And So... · 2:03pm Nov 3rd, 2018
This should be the last time I post a blog that tags DaD until I get back to my writing.
I'M OUT!
After being in the hospital since June 7th, I was FINALLY discharged on Thursday. I still had another round of dialysis yesterday, so today is my first day 'off.' Unfortunately, recovery is far from over—I've still got dialysis every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (I'm sure there are at least a few of you out there that can relate), and I still have to go back to the hospital every other Tuesday or so, and I need rehab, but that first step of getting out of the hospital is a HUGE one.
Literally the day after I got out of the hospital I went to a local salon and got my hair cut, so I finally don't look like a werewolf anymore. Geez, it feels SO much better. Still have to wait a few more weeks before I can properly shower, though, 'cuz I still have one attachment left for dialysis (a TDC: Tunneled Dialysis Catheter). I've got a fistula maturing, though, so when it's ready I can get the catheter I've got off and take a REAL shower.
Gotta tell ya, someone pointed this out ages ago, but the various scars and shit do look pretty gnarly. I'm not embedding a picture here in case you guys can get easily grossed out, but if any of you have the kind of curiosity I do—and apparently at least one person does—you can take a look here. Some spots still have prep chemicals that I haven't been able to wash off...
Alright, it's the first day I was able to sleep until 9am my time, so I'm getting hungry now. This will probably be the last time I blog about my recovery unless something emergent happens—like I get rushed back to the hospital for my inevitable new kidney—but if anyone has any questions, you're free to PM me or write on my wall. 
Until next time, everyone!
—LD
Welcome back to the outside world, LD!
I sure am curious. Not always the best choice (such was when I had a pilonidal disease and decided to read up on the surgery on Wikipedia---those pictures were and still are somewhat disconcerting for somebody whose got that exact same surgery scheduled for the very next day. The English version is lacking that one very interesting picture, though, were somebody was helpfully pulling away some poor sod's bum so that you can take a look right at that person's coccyx), but I prefer it that way.
That aside, congratulations on making it out of hospital alive and in more or less good health!
I'm so happy your out and doing better! Hopefully you can enjoy a small sense if normalcy here now. We all love you and are with you no matter what!
Good to hear.
Level "Absolute Unit" Dasher
wishing you the best of luck and a speedy recovery.
Great to hear you're recovering! Congrats!
So glad to hear that you are recovering so we'll.
Glad to hear you're doing better, Dasher! Been sending you positive thoughts, my friend.
Instead of one of my (seemingly traditional at this point, honestly) incredibly long-winded responses, I'm just going to say:
Fucking Aces mate! Hope you can get a proper shower soon, I like showers, helps me think of things I forget immediately after because I never have anything to write with nearby. Maybe I should get one of those waterproof notepad/pen things. Regardless, get back in top shape (or as top shape as you physically can) and get back to it.
4962637
I added a link in the post, but just so you don't have to go searching...
Yoink
Congratulations! Hope the recovery continues to go well.
ps: Are you sure it was a doctor and not the janitor angry about something and knifing you at the bottom of the ribcage? j/k.
I was just thinking about you today. So good to hear that things are looking up for you!
(Also, great Floofy Waifu quote...)😸
4962916
Holes for fluid drainage, I'd guess.
4962874
That is pretty gnarly, but I just do have to ask: I've heard people mentioning that, when you've broken one or more rips, breathing becomes painful due to their movement. Given that the doctors (unless I'm mistaken) need to cut out basically the whole middle piece of your rip cage, including the sternum, to get to your heart, is the same true after a heart transplant? Or does cutting instead of breaking the bones make a difference?
Also, that's a mighty big bruise under your left arm. Any idea where that came from?
4962916
Re: knifing.
The idea amuses me, but it wouldn't happen. I was too nice to everybody, the janitors included. Well, minus the one nurse who suffered my 'wrath' right as I was regaining coherency just after the surgery and still reacting to the anesthesia. Even then, I was relatively calm compared to the reactions others have had.
They are indeed from fluid drainage.
4963285
As far as I'm aware, yes, they broke the sternum, and it certainly feels like they cut one upper rib on each side (though that may just be phantom pain). So to answer your question, yes, breathing was painful at first—I felt kind of...constricted most of the time while I was in the Cardio-Thoracic ICU. There's still a little bit of residual pain and some hitched breathing, but only so much.
In terms of the bruise, it's a combo of two things: it's leftover from a fistula surgery (to make dialysis much easier going forward instead of using the TDC) and from multiple heparin shots (that's a blood thinner to prevent clots).