1. < Transplants

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.

jim1208 | @jim1208 | Jul 11, 2019

I am a year and half into waiting for transplant. MELD is stable at 15 to 17. I am on long term disability. Worst issues are with fatigue and lightheadedness and foggy. Anyone relate? Thanks.

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4 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 10, 2019
In reply to @tr1pol1sue "I too suffered from tremendous cramps both before and after kidney transplant. 25 days after my..." + (show)
@tr1pol1sue

I too suffered from tremendous cramps both before and after kidney transplant. 25 days after my transplant I had to be taken over to the Mayp Phx ER for crippling cramps moving all over my body. I was told low magnesium level was the problem and could not tolerate it on its own and advised by a transplant team member to try over the counter SloMag which, taken daily, has solved the problem for 5+ years now.

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@tr1pol1sue, I'd like to add my welcome. We look forward to hearing more from you. I notice that you posted a lovely picture of yourself to your message. I encourage you to add it to your profile. Here are instructions about updating your profile on Connect.

- How to Update Your Profile https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/how-to-update-your-profile/

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flagal22 | @flagal22 | Jul 2, 2019
In reply to @des46893 "Drank it. I can only assume that it was the sodium that helped alleviate the intense..." + (show)
@des46893

Drank it. I can only assume that it was the sodium that helped alleviate the intense counter grabbing pain. My family doctor told me that I was not drinking enough water. It was at Rochester during transplant orientation that I finally learned that muscle cramping was one of the symptoms of liver failure along with fatigue. Both of which I was experiencing at the time but could not pinpoint a cause when dealing with the family practitioner.

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In the months before my liver transplant I experienced leg and foot cramps mostly at night. The was nothing I could do to stop them. I contacted my Mayo Jacksonville RN and she recommended Hyland’s Leg Cramps over the counter medicine. It worked really well. There is a PM version too. I used both versions. I always contacted her before taking any new otc meds and continue to do so with my Nurse Coordinator post-transplant. I have not had cramps since my transplant in February 2019.

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des46893 | @des46893 | Jul 2, 2019
In reply to @twocatmama "Did you drink pickle juice or rub it on the cramp?" + (show)
@twocatmama

Did you drink pickle juice or rub it on the cramp?

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Drank it. I can only assume that it was the sodium that helped alleviate the intense counter grabbing pain. My family doctor told me that I was not drinking enough water. It was at Rochester during transplant orientation that I finally learned that muscle cramping was one of the symptoms of liver failure along with fatigue. Both of which I was experiencing at the time but could not pinpoint a cause when dealing with the family practitioner.

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1 reply
twocatmama | @twocatmama | Jul 1, 2019

Did you drink pickle juice or rub it on the cramp?

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1 reply
des46893 | @des46893 | Jul 1, 2019
In reply to @gaylea1 "Prior to my liver transplant I also had severe cramping in my hands, feet and legs...." + (show)
@gaylea1

Prior to my liver transplant I also had severe cramping in my hands, feet and legs. I also tried the banana route with no results. I was also told to drink tonic water but that didn't work either. If you do find a solution there are many who would appreciate your findings.

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This may sound a little off the wall but I used to relieve my cramps with pickle juice before my transplant. Now 3 years after my transplant I’ll cramp up if I don’t drink enough water over the course of the day so I keep kiwi fruit to eat instead of the bananas.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 1, 2019
In reply to @tr1pol1sue "I too suffered from tremendous cramps both before and after kidney transplant. 25 days after my..." + (show)
@tr1pol1sue

I too suffered from tremendous cramps both before and after kidney transplant. 25 days after my transplant I had to be taken over to the Mayp Phx ER for crippling cramps moving all over my body. I was told low magnesium level was the problem and could not tolerate it on its own and advised by a transplant team member to try over the counter SloMag which, taken daily, has solved the problem for 5+ years now.

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@tr1pol1sue, Welcome to Connect. I am happy to meet you. I have a liver and kidney transplant and I have not had the intense cramping that is being discussed here. How long ago did you get your kidney transplant? Do you still take the SloMag?

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Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Jul 1, 2019
In reply to @jolinda "Prior to kidney transplant I had the same type of cramping you've described. I would wake..." + (show)
@jolinda

Prior to kidney transplant I had the same type of cramping you've described. I would wake up with excruciating cramps in my calves or feet, just terrible! The next day my legs would ache like they were bruised. I tried eating more bananas to get my potassium up but never had great results. Sorry to hear it's happening. If you find a solution please share it with the whole community.

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I am a. Heart transplant but do get those cramps occasionally. Usually for me just walking releives the cramp. And the soreness goes away once im up moving around

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luckonetj | @luckonetj | Jul 1, 2019

I had very bad whole body cramps. The only thing that would help is jumping in a scalding/very hot shower some times clothed. Get in bed and elevate my legs with pillows a position myself in away not to cause the cramp reaction. I had lots of pillows. That intense pain was the worst part of the whole illness.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jun 30, 2019
In reply to @tr1pol1sue "I too suffered from tremendous cramps both before and after kidney transplant. 25 days after my..." + (show)
@tr1pol1sue

I too suffered from tremendous cramps both before and after kidney transplant. 25 days after my transplant I had to be taken over to the Mayp Phx ER for crippling cramps moving all over my body. I was told low magnesium level was the problem and could not tolerate it on its own and advised by a transplant team member to try over the counter SloMag which, taken daily, has solved the problem for 5+ years now.

Jump to this post

Hi, @tr1pol1sue and welcome to Connect.
It sounds as those of you who were waiting for kidney transplants had cramps in common with those of is with liver problems waiting for transplants.
I took a very large dose of magnesium two times a day but the cramps persisted. I will never forget how bad the ones in my thighs were. I drank tonic water with quinine when I got cramps but I’m not sure if that helped or not. I continued to drink it because I figured it wouldn’t hurt, and I was afraid that if I didn’t the cramps might last longer.
JK

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