Just a quick update on our surgery. We are now both post-op, back in our respective homes. Although I wanted to stay with my sister the night before the surgery, I was recommended to go back to my hotel, have a normal evening and return early in the morning. During that evening the 'clans' started to descend as we had coordinated for us all to be in the same hotel. Each of us came hundreds of miles to congregate on Edinburgh, a city I barely knew, even from my childhood. With an indelible arrow on my side the reality of the whole thing still could not invade my psyche past the fact it was so surreal. The next morning I met the surgeons and anaesthetist, swapped into my paper pants etc, confirmed it was indeed me sitting there and waited. It was at this point my family became quite emotional. I can't say it was worry, but it was as if the surrealism now gave way to reality as I walked down the corridor in my hat, slippers, stockings and surgical gown. The attendants were wonderful, chatting away, laughing as joking with me to keep me relaxed. The next thing I knew I was awake, sort of. My surgery had taken 6 and 1/2 hours so my family were a bit nervous as they thought it would have been 3 hours. Although we knew there were 3 veins on the kidney, the surgeons didn't expect them to be wrapped so well around my artery. I am just lucky it wasn't converted to an open procedure.
Postoperative I can't remember much pain, not on the searing, give me meds scale, just a lot of discomfort....and a very bloated feeling. I was mobilised quickly the next day as I wanted the catheter out and walking was the best way to achieve that. As soon as I did that everything was literally 10 times faster in terms of healing. For me, tiredness has been the biggest difference. I really tried to get fit and slim down for the surgery and that has made a huge difference now. I had a small wound infection about a week after surgery which some nasty antibiotics have cleared. I would like to say it hasn't made any difference to my sister and I as we were already close, but it has. We are even closer and chat daily. She took a bit of time to really feel the benefits in terms of her activity levels. Now she is vibrant, chomping at the bit to get better and just is so positive about life, her life. Sometimes I wish we could just talk about something else, but it is important to her. She even thinks of her wound like a smile! I can't say I was frightened about anything other than getting through the tests. It really is the best thing I have ever done in my life. I have no children, a very happy marriage where we do as we please, when we want. At no point in my life have I ever had to consider sacrificing anything for anyone or not having what I truly need. This ability to donate to my sister has made me so thankful for simple things that money really can't buy. I can see it has changed my sister and I know it has changed me. Both in a good way.
Topic: Long journey near its end (Read 7055 times)