Liver transplant - Let's support each other

Posted by lmctif @lmctif, Oct 29, 2018

What topics do people who are waiting for a liver transplant want to talk about? Who has had a liver transplant and wants to talk about?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

@rosemarya

@racing212, My transplant evaluation for listing was 10 years ago, so I am depending on your expertise about the evaluation process. Okay?

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Hope i can answer u

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@gaylea1

Mind fog or brain fog is an ongoing battle as a symptom prior to transplant. It is quite often linked to a build up of ammonia in your system. Many of us here were put on lactulose (almost like a laxative) and rifaxamin or xifaxamin to help clear our bodies of this build up. I myself fell into an HE coma that I didn't fully come out of for several weeks. Subsequent minor HE episodes followed but only when I reduced my lactulose intake. These episodes can be scary and I actually had my driving license suspended until 9 months post transplant. Ask your hepatologist or transplant coordinator about this. It really shouldn't go unchecked. It can be very disorientating to say the least. I forgot what year it was, the month, day and time. I forgot all my banking codes even my address and phone number. I carried all pertinent emergency names and numbers with me at all times. I even forgot where I was in a grocery store once and had to sit down and take a few minutes to remember. I am not an older person.
Please feel free to ask me anything and I will relate my own personal experience.

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I was 49 when my episodes started.. I had several of them and wake up at different hospital 3 times and one was out of state

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@tgshomes

Hello, my dad is beginning the transplant process for a new liver at Mayo in Phoenix. I joined this group in hopes that I could share some of the daily struggles and maybe get some help dealing with the day to day life for my mom and my dad. Were battling mind cloudy-ness currently and it’s a struggle. Thanks everyone!

Jump to this post

Mind fog or brain fog is an ongoing battle as a symptom prior to transplant. It is quite often linked to a build up of ammonia in your system. Many of us here were put on lactulose (almost like a laxative) and rifaxamin or xifaxamin to help clear our bodies of this build up. I myself fell into an HE coma that I didn't fully come out of for several weeks. Subsequent minor HE episodes followed but only when I reduced my lactulose intake. These episodes can be scary and I actually had my driving license suspended until 9 months post transplant. Ask your hepatologist or transplant coordinator about this. It really shouldn't go unchecked. It can be very disorientating to say the least. I forgot what year it was, the month, day and time. I forgot all my banking codes even my address and phone number. I carried all pertinent emergency names and numbers with me at all times. I even forgot where I was in a grocery store once and had to sit down and take a few minutes to remember. I am not an older person.
Please feel free to ask me anything and I will relate my own personal experience.

REPLY
@rosemarya

@tgshomes, Welcome! I am happy that your dad has you to support him during the transplant process. From my experience, the process can be frightening and even lonely. So learning all about it, will benefit your dad, mom, and you. I like to think of Mayo Connect discussions as a way to learn from the patients who have experienced the transplant journey themselves. Be assured that we are available day to day and 24/7. I invite invite your questions any time you think of one.

Other members have shared about their own Brain fog battle, and Hepatic encephalopathy. I want to tag the following members to this conversation. @racing212, @gaylea1, @contentandwell. @livertrex, @wildcat

Is your dad scheduled for his transplant evaluation? What questions do you have?
Is he looking for a living liver donor?

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@tgsholmes please feel free to ask me any questions about HE episodes.

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@racing212

Im on the waiting list for over a year now. I see the Dr. At mayo in Rochester mn in march and get ct scan in December...

Jump to this post

@racing212, My transplant evaluation for listing was 10 years ago, so I am depending on your expertise about the evaluation process. Okay?

REPLY
@tgshomes

Hello, my dad is beginning the transplant process for a new liver at Mayo in Phoenix. I joined this group in hopes that I could share some of the daily struggles and maybe get some help dealing with the day to day life for my mom and my dad. Were battling mind cloudy-ness currently and it’s a struggle. Thanks everyone!

Jump to this post

@tgshomes, Welcome! I am happy that your dad has you to support him during the transplant process. From my experience, the process can be frightening and even lonely. So learning all about it, will benefit your dad, mom, and you. I like to think of Mayo Connect discussions as a way to learn from the patients who have experienced the transplant journey themselves. Be assured that we are available day to day and 24/7. I invite invite your questions any time you think of one.

Other members have shared about their own Brain fog battle, and Hepatic encephalopathy. I want to tag the following members to this conversation. @racing212, @gaylea1, @contentandwell. @livertrex, @wildcat

Is your dad scheduled for his transplant evaluation? What questions do you have?
Is he looking for a living liver donor?

REPLY
@tgshomes

Hello, my dad is beginning the transplant process for a new liver at Mayo in Phoenix. I joined this group in hopes that I could share some of the daily struggles and maybe get some help dealing with the day to day life for my mom and my dad. Were battling mind cloudy-ness currently and it’s a struggle. Thanks everyone!

Jump to this post

Im on the waiting list for over a year now. I see the Dr. At mayo in Rochester mn in march and get ct scan in December...

REPLY
@mostlybill

As a post liver transplant patient the main issues I have questions about are recovery, drug side effects, diet and changes in my body and with relationships. Liver transplant is not what you expected (no matter what you expected). I am not the same person. How do you find yourself again and how do you define yourself now? These are common issues I see reflected in liver transplant support discussions.

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@mostlybill, I am a transplant recipient, and I want to Welcome you to Mayo Connect. When I joined Connect, I was Seeking support and answers for the same questions as you have named. I have discovered that all transplants, any organ, share these same concerns.
Mostlybill, I want ask a couple of questions to get this conversation aimed toward your concerns, Feel free to answer only as you feel comfortable to share here - How long ago did you receive your liver transplant? And how are you doing now? What is your number one question/ concern/ comment?
I am looking forward to hearing from you.

REPLY

Hello, my dad is beginning the transplant process for a new liver at Mayo in Phoenix. I joined this group in hopes that I could share some of the daily struggles and maybe get some help dealing with the day to day life for my mom and my dad. Were battling mind cloudy-ness currently and it’s a struggle. Thanks everyone!

REPLY

As a post liver transplant patient the main issues I have questions about are recovery, drug side effects, diet and changes in my body and with relationships. Liver transplant is not what you expected (no matter what you expected). I am not the same person. How do you find yourself again and how do you define yourself now? These are common issues I see reflected in liver transplant support discussions.

REPLY
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