Not sure what he is waiting for, Bananarama never really told us way back in 1984, but I bet he's not waiting for the results from a kidney biopsy. I on the other hand am nervously waiting after some unsettling news on Friday.
The biopsy procedure itself was quite painless, albeit quite uncomfortable. I don't know what all the fuss was about. It was a routine protocol biopsy, where they weren't looking for anything specific, but often underlying issues can be detected rather than blood tests. Anyhow, 2 slivers were taken from my new organ and sent off for analysis. They are not reviewed by the renal team, but a radiologist doctor, who found evidence of inflammation on the kidney. In her experience this type of inflammation tends to be the first signs of organ rejection.
She called the renal team to report on her analysis. The senior consultant was not sufficiently worried to agree with the biopsy analyst, as the blood tests taken on Thursday and Friday showed a really healthy kidney that was performing it's task really well. The kidney processes the toxins in the blood, and the amount of toxicity or creatinine is measured. For a normal non transplant patient the range is between 90-115 of the Globular Filtration Rate. this indicates the level of creatinine clearance in the blood. As the kidney gets worse the GFR rate increases quite steeply. My GFR clearance was 86 on Thursday, which is excellent, hence the consultants lack of concern. He suggested it may be due to a bruise due to exercise (!) He doesn't know me very well then.
So they are going to recheck my creatinine clearance on Monday, and will review my treatment later that day. If the organ appears to be performing poorly, i.e with a GFR of over 110=120, then another stay in hospital is required whilst they infuse me with some strong steroids that neutralise the rejection process. However if it remains below the 110 mark, then it will be a bruise and can heal itself.
So I await the results on Monday, slightly nervous, but reassured that even if does turn out to be bad news they can still prevent a total rejection of the organ, and avoid a return to dialysis.
There has been quite a lot of media coverage about NZ rugby star Jonah Lomu and his failed transplant organ, which is sad news for him and a complete reversal in his fortune, now he is back on dialysis 4 times a week. It is not my position to speculate on the cause of his kidney failure, his transplant was performed in 2004, so he has had a healthy organ for 8 years, and organs can be expected to last for 10-20 years, so it is sad that his has failed so early in its' new life. I wish him well and a suitable donor found for him soon.
Once kidney failure strikes, there is a lot of waiting; for treatment, transplants, appointments, and test results. Ah well that's life!
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