R.I.P.

The lady right next to me passed away this morning.

Prayers for her please.

The Latest....

So Dr. Ottmann was just in and again tells me that I have been BLESSED with two extremely fine 19 yr old organs that are working supremely.

He tells me that he understands me being whigged over losing so much blood but again said that the connection of the pancreas to the rest of the system is the most likely culprit and that it will pass.

He counseled me to look 6 months down the road. He did, however, say that it was the bad kidneys that were killing me quick and that new one is working wonderfully. I pray that I read this wrong when I perceived an undertone of "so at least that's good even if the pancreas thing doesn't work out". He again told me what all my docs have - that the pancreas is a very touchy organ. This is a major reason that KP transplants aren't done on near the scale of kidney tx alone. He says that almost 1 in each 15 time a KP tx is attempted, the pancreas doesn't take.

This pancreas is working wonderfully.

We just need to stop the bleeding. 

I haven't taken these steps forward to take any back.

Dr. O. Wants to disconnect almost all of the wires, tubes, sensors, today- keeping me in ICU under close watch. He also wants to start me on some real food.

So that's it from here for now.

Wish me luck.

Keep the faith.

A Very Humble Apology

As I've said before - there is a LOT to this transplant business.

If you've done any reading on the subject you realize that I am currently taking a mountain of steroids each day. Although these pills are magical and they really help with the acceptation of the organs they also have some very nasty downsides to them. One of those downsides are extreme mood swings. I mean like from rage to tears in a single breath. So I ask for your understanding.

Yesterday, both my dad and my brother each drove more than 3 hours to see me.

And in a bit of a selfish funk - I turned them both away. Not only because I am not real proud of my current condition and appearance but also because of the added crazy pills - I was just not very nice.

I am so appreciative of everyone's love and caring that I really don't want to jeopardize any of my relationships with anyone.

I plead for your understanding here. I promise not to use this as an excuse. The steroids will decrease the father out I get and I hope to return to my gregarious, lovable self. (Ok, that was to be a funny).

I love you all.

Please forgive me for my shortcomings.

Dad & Pat, I am truly sorry.

Got my FAV ICU Nurse back today!!!

Deb makes a mean ICU Breakfast!

PLUS a cup'o tea, grape juice, ginger ale, and a multi-vitamin!

This pic was taken 3 days ago when I was leaving ICU for the first time.

Ok....this is getting old

Again tonight after several more pretty severe hemorrhaging episodes and several more units of blood, I really need an answer.

Waking up in a bed full of blood maybe ok if you're in a Stephen King movie but it ain't for me anymore.

I hope to get some kind of answer at dawn when the good doctor makes his rounds.

'Til then..... I hope all of you are sleeping well.

There IS a God!

After an extremely long day in the ICU and Cat Scan department. Tonite at 8:15 I was allowed to have 6 oz of chicken broth, 7oz ginger-ale, and an Italian Ice.

I lovingly savored every precious bit.

Still have bleeding. They believe it is from where the pancreas is connected into the rest of my digestive system. And we 're all hoping for it's cessation. 

At 9:30 tonight I am receiving yet another unit of blood and later I'm to get another unit of platelets. 

It's been a long day but I did not feel nearly as bad as I was yesterday. 

So that's a plus.

This has been a crazy road but, as always, I wanna thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers, and gracious comments. Although I haven 't been able to post much, it brings a smile to my face to hear from those thoughtful enough to leave a word or two here .

I am blessed with great friends.

Hope to see you all again soon.

Just....

....had the sacrament of the very sick

It's rare when there is nothing wrong...

Gotta keep this real short .

Lost / losing a LOT of blood.

I've had 8 units of blood and 2 of plasma since last night.

They are going back in with an NG tube this morning to try and see what's bleeding. Then off to some cat scans.

They are hoping they don't have to open me up again today.

But I'm not going anywhere but ICU.

I'll let ya know.

Thanks.

Mother Life Hold Firmly Onto Me.....

3am Friday

Getting rushed back to ICU

Keep me in your prayers please.

The Upside of Down.....

In lieu of everything last posted, Doctor Narins says i am doing fantastic.

My blood numbers are, oddly enough, up (even with all I'm losing)). My blood sugar is perfect - now almost one full week after my last insulin and my new kidney is crankin'.

The Dr. says he wants to start me on "real" food today (after a long week's absence) and that he may remove one of my abdominal drains.

All of this sounds good however, after yesterday's equally ambitious start, I am staying cautiously optimistic as yesterday's fine start was quickly tempered.

And oh yes......the morning breakfast med truck hasn't arrived just yet.

Stay tuned.

Blood in the streets.....it's up to my ankles...

Argh.

I'm loosing a lot of blood again.
 

This wasn't part of the initial plan.
 

GI bleed is back.
 

My wound drains are needing emptied every hour and if that's not enough, it's 4:00 am and they just took 11 tubes of blood out of my neck for TESTS!
 

We'll see what the Doc says in the morning.

Don't let the darkness swallow me.

Breakfast in A New World Order...

Just was hooked up to all kindsa meds.

I have 5 central lines running into my juglar vein right now.

Just had 4 huge (horse) syringes of meds injected into my neck.

Had 17 pills

2 small cups of medicine

A small cup of jello, grape juice, and tea.

Like a ball that's spinning......

Dr. Narins just made his rounds and told me my new kidney is working better than his own this morning! That the new pancreas is working well with no signs of rejection. I was concerned about the bleeding but he seems to think it's all in check. I was also worried that my blood pressure which has been running 130-150 has been too high but he tells me he has been keeping my bp intentionally this high to "feed" the new organs and that all will be resolved as well.

They removed some rather bothersome encumbrances this morning and the Doc plans to remove another of the abdominal drains today. 

AND......when I asked for the 7,476 time, the Doc says that I MAY be released on FRIDAY (as opposed to the Tuesday or later that I was told yesterday).

WOO HOO!!!!!

So far...... It's been a pretty good day!

And I'm not ignorant to the cause - so again, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

New Juice

 

 

Down a few pints.....

First night in my new digs and they are hooking me back up to a few things that they had disconnected earlier.

Although I am only hooked to half the apparatus of 24 hours ago- they are giving me more blood and more units of blood plasma.

Tomorrow is a new day.
 

We'll see what it brings.
 

Thanks.

Movin ' on up.... sorta

At 2:30 today I left the fine people and environs of the ICU and move to a fine river view  room #602. Simple things like a real window, quiet surroundings, my own bathroom, and a tv make life nice. As do all the friends who care enough to read about this stuff.

Thank you God.

Thank you doctors, staff, friends, and of course my donor and family.

Your kindness will never be forgotten.

And this is how i feel......

Today has been a pretty rough day as I've had a major GI bleed going on all day.
But on the positive side Dr. Narins tells me this is where he expected me to be. Even with all the bleeding, my new pancrease is working well requiring no supplemental insulin. And my new kidney has brought my creatinine levels down to normal- a place I haven 't visited for quite some time. They removed my NG tube today (Joy!) and I actually got to drink some gingerale and have some italian ice.

And so as Rudyard Kipling once said: "Teach us to delight in simple things."

I did have a few family visitors here today and although it was great to see them, I am so worn out that I really didn't get to visit much without passing out.

And so I'm still in ICU for now and taking on more units of blood.
My stomach is really bugging me now so I need to keep this short.

Thanks for checking, thanks for thinking of me, thanks for sharing.

I love reading comments left on the blog.

More soon!

Bob

Rough Night

This past night has been the worst so far with severe stomach pain and all the assorted things that go with.This mornings bloodwork is showing some deficiencies that they need to address and so it may be another fun filled day here in the ICU.

Not the best for any visitation, but I'll keep you updated when I can.

Family Rules!

Travis, Kara, Bob (w/ NG Tube) and Nick- First Night After Surgery

Me and Dad - First Night in ICU

Thing-a-majig-saw-puzzle....

Met with Dr. Narins this afternoon and he tells me that all the new pieces of the Bobpuzzle are working wonderfully.

I haven't been a diabetic for the past day and a half. My first days in existence w/o insulin in 38+ years. My new kidney has been working overtime to rid my body of the long build- up of toxins pushing out the poisons at the solid pace of about a litre  an hour. The Docs are keeping me in the  ICU for at least another day. Getting to sit in a regular chair is a big undertaking these days. As I have two pretty big  incisions. There is a good deal of pain but they are keeping that in check. The big goal for tomorrow will be maybe the chance to eat some clear broths.
Right now all my food (as you have seen) goes thru an NG tube.

I've been losing a good deal of blood so I had to take a pint on board this morning.

Thanks for all the texts and check-ins.
 

I think I should be open for visitation starting tomorrow so if any of you are so inclined and are in the neighborhood feel free to drop on by and see the man with 3 kidneys, 2 pancreases, and 1 new outlook on life.
 

: )

Sunday Morning Brunch in ICU

Yum

And this is how i eat...

Being "fed" medicines through an NG Tube in ICU