This and That and Talk - My Transplant

@lcamino My son really is such a great guy. I always felt, as I said in a different post, that things would work out with him eventually but he is good beyond my wildest dreams. Many people have commented to me on what a gentleman he is. That, along with the fact that he is just an all-around good guy are the things that make me proud of him. My daughter is great also, but in a totally different way, less expressive.
JK

@rosemarya Thanks Rosemary, I am getting there. Had a good appointment today with my surgeon, he is modifying my medications so now I have to resume weekly blood tests so they can track what difference the changes make. They are very conservative there which I view as a good thing.
JK

@rosemarya Also, the Parker House, a venerable old hotel, was a favorite spot of JFK for lunch, that and the Union Oyster House.
JK

@lcamino, I would gladly make that drive too. I toyed with the idea of going to an internist at the MGH satellite in Danvers MA. It's about the same distance as Boston but you don't hit that Boston traffic so it would generally be about an hour. I go there for MRIs and ECHOs. I just figured that's a bit too far to go. I am going to try to find one either in Concord, NH (about 22 miles north) or Nashua NH (about 22 miles south). None of the ones around Manchester that are accepting new patients are that good.
It's daunting to change doctors though. I wish somehow he could explain his gaffe to give me a reason to stay with him. As I believe I commented before, I actually like him and enjoy my visits with him, we generally chat a bit about family. He's 20 years older than my son but their physiques and hairlines are similar so he makes me think of my son. The picture is my son and his young lady on New Year's Eve. She keeps me up on things, sending me pictures.
JK

@contentandwell, Yes, Anytime my meds are adjusted or changed, I can also expect frequent blood tests. It is remarkable how much information that they get from those labs and how closely that we are monitored after our transplants. I appreciate it.
Do you have to travel back to his office for the labs? I think you said it is a couple of hours? I have my labs drawn locally and then the results are faxed to Mayo and my PCP gets a hard. Since the lab is nearby, I usually drive there to pick up the results myself in a couple hours. That way I can check to be sure they were faxed.
Rosemary

@rosemarya, Rosemary, I asked my surgeon today what percentage of liver recipients development kidney problems and he said about 10% - 15%, and that it generally takes at least 6 years. I hope I am on the far end of that. He is the head of the kidney transplant department along with being a top liver transplant surgeon so hopefully if I ever get to that point I will be able to have him once again.

Those trembles must be very annoying. I know how much mine bothered me pre-transplant. All the pictures I took were a blur and sometimes when I was out I was embarrassed drinking a cup of coffee. I had that for a long time, it was thought initially that it was essential tremor but of course it was the cirrhosis rearing it's ugly head.

I wonder if I could do the stair step machine. How are your knees? Mine are not good but I know the water exercise and my recumbent bike are both good for them, developing the muscles around the joint to help. Maybe the step machine would be also.
JK

@rosemarya Rosemary, you are an inspiration! I hate going to the gym part of my club and do not do it as much as I should, most of my activity is confined to the pool. Maybe you will inspire me to do the gym more.
Have a great time in the Great Smoky Mountains. Up here the mountains are cooler -- you need to come to New England!
I do not see my pre-transplant people at all now, but I love seeing my transplant surgeon. Initially I was such a mess and now I am looking very well. I know it is very gratifying for him to see his patients recover so well.
JK

@rosemarya I have to go weekly until my next appointment with him in September.

Thankfully they have some type of agreement with a group of labs called "quest labs" that are all over the place. It's about 10 minutes down the road. There is just one person there, she does the blood draw and sends it "stat" to MA where it is analyzed. I cannot imagine how much that must cost, for just my blood to go about an hour away! I get an email in the afternoon telling me the results are in and that I can see them on the portal. I have gotten so friendly with the phlebotomist that she is almost like a friend now.
JK

@contentandwell, My kidney failure came before my transplant. It was due to hepatorenal failure. Often the kidney resumes working after transplant. But my kidneys just stopped and there was no hope that they would revive.
I have never seen those figures for kidney post liver transplant. I am already beyond those 6 years!
I think that the step machine would be bad on your knees.
Rosemary

@rosemarya Thanks, probably stepping would be, although I do the treadmill and my bike. You don't lift your feet on the stepping machine do you? That helps with lessening impact.
JK