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May 21, 2008 Uncategorized

The Lizz Update

OK, so here's my very good excuse for not updating for a week!

I had noticed some ever-increasing swelling in my legs and feet last week. It was as bad as it ever was while I was pregnant and got to where I could only squeeze my feet into my ballet-style Crocs. So I made an appointment with a doctor on Thursday afternoon… he took one look at my feet and my blood pressure (way high) and said “I can't help you, go to Emergency”

I went to the Emergency Room at 5pm on Thursday… my blood pressure registered at about 260/140 (almost twice what is considered healthy!) so they started medicating me and wanted to admit me.
I refused admission and instead spent the night in the ER and had Jamie bring me new clothes in the morning so I could go to work on Friday. (We were closing a mailer; there are about 3 days every 2 months I CANNOT miss, and this was one of them. So I very dramatically left AMA (against medical advice) and went off to work with the promise that I'd be back at the hospital after work, at which point I'd give them the weekend to fix me.
I got back to the ER about 6pm on Friday… they again medicated me for my BP and admitted me and (finally!) gave me a few doses of Lasix to get the swelling down. (I lost 13 lbs. over the weekend; all water weight that was in my legs, feet and face)

So I'm loaded up with meds, in the hospital, getting ready to make a stink to go home (this is Sunday morning) I get out of bed to go pee, and I nearly pass out… the nurse comes in to check my blood pressure, and it's plummeted to 60/40! Barely enough to keep me conscious.
Because my pressures all weekend had been taken with me lying in bed, my standing pressure got way too low on the meds I'd been given.
As I'm realizing that this means more time in the hospital to get that straightened out, they drop the bomb.

The staff at Kaiser is afraid I'm rejecting my transplanted kidney and I need to be transferred to UCSF's Transplant Center to have the kidney biopsied and figure out exactly what's going on. I'm transported by ambulance on Sunday afternoon back to the site of my transplant, where I'm told that I'm scheduled for a biopsy and 9am Monday morning.

The results of the biopsy come back Monday afternoon; there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is that there's no rejection. The bad news is that the pregnancy and pre-eclampsia took a major toll on my kidney. A significant percentage (close to 50%) of the tiny blood vessels and capillaries have been damaged to the point that they no longer function, and they aren't something that can grow back or heal. Add that to the (harmless) cyst in the kidney, and I'm working at about 30% kidney function overall. Best case scenario is that I'll need a new transplant or dialysis in about 4 years… worst case, it's got less than a year.

Hopefully with careful management of my blood pressure meds and anti-rejection meds, we can stave it off for as long as possible…

So that's where I'm at; it's a tough bit of news to get, but we'll get through it. And, as always, prayers and the like are always, always welcome!


11 Comments

« Thursday #5
The Max Update »

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    May 21, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    Sending prayers and good thoughts your way.

    Reply
  2. ann says

    May 21, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    Oh my goodness Lizz, you have been through so much and my heart just sank reading your post. You have such a great attitude about everything and that makes me know that you & Max will pull through with flying colors! I will definitely be sending positive, healing thoughts your way. Please continue to take care of yourself.

    Reply
  3. Monica says

    May 21, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    OMG…you poor thing! What a whirlwind the last couple of months have been for you. I will definitely keep you and Max in my prayers.

    Reply
  4. Mimi says

    May 21, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Arg, Lizz. This is SO not the news I wanted to read. Continued prayers and love.

    Reply
  5. beth-leonard says

    May 21, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Oh no! When I didn’t get a Thursday update for last week, I was worried something might have happened to Max. And now I learn that I should have been praying for YOU! I’ll keep praying.

    Love,
    –Beth

    Reply
  6. Ann Marie says

    May 21, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    You let me know if there is anything you need… you all are in our prayers every day from the biggest family member to the littlest and in between.

    Reply
  7. melissa says

    May 22, 2008 at 5:10 am

    Lizz
    I’m so sorry you had such a tough weekend. I’ll be keeping you in my prayers and hoping for the best.

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    May 22, 2008 at 9:04 am

    Derby,

    I’ve been reading about your family with baited breath, so excited to hear that you guys were prego and that Max was born, a rough start but doing well. Kept reading to hear the updates and send good thoughts his way…now there are more good vibes coming to your family. Keep up the good spirts…

    love, Snoopy!

    Reply
  9. Jenn ( in RI) says

    May 22, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    Lizz, I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking positive thoughts for you and max all of the time.

    Reply
  10. shamrockgrl74 says

    May 24, 2008 at 2:16 pm

    Sending you our thougths and prayers. Let us know if there is anything need.

    Reply
  11. Mrs. L says

    May 25, 2008 at 10:20 am

    I know how much strength you have, Big Big hugs to you girl, and to your little one and family.

    Reply

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Welcome, I'm so glad you're here! Thing number one, I'm tall. I've been told I should have a warning on my blog, so here it is! I am taller in real life than I appear on the internet. Want to know more than this "short" version? Go here to read more about me and my family, and for links to some of my favorite posts.
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