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Liver transplant - Let's support each other

Transplants | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (1563)

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@benlam11

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya This is Ben Lambert and I just spent a couple of days in the hospital and they discovered my medications 2 - 25 mg metoprolol and 2 - Furosemide pills were creating the problem. So now I'm free of all Blood Pressure Medications and feeling much better. Just in case someone else goes through the same episodes - call your coordinator nurse and get on top of it quickly - not like me who waited several days thinking it would go away. The Mayo has been incredible one of their home outside providers - not so much. So once you leave the Mayo orbit (even though Mayo allows these sales people in), be cautious.

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Replies to "Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya This is Ben Lambert and I just spent a couple of days..."

@benlam11, You have brightened my day! This must be such a relief for you to be feeling better. I am sorry about the hospital stay, but I am happy that the problem is easily resolved. Our medication do play tricks on us sometimes, especially in the beginning.
I think that it is safe to say that you have learned, and shared, a most important message with all of us: "Call your coordinator nurse and get on top of it quickly". If I hesitate hesitate or have questions, my husband always insists that I make the call! I am fully aware that many of our local health care professionals don't have the full ability to handle some of our special transplant care. After all it is a highly individualized and specialized area of expertise and training.
You are wise to have learned to advocate for yourself. I find that I often teach my local health providers about post transplant life. Just a couple of weeks ago I shared my scars and story with a new nurse at my PCP's office appointment. I learned that she had assisted a surgeon for years in surgery. She was impressed with my beautifully healed Mercedes scar.

I have had several hospital overnights for observation, usually if my temperature rises quickly. I am quick to produce my Mayo Transplant 24-7 phone information when I arrive.

Benlam,
How are you feeling now? Is your balance better, are you able to walk without a wheelchair?
How did you end up in the hospital?

@benlam11 I am relieved for you that they found the root of your problems. Medications are such a double-edged sword -- they are good for certain things but can cause other problems. I was on Furosemide for a while, near the end of my pre-transplant time and it didn't cause me a problem but a number of other medications did, particularly one that if I remember correctly was for nausea.

That's great that Mayo has been so good for you. I feel the same way about Mass General. From what I have heard most of these transplant centers have really excellent teams and are very caring. There are a few that operate at less than expected but overall most are quite good. I know at this point that if I ever need hospitalization I will head right down to Boston to go to MGH.
JK