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My Kidney story -
In 2015 I had two rare autoimmune diseases attack my kidneys. This caused kidney failure. I was in the hospital for 8 days while the doctors tried to figure out what course of action to take.
In 2015 I had two rare autoimmune diseases attack my kidneys. This caused kidney failure. I was in the hospital for 8 days while the doctors tried to figure out what course of action to take.
I had to have several sessions of plasmapheresis and dialysis . Luckily they recovered some of my kidney function, enough to where I did not need dialysis.
In late 2018, my nephrologist recommended I begin the process of getting on the transplant list. I began the process and finished it in early 2019.
In January 2019, I returned from a business trip. I felt fine, but that evening I began to get sick. I went to the ER to find I had double pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital.
While there, the nephrologist team indicate my kidneys had taken a downward direction and I would need to get back on to dialysis. I began hemodialysis in February. The Doctors also suggested me get on Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
In July, I began training for PD and went on it shortly afterward. It worked great for me. It was flexible, I could travel and even travel overnight and not need to take all my equipment with me.
This Memorial Day 2020, I got the call that they had a kidney for me and I need to get to the hospital immediately. I was apprehensive, but excited.
The next day I had a couple surgeries. I had a hernia that they were going to fix along with the transplant. All went fine at first.
Two days later, the team had to go back into my belly as my bowel had perforated from the hernia and was leaking. The new kidney had little function. After they went back in I got very sick and ended up in ICU with several complications- I was on a ventilator for several days.
During the next several weeks, the team tried very hard to get the kidney to work. It didn't. I was sent home and we would do work from the clinic. On the trip home, my sutures opened up and my innards came out - immediately had an ambulance ride back to the hospital
The resident, who I became friends with over the time, met me at the door of the hospital ER. He apologized that this happened, but it may be for the good as they could not be able to see the kidney. They took me to surgery (5 hours).
During the surgery there was much testing and discussion by the surgeons. They removed the kidney as it would not function. I woke up the next day and was told of the news.
While it was disappointing, I felt better immediately. A week later, I went home for good. I also have been back to the hospital for some minor things, but all is good. I am healing and feel great.
The doctors want me to try again as soon as I am healthy enough. My brother is a viable donor and wants to do it. He is coming in for final testing and consultation in September. If all works, we will likely do it in early 2021.
Why am I so open about this stuff? Because there is a huge need for donors. I met a guy at dialysis who has been doing dialysis for 30 years. Hemodialysis takes a toll on you. Consider donation, at a minimum be a donor on your license!
