Packing question: What did you have ready for "the call"?

Posted by jodeej @jodeej, Feb 14, 2018

Hi all,
Happy Valentines Day!! <3
I'm just wondering if when you were packing for "the call" how much did you have ready and how much did you have to pack at the last minute? Also, was there anything that you didn't take that you wish you would have?
Thank you,
JoDee

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jun 27, 2019

When I was at Mayo in May, I was notified on my patient schedule/agenda to avoid wearing heavy fragrances.

estrada53 | @estrada53 | Jun 27, 2019

Regarding packing...I was at Mayo Phoenix in January for my transplant. Now you would think that Arizona in January would be a perfect place to be. Well, it turned out to be one of the coldest winters and every morning as I went for a blood draw from the Healing Home (on campus) there was ice and frost on the windshield of our car. So please pack clothes for unusual weather conditions if you will be staying for a while near your transplant hospital. I was there for several weeks and had a blood draw every morning. I ended up sewing a winter scarf for my nurse coordinator and my main transplant doctor as a gift.. it was so cold.

jolinda | @jolinda | Jun 27, 2019

In reply to @rosemarya "When I was at Mayo in May, I was notified on my patient schedule/agenda to avoid..." + (show)

I remember fragrances being rough to take for awhile.
I would add mints or gum to the list. I remember medicine both oral and through IV giving me a weird metal taste in my throat, maybe I'm the only one?

estrada53 | @estrada53 | Jun 27, 2019

I have the weird mouth taste as well. I mentioned Biotene lozenges in a prior post. They helped all the time.

jolinda | @jolinda | Jun 27, 2019

In reply to @estrada53 "I have the weird mouth taste as well. I mentioned Biotene lozenges in a prior post...." + (show)

Glad you added it to the list @estrada53 It sometimes just takes a few little things to make the stay more pleasant. ☺

gaylea1 | @gaylea1 | Jun 27, 2019

In reply to @jolinda "I remember fragrances being rough to take for awhile. I would add mints or gum to..." + (show)

I got that weird taste too. Almost metallic. Also my taste buds changed. They were non-existent at one point. Some of the foods I used to enjoy I can't eat anymore. Some foods I didn't like I now eat. Residual tastes from my donor? My appetite hasn't returned either. Just small amounts here and there. I rely heavily on Boost and Ensure.

estrada53 | @estrada53 | Jun 27, 2019

I actually had a difficult time drinking water. So I tried vitamin water. No sodium, no sugar, etc. I believe our taste buds are affected by the new meds we take post-transplant. It takes some time for our bodies to get used to all the chemicals.

JK | @contentandwell | Jun 28, 2019

In reply to @gaylea1 "I got that weird taste too. Almost metallic. Also my taste buds changed. They were non-existent..." + (show)

@gaylea1 I never lost my appetite, unfortunately, but I wonder if tastes, etc., about your donor can affect a recipient. I enjoy hot, spicy foods more now than I ever did before.
I do think what is served in the hospital can have an effect. I love coffee but it was not good in the hospital and I didn't want any for a while after each of my hospital stays, particularly when I was in my miserable, local hospital.
JK

wildcat | @wildcat | Jul 1, 2019

In reply to @gaylea1 "I packed many things I didn't use but the following I found helpful and essential. Notepad..." + (show)

I found it very difficult to sleep in hospital especially sharing a room . My husband suggested ear plugs and an eye mask; they were truly a godsend and I would never go into hospital without them. The gel ear plugs were the best as they were very soft and comfortable. Any eye mask at all is fine; it just blocks out all the other activity around you. Hope this helps.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 9, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@gaylea1 I never lost my appetite, unfortunately, but I wonder if tastes, etc., about your donor..." + (show)

@contentandwell, do you remember this discussion from 2016-2017?
- Changes after Transplant https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/changes-after-transplant/

In the discussion that @2011panc started, members share about things that changed after their transplant - changes in how one approaches life, mood, emotions and even taste and personality changes. I think this was the discussion (see page 2) where you made your first post on Connect. Check it out.