Hey all, I feel really connected to this community- it's given me an outlet for information and invaluable support throughout my time on dialysis, and now post transplant. There are some things that I'm just now realizing that I was told at the hospital, such as drains are horrible and always leak, the first shower isn't as glorious as you will hope it to be (I mean I'm clean, but it burned like nobody's business), and side affects to medication will dominate my life for a while. I also can't feel half of my stomach, since the surgeons had to cut major nerves to get the kidney into place, and they may grow back in 6 months, a year, or not at all. It's having to deal with pain because the pain medication does nothing to relieve it anyways, so why bother.
It's the little things that are getting to me the most- such as having tremors to the point where half of my food ends up in my lap, having hot flashes with no relief for hours and having to wear a mask every time I leave the comfort of my house. I haven't hugged or kissed my boyfriend in almost a week, but I can hold his hand as much as I need to. It's refusing everyone's help that isn't family because, although they mean well, they have no idea how to cook for you and you aren't acclimated to them anyways. I look into the mirror, and although I look a lot better than I did, I still have a long way to go. If I don't post or reply for a while, please know that I will be thinking of all of you; but I need some time to figure out this new normal. Transplant may be a wonderous thing, but you have to be down before you can get up.
Initial Transplant Eval
Kidney Transplant help
Post Transplant Side Effects
