Today Sarah and I had our first follow up appointment at UCSF. It was really long and a lot of information was thrown at me, but I will try to sum up.
Sarah and I began with blood tests. We had almost every blood test under the sun, but the point was to see overall kidney function. The best test for that is creatinine.
(http://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm)
Sarah's creatinine was 1.2, and mine was 1.35. (You can see normal creatinine scores on previous link) My creatinine was over 2 while I was pregnant and escalated to almost 10 before I was on dialysis. This is excellent news. Sarah, however started at 0.6. They don't expect her to ever be that again.
Sarah got to see the nurse first as I had to meet with a social worker to discuss medical, medication expenses and overall issues I will be dealing with the rest of my life. I have to balance trying to not get dropped from insurance due to my chronic illness and not rejecting the kidney.
Sarah had decided she had given herself a hernia (like me after my last surgery). She really pushed herself to walk, and she got a small blood clot. This was very alarming to me as how serious it was when my father had a blood clot. But, I guess this was just under the skin and the Drs were not worried. She was told to not push herself as much.
I got a clean bill of health...under the circumstances. Sarah's kidney seems to love my body and it is clearing everything out. I am being reminded to pee every hour as to not tear my stitches on my bladder (which Sarah does not have to worry about thank god) and go over more medications. I think at the end of this, I should consider being a pharmacist. I could say "oh, I know that drug...I was on it once" for almost anything that was given out.
After that Sarah and I went to pick up our new prescriptions. Sarah and I both got more pain pills and I got some additional nausea pills as when I take 15 pills without nausea medication..I can't keep them down.
I was also told to not push it and to let myself heal. The worst news I got today was that I would not be able to pick Donovan up at 6 weeks. I am too pick up less than 10 pounds the first 6 weeks and 5 pounds each week after. Which means if Donovan doesn't gain any weight, I can hold him in 10 weeks, or 8 weeks from Thursday October 30th. That is a long time to not pick up my baby.
I am tired, hope this helps inquiring minds.
Love to all
Catherine
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3 comments:
Cath, You and Sarah are amazing women! I am happy to hear that you are both healing fairly well. I can understand that you are struggling with not being able to pick up Donovan, but think of all the years you have ahead of you. He will always be your baby! You just got an extension on life and will get to hold him into old age! You are in our constant prayers. We love you! Jia
Hi Cath,
My right kidney wants you to say hello to lefty!
Also wanted to let everyone know I'm feeling much better today. The clot still hurts, but now that I have more pain medicine it's very tolerable. As Cath said, it's only temporary, and I now know that walking down hills is a bad idea!
Catherine,
I am so happy to hear that you are getting thru this so well. Kim was nice enough to send me the link to your blog. I can't believe you are out and about already but it sounds like you are being cautious, which to good.
take care and continue to heal.
Michaela
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