Oh Norma, I have been wondering about your nephew for some time now. I want to know as much as you are able to share with us about it, as well has how he is doing now, and how he recovers! Also, how old did you say your nephew is?

My brother (many years ago) had his kidneys removed 5 years before he received a kidney, and his were 9 pounds a piece. I wish he wasn't estranged from me, because I sure do have a lot of questions. And as well, my transplant center is in Seattle and I am in Alaska... so I feel like I am really in the dark, but I feel as if life would be a LOT more worth living if I didn't have these heavy kidneys crowding out all my other organs.

I am so confused about insurance that I can't even begin to say. When I had my transplant, I had Primera Blue Cross and it was WONDERFUL. There was a lovely lady (named Norma) who would call me, help me, answer my questions... and it just was a breeze. Now, between Medicare and the different health insurances that my husband's work offers, I not only can't figure out what the heck is going on, but can't get anyone on the phone who knows, who can speak clearly, or has a good phone connection. It feels like they have outsourced customer care to Mars or something. I am a mess over this.

I hope you are doing much better yourself!

Love
Heather

Hi Heather, I am finally recovering, just taking a lot longer than I was told! Actually now that I think of it, I never even asked! I suppose because I have had so many hernia surgeries that were not that bad, well except for the last big one that kept me in the hospital for 2 weeks!! Forget all of that, I just figured I would be in and out and back on my feet in a couple days. If you look up open inguinal hernia surgery, it will tell you very nicely that your going to be out for the count for weeks!! UGH!

Ok on to the surgery. It took probably 4 months of solid testing, CT scans, you name it, every test in the book before they would even consider it, let alone schedule it. Medicare has to approve it and those docs know they won't get paid unless every I is dotted and every T crossed! Finally it was scheduled sort of. He kept having to go to Vanderbilt for testing right up until 3 days before surgery. They want you in the best medical condition possible. So the day finally came. They went down 2 days before, checked into a hotel as there were still more last minute details to take care if, such as drinking all the awful stuff you drink when your having a colonoscopy, ya know? Last minute x rays, lots of last minute things. He had to be at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. Surgery was scheduled to begin at 9:00. They have this new thing now, some sort of monitor for lengthy surgeries and it announces to your family or whoever is waiting, ex: surgery is beginning, the first incision has been made, patient is doing well, surgery is progressing, it's very cool! Especially for very long surgeries. It finally said surgery is complete, patient will be on his way to recovery, so you know everything. He had an awful night last night, threw up from pain meds and the incisions are in his belly, so it was bad. He has 5 small incisions and one about 4 inches. They finally got a pain med that worked well but wore off too soon, but he survived the night. This morning he called me about 11:00 and sounded good, had been out of bed and drinking sips of water, his wife told me they expect he will be going home on Friday! TWO DAYS!! But that's what she said, I will keep you posted. That's all I know for now Heather, if you can think if any other questions, just ask. Oh you wanted to know how old he us, he is 52.
Lots of love,
Norma ...

Glad things are improving for you Norma. I hope that your nephew makes a speedy recovery, too. We don't have all the medical insurance hoops to jump through here in the UK, but we do have long, long waits and cancellations are common if there are no beds available. Can't win.

Love Chewitt

Thank you girls, I have finally recovered good enough, good enough to catch the FLU! With a flu shot as well, then we went and bought Tamaflu for 95 bucks each and it didn't work, so off to the docs we go again! Phew! A little update on my nephew from his kidney removal, his wife called to tell me he refuses to get out of bed because he is in such pain, won't do his breathing exercises, so she told me if he has to go back to Vandy from a blood clot or embolism she will not be attending to him as before, always by his side day and night! Phew, one mad chick, let me tell you. So I talked to him and he is in pain for sure because his wife does not believe in pain meds, therefore is not giving them to him! OMG!!!! To make a long story short, I took care of that and he is now getting out if bed and doing deep breathing!! He has 5 incisions,the biggest being 4 or 5 inches, he is in pain, can you imagine! This is not for the faint of heart! Hope everyone is well, Helen, where are you, are you ok?

On another note, Lindsay, is on the other support group I watch on FB. Remember she had the special transplant with no meds afterwards? She is still doing magnificent, looks great! I wonder when this will ever go global?
Lots of love, Norma ...

Norma, I'm so sorry you now have flu. It seems this year's flu vaccine is less effective than usual because the most prevalent strain is not what the vaccine targeted. It's always just a best guess and it wasn't quite right this time. Also, the virus mutated after the vaccine was selected. Hopefully it will at least make your response to the virus less severe.

I'm not surprised your nephew was in pain with no pain meds after such major surgery. Hopefully he will progress more quickly now.

I'm still unable to find the FB page you describe. Perhaps it's several pages in to the search in the UK. There are a number of UK sites which come up when I look, but not the one you visit.

Get well soon Norma,

Love Chewitt

Hi chewitt, thank you for your kind response. As it turned out we don't have the flu, rather a virus. Jim was so sick they had to do a breathing treatment on him right in the doctors office, his oxygen level was only at 90 percent, popped back up to 96 after the treatment. They did a chest x-ray and he has pneumonia, I am better than he is but he is coming along with antibiotics and prednisone! I am hanging on. Have you heard from Helen? I absolutely panic when I don't see her on here!! Love, Norma ...

Wow, your family has been through a LOT Norma. I hope that you two are healing up after that nasty virus... I think being such a hermit is good for me, as I have missed out on it here, although I guess it is going around in Alaska as much as other places.

Also hope that your nephew is healing as well.

I have been reading a lot about others on the FB page with nephrectomies.... I guess it isn't just each of us who are so unique and different, but also all of the different hospitals, nephrologists and transplant centers.

I'm glad you're starting to feel better Norma but to get the flu is the pits! I have a flu shot every year too but apparently this year they missed the mark and got the strain wrong.

I'm sorry your nephew is in so much pain. I hope it doesn't take too long before it lessens to a tolerable level at least.