What a Week!!

It has been over a fortnight since I have updated my blog as nothing has happened which was worthy of note!!  However, this week it has all "kicked off"!!

On Tuesday morning I went for my usual blood extraction ready for my appointment with my consultant on Thursday.  I have been feeling fairly well for the last week so I was not concerned with my results at all, especially as they seem to have stabilised over the last two months.

However, on Thursday morning I logged onto the Renal Patient View to discover that my kidney function had reduced to 5% You may think well that's only a 1% but for me this is actually a 16% reduction in my kidney function!!

I instantly knew what this would mean for me.  My consultant was constantly worrying about me not being on dialysis at 6% so that deterioration would mean dialysis.

At my outpatients appointment it transpired that my blood pressure had also increased substantially, no surprise I thought with the shock I had received that morning.

As expected we discussed at length the fact that they can not take the risk any longer of me not being prepared to be dialysed.  The problem is, I need an operation to have the dialysis tube inserted (this is actually called a catheter but that always makes me think of a weeing tube!) and this needs to heal for a fortnight before it can be used.

The Doctor explained at length that now if I caught a cold or any bug going I would deteriorate very quickly as I had no reserves.  He said that we would only actually perform dialysis on me when I needed it but we had to be prepared.

The next bit of news which I received I was not expecting at all, the Doctor said that there was a rumour that there was a slot available in Plymouth in December for a transplant and that if I was lucky enough to get that slot, I would not need that operation above.  I instantly said that I had been advised that there was no hope of the operation in December as the surgeon was on holiday so I decided not to get my hopes up or this option.

Yesterday I had a call to advise that Plymouth were seriously considering the operation in December and that when mum and I were in Derriford on Wednesday that they would decide there and then!!  Eeeek!  I am also booked into have the catheter fitted on Thursday so Wednesday is extremely important!

So there you have it!  This week coming could mean that I do actually get my transplant in December or I have to have another operation so I can start dialysis, whichever way you look at it I'm gonna be in hospital in the coming weeks!!

Last night I was down at the Blue Anchor in Helston where I was presented a cheque in aid of Kidney Research UK which the patrons of the pub had raised.  I said a short speech to thank them for their huge efforts and generosity.  I was deeply touched to think that they thought of me when deciding what charity they wanted to support this year.  So once again, thank you all so much ;-)

Just to finish off I want to say a huge congratulations to my brother Andy and his wife Emma on the birth of their first baby, Jago Frederick Carroll. I'm praying for the snow to go away so we can come up to Bristol tomorrow as planned to see the wee chap for the first time.