Liver pre-transplant question
My husband has occasional issues with stomach upset resulting in diarrhea recently. Is this part of his liver issue or is it possibly something else? He went to to work today, but turned around and came right back home because of it. We do go back for his 3 month check-up the week of the 9th, so I can talk to the transplant team about it. I know his liver is really getting worse because his breath is starting to smell and his "brain fog" or cognition is getting worse.
Thanks,
JoDee
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@rosemarya I was pretty well set, just forgot the notebook I wanted to journal in. Of course I only had to drive an hour+. you were further away, and weren't you already there when you got the call?
I hadn't showered yet and I asked if I could take the time to do that. They said not to, to get right there. We got there at around 2:30 or 3:00 in the afternoon, and the surgery did not take place until 12:30 that night! I don't know why they said no to a shower, maybe they were afraid I would eat something too.
JK
@rosemarya I am so impressed with how much you remember! It's such a blur to me. I do know that my surgery lasted for 7.5 hours! I have no idea why it would be that much longer than yours, but all is well that ends well, and mine certainly did. I was discharged on day 6.
JK
@contentandwell, I cannot take credit for remembering all of this! My husband kept in touch with our family, friends back home via group emails. I was able to learn a lot about my situation by reading his emails! We have a collection on emails and replies that we have printed and saved in binders.
We have also had 'sit down and talk' times where I have questioned him for details and events that are fuzzy in my head. And it is very difficult for him to relive that period of our lives. I have also been able to read the reports in my medical record on my Mayo patient portal, but not anything from my UofK records.(so that is frustrating)
You mentioned forgetting your notebook. It is probably just as well. I kept a journal of sorts, but my post transplant entries did not happen until I was out of hospital.
I credit my surgical time to the experience and skill of my transplant surgeon and team. Everything went 'without a hitch and the organs began to work immediately' as reported to my husband by surgeon when I was out of surgery. I also feel that the amount of information that Mayo collected during my transplant evaluation had a major impact. Another factor was that the blood vessels that had to be joined, were near perfect fits.
Hugs,
Rosemary
@rosemarya that makes me feel a little bit better. 😉 I should have grilled my husband right after the hospital stay but I put it off and of course he ended up forgetting a lot also.
We both have been very fortunate at how well things have worked out. I will always be awe of the whole thing.
JK
@contentandwell @rosemarya I have my kids tell me everything that has transpired and many times they tell me things that'd happened with doctors and how I reacted..or didn't react. There are so many things that I was unaware of. Ultrasounds, scopes, breathing tubes...they are still telling me about the sequence of events. I can't believe that I had no idea most if the time what was going on. They know about every doctor's visit and kept track of everything. Right down to what meds I've been prescribed, dosage and how to read my blood test results. I am one lucky Mum.
@gaylea1 you are lucky. I wish I had that kind of record. They must really care so much to have paid that much attention to everything.
JK
@gaylea1, I want to drop by and say "Hi". How are things going for you?