Dale and the night nurse both encouraged me to go back to the apartment to sleep last night so I got a good night’s sleep and caught up on some laundry. When I got to the room this morning Dale had already been up walking by himself.
Dale’s creatinine level actually went up just a little today so we are still hoping that the trend will turn around. They are still planning on doing the angiogram if it doesn’t come down by tomorrow.
I did some research this morning on Kidney transplant rejection. Here is a quote:
* Rejection – Rejection occurs when the body recognizes the transplanted kidney as not belonging, and tries to destroy it. There are different types of rejection. Most rejections can be treated and reversed. During a rejection, it may be necessary to do a kidney biopsy to identify the type of rejection, so the proper treatment can be started.
Rejection can occur at any time, but the greatest risk of rejection occurs within the first three months after transplant. During these months, higher doses of immunosuppressive medications will be given to prevent rejection, and frequent clinic visits will be required. Occasionally rejection occurs years after transplant, so it is very important that clinic appointments and lab work continue.
This is from http://www.hcmc.org/Depts/transplant/recipient.htm
The docs were here for rounds just now and so it would seem that we are looking at this being either a rejection issue or a blood flow issue. They are going to do another ultrasound and if there is a change in the signal from the last one they will go ahead and do the angiogram today. If not they will wait and see if his labs look better tomorrow and if they do’t they will do the angiogram then. The dye they use in the angiogram is toxic to the kidney so they don’t do that unless they have ruled out anything else.
We got rid of the catheter today so one less hose to drag around. I just hope they don’t wait hours to take him for the ultrasound. since there is a possibility that they will be doing angiogram too they won’t want him to eat til after. When your day consists of doctor’s rounds, walking around the nurses station, and watching tv – meals become pretty important and this patient gets very grouchy when he can’t have one!
I also want to encourage anyone who knows someone who needs a kidney to seriously consider getting tested to donate. Dale’s sister is home and already back at work and doing fine. I am including a copy of a donor card you can download and print. new_dcard.pdf
It is an unbelievable gift.
Hey, Lady, so glad to hear Dale is up and around and grouchy! That is encouraging in itself. Hope you are doing okay…glad you rested last night. Just know that you are all in our prayers and thoughts. Love ya!
Hi Dale and Delene,
We are all praying for you both. Mary Ellen, Dennis and I got together and prayed. As Mary says: “it’s more powerful if you pray together”. I know the waiting is hard. Take care of yourself and Dale take care of yourself. You are in our thoughts all the time and I can validate for you that what you are going through is hard. Keep it up!
kathy
Thanks for the update, and thank you for the donor information. This is where your family is the poster family for organ donation! I’ve communicated my wishes for organ donation to my family, but I’m not currently carrying a card. That’s about to change, I hope, for many people who love you and your family and who stand in awe of what Sondra has done for Dale. Thank you for the reminder that all of us need to carry a donor card.