Long time no see: What happened in Canada (not exactly what I'd planned)
I can't stay online long - I have internet problems and my neighbours have very kindly let me use their system while I'm on extended sick leave, so here goes. (Sorry if this seems brusque, but my energy levels are really the lowest they've been since transplant and I just can't be more perky right now.)
First: I am alright and out of danger. Don't fret. This is what happened.
I fell ill at the conference in Vancouver. Luckily I had a chance to do my presentations there, which went really well. Unluckily I got chicken pox, which is really serious for adult renal transplantees like me. Luckily Canada's health care system is brilliant, so when I was admitted to hospital the day before I was supposed to fly home) as an emergency case with an undiagnosed (at that point) virus, I received excellent care and had Infectious Diseases, Renal Transplant and the internists working on me together. This is probably why a) I am still alive, and b) I still have my transplanted kidney.
I was in isolation for nine days and after discharge stayed at the hotel where the staff were really kind to me for another nine days before flying home as an assisted passenger. Not an altogether positive experience since the flight was long and the assistance sketchy. The flight from Vancouver to London is nine hours, then a stopover, then another 11 hours back to Cape Town.
I got back on 31 October and have been on sick leave ever since. I have temporary liver damage and it may take up to 12 weeks to heal.
I feel better all the time, but recovery is slow. At least I can stand in the shower, sleep through the night and eat solid food again. I should be strong enough to drive in a week or two. My memory and concentration are improving.
So, once I have my strength back and have managed to get my internet access fixed, I'll be able to LJ again! If anyne is actually still reading my LJ and posts a comment, I may not be able to reply right away, but I should be able to read your comment from home, where, oddly, I can still receive email, although I can't otherwise access the internet.
First: I am alright and out of danger. Don't fret. This is what happened.
I fell ill at the conference in Vancouver. Luckily I had a chance to do my presentations there, which went really well. Unluckily I got chicken pox, which is really serious for adult renal transplantees like me. Luckily Canada's health care system is brilliant, so when I was admitted to hospital the day before I was supposed to fly home) as an emergency case with an undiagnosed (at that point) virus, I received excellent care and had Infectious Diseases, Renal Transplant and the internists working on me together. This is probably why a) I am still alive, and b) I still have my transplanted kidney.
I was in isolation for nine days and after discharge stayed at the hotel where the staff were really kind to me for another nine days before flying home as an assisted passenger. Not an altogether positive experience since the flight was long and the assistance sketchy. The flight from Vancouver to London is nine hours, then a stopover, then another 11 hours back to Cape Town.
I got back on 31 October and have been on sick leave ever since. I have temporary liver damage and it may take up to 12 weeks to heal.
I feel better all the time, but recovery is slow. At least I can stand in the shower, sleep through the night and eat solid food again. I should be strong enough to drive in a week or two. My memory and concentration are improving.
So, once I have my strength back and have managed to get my internet access fixed, I'll be able to LJ again! If anyne is actually still reading my LJ and posts a comment, I may not be able to reply right away, but I should be able to read your comment from home, where, oddly, I can still receive email, although I can't otherwise access the internet.