This and That and Talk - My Transplant

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Apr 9, 2017

As our Mayo Connect community grows, I am constantly meeting organ transplant members on a wide variety of forums with a wide range of issues that are not directly transplant specific. However, because we are all transplant recipients, we have a special connection: a unique journey and best of all - a new life! We don't always need help or advice. Many times we just want to chat with someone like us! That is my purpose in starting This and That and Talk.

Drop in and say 'Hi'. You are welcome anytime.

What do you want t to talk about? What words can you offer to someone who is on the journey? Do you have any questions for another recipient?

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

@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@rosemarya that never occurred to me that my daughter’s future mother in law might be watching, I doubt that everyone who will be here is though.
My daughter did find a dress. It was delivered here on Wednesday. She loves it. It actually came with a stain on the bodice but she was able to get it mostly out. She called the place she got it from and they gave her a big discount. The dress is cream colored with a pale blue top, very simple. I’m just glad that she is happy with it, that’s what matters.
She also got a pretty, full, taffeta skirt for the reception in two weeks. No blouse yet but I do like the skirt.
I’m supposed to speak tomorrow but so far I only have a reading I am going to do, Khalil Gibran on marriage. It’s the same reading that was done st our marriage. She is turning out to be more sentimental than I ever thought she was.
JK

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@2011panc thanks. As I have mentioned, Tylenol is the only OTC I can use, and only 2000 mg a day so that really doesn’t cut it.
I would really like to learn to meditate. I think that would be good for me when I am stressed.
JK

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@contentandwell There are books, articles and videos on meditation, and plenty of extraneous products that you will fin recommended. I, however, just do with what I have. Here is an easy, achievable meditation to start: Complete Breath. Breath in through your nose to a slow count of three, filling your upper chest, ribs and abdomen with air. Try to hold for a count of 20. Then exhale through pursed lips (like blowing through a straw) in reverse of your inhale. Do this five times. Concentrate on each part of the breath. This helps me calm and resteady myself.

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@2011panc thanks, I will give it a try.
JK

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@rosemarya phew, done and successful. Everything went beautifully, and the cake was unbelievably good, many commented that it was the best wedding cake they had ever had! I couldn’t have hoped for things to go better. The woman from the caterer was positively wonderful, by the time she left she felt like family. I did eat too many goodies though so from now until the reception in two weeks I will need to be very, very good. The only thing I regretted was that our son could not be there. Things were set up though so he could see the ceremony live.
JK

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@lcamino, @mklapperich, @2011panc, @contentandwell, I am happy to hear of all of your methods to maintain good eating during 'stressful' times. I appreciate that you are sharing your techniques. You are helping to me to maintain and to stay loyal to my own commitments. To all of you, I say, "Be proud and hold your head up because you are doing the healthy things that your body needs!"

As a liver/kidney recipient, I do avoid alcohol completely. I do not ever want to give the impression that I am risking my liver's happiness. This has brought on good comments from people who know of my transplant, and awkward moments to those who just don't get it.
Rosemary

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@contentandwell - JK, Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!!!!
Your planning, worry, and stress were all really worthwhile. I am so happy for you that it all came together. You and your husband have given your daughter and your son-in-law have a beautiful beginning to their new life. Now the memories can begin, too.
Congratulations to all.
The pictures are so sweet. Thanks for sharing.
Rosemary

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@contentandwell, After my transplant surgery, I did have a morphine (I think) pump in the hospital. When I was released from hospital I had a prescription pain med (Don't know what) I did not need it much and didn't like how it made me feel, so I mostly chose to take the extra strength Tylenol that I was allowed to take - as long as I stayed under the recommended dosage. I do think I used the Rx at bedtime, though.
JK, after 8 years, I don't know how accurate this information actually is! I did not write it in m y journal, and I checked with my husband. He doesn't remember either.
I guess this means that, "No", I did not have to wean off it.
Rosemary

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@rosemarya - As life has thrown its curve balls at my family I have found that when you are open and honest with people about what you are going through some will respond in love and be supportive but there will always be other responses that result in "awkward moments". I have learned to accept those moments and not take them personally, although sometimes it is harder than others.

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@mklapperich

Yes I too can struggle with food during holidays, pot luck ECT. Struggles are less than they used to be as low oxalate diet has become a solid life style change. Making thanksgiving dinner again this year, Half the food I make I can't eat but my family can so I make it for them. It sure is a blessing to hear the stories of others who also have had to make difficult life style changes. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories

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@contentandwell

Lovely pictures - I'm so happy that everything came together so beautifully!

Teresa

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