Transplant success!!

 orry to keep you all in suspense!! No signal for wifi at the VA!! I tried every floor and could get a signal but it wouldn't connect!!

Anyhow, we just got back from visiting. Phil is doing well. Liver is working, kidneys are working. He will be resting/sedated for the next 24 hours. Dr's are real happy with the results and so are we!!

I was on pins and needles all day yesterday after getting the call in the AM about a potential liver. The TP coordicator called me at 1:30 and said he would be taken to OR prep at 5PM. At 4:30 she called and said it was moved to 6PM. At 6PM we went there and he was brought back 30 minutes later . . liver  was not here yet. At 9:30 his surgeon came in and asked what he was doin there . . he needed to be ready to go for midnight surgery and he started getting his bed ready to be moved himself!! He told me to go back to the hotel and he would call me and I told him I was stayin in the waiting area so he said see ya around 6am. He got out of surgery at 7:30am and at 8:30 the surgeon let me know he feels reeal good about the liver and the surgery!! We still have a long way to go, but things look really good right now!!

  Thank God, my family and friends for everything!!

Debbie

Debbie, this is great news. It has been a long haul and will BE a long haul through recovery. Some are quicker to get back to their lives.

Most everyone here has had one set back or another thorugh recovery...but nothing, nothing, nothing like the mess before transplant...a reaction to a medication, Connie's hernia, a leak or two in the plumbing...

But there are quite of few out here who have done really really well. Mike at 9 months was given the all clear to play golf! (If his darn shoulder didn't need rotator cuff surgery!)

Hugs to you both,
Carol and Mike too

how wonderful...

Febr 8 ...rebirth day for Phil.  Congrats and tonight I am burning a candle for the donor's family.  What a great gift to give.  Hope all is happening smoothly for you two.

Angie1953

Another great day at VA Pittsburgh! Phil is doing well . . body is swollen, arms, hands, feet, and abdomen . . normal for this situation. His kidneys are fair, and his liver is doing real good. I haven't really gotten into the platlets and bloodowork, but I am going to start requesting it again and looking it over so I know whats going on and what questions to ask.

911medic . . when you come back in 2 weeks, we will be in better health and have time to get together hopefully. I hate to admitt I don't even know what todays date is, but good luck with the eval . . I hope it comes thru for you!!

Debbie

Connie,
No, my hubby is not Phil. I just note him as Hubby (no name). Debbie's hubby is Phil. Hope you are doing well. Later
Angie1953

Debbie,

Glad for your positive note.

Have they given you any idea of how long they'll have him in ICU.  Mike was 7 days, some are longer, some shorter.

It he alert?  I realized almost right away that there was such a change in his mental status I couldn't believe it.

Take care of yourself. The days are going to be really long when you get him home at first. And all those meds they want you to organize yourself.

I tell the story of the guy in the next bed with the kidney transplant...no wife at his side, just out of surgery, all those meds, and he was BLIND.

You have to look on the bright side sometimes.

He did well, by the way....kidneys seem a breeze compared to livers!

Best and hugs,

Carol

Debbie, thanks for the update. It's very true that as sick as he was, they have to progress slowly with him. I hope he is able to get off the ventilator. I imagine that's one reason he is sedated, or he would be trying to pull it out. As I described in my blog, it's a horrible feeling...having that thing down your throat. The fact that Phil got through the surgery is cause for celebration. It sounds like he is getting great care, including your involvement.

Big hugs,
Connie

Well, 3rd day after the transplant . . Phil is doing well. He is still on the ventilator :( . His mouth is sooo dry . . it's painful to see. They swab it and suck the crystalization out, but it's not the same as a glass of water for sure. He's had to have some blood transfusions . . he's sprung a leak . . they are keeping a close eye on things, and hoping since his blood is now clotting that it will heal. If not they will have to go back in and fix him. They really do not want to do that, because of the high risk of infection. His liver is working good, and his kidneys are trying hard . . hopfully tomorrow the ventilator will be out!!
Phil s Mother is here now, she got in Wed am. just in time to see him right after surgery!! She's gonna be here til Monday. We both could use a real good nights sleep, but it's hard to get right now. Some is better than none tho. We are eating right !! Hotel has breakfast every morning and we eat a good dinner and snack on fruit and yogurt during the day!!

We'll see what tomorrow brings!!

Debbie

Deb

Holding breath, saying prayers for better news tomorrow.

But a good liver!!!  That's the most important.

The did the same dance about maybe opening Mike, a huge hematoma. they took pictures, fretted, kept me worried. and then it resolved on its own.

Hope the same for Phil.

You can sleep next month!

Hugs,

Carol

Debbie,

So glad to hear that Phil is doing so well.  We took it one day at a time, which turned into weeks, months, and Ron just celebrated his 1 year 'birthday'.  Look forward to hearing more updates. Many good thoughts and prayers for you both.

Pam and Ron

Debbie, so good to hear that the vent is out!! That is a big deal and a very positive step. Every time I'm hospitalized, I have a problem with constipation. They give me stool softeners which have absolutely no effect. When you're getting pain meds, you're going to be constipated. After several days of me telling them I need magnesium citrate, they finally get an order for it and it works. You might suggest this. If he can't drink it, he may need an enema. The longer he goes without a BM, the more bound up he is going to be. And when you've been sliced open, it's no fun to "push." With the bloating he already has, he's going to become VERY uncomfortable if he can't move his bowels.

The memory of being in PA and for how long probably won't come back to him. With people who are really sick at the time of transplant, it doesn't seem to--which is probably a blessing in disguise.

It's good that he's sitting up. That's progress! It just takes time.

Thanks, as always, for updating us!

Hugs,
Connie

Yeah, Prednisone kind of robs one of appetite. The senses are heightened and hospital food smells and tastes awful. I also cramped something awful if I ate more than a spoonful of food.

Hugs,
Connie