to catch the boat ( Read more... )

My PD Security Bands, at least the first two, came in the mail on New Year's Eve, and were waiting for me when we got home from a party. I've had one on since. They're excellent, and much better than using tape or an Ace bandage to keep my catheter in place. They're a perfect fit, too, which is not surprising, as they were custom-made to my ( Read more... )

I have spent much of the time since Thursday afternoon reading, doped up on pain meds. Abdominal surgery is no fun at all. Recuperating from same is also no fun. But at least the surgery is over and the healing is progressing very well ( Read more... )

The transplant clinic called this afternoon, and, pending my dental clearance (which involves going to the periodontist), I'm on the transplant list as of today. I'm "on hold" until I get the dental clearance in, and the doc who did my carotid artery in 2000 needs to take a look at my vascular scan, but the financial clearance is all set and my ( Read more... )

Update time ( Read more... )