The build up:
Diagnosis:
Pre-Dialysis:
Dialysis:
Transplant:
Post Transplant:

The build up:

You know how it is, you're young(ish), you've got a busy work life, an enjoyable social life, you enjoy sport at the weekend, you enjoy a drink. You feel tired, worn out and feel that you are burning the candle at both ends. Well that's what I thought for a long time until things started to get worse. I realised then that something was really wrong - Following are the key points of my journey into 'End Stage Renal Failure', and subsequent treatments...

• 22 April 2002 - Called out Doctor as I was having extreme headaches. Diagnosed Migraine, prescribed Voltarol suppository.

• 24 April 2002 - Visited Doctor complaining of Headaches, Sickness and general lethargy, Prescribed antibiotics for Chest Infection.

• 26 April 2002 - Tiny black spots start to appear in my eyes. Went to Chemist, she suggested I may be dehydrated as a result of "cold/chest infection."

• 27 April 2002 - Went to Bristol Eye hospital, as my eye sight had deteriorated to such an extent I had lost my central vision completely, peripheral vision was blurred. Diagnosed with acute macula neuroretinopathy Blood pressure 190/130. Advised to see Doctor to discuss high blood pressure.

• 29 April 2002 - Visited Doctor, went for chest X-ray at the general hospital in Bristol. Made appointment to see practice nurse for bloods to be taken and analyzed.

• 3 May 2002 - Bloods taken.

• 7 May 2002 - Doctor phoned me with the results of blood tests, he asked that I come to the surgery immediately. He went through the results and said I had a kidney impairment, which to him looked as though it could be Chronic Glomerulonephritis Admitted to Southmead hospital, T Ward, that evening. Immediately prescribed blood pressure lowering tablets, instantly felt better than I had for many weeks.

• 8 May 2002 - Had Kidney Biopsy. [back to top]

Diagnosis:

• 9 May 2002 - Results of Biopsy showed that I did have Chronic Glomerulonephritis, this was a chronic disease (un-treatable). It was then I was told that I would need to Dialyse in the future and could be added to the list of people registered for transplant. One of the doctors suggested that I could be dialysing by Christmas that year.

• 11 May 2002 - Discharged from hospital, with a large number of drugs to take to control my blood pressure. [back to top]

Pre-Dialysis:

• 29 May 2002 - Following a visit to the outpatients clinic at Southmead hospital, potassium found to be 7.2 (very high!) Prescribed Calcium Resonium.

• Regular visits to outpatients.

• September 2002 - Registered for Transplant.

• 11 September 2003 - My Mum wrote to the Renal department at Southmead Hospital, requesting to be considered as a live donor.

• 18 October 2003 - My Mum had blood samples taken to assess suitability for donation.

• 6 December 2002 - After a period of feeling increasingly unwell, I asked if I could start to Dialyse. I opted for CAPD, and the Tenckhoff catheter was fitted.

• 23 December 2002 - Admitted to Southmead Hospital T Ward with High potassium (6.2).

• 24 December 2002 - Discharged from Hospital, sent home with Taz (F Grade Nurse) shouting down the corridor, NO chocolate, No potatoes, No Nuts, No Crisps.

• 25 December 2002 - Christmas dinner consisted of Turkey and Rice! [back to top]

Dialysis

• 30 December 2002 - Started training to use CAPD.

• 2 January 2003 - Started Dialysis fully. This meant changing the special fluids in my peritoneum 4 times a day.

• Regular visits to outpatients.

• 13 March 2003 - Tenckhoff catheter removed due to tunnel line infection. Line inserted in neck, through which blood was passed to dialysis machine for cleaning, 3 times a week for one month.

• 28 March 2003 - Tenckhoff catheter re-fitted.

• 14 April 2003 - Re-started CAPD.

• 16 April 2004 - Neck line removed at the Renal Day Case Unit, Southmead hospital. My Mum had a GFR test (radioactive tracer, to measure kidney function).

• Regular visits to outpatients.

• 11 June 2004 - My Mum had a Radioclide scan (radioactive dye injection, followed by scan)

• 5 July 2003 - Took part in the life cycle, organised by T.I.M.E and the transplant team at Southmead hospital. Cycled from Bristol to Saltford and back.

• 10 September 2003 - My Mum had a CT Angiogram. Date set for Live Transplant from My mum, 20 October 2003. [back to top]

Transplant

• 16 September 2003 - Following nearly a year of build up for my Mum to 'live donate', out of the blue came a call from the transplant team at Southmead Hospital, saying they had a suitable kidney for transplant. I contacted my Mum who was on holiday in France, made sure she was fine with my decision to take the Kidney, and made my way to Southmead Hospital. Following various blood tests, cross matching and some very nervous waiting I was taken to theatre at around 22:30....

• 17 September 2003 - ...The next thing I remember was waking on T ward at about 4am with a lot of activity going on around my bed, my potassium had gone very high and the nurses were working hard to get it down. [back to top]

Post Transplant

• 18 September 2003 - Sitting up in bed, having a little to eat and drink.

• 19 September 2003 - Lines started coming out, sat out of bed.

• 20 September 2003 - First ultrasound of new kidney, all shown to be well.

• 21 September 2003 - After 3 days on morphine, and in a moment of madness cut my lines in my neck and hand off, plus cut both the catheters off, I had in.

• 22 September 2003 - In hospital, walking around freely, the Doctors and nurses were monitoring my fluid input and output, and making sure my new drugs are working well.

• 25 September 2003 - All seemed to be doing very well, and I was allowed to go home.

• 26 September 2003 - Went out for my first Curry for many years!

• Clinic visits 3 times a week, Saturday, Monday, Thursday

• 17 October 2003- called back for further bloods, concerned about the results. All OK

• 20 October 2003 - Clinic reduced to twice a week, Monday and Thursday.

• 25 October 2003 - For the first time since Transplant I Sailed a friends Supernova dinghy at Roadford lake, Devon.

• 13 November 2003 - Clinic reduced to once a week.

• 19 November 2003 - I had my Tenckhoff catheter removed.

• 25 December 2003 - I Had a full Christmas dinner, and really enjoyed it.

• 8 January 2004 - Clinic visits now every Three weeks.

• 23 January 2004 - Back to work. [back to top]