Last time I told you that the application for the transplant has been submitted to the Department of Health here in South Africa. While we wait for the response, there is one more minor surgery that needs to take place, and it’s happening next week.
I’m having my gall bladder removed. Because, amongst the myriad of tests I underwent to ensure I was healthy enough for the kidney transplant surgery, one of them picked up that I had gall stones.
Suddenly there was one more halt on the seemingly endess road to transplant.
Usually. The mere presence of gall stones wouldn’t be an issue. Many people have gall stones and never experience any symptoms or pain. I certainly haven’t, at least not so far.
Perhaps you’re wondering why I’m having surgery to remove my gall bladder if there appears to be no reason to do so.
But here’s the thing, from what I was told by my medical team, if I should experience problems with the gall stones after the kidney transplant, it would be significantly more serious. Once I’ve had the transplant, I will be on medication that will help to prevent rejection of the new kidney. But that same medication will suppress my immune system. Which means that I will be more susceptible to any illness that is going around. It also means my body will find it more difficult to bounce back afterwards.
That’s why the medical team feels it would be better to prevent potential problems in the future. Despite there being no immediate reason to do so.
And there it is – the reason I’m having this one more minor surgery next week. Hopefully it will mean only an overnight stay in hospital and a few days recovery. And hopefully not too much discomfort. Because, after all, I’ll still have to head off to the dialysis centre for my scheduled sessions once I’m home from the operation.
By that stage we may have permission to go ahead with the transplant and can start scheduling it. And finally move towards the goal I’ve been working towards for almost a year now.
Wish me luck for this surgery and I’ll let you know when we have a date for the transplant.
