This and That and Talk - My Transplant

@rosemarya I am a "friend" of the Mayo pages, and I agree, their postings are very good. I always like the postings on Compare Transplant Centers. It is of course more meaningful for people waiting for transplants but I like to keep informed.
JK

@rosemarya and @contentandwell

You transplants folks are such a good team. I'm just envious of how well you work together!

Wendydvb, I can understand your frustration that you didn't just bounce right up after your surgery. Try to remember that we are each unique in how our bodies respond to meds and healing. Don't let the pace of your recovery get you down. You are doing great:-)
Hugs

@wendydvb I also did not "bounce right back" after surgery and was quite ill before my transplant. I had a pancreas transplant and one of the workers at the hospital to me that if someone was skipping down the sidewalk with a smile on their face happily announcing that they had a panc transplant . . . they were lying. She said that pancreas transplants are hard; harder than liver or kidney transplants. My first year was very tough. I was re-hospitalized 9 times and discovered many underlying conditions that had been previously untreated. The second year was still difficult with multiple hospitalizations and continuing adjustments to manage my multiple conditions. It has taken over 7 years, continuing medical care, a back surgery and months of physical therapy for me to be as good as I am now; which I rate as fair. Last spring I was only able to walk 300 steps at a time, now I am now able to walk several blocks. My balance is not perfect but significantly better and although my stamina is still poor I have been able to take several solo trips of significant distance (3 to 8 hours) in the last month. I restarted driving about 3 years ago, making trips to the grocery and local clinic only on "good" days. I am on the same meds as you, except for I have no BP med. I don't know how far out from your surgery you are, but I share my experience to show that recovery is possible - - - and a great deal of work! Carry on and blessings to you.

@taarthi as others have commented, check everything with your transplant team. You are obviously doing the best thing in not sending your child to daycare. If she is primarily at home with you she can't possibly bring germs back to you. Hopefully, by the time she resumes going to daycare your body will have a bit more immunity than it did initially with all of the drugs. If I recall, after my liver transplant they discontinued one of the immunosuppressants and decreased the dosage of prednisone.
You are very fortunate that your husband can donate a kidney to you. I hope you have a great recovery, we will be looking forward to hearing more.
JK

@hopeful33250 I know one thing for sure, we are both very thankful for the gift of each and every day. I was commenting to my son about that this week, and said 2 years ago September I was so sick, afraid to travel, even though the NP said I could, but now "life is good". I am still careful about where we travel, I always will be. It's so wonderful to be able to enjoy our son and daughter, son-in-law, and soon to be daughter-in-law. I am even having 11 people here for dinner on Christmas, and possibly a big Christmas party after Christmas!
JK

@contentandwell

That just so wonderful! What a life changing experience for all of you.

My transplant date was 4/5/18 and I’m feeling very good and am very grateful. Before my transplant I had 13% function and thought I wasn’t sick enough to need a transplant. Of course, I can see how I’m feeling much better now. My concern is that I’ve lost so much hair. I’ve always had thick hair. Has anyone else dealt with this?

@cmael Congrats on your transplant! I have not had mine yet but the people I follow on Instagram have had the issue with losing hair (some have even lost their hair or cut it to donate). I couldn't tell you all the remedies they have suggested except biotin (ask your nephrologist first if you take this as a supplement). I do know that it is temporary. I don't know if that is because meds change and decrease over time or the body adjusts but those who have discussed it have all had transplants within the past year. It looks great in the photo!

I had a heart/liver transplant on July 4, 2017. I lost almost all of my hair. Like you, I have always had plenty of hair so it was quite a shock. My hair started slowly making a comeback about 4-5 months post transplant. Now I am a little over a year out and I have a full head of hair again and ironically it's darker (my friends suspect I am dying my hair). My poor brother has been bald headed for years and I have joked with him in the past (not now) that I would trade my hair for his heart!!! Anyway, your hair will come back and maybe even better. Good luck, be patient and hang in there.