I had pain in the area of the incision that at some times got to four on a scale of ten. When I reported it to my transplant coordinator she told me the Tacrolimus I take was responsible for the slow healing. Tacrolimus is an immuno-suppressive drug that I take to keep my body from attacking my new kidney. And Tacrolimus is one of five medications I take to prevent rejection of the kidney. Three are immuno-suppressants and the other two are an anti-bacterial and an anti-virus. The transplant team has prescribed a generic form of Pepcid to keep me from having an upset stomach or heartburn from all of these drugs. Despite the Pepcid I get heartburn from time to time.
The transplant team has been helpful as has my transplant coordinator. I was released on June 11th to drive again and to be around groups of people of less than ten. It will be mid-August before I can be around large crowds again, which is just in time for the season opener of my beloved Missouri Tigers on August 29th.
How is my health otherwise you ask. I have heart issues that put me into atrial flutter. I had a procedure called cardioversion which worked for about a year, but now the problem has returned. I saw my cardiologist a few weeks ago and she is recommending a procedure called ablation which she believes would solve the A-Fib or Flutter problem. But, that will be some time before I can have it. The transplanted kidney and my body must be strong enough to tolerate the procedure. I still don't have my strength back and sometimes feel weak, especially my upper body and core. I am trying to get it back by walking 35 to 45 minutes each day.
As I write this I wonder if anybody really cares, but since I told you about the new kidney and the transplant back in May, I want to keep you up to speed with my recovery.
