Day 58: Instructed to take drugs, yet asking questions

I went in to the hospital today. I haven't been for 2 weeks, which is nice for my schedule, but I really was glad to go in and have a lot of my current questions answered.

I used to have a blood pressure machine at home, but it belonged to the dialysis ward, and it's gone back to its rightful home. So I was really suprised when my blood pressure was taken and it was 150/100, sky high for me - I have always been a steady 128/76 kind of person. This, too, is from the drugs. At some point I really have to wonder - if this wasn't a case of life or death, this transplant, would all of these drugs and their side-effects be worth it? I know that some of these side effects are temporary, but what long-term effect do they have on the body? But the reality is I know full well that these drugs are keeping my body from rejecting my new kidney and am ultimately SUPER grateful for them!

The current side effects of the most aggressive of the drugs I'm on include:

Elevated blood sugar, making insulin a necessity (Prednisone, Neoral)
High blood pressure (Neoral)
Headaches - can be severe (Neoral)
Night sweats of a duration of 3-5 hours (Prednisone or Neoral)
Day sweating - is it all of the drugs struggling to get out?
Distorted vision (Not sure which drug)
Swelling around eyes (fluid retention) (Neoral or Metformine)
Swollen face (Prednisone). I don't really mind this side effect, as it pads out my face quite nicely!
Oily, oily skin and hair (Prednisone). Another hidden plus effect - at 43, it's kind of exciting to see oil on my skin.

I'm having an ultrasound done a week from today to see why my abdomen is so distended. I truly cannot wear jeans or anything I used to. I have been wearing leggings and sweat pants (I now reserve sweats for house only!) for the last two months! I had heard before my surgery that PD patients' abdomens can still produce fluid as they are so used to dialysing, but that mine would probably not due to the short time that I was on dialysis. If it's somehow the case, how on earth will they get the fluid out now that the catheter is gone? I really don't want to think about it!

All these crazy questions with so little answers. Hence the blog - it really helps to get everything down in print. Poor Gary is over-inundated. I have so many thoughts and theories. Being an inquisitive type makes my mind overly busy. A typical example of my train of thought is this: I have been given a calcium supplement that contains E numbers (additives) and artificial sweeteners, including Aspartame. This is stuff that I usually avoid. When I read about Aspartame on the internet, almost every site had some info about it being controversial as far as health safety and even linked to causing blood sugar level problems. I find this stuff fascinating! So of course I brought it up with my doctor.. he told me that if I have 4 units of dairy (4 glasses of milk or cups of yoghurt), I can stop the tablets. I wonder if they think I'm a bit crazy with some of my questions, but then I'm quite sure they've heard it all.