liver transplant

At about 5pm last night I was discharged from the hospital. I apologize to anyone who may have gone up there afterwards and did not find me. When they told me I could leave, it took me about 10 minutes to pack before I practically ran to the door.
While I am very excited to be home - the hard work now begins. This will be a little dry but I am trying to answer your questions about where I am (and maybe I have misinterpreted some of the information but I am sure the doctor and I will be spending plenty of time together and he will straighten me out on anything I am not understanding). This will be helping me too in getting all of this straight in my head - and I thank you for the opportunity to help me do that. You may have a question, not an opinion or a recommendation unless you are a liver specialist, that I had not thought of and I can ask the doctor.

Obviously, there are more people who need a new liver than people can donate a liver, so to get a liver transplant is quite a process. My doctor is very strict about the people who he recommends get a new liver - which is very understandable. You only get one chance to get on the liver transplant list and you want to make sure you are prepared to be approved. This is a process that will take at least 6 months. For this time I will be evaluated on the following:

1) No more episodes. In other words no more stays at the hospital. Each time I spend time in the hospital is a mark against me. Most of what led me to this past stay was the fluid build-up (mostly caused by salt in my diet - I am new to this thing and learning about sodium) and getting adjusted to the new medications.
2) Another thing that can send me to the hospital is an virus or infection or a sickness that is commonly caught by people - BUT my immunities are very low and I do take medications for this problem. But I have to really watch who I am around and use a lot of anti-bacterial sops, wipes, etc.

Wouldn't you know that these 6 months fall right in the middle of flu season?

3) I need to slowly build my energy back up. When I need to rest, I rest. When I have energy is when I try my best to do my errands. I do try to stay off my feet too much because that leads to fluid build-up also. I have to pace myself.

If you see me walking with my IPOD or lifting some weights, I am just trying to build my muscle back up. One of the symptoms of liver disease is that it eats at your muscle. I also have to take Ensure to deal with this problem.
4) I am on many medications and will also continue to take them. Bloodwork will be taken often and monitored and the medications will be adjusted accordingly.
5) I MUST stick to a low sodium diet. This is very hard but crucial. I am learning all about what foods I am have sodium. Nutrition labels are crucial to me right now. I see dieticians also - but I am open to any recipes or places that specialize in this area and make individual meals for you.

This means bascially no eating eating out (so sad!) without eating beforehand or eating just the salad and fruit and sweets (can you believe there are a lot of these low in sodium?)

6) I will continue seeing my Christian guidance counselor and they have added a psychiatrist that specializes in liver transplant patients.

*** All of these appointments and my diet are closely monitored by my doctor (Dr. Galati - http://www.texasliver.com/en/cms/35/). If I miss appointments with any of the above people, it is reported to him and any breaks in my diet. This all goes in my record that then goes to the people who decide whether I should receive a new liver,

All that being said, I would like to avoid a transplant. I would love to keep my own liver and have a new liver go to someone else! I am currently only functioning with 20% of a liver. This is where you come in. Please pray for a miracles in all of these areas. I know you have and I thank you and let's keep it going!
Soon I will write another post soon about changing doctors and about receiving the news of a liver transplant.

P.S. I do have a "point person" now. If you would like that information, please email me.