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← Return to Living Life after your Transplant
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Living Life after your Transplant
Transplants | Last Active: Dec 10, 2023 | Replies (118)Comment receiving replies
On July 4, 2016, this discussion was started as a place for members to share their ideas/their Tips/their hacks for Living and Enjoying Life after Transplant.
-Do you remember how you felt when you first received your transplant? -
-Were you overwhelmed with the new Rules and Regulations that you had to learn to live with?
July 4, 2021, we are approaching our re-entry into a new (post) COVID19 world.
-Are you feeling a sense of fear or hesitancy as the world around you begins to open up and return to normal?
-Do you feel pressured by family and friends to join in?
What are YOU doing to Live your Life with your Transplant in the re-opened, less restrictive post Covid world?
What TIPS would you like to share with other members?
NOTE: You will want to read thru the entire discussion for some fantastic TIPS!
Replies to "On July 4, 2016, this discussion was started as a place for members to share their..."
I’ve enjoyed reading the responses to your query, Rosemary, thank you for posting it. I was only diagnosed with PBC/stage 3 liver cirrhosis for a couple months when I nearly bled to death twice due to bursting varices and spent almost a month in ICU from upper GI bleeds. That’s when it hit me my life was definitely changed, and, I was alive!
Three months later came Covid and lockdown. It was a challenge not being able to see doctors as I continued to get sick. I owe much to a couple friends who I could trust to keep me free from Covid and help me around the house and alternate caring for me. When I got on the transplant list I did my first interviews virtually, but I made it through, and met my transplant team in person just about a week before my transplant on August 20.
Because of a terrible reaction to prednisone and being on a feeding tube because I wasn’t gaining weight, I was in the hospital for a almost a month and a half. It was, needless to say, not enjoyable and it was lonely because Covid made it difficult for visitor. But, again, I was alive!
I’m used to being masked and careful, but living in Vermont is a blessing. So, I remain masked indoors, don’t partake of inside restaurant seating, etc. but, I do go maskless for the most part outdoors. And, wow is it awesome! Outdoor events galore! I’ve always been a tremendously social person, so being masked inas. been challenging, but I understand the importance. Not shaking hands is another thing which will take getting used to in my professional life as I move away more from remote work.
I have similar “attitudes” as @scottj. I’ve done mountains of medical research on transplant recovery and new illnesses I have; eat well and exercise; and, take my meds and do what my transplant team tells me to do. I strive to be grateful and definitely more appreciative of my friends, my transplant team, organ donors, and others; I’m definitely more emotional, and cry more often…I was never a cryer, but others on our virtual support meetings say it’s a thing; and, I try to remain positive even though I’m very tired of being ill and had hoped after my transplant I would be back to my usual healthy self.
Be as well as possible and always persevere! 😷
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Great idea to reignite this discussion, Rosemary.
I'd like to bring @jolinda @danab @dflyfisherman @azdan99 @nanmargaret @athenalee @benlam11 @jerrynord @lizzy102 @loribmt @estrada53 @jfk @scottij @andyp @silverwoman @kohlgryl079 into this discussion.
Please see Rosemary's post above and read through the discussion. What tips would you share with other members? Who else would you tag on this discussion?