Thursday's The Day

So you could say I'm a little nervous now (more than a little nervous). I had a nightmare last night that the surgeons were saying: "now this will only hurt a little" as they come baring down on me with medieval weapons to tear me apart. It's interesting because it's not the pain that I'm afraid of, it's the anesthesia, and being away from my kids for three days! Oh babies!

So, it's been determined that I am a match for David and we will be undergoing kidney transplant surgery on Thursday. I have done so much testing at UCSF! There were many initial tests, then many additional tests and over the last week, I've had to donate blood for myself, run some final blood work, have another EKG and in just a few minutes I'm leaving to drop off a sample for another urinalysis.

I have to start my fast tomorrow, Wednesday, at noon. Then it's only clear liquids. I'll have to drink magnesium citrate because enemas are so 1990. I also have to shower with hibiclens to remove as much bacteria from my skin as possible. I have to check in at the hospital at 7:30a Thursday, they'll gown me up, needle me up and prep me for anesthesia. Thankfully, they'll wait until I'm out to put the catheter and the breathing tube in (which is so wonderful, thank you!)

The doctors should be inside me by 1pm. They have decided to take my right kidney. Usually they take the left, but my left kidney has two large blood vessels whereas my right kidney only has one. This makes it a little more difficult because my liver will be in the way, but hey, you do what you gotta do. The removal will be laproscopic and then a small incision at my bikini line to remove the kidney. (Though they reserve the right to fully open me if necessary). Please liver, stay out of the way!

They say I'll be in recovery by 6p and even though I'll probably feel like I got hit by a semi, I should be walking around the next morning. I've heard mixed stories about the amount of pain I'll be in, so we'll just see how it goes. I know that this surgery is very common and well studied and with Dr. Keng doing the cutting I feel like I'm in good hands.

I'll be having my dad give me a blessing to help soothe the butterflies in my stomach. Though, I really think he'll need a blessing since he'll be helping watch the babies while I'm pre-occupied. Well, it's almost here now, so wish me luck!