Snapshots of hope: Life on the other side of transplant.

@abhinav83
Yes! I had heart/lung transplant at Mayo Rochester in April 2021. Congratulations on being listed! Where are you listed?

Thanks for the reply. I am listed at MGM Healthcare in Chennai, India. So when did you have your transplant and how's your health now?

I had my transplant in April 2021 and am doing good. I exercise daily and enjoy and appreciate life each day.
I have been to Chennai a couple times for work. Have you always lived in India?

Yes, i live in India. i had VSd since birth and the surgery was unsuccessful in 1991 because of which over the years i had developed Pulmonary Hypertension(irrevrsible) and eventually it has led to heart failure. Though i am ok for now,physically active but Doctors have adviced to get the transplant done on time as later it may lead to complications because of effect on other organs of the body. I am 38yo.. So waiting for a suitable donor and enjoy my second life.

Best of health on your journey. Sounds like u have been thru a lot.

I do hope you have fully recovered by now and leading a normal life. Do let me know what restrictions are you following post transplant.

@abhinav83
Well life for a transplant patient is hard to define as normal. We are always going to medical appointments, having bloodwork done, and adjusting medicine. So this becomes the new normal as the medications often come with various side effects-tremors, hair loss, leg swelling, etc.
Having said that- many of us are able to live better than before the transplant-more energy, able to do things we couldn’t do before and enjoy life. So in that respect, I am at my new normal. And very happy for it!
I had restrictive cardiomyopathy and pulmonary hypertension. I too was very active until about a year before my transplant when I had some virus (not Covid) that really deteriorated my condition. However I kept exercising as best I could. Very important to go into the transplant as active and ‘healthy’ as you can.
After transplant I was VERY weak and could only walk a few steps. I lost a lot of weight and was very skinny. It took several months before I built up my cardio and muscles to ‘normal’.
As for restrictions-I would call them adjustments-food safety, diet, lifting until surgery heals, being around other people when immune compromised, etc.
Every transplant patient has a different story and experience afterwards. I encourage you to talk to as many as possible about their preparation and post surgery experience.
Good luck!

Doing work out after transplant help at all and befor transplant you need to have an strength Arms because help you a lot when you wants to wants to be up from bed

Thanks for this Lori. I'm late to the party but ok. A really great post and thread. My liver transplant was a year ago. The surgery was good and so am I. At 270 lbs, the surgery process freed 60 pounds of ascites and edema fluid. Now at age 67, I'm at 170 now and holding. I can exercise, do chores, put in about 15k steps a day just doing stuff around my farm I haven't been able to do for over 10 years. I have been able to do my favorite things, caring care of my horses and riding my Harleys. I just bought a new one as a reward. Cheers!

Hi @johnnoregon! It’s never too late to hear about a successful transplant story. When we share about the upside of our second chance at life it really helps encourage anyone about to embark on the same journey.
And wow, is yours ever a positive story! To have lost 100 pounds over this past year is incredible, especially with 60 of those pounds having been retained fluids! That’s like carrying around almost 8 gallon jugs of fluid! Exhausting.

Your body sounds like it’s functioning perfectly now. Beating able to return to a normal lifestyle after being limited for 10 years has to feel like a miracle. I’m so happy you’re back in the saddle again, whether it’s horse or Harley! Congrats on the liver transplant and the new Harley!

Any road trips in the future? How about a photo to share??