Liver transplant - Let's support each other

@tr1pol1sue, Welcome to Connect. I am happy to meet you. I have a liver and kidney transplant and I have not had the intense cramping that is being discussed here. How long ago did you get your kidney transplant? Do you still take the SloMag?

This may sound a little off the wall but I used to relieve my cramps with pickle juice before my transplant. Now 3 years after my transplant I’ll cramp up if I don’t drink enough water over the course of the day so I keep kiwi fruit to eat instead of the bananas.

Did you drink pickle juice or rub it on the cramp?

Drank it. I can only assume that it was the sodium that helped alleviate the intense counter grabbing pain. My family doctor told me that I was not drinking enough water. It was at Rochester during transplant orientation that I finally learned that muscle cramping was one of the symptoms of liver failure along with fatigue. Both of which I was experiencing at the time but could not pinpoint a cause when dealing with the family practitioner.

In the months before my liver transplant I experienced leg and foot cramps mostly at night. The was nothing I could do to stop them. I contacted my Mayo Jacksonville RN and she recommended Hyland’s Leg Cramps over the counter medicine. It worked really well. There is a PM version too. I used both versions. I always contacted her before taking any new otc meds and continue to do so with my Nurse Coordinator post-transplant. I have not had cramps since my transplant in February 2019.

@tr1pol1sue, I'd like to add my welcome. We look forward to hearing more from you. I notice that you posted a lovely picture of yourself to your message. I encourage you to add it to your profile. Here are instructions about updating your profile on Connect.

- How to Update Your Profile https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/how-to-update-your-profile/

I am a year and half into waiting for transplant. MELD is stable at 15 to 17. I am on long term disability. Worst issues are with fatigue and lightheadedness and foggy. Anyone relate? Thanks.

Yes I can relate. I was light headed and dizzy most of the time but several other symptoms were a lot worse. My MELD was 34 when i was 16 months on wait list. I received my liver 17 months in from being on the wait list. I was very ill the year prior to diagnosis. My transplant was Nov 28 2018. I'm still light headed but thank goodness the worst symptoms are all gone.

Just seems like its never gonna get worse or better. Frustrating

Jim,
I was extremely ill for 6 months with a meld score of 27 and above. My Family doctor asked if I wanted to go on disability/ssI but didn't for personal reasons.
I received my liver by way of an emergency Transplant at Meld 40+ when not occupied I would rest at home. My family doctor shared that I had 6 months tops until a transplant was needed. Other than that sobering bit of news I learned all thing Transplant on my own and with the help of the conversations I had with a liver Surgeon once, and incidental conversations I had with Nurses during parasynthesis. Once I was transferred to the transplant hospital the all the services were available to me including Amy my Transplant Social worker, Leslie my Transplant coordinator, Dr. Kim and Nessin, Toto and Klein and Brook and Vesna post op Transplant. All totally professional and caring to whom I remain grateful to this day. I hope you have the same experience that I have had with your team