After the surgery, I was discharged from the hospital on
Saturday 2/25. That first week I slept and rested and even spent a few days
with Kate and Jeremy. I was able to also
start exercising on the treadmill (2.0 mph for 30 min) and doing physical
therapy exercises. The next Saturday,
March 3rd, Jeremy, his friend Todd, my mom, and I attended a
heart/lung transplant luncheon. We both got up and spoke (I refused to do
it by myself). It was a really nice
luncheon and I believe Jeremy posted the video of our speech.
When I got home that day, I had some severe urine
discoloration and was readmitted to UNC for dehydration and
nausea. I was in the UNC from Saturday, March 3rd till Wednesday the
7th. I spent most of my time
in the hospital sleeping. When they discharged me, I went and stayed again with
Jeremy and Kate in Chapel Hill. At that
time, I was hydrated, but the nausea was continuing.
Then the nausea turned into pain and the pain became
debilitating. My boyfriend Lee had to rush me to the ER on Monday night (3/12)
where I was given a shot of diladid. My bloodwork and CAT scan came out ok, so
they let me go home. I had an appointment early in the morning at UNC, so I got
40 minutes of sleep and then headed to Chapel Hill with my dad. By the time we
got there, the pain had returned and by the time I reached my appointment
location, I was in so much pain I could barely speak. They wheeled me down to
the ER where I was eventually given 2 more shots of diladid and readmitted to
figure out what was going on.
During the 5 days in the hospital, my medical team ran
several tests. After an endoscopy,
bloodwork, and an MRI it was concluded that my problem was 2-fold. I have probably
been accidentally exposed to gluten and my MRI showed cysts that are bursting
on my pancreas. The pain I have been going through can only be compared to
pancreatitis. I use to get pancreatitis all the time as a teenager, but have
not had it since August 23, 1998. I remember that because it was my 2nd day of
orientation at Catawba College. Unfortunately, there is nothing anyone can do
about either diagnosis. So, my surgical team has decided I should try and
control the pain in a way similar to Fibromyalgia patients. They have started
me on Cymbalta because it will increase my seratonin levels, which will help
naturally mask my pain. Let's be clear, I'm not thrilled about this treatment.
I don't want to take a medication that is going to alter my brain chemistry
when I don't suffer from depression. I do, however, have anxiety from time
to time, so I am choosing to look at this course of treatment as a way to help
me with my anxiety (maybe I won't flip out every time I have to use a
public restroom!) and I certainly can't live my life in agonizing pain or
doped up on opiates. My doctors are insanely intelligent, so I am going to do
whatever they tell me to do, but no one says I have to like it!
I hope that in 6 months I can report on how much this
new medication has improved my life and how the doctors proved me
wrong. Believe it or not, I like better when they do that than when I am
the one having to teach them. And yes, sometimes that's how it works.
The day I got out of the hospital this last time (this past
Saturday) Lee and I went to a wonderful dinner at Bonefish Grill. Last summer
my childhood friend Nicole organized a charity golf fundraiser for me a
neighboring city. Coincidentally, her father won a dinner for 10 to Bonefish.
They invited Lee and me to go with them. We were treated to almost
everything on their menu. This worked perfectly for me because they have a
gluten free menu, so I knew exactly which foods I could eat and which to avoid.
We had a great time and really enjoyed the company.
Since this last discharge on the 17th, I have had
a little bit of nausea, but no pain. Jash is
working perfectly!!!!! My creatnin waivers between .7-.8. It
will probably increase as I put back on muscle mass (I'm only 89-90 lbs
right now), but that is only an indication of muscle, not of my
actual kidney function. I am focusing on my liquid intake to avoid dehydration
again. I hit a record of 91 ounces on
Monday! This Friday I go back to clinic for blood work and hopefully to have my
line taken out. I will be returning to
work with Joshua this Saturday and to the college on Monday. Next week I have
an appointment with my neurologist to get the approval to get my license
back. Slowly, but surely, I am getting my life back!
*There will be a 1 month update from Jeremy tomorrow*
Ashley- so happy to hear the kidney is working and that you are getting your life back despite the challenges!
ReplyDelete-Todd
Ashley- I've taken Cymbalta and it was the best pain reliever I've ever been on, I've had fibromyalgia since I was little. I hope it does help your anxiety, it certainly helped me let things roll off my back. I did find that it made me feel constantly hungry, so beware the extra pounds.
ReplyDeleteShe needs the extra pounds...so a good side effect for her!
DeleteThank you, Todd! I am wamting to gain about 10 pounds, so I am going to consider that as another good reason to be on the medicine!
ReplyDelete-Ashley