Update on me!

[sledgemeister]

Some may know, some may have guessed but for the rest of you I can inform and give an update on my how you say "progress".
Please bare in mind I am not posting this as "means" to illicit sympathy or attention, but its far easier to say something to all than answer individual queries via pm and facebook
A little while back I had a trip to hospital with really bad chest pain, not a heart attack but like I had swallowed a ball of barb wire.
Long story short they did blood tests and found my kidney function was pretty ordinary. The pain in the stomach was attributed to my kidneys being so large that it was pushing all my other organs up and out hence I suffered really bad heart burn type symptons. To give you an idea of my kidney size the average size is 10cm long mine are 25cm. According to my doctors I am not even overweight, its the kidneys pushing my guts out, and hey that is the excuse I am using!
Since that time I have been making regular trips to and from the hospital, check ups, dialysis assessments, surgery (just had), transplant talk, etc etc etc its all a little overwhelming and truth be told a little boring to go into. Needless to say the old two heads (Tasmanian joke!) have been swimming. Couple that with the old man receiving palliative care and being told I was being made redundant a week after I told work about how crook I was, I have not been my regular chatty self. Work backed off a little and has extended me to 25th January, if they expected me to lie down and take it then they was very wrong. A pissed off sledge is not very pleasant as they are finding out, work is busier then ever, more clients, more work etc. They are having fun trying to justify their position. (end mini rant).
Needless to say I been having fun!
Well last Friday I had my first surgery to set up a fistula in my arm (google it ya lazy bastards) and it apparently went well, was the best sleep I have had in ages. No real side effects until after I was home and then I spewed, perhaps the endone wore off, that stuff is good. Arm was a little sore that night but a few mg of Tramadol numbed the pain 

Apparently its all going good, docs was happy, I have to check it every day to make sure is ok, have my own stethoscope (Dr Sledge   ) and feel it for the (and I kid u not) "thrill" its where the artery joins the vein and the back wash causes a vibration, nearest thing I can describe it as is it feels like a cats purr in your arm - very weird.
This will take approx 6 - 8 weeks to heal and then I can begin dialysis if needed, the docs are quite amazed I function as well as I do being that I have only 6% kidney function. If I need dialysis before that time then they will put a thing in my neck, I told them they can stick that where the sun dont shine. I will wait.
So after all this is done, then they are apparently going to remove one of my kidneys because if they do a transplant the size the others are will crush the new one. So joy another operation, This will happen in Hobart, and some time after that with all things being equal a transplant which will be done in Melbourne, apparently I will be over there for 6 weeks or so.
So thats me in a nut shell.
Also while I have your attention, Have a great xmas and a safe one. Take care all.

Oh a couple pics of the op, chicks still dig scars dont they?
First pic day after the operation.
Second Pic 3 days on

[PegLeg45]

Hey, looks like a bung hole on yer arm, mate.

Seriously, though, best wishes for all to go as well as it can.

[tombogan03884]

" If I need dialysis before that time then they will put a thing in my neck, I told them they can stick that where the sun dont shine."

To which the Dr replied, "no, it's to small for that, we have to put it in your neck".

Good luck Sledge.

[PegLeg45]

I've had the "thing in my neck".....both sides, actually.........it does work better there than where the sun don't shine.   

[kmitch200]

Sounds like a bitch Sledge.
Have a Merry Christmas and I will empty as many beers as I can in your honor. 

They would get emptied anyway but now I can say I have a pledge to keep up.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Sounds like a bitch Sledge.
Have a Merry Christmas and I will empty as many beers as I can in your honor. 

They would get emptied anyway but now I can say I have a pledge to keep up.

You realize you now have an obligation to make sure they are GOOD beers .
None of that PBR crap. 

[Solus]

Stay tough, Sledge....and ornery.

And much strength and good luck for this one.

Take care.

[kmitch200]

You realize you now have an obligation to make sure they are GOOD beers .
None of that PBR crap. 

I promise to only drink my brand....."Cold". 

[jnevis]

You realize you now have an obligation to make sure they are GOOD beers .
None of that PBR crap. 

...and DEFINATELY NOT Fosters.

So Slesge, have they given you the list of things you shouldn't eat/drink, like beer, bacon, and potatoes/tomatoes (to much phosphorous)?  Only in moderation mate!   I wanted to run into a pole at high speed.

[sledgemeister]

...and DEFINATELY NOT Fosters.

So Slesge, have they given you the list of things you shouldn't eat/drink, like beer, bacon, and potatoes/tomatoes (to much phosphorous)?  Only in moderation mate!   I wanted to run into a pole at high speed.

Yeah mate had chat with dietician damn think I rather talk to the grim reaper! She even looked at him, ever notice those diety, vegan types always look sicker than you?
Banana's, cheese etc anything with too much potassium and phosphates. I did have to put my foot down when she said about the chocolate. Damn woman has rocks in her head thinking I not gonna eat chocolate, I mean one has to have some standards LOL
Just about to head off to the renal clinic for a check up with my vascular nurse make sure the fistula is doing good. Also why is it you only ever see hot nurses on TV and in Movies? What's up with that?
Had another appointment this morning with one of my other Docs and he jabbed a huge ass needle in my shoulder (I have frozen shoulder as well) That was fun.
In anycase all is good as can be, no good complaining too many woman out of work as it is let alone me trying to take one of their places 

Thanks for the well wishes guys, its appreciated.