This and That and Talk - My Transplant

@davebarnes Dave, you are probably type O if it is common. You are smart to stay in AZ, in CA transplants take place at a higher MELD. I believe all of the Mayo centers are top rate too.
Things will get better when you have the support of your wife, it sounds like she is very understanding about all of this. That can be really important. My husband was very good through all of this, sometimes too good not wanting me to do anything and I am the type of person who really likes to have her independence. It took awhile after transplant for him to back off but better that than not being helpful at all.
Once your wife arrives do try to get exercise. Really, the more you able to do the better off you will be. I am sure that is why my recovery went so well, despite the fact that in the last six weeks I was miserable and did almost nothing except eat and nap. If you can get exercise you will be so happy that you did after the transplant because it will make recovery much easier.
JK

@contentandwell I'm glad to hear that! Teresa

@davebarnes, In addition to being blessed, you are indeed a wise man! I think that by saving your questions for next week that you will get the answers that apply to specifically to you and your condition. Mayo is awesome for recognizing our unique situations and working to 'tailor' our needs and treatment.
Rosemary
PS I could not have endured this without my wonderful husband at my side.

@davebarnes, liver disease does mess with the weight. I lost weight, and like you, could not walk very far, then I developed ascites and needed a XL instead of a 10Petite. Rosemary

Yes, she is. My God really blessed me with her.

Rosemary, thanks again. I am going to save my questions for next week. 🙂

@davebarnes, Your wife sounds like a lovely person. Rosemary

@davidgenebarnes Let me add my welcome to Mayo Connect! I can certainly understand how you must feel ready for this transplant experience, losing 50 pounds must have made quite a change in your life. I know that you will receive lots of responses from our other transplant Members including @contentandwell. If you can share more of your story, I would be interested to know how long you have had the liver problem. Did it come on suddenly from a viral infection or was it a long-standing chronic problem? Teresa

Hi, @davebarnes, I see that you are already meeting some of our other transplant people. We really do work together here to share and to support each other! You are already among friends.

After my transplant, I wanted to resume active participation in my church community, and also to avoid being around too many people germs, so I took on the task of volunteering at our church office; it continues even today!

With your evaluation approaching, I can say, "I know how anxious you must be". I am going to assume that you already have, or will have upon arrival, some sort of itinerary which will let you know what sort of tests that you will be going through. I want you to find some comfort in knowing that you will receive the utmost respect and be treated by caring individuals throughout the entire process. I was fearful of some of the procedures, but they are very good at what they do and will answer your questions and explain the process to you . Remember to ask questions if you are concerned or uneasy about something. One thing that I learned is that the person who performs the procedure or imaging is not going to give you the results, that is for the specialists to do. As @2011panc hinted, you will be exhausted and will sleep well at night.

The MELD score is a statistical score that may go up or down. Many people will have the score assessed numerous times while on the
waiting list. I think it is to prioritize adult patients for liver transplants by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to ensure that the donated deceased liver goes to the people in greatest need at that moment. the This is something that someone on your transplant team will be able to explain to you. There is so much more to matching donor organ to patient, too. For myself, I was not at all interested in that number. But my husband did keep up with it.
It is a rough road that you are facing, no doubt about it. But-it is a road with rewards that are well worth every fear and doubt. Please know that you will be encouraged to discuss these mental fears and stresses by your team members. (they know what we are fearing)

Try to begin thinking positive because you are about to be enveloped in the most knowledgeable can caring group of individuals that you can ever imagine. Follow the directions and whatever steps that they suggest.

I see that @contentandwell has already shared some of her pretransplant issues.
I know that I have barely touched on your concerns. What other questions would you like to ask?

Is there someone who will be accompanying you on this visit?
Rosemary

I was 3X now I am a regular X. But at 6'4" and 253, that is very low for me.