transplant

I'm sorry its been so long but I have been crazy busy.  As you all know Jerry got his new liver on 8/3.  Was released from the hospital on 8/13 but had to stay in a hotel (because we live 3 hrs away) until 8/21.  It felt so good to sleep in our own bed after 3 weeks.  We just got one night in our bed.  The next day Jerry started running a fever and he had been swelling some but that day his legs just blew up like a balloon.  Sat 8/22 at 10:00 in the evening Vanderbilt surgeon decided he needed to be seen right away.  I had to take him to Univ of Tn Medical Center that is only about 10 miles from us.  We were in the ER all night.  Jerry needed two units of blood.  They also gave him lasix IV to try and get the swelling down in his legs.  The ER Dr. stayed in touch with Vanderbilt.  They made the decision that Jerry needed to be transported by Ambulance to Vanderbilt.  By the time all this happened it was almost morning.  At 3:00 AM I drove home to get the suitcase that was still packed from the 8/3 trip to 8/21.  I also had to pack an ice chest for Jerry for food so he had something to eat in the ambulance!!   The Dr. all got a kick of out that.  I think I told you all once the prednisone kicked in he started eating everything in sight.  I have to tell you he even talked the ambulance driver in to stopping so he could go potty (Lasix) BUT what he really wanted was food.  Can you see him in the convenient mart walking around in his hospital gown trying to find something to eat.  He forgot that I had his walet.  I'm surprised he didn't borrow it from the driver.  My daughter was sure he would talk them in to going through a drive up window somewhere. ha ha.  Fast forward to Tuesday he was released from Vandy but told we have to go back to the hotel and wait a couple of days to get blood work.  Thurs we went back to the hospital early AM blood work was good they were happy so we were given the OK to return home with prescpt. for blood work twice a week.  We were so excited we went back to the hotel I packed while Jerry ate!  I went to get the car while he made reservation for our next visit.  Next thing I know someone is flagging me down in the street.  Jerry had fallen in the lobby of the hotel and they had called an ambulance.  Good God.  He wants to burn the Crocs I got him two years ago.  He couldn't wear his usual shoes because of swelling.  Anyway his head was cut pretty bad.  So the ambulance took him BACK to Vanderbilt hospital.  We were there six hours.  I called the liver people and they met us in the ER.  To make this LONG LONG story short Jerry fractured his shoulder and he had 5 stiches in his head.  They sent us home with an appt with a Orthopedic Dr. tomorrow.  My big concern is as the week pasted his arm turned DARK purple almost black.  It has now traveled to his finger tips.  Vandy has told me not to worry but if they could see his arm they would worry also.  It looks like his arm is going to fall off.  He's in horrible pain.  He says its worse then the transplant surgery.  Thank god we go tomorrow.  Also they have upped his dose of Magnesium.  This is the third time.  I know I have read that in some posts here about magnesium.  I guess what I'm looking for if anyone has seen this happen from a break and also can anyone tell me why his magnesium is so low.  Thank for hearing me out.  I'm very sleeped deprived because Jerry is not sleeping much at all due to the prednisone and the horrible pain and also he is still itching.    Sorry to go on so long.  Thanks for listening.

JoAnn

No, Jerry is not on blood thinners.  That is exactly my thinking.  I'm just wondering if his blood is still think from the bad liver.  Maybe it hasn't had time to thicken up.  I'm not a nurse but I think I could get a job at Vanderbilt on the liver floor.  In fact I think they offered me one.  Maybe Shelly will know.  I will e=mail the pictures of his arm you won't believe it.

JoAnn

Tell him it can't be a woman's liver 'cause women don't eat like that!  LOL!  Despite the assorted problems, I know it must feel good to have your man back.

As far as kidney function, poor function will show up as elevated creatinine and low BUN (blood urea-nitrogen.)  There will also be scant urine and perhaps it will be dark or concentrated.  If he is not on fluid restriction, make sure he is drinking enough fluids.  He can also get fluids through fruit.  If he is on diuretics, make sure his potassium doesn't get too low.

Hugs,

Connie

Penney  Well it hadn't even been an hour when I read your last post and Jerry hit his arm on the banister.  The skin just peeled back.  IT looks horrible. So besides wrapping his legs because the blisters are back and leaking fluid I have to wrap his arm also.  The other arm is still in a sling from the fractured shoulder.  We went back to Vanderbilt yesterday.  His BUN is 55 which really scares me.  Creatinine is 1.7 which isn't good.  They have changed from Bumex to a Lasix and I've upped his water.  Poor guy.  He looks like a mummy!  But, by golly his liver is working good.  They have lowered his prednisone so he is only eating about 20 hrs a day instead of 24.  He's really getting skinny!  After we saw the surgeon we saw the Orthopedic Dr.  Its seems that he has more then one fracture!!  More showed up on the MRI.  His arm is healing good.  Its not as black and blue.  And he is starting to move it a little more.  When he moves it in his sleep he yells. Its horrible.  But that liver is working good so we are thankful.  I hope you and Harvey get to go on a cruise.  That sounds wonderful.  If you get close to Knoxville while on your camping trip get in touch and we will compare liver stories.  Take Care

JoAnn