My pancreas transplant.

[Luna_C_06]

I posted in another thread about it, but it wasn't about my transplant so I made this post to cover it.

I've been a type 1 diabetic since I was 3 years old (about 20 years). I've never been able to have regular coke or cake without getting very sick, ever, and after 20 years of it I was really going down hill. Every time I was in the e.r. my mom would bring a lap top and research about stem cells, but after Bush's stupid law we turned our attention to transplants.

She came across the Mayo clinic and we got an appointment last May. They approved me and by Christmas I already got a call to go back, but it was just a false alarm. Then, finally, in March of this year a pancreas that matched me was found and we flew out for my operation.

After the operation they had to go back and check the organ because we thought I was rejecting it, but I was just really weakened by the surgery. I won't lie to you, it hurt. A lot. Hell, it still hurts, but it was worth it.

I love it! I had birthday cake yesterday and didn't throw up. I don't feel 100% yet, but I will soon.

The last time I had to use insulin was on March 18. I think I'm going to remember that for ever.

[livetohike]

1. Congratulations! I hope you get to 100% quickly

and enjoy a lifetime of birthday cakes :hi:.

[rcrush]

2. Rock on.

Good to hear!

Remember to get that lawyer anyways for your sis even if 1st offense will most likely result in no jail time. But I would call one anyways.

[Javaman]

3. Happy Birthday! Cheers!!

To a very speedy recovery and a new life! :)

[Luna_C_06]

12. LOL

Its not even my b-day, I just wanted cake.

[Javaman]

14. any day you get cake is like a birthday in my book! LOL :) nt

[Kahuna]

4. Happy to hear your good news. Best wishes to you for a long and

happy future. :fistbump:

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Congratulations on your successful operation. Do you have any information on the donor?

[Luna_C_06]

13. Only that he was 22 and

from Las Vegas, and sadly of course no longer alive.

[sinkingfeeling]

29. Be sure to pray for his family.

[undeterred]

6. Congratulations on your new pancreas!

Medical science is an amazing thing.

My father was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in 1934 - the use of insulin to treat diabetes had only been around for 7 years. He injected himself with insulin daily for 58 years. He lived to be 71 with few complications...but I was always aware of how lucky he was.

Another diabetic I knew went blind at age 26.

I always felt bad for my father not being able to eat birthday cake, but he was never a pound overweight and he had great teeth. Something to be said for not developing a sweet tooth!

[Luna_C_06]

16. Yeah

I can't stand coke (I can actually smell the sugar!).

[nichomachus]

28. Really? Where do you get Coke with sugar in it?

You can't find it in the US. I can get it in Mexico or in Europe, but rarely in the US. Most of the shit here has High Fructose Corn Syrup -- a poison developed by the US agribusiness -- which is one of the major causes of diabetes and obesity in the country.

[Contrary1]

38. Off topic a bit...

Did you know that Pepsi is offering "Pepsi Throwback" for a limited time? Made with real sugar.

I was a bit disappointed to find that it is in cans and not glass bottles. I don't use real sugar,
but I am going to throw caution to the wind for a little taste of yesterday.
:toast:

[nichomachus]

47. I prefer soda with real sugar

Sugar isn't poison. It's OK in limited quantities. And one of the benefits of sugar is that your body will tell you when you've had enough.

High Fructose corn syrup doesn't send a signal to your body that it's had enough. This is why people who eat the HFCS products will continue to stuff themselves until they explode. This is why you can eat a piece of real fudge and then you've kind of had enough. Eat two and you know you've had too much. But, you can eat two large bags of M&Ms without batting an eye.

It's the same with the sodas with real sugar. One bottle is very satisfying and you really don't want another right away.

[Luna_C_06]

39. You're right.

I should have said I can smell the sugary flavor of it.

And I had type 1 diabetes, not the one brought on by obesity. The odd thing about it is that no one in my family has either type. I'm the only one.

[grantcart]

7. good for you -- keep up the fight

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Absolutely Fantastic!

Great stuff, congratulations!

[benddem]

9. Happy birthday and congratulations

but don't go too heavy on that cake. This is wonderful my niece and best friend both have type I. I hope they get some help soon.

[Luna_C_06]

17. Tell them about the Mayo clinic in AZ.

The wait is not very long and if they're young they'll most likely get in.

[ismnotwasm]

10. Congratulations!

I'm a renal/transplant nurse and I'm very happy for you. Thank you so much for posting as your success and courage lets people know how important organ donation is. In my experience, pancreas transplants usually do very well.


(We call those false alarms "dry runs" where I work)

[Flying Dream Blues]

42. Here's a question for you...I'm an organ donor but I'm getting older.

How *young* do you have to be to be useful as a donor?

And, thanks for the work you do!

[Hekate]

11. That is wonderful news! I didn't know they were doing pancreas transplants now...

I'm very happy for you, and for so many others in your situation. Best of health to you!

Hekate

[Solly Mack]

15. Wonderful!!!!!

Great, great news!!!

[Octafish]

18. All the best to you, Luna C_06.

God bless and Godspeed!

[Ilsa]

19. This is such FABULOUS NEWS! I got chills reading your post.

I am so happy for you, and that your body is accepting the new gift so well. I am also grateful to whomever made their wishes known that they'd like to have their organs given to another person. Blessings to that person and his or her loved ones during their grief.

March 18, 2009. Wow. Big hugs to you!

[AndyA]

20. Sending good thoughts your way for a quick and speedy recovery!

I hope you continue to feel better and better. You might not have ever felt as good as you'll feel once you've healed! I'm so happy for you, hang in there and get better and keep us up to date on how you're doing.

:thumbsup:

[Fumesucker]

21. Congratulations to you and my sympathies and condolences to the donor and his/her family.. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Wonderful!

:hug:

[Cha]

23. Good for you, Luna C! I didn't

know one could have a pancreas transplant..I'm so happy for you!

[Brother Buzz]

24. Cool Beans! You're young so you can bounce back in no time....

Enjoy life with all the zest you can muster but don't forget to stop and smell a rose once in awhile.

[tpsbmam]

25. How wonderful, Luna_C. Congratulations and may you have many, many

more slices of your birthday cake to come!

[TuxedoKat]

26. Wow! That's wonderful!

Prayers for your continued recovery and good health. :)

[JitterbugPerfume]

27. that is wonderful

:grouphug:

[noiretextatique]

30. congratulations!

:toast: to your continued recovery and good health...and happy birthday.

[flyarm]

31. Wonderful!!!!!!!!! so happy for you, and may you get stronger and healthier each and every day!!

Bless you and stay strong!!
You will stay in my prayers!!

And Happy Cake eating!!

Congradulations!!

fly

[malaise]

32. I'm so happy for you

Belated Happy Birthday.

Here's my present to you - stay away from both sodas and cake - make them very rare treats.

[truedelphi]

33. Very good news. Happy to hear about this advancement in

Terms of what it can do for kids and young people with Diabetes.

Here's to your new life:
beer:

Think of the icon as a Coke and not a beer.

[Dappleganger]

34. Yay!

[DS1]

35. Wow, I didn't know pancreas transplants were possible

[mitchtv]

36. Good for you

I haad a liver transplant in 96, still going strong

[Dorian Gray]

37. Wow

That's incredible! Congratulations. How different your life will be now!

[Contrary1]

40. That is wonderful news!

Celebrate every day! Welcome to DU. :pals:

[lovuian]

41. woohooo

:woohoo:

[Flying Dream Blues]

43. How wonderful! I know you must

feel like a miracle happened, and I'm so happy for you.

Thanks for posting, too, to let everyone know about this. Take care and enjoy your new life!

[DKRC]

44. Congratulations!

:applause:

And many more!!

[myrna minx]

45. Congratulations!

:bounce: :toast:

[Orangepeel]

46. Congrats!

[DarbyUSMC]

48. Wonderful news. Congratulations.

[barbtries]

49. congratulations

it's a whole new lifetime for you. live well.

[sellitman]

50. What an amazing story!

I am so happy for you. I wish you a long pain free "normal" life.

Please keep us posted.

:hug:

[theHandpuppet]

51. Fabulous! Congrats!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[sonias]

52. Congratulations!

I wish you continued good health and a 100% recovery.

:toast: to your new life.

:bounce:

Sonia

[Greyhound]

53. Amazing, thanks for sharing this. n/t

[handmade34]

54. Wow, so happy for you!

...I have lived with diabetics and know the drill all too well. Take care of yourself and enjoy!

[madamesilverspurs]

55. Phenomenal!

Very, very happy for you!

[Lugnut]

56. Fantastic!

Party on! (With cake, of course.)

[MrMickeysMom]

57. Excellent news...

I'm really happy for you and I'm sure you are happy about the person who donated their pancreas.

Bless em...wherever they are, you are enjoying cake!

[tavalon]

58. Congratulations on your new pancreas

I'm still facing a similar surgery sometime in the next year. I have an interloper on my right kidney and it's in a place where I'll have to have an open nephrectomy. Not looking forward to it. I'm glad your past your big belly surgery and are now looking forward to a full and insulinated life.

[Vidar]

59. Congratulations & best wishes!