In another perfect example of how time gets away from you, I'm leaving it till now to mention this very important announcement. Tonight on Channel 10 @ 9:30pm they're airing the first episode of a short 2 week series named "The Ultimate Donation".
In the words of a Channel 10 copy writer..
" 'The Gift of Life' shows how the often-tragic death of one person can result in organ transplants which can bring the precious gift of life to as many as six people. "
Be sure to check it out! They've had something similar to this on before and it's amazing the process, people and work involved in making it all happen!
Paul.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Happy Easter
It's been a whole month since my last post. Time seems to fly by.
Had my half Nissen fundoplication on the 8th March as planned. Everything seemed to go well, a bit of soreness for a few days, a bloated feeling for a few weeks, mushy food the whole time, but it seems to have fixed the reflux problem. I'm still feeling very tired yet my lung function is excellent (FEV1 of 3.35 to 3.4), temperature is normal and I'm losing a bit of weight (below 83 kilos) so all the vital signs are good.
Went back to clinic on Monday 12th March and now not due back until 16th April although I have had a couple of blood tests in the meantime. Maybe it's having three lots of surgery over 11 months, or the stress associated with the fall in the GTP share price or both but I find myself lacking in energy. I need to improve my fitness level as I have had little exercise in the past few weeks, just couldn't get motivated. Seems I'll have to force myself as I am keen to try getting back to work soon. (we'll need the money!!)
Finally sold the Porsche (settles next week) so we're down to two cars and I think we'll keep things that way until I see what happens work wise.
It is only four weeks to the first anniversary of my lung transplant (4th May) and only nine weeks until I turn 60 (1st June). It is still hard to believe that so much has happened in a year and I still wonder what might have been had a donor not been forthcoming. Certainly I would not be alive today and Janyne's life would have been quite different (she might even say, "for the better"!!!!!) (Just joking).
Thanks for your good wishes to Kathryn Flynn and Judy Ryan from the Second Wind Lung Transplant Assoc. Inc in the U.S. ( www.2ndwind.org/ ) . This is an organisation similar to the Queensland Lung Transplant Support Group Inc which we have just established here but obviously far more advanced having commenced in 1996. I am hoping we can use their know how to develop our own association.
It is reassuring to read the experiences of others and I think organisations such as theirs and ours, and a blog such as mine, can help people awaiting transplant or those who have already had one, to realise how others have coped and to understand that they may not be alone in experiencing the ups and downs of life post transplant. Whilst we are always grateful for a second chance we can still have our sadder moments the same as everybody else. The key, however, is to concentrate on the good things and do what we can to fix the bad.
Also hello to Rebecca who is in Europe at present, unless she has recently returned.
Anyway, I'm back to clinic on the 16th April and also seeing my "Fundo" surgeon, Professor David Gotley. I'll let you know how it all goes.
Bye,
Ben
Had my half Nissen fundoplication on the 8th March as planned. Everything seemed to go well, a bit of soreness for a few days, a bloated feeling for a few weeks, mushy food the whole time, but it seems to have fixed the reflux problem. I'm still feeling very tired yet my lung function is excellent (FEV1 of 3.35 to 3.4), temperature is normal and I'm losing a bit of weight (below 83 kilos) so all the vital signs are good.
Went back to clinic on Monday 12th March and now not due back until 16th April although I have had a couple of blood tests in the meantime. Maybe it's having three lots of surgery over 11 months, or the stress associated with the fall in the GTP share price or both but I find myself lacking in energy. I need to improve my fitness level as I have had little exercise in the past few weeks, just couldn't get motivated. Seems I'll have to force myself as I am keen to try getting back to work soon. (we'll need the money!!)
Finally sold the Porsche (settles next week) so we're down to two cars and I think we'll keep things that way until I see what happens work wise.
It is only four weeks to the first anniversary of my lung transplant (4th May) and only nine weeks until I turn 60 (1st June). It is still hard to believe that so much has happened in a year and I still wonder what might have been had a donor not been forthcoming. Certainly I would not be alive today and Janyne's life would have been quite different (she might even say, "for the better"!!!!!) (Just joking).
Thanks for your good wishes to Kathryn Flynn and Judy Ryan from the Second Wind Lung Transplant Assoc. Inc in the U.S. ( www.2ndwind.org/ ) . This is an organisation similar to the Queensland Lung Transplant Support Group Inc which we have just established here but obviously far more advanced having commenced in 1996. I am hoping we can use their know how to develop our own association.
It is reassuring to read the experiences of others and I think organisations such as theirs and ours, and a blog such as mine, can help people awaiting transplant or those who have already had one, to realise how others have coped and to understand that they may not be alone in experiencing the ups and downs of life post transplant. Whilst we are always grateful for a second chance we can still have our sadder moments the same as everybody else. The key, however, is to concentrate on the good things and do what we can to fix the bad.
Also hello to Rebecca who is in Europe at present, unless she has recently returned.
Anyway, I'm back to clinic on the 16th April and also seeing my "Fundo" surgeon, Professor David Gotley. I'll let you know how it all goes.
Bye,
Ben
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