Two Months!

Yesterday was the two month anniversary of our kidney transplant surgery, and I swear if I didn‘t have the scars to prove it, I wouldn‘t even remember. I feel wonderful. Aside from a twinge every now and then, my muscles have fully recuperated. Even bowling last Friday was fairly painless. I’ve lost weight since surgery, and I’ve started working out again. I’d like to think there’s still a small amount of swelling, but it’s really just fat. The fat, however, is shrinking, and I couldn‘t possibly be happier about it!

 

People keep asking me how I’m feeling, and it honestly takes me a few seconds to remember why they’re asking. It used to be the only thing I could think about, and now I hardly remember it at all. Kelly and I were in the lunchroom the other day, and an old coworker was in to visit and said “How are the twins?” referring to the two of us. I just looked blankly at Kelly, hoping she understood. She had to explain to me that he meant our kidneys. I just completely forgot. Obviously, it’s a little more memorable to her, as she’s no longer stuck on a machine 3 days a week. My life hasn‘t changed at all. The only difference I’ve noticed is that my appetite never really came back. I used to be hungry all the time (I didn‘t get to be this size by NOT eating, you know?) and now I find that I have to remind myself to eat because I don’t get hungry often. Of all the side effects and potential problems that could have come from donating my kidney, I’m pretty sure this is the best possible one to have.

 

Looking back on the entire experience, I’d have to say the stress beforehand was the worst part by far. The pain afterward was no walk in the park, and the inability to put on my own pants for 2 weeks was humiliating. But I’d much rather relive the aftermath twice, than go through the pre-op stress again.