Success!

This morning I went to lab but didn't have to stay for clinic which was great.  AND, if all is well I don't have to go to lab or clinic next week.  I do have to go see the wound nurse but not quite as early in the morning.  I woke up at 4:45am and remembered that I needed to get up and go to lab.  Then I was just in bed thinking about stuff and couldn't go back to sleep.  After the lab I went and worked out!  I walked just a little over mile on the track at the gym. I even jogged for a 1/2 lap.  Go me.

Trying to find motivation..

So I am currently trying to find the motivation to go out and get back into the gym.  I want to exercise, I want to work out but it seems like the day slips away from me.  I've always heard it said that you will make time for what you want to do.  Do I truly want to exercise?  Yes..and no.  Yes because I know I will feel better and I won't feel like a blob.  No because it isn't the most fun thing to do in the world.

But really, should that stop me from doing it?  Nope.  Not at all.

So I am trying to find some motivation to get my butt in gear and head to the gym.  Every week I think to myself that I will start on Monday.  But why wait?  Why not just go?  Even if it is Tuesday.

Argh.

Clinic Day

Today was clinic day which means I get to get up at 6am and out the door by 6:30.  I have to be downtown at the lab by 7am but no later than 7:30.  Once I get my blood drawn its up to the transplant office to wait for check in by the nurse.  This involves a blood pressure check, temperature check, weight etc.  Then we review my meds, how I am feeling and other various and sundry things that happen at the doctors office.  Usually at this point I would go to breakfast and then come back to see the doctor.

But today!

No doctor visit and I went on my merry way to see the wound nurse.  My incision wasn't closed properly at the top and split open a bit so I have been seeing the wound care nurse for about a month.  And slowly but surely the wound is healing.  Yay!  But after the nurse was paged I was there, she forgot about me and I sat for about an hour.  I knew she was working on another patient so I was trying to be patient and not get excited.  Oh well.  I guess that is what you can expect when waiting for medical stuff.  But I have no complaints.

Its better than dialysis.

And I still hate you prednisone.  Just so you know.

Prednisone

I decided to call this blog prednisone I hate you because that is what I am feeling right now.  Prednisone is a necessary evil in my life.  I am only taking 20 milligrams each day and when I came home from the hospital I was taking about 40 milligrams so it has come down quite a bit.

Prednisone is quite a miracle drug really because it can be used for many things. I take it to suppress my immune system so my body will not attack and reject the newly transplanted organ.  But, for me, some of the side effects are not so fun.

Mood swings are one that I am dealing with quite a bit.  In my mind I am rational but sometimes I snap too quickly and for no real reason.  I was more weepy directly after the transplant and that seems to have subsided for now.

Hunger is another side effect that I could live without.  I eat and then I think I am hungry.  But I am really not but the prednisone makes me think I am.  I have made chocolate chip cookie bars, no bake cookies and had ice cream.  All this week!  ACK!  And I know in my mind I shouldn't be eating this crap but I do it anyway.  AND I don't want to exercise but I have to get my butt back to the gym ASAP. I go to clinic tomorrow so I will be asking if I can go back to the gym.  I will probably have to wear the mask as I walk around but its better than nothing.

Sigh.

More to come..

Welcome

Welcome to this blog where I want to talk about my journey through this second kidney transplant.  I wanted to have another place to write about how I am feeling about this second transplant and things that are going on separate from my other blog.

I am excited to be able to write what I am doing in regards to my medical health here and welcome your comments and experiences.