Pre -Transplant Diet and Exercise Ideas

HI Mike, I have trouble gaining weight and really don't like to eat (but I do). Everything I've read just suggests a health low salt diet. More chicken and fish than beef, lots of fruits and vegetables. I rely heavily on Ensure Plus. In addition to a lot of healthy stuff it has 350 calories per bottle and i drink 2 a day.

Another thing that is really good because it cleanses the liver is lemon juice. I drink 1 1/4 ounce in hot water and honey every morning before i put anything else in system even coffee. I swear it's how I keep my meld score between 6 and 7. Google lemon juice and the liver, there are several articles written about it.

By the way Mike, where are you on the MELD score? I was curious to see if you are on or qualify for the transplant list.

I have a trainer and work out at the gym twice a week. Mainly weights. The goal is to keep your body as healthy and strong as you can.

Blessings, Diane

I heard dandion tea was good to, thats the first I heard about lemon juice, my last Fibroscan was 244 17,6 , I know one of those isnt good ! I will be getting lemon juice tomorrow, thanks Mike

Oh i worry all the time , couple bad habits sandwhich for lunch , been cutting back on everything , my doctor said the less you eat less your liver has to work , why i am going to a new one ! I raced cross country motor cycle till 2015 so I know whats bad and what good just hard to except, but I havent had a drink since that night and I proud of it !,

@mikej, You are one determined guy. I am happy that you will be seeing a new doctor. I like to think of it as seeking a second opinion. I hope that he can provide the information that "you" will need as you move forward.

About sandwiches - they can be a good source of nutrition and can be healthy. An example is a salami/cheese sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise served with potato chips versus a turkey/cheese sandwich with lettuce on whole wheat bread served with a piece of fruit.

Ask your doctor about the lemon juice and about the dandelion tea. It might or might not be right for you.
Mike, I don't know if the worry ever goes completely away. But it can become manageable and remember that Connect is available anytime.

Wow thank you so much and so helpful , love this site ! Thank you

Thank you so much it's almost like talking to a really good doctor , I was really scared and every once in awhile having a bad day makes your mind wonder , Thank You ! Mike

@mikej, You touched my heart this morning as I read your comment. My only 'doctor' qualification is as Dr. Mom or Dr. Grandma!
I completely understand how you feel about participation on Mayo Connect. I found Connect after my transplant. I was thrilled to find others who share similar experiences. I like to think of us as sitting around the kitchen table or on the porch enjoying a cup of coffee and chatting together. And always an endless supply of chairs and good coffee.

I like to listen and learn with others. I like to use my experience to let others know that they are not alone. I like to hear from members like @digibson whose experience is different - and also similar to yours and mine.

Diane, I remember when my GI told me that I could drink Ensure when my nausea kept me from eating. With a grin and a wink, he said, "It taste better with a scoop of ice cream". Thanks for that memory😊
Diane, with that low MELD score, are you still a candidate for possible transplant in the future? What kind of monitoring is involved?

@rosemarya Unfortunately I really don't remember too much about what was told to me about eating healthy foods so I can't be much help to @mikej. I do recall that I should eat protein but eat it in limited amounts, if eating beef keep it to a 4 oz serving or less. I guess some people were almost eliminating protein and that was causing malnutrition. I also recall limiting salt but I had been doing that for years already so it wasn't something new to me. From my personal experience, I think beef may have been a big culprit in my HE episodes.

Of course I was told no alcohol at all. I wish I could remember more and I wish that I had kept a journal of the whole process, but as they say, "hindsight is always 20/20".
JK

Mmmm, dark chocolate ensure and one can endure!

Af this point in time my. Hepatologist is not recommending a transplant, I could probably qualify because you get extra point because i have the cancerous carcenomas, i think that gets you 18 points so with the 7 that gets me to 25 on the MELD chart but the carcemonas are according to my Iinterventionlal Radiologist “well treated” meaning their dead and my liver is not spinning off anymore and not spreading. My liver enzymes are really normal,. The Hepatologist said she thought at this time they would do more harm than good with a transplant, I keep a meeting with them every third month to see nothing has changed. My problem is that I’ll be 70 in August and you kind of age out of the transplant option at 70. Hope things don’t go wild the day i turn 70! But I’m rid of the hep C, never have alcohol so I feel as long as I’m not doing anything to further damage my liver everything will stay the same, I’m not sure if that’s true of not but the theory I have adapted. Have a Hepatologist virtual meeting on Wednesday so I’ll see if I find anything else out.

Thanks for asking.

Diane