Today marks the seventh year that I have been breathing with someone else's lungs
I won't say that this year has gone entirely smoothly,but I am still here and still enjoying life
The problem with transplants is not the surgery but the medication that is required to keep the organs against the body's inclination to reject anything foreign including my new lungs
I had got a six month holiday from transplant clinic as at the beginning of the year all was well with my health, I had lost weight and my lung function was good.But other things in my body were not going as well as I would have liked
I attended my renal appointment and was informed that there were concerns about my Kidney function it was deteriorating and some of my medication could be causing it.
The medication that I take for immune repression is known to cause chronic kidney problems but this is a drug I cant stop taking due to organ rejection. But it seem that the drug that I take for my Diabetes and medication I had been taking for an infection on my leg may also been contributing.
The consultant was also keen to do a biopsy on my kidney which I was not happy about
I was told to stop taking these tablets or risk kidney failure and need to go on dialysis.Ultimately I would need a kidney transplant!
I stopped the antibiotic and went back to the lower dose that had been recommended by transplant hospital the diabetic medication presented more of a problem Without the tablets my diabetes would not be controlled, there was no other solution than for me to go onto twice daily Insulin injection!
I was fed up!! I knew that I might end up on insulin but I hoped it would not be so soon.
It took me a while to get used to and a while to adjust the dose to my diet.
I had to send my driving licence back and was issued with a five year one and have to adhere to strict guidelines about testing my blood glucose levels when driving
These changes had some positive and negative effects
The postive effects on my kidney function was gradual but allowed the consultant to feel happier and stop talking about the biopsy
The negative effects was weight increase I had put back on all the weight I had lost and was suffering with swollen legs again, a problem I had not had for quite a while
I dont want to seem negative the problems I have had are small compared with other people I follow on my blog roll I would suggest you have a look
Again this year I have said goodbye to more transplant fiends and personal friends I had known for many years
I have also moved into the 55 - 65 demographic on forms I fill out, something I thought I would never have to do I am in the old age range now but it is something to celebrate!
My son has passed his full bike licence this month and has got a new job starting soon.
My daughter is doing well in her University course.
My wife & I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary at the end of this month after 30 years together.
LIFE IS GOOD
Finally I heard some great news today the day of my 7 Year transplant anniversary
The prime minister Theresa May announced in her tory party speech that the government will be changing the law to presumed consent for Organ Donation
This would requiring people who dont want to have there organs used in transplants to opt out
I hope that this will allow many more people to have the chance at a new life as I have I am so glad 😊 😊 😊
