cxmoody Posted April 2022
Lealonnie and Hubby: Liver Transplant Journey
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https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-mayo-clinic
Alva; thank you. Kaiser won't allow a transplant patient to come here w/o a family member as their primary CG either. Period. It's way too much to deal with, even for the family member, never mind a casual acquaintance or friend. Sheesh......they'd go running for the hills! Just today, his clinics started at 6:20 am and went back to back till 9:15 am, were in 2 different bldgs that had to be driven to, parked at, him left off at the front door, etc. It's a lot. And there were no med changes today; had there been some, I'd have been called back to pick up RXs and re do his new pill box which came today THANKFULLY. They're individual days of the week boxes that you can take out of the case, and are divided into 3 parts, AM, afternoon and PM. Heavenly. LOL.
9am Wednesday
Just got back from clinic, lab draws and DH’s first doctor visit which went perfectly. Dr A is thrilled "speechless" by DH’s progress and said he looks like a patient who's been home a MONTH rather than a day! His scar is so clean and looks so healed that the doctor said he was tempted to take the staples out on the spot. 😂
The old liver looks terrible BUT no additional tumors were found inside of it, or in the blood vessels, which is remarkable and a huge relief. Had more tumors been found, that would've meant a greater chance of the new liver acquiring cancer ALSO and very close monitoring a necessity for years to come. Another huge blessing to be very grateful for.
Clinics happen 2x a week with an ultrasound on Friday. Blood draws are vital to see if medication changes are required which we'll be notified of before the 8pm dosing. So far so good.
DH’s appetite is poor and his pants are already falling off of him. I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off, no appetite either, sweating bullets, and the scale hasn't BUDGED an ounce. Isn't this just typical though? He'll lose 20 lbs during this run and I'll be lucky to lose 6 ounces 😑
May 3. 2022
Today is DISCHARGE DAY!
On a positive note, he had his Miralax Moment a while ago and it was a blessed event 🙏
I am looking at a 30 page discharge packet which has 8 pages of 💊 meds and instructions including 15 days of Clinic appointments that begin at 6:10 am. 😳 If we miss ONE PILL ONCE, we have to notify Mayo immediately. Not too much pressure. Praying to God I can keep all of this straight in my addled mind and keep him properly medicated, fed, hydrated and get enough protein into him every day. I ordered shakes on Amazon and plan to hit Whole Foods later on. The tap water here is so bad the 🐕 won't eat her food that's soaked in it, so bottled water is on the list too. We're spoiled in Colo with such great tap water but no 🌴 so it's a trade 😉
DH climbed the stairs today with the PT following close behind, what a strong guy he really is 👏 👌 💪
We're planning to plop him in bed with his spirometer (I'm a spirometer Nazi, just ask him) a bottle of water and Honey next to him, for the rest of the day. Tomorrow he starts walking every hour when we return from the 3 clinic appointments.
Thank God for a successful Part One. Now onto a successful Part Two: The Recovery
Thanks for all the 💘 everyone. It means a lot
So happy to hear of your husband's successful transplant. I hope everything goes well with his release and continued recovery. Keep up with your own health, too, because you aren't allowed to keel over -- yet.
Thank you, God!
DH’s being called the Rockstar by the staff, no joke! His recovery is amazing and he's being released tomorrow.
The nurse is giving us some intense education at 10 am tomorrow about what to do when we get back to the hotel, meds, clinic follow up visits, what not to eat, etc. I feel ready to tackle the care.
DH’s eating soup and grilled 🧀 for lunch but only a few bites. Still hasn't had his Miralax Moment :( Stomach rumblings are threatening, but still nothing.
His last drain cane out 30 minutes ago. 🙌
I’ve been following the story and praying so much for you guys. So glad your DD can be there with you. Praying now for continued quick healing and peace in all of your hearts.
Take good care.
What a testimony you will have when it's all said and done. And as the saying goes, you can't have a testimony without a TEST, and so far you and Chuck have passed that test with flying colors.
Myself and many others on here will continue to pray for you both, and look forward to hearing more of how God is working in your lives during this difficult journey.
May God bless and keep you both.
My son bought Chuck a camera and long lens in Dec for photographing birds, to pass the time and to keep him occupied. They went birding in a local park together every day since, walking 3-5 miles a day. Sometimes Chucks son would join them also. His surgeon said that walking has made a huge difference with his recovery rate now! When I told my son he may have literally saved Chucks life, he said he's so happy he's going to upgrade his lens to a better one after he recovers!! Chuck will be ecstatic, he loves photography. Chokes me up big time to retell this story.
Chuck is nodding off in his bed here, 2 drains out, 02 out, catheter out, pain minimum, hanging onto his liver shaped pillow when he coughs. The staff all signs the pillow, same as they did with his heart pillow when he had triple bypass 18 months ago. I'm praying there will be no more organ shaped pillows to add to his collection, and this is it.
And, good for you for putting your foot down about the possibly too-early discharge! Your Aging Care buddies are so proud! 😂
11:00 am Sunday
DH is in his room on the transplant floor as of last night, doing well... better than expected. The doctor told him he may be released tomorrow and I'm like WOAH NELLIE 😳 I don't think so! So Tuesday at the earliest he'll be released, barring complications.
His scar is huge but clean as a whistle. The staples come out at day 21. Along with the triple bypass scar, he's now got a peace sign on his chest 😆
He's very tired and nodding off a lot. 2 out of 3 drains are coming out today too!
His spirits are good partly because he's been put on a regular food diet YESSSSS so now he's ordered that sandwich he asked for when he was extubated.
The big guy is OUT OF ICU and in a room on the transplant floor now! The central line is out of his neck now too, thankfully.
Everyone is impressed that he's gone from 3 IVs down to one in under 18 hours. What a beast 💪
And sugar free jello sucks in all flavors. But lukewarm broth tastes like heaven on earth.
That's all.
It's been a glorious day!
So happy things are going well, Lea.