Hi, @gammie8, and Welcome to Connect.
I am a transplant recipient and I can assure you that your husband is not alone with his fluid build-up. It is one of those bothersome symptoms that comes with advancing liver disease and cirrhosis. I had fluids (ascites) accumulation before transplant and it increased over time, and made walking and movement difficult for me. I also needed paracenteses procedures to drain the excess fluid. My transplant was 13 years ago, and i can still remember the relief after having a paracentesis procedure. I had to wear x-large sweat pants when I entered the procedure, and had to cinch the waist when the paracenteses was finished!
After a while, I was not able to sleep on my back. but always needed to be propped up in a semi-seated position with pillows. (It would be unfair if I didn't add that I also had kidney failure and needed dialysis which might have made my fluid retention worse)
My paracentesis procedures averaged 6 to 8 liters of fluid every 10 days before transplant. I did not need any after the transplant surgery.

Is your husband having the pre-transplant evaluation as an outpatient or is he an inpatient? It is a strenuous schedule, isn't it?