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Message |
Andrew
Member
Username: Andrew
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2014
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 - 04:05 pm: | 
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My name is Andrew and I just have my liver transplant operation on Feb 25 2014 at Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN. I have Hep B with cirrhosis and no other medical problems. I stayed at the hospital 5 days and 4 nights and we discharged to go home since I live in Nashville. My labs works has been normal for the last 30 days and Prograf was decrease to 2 mg twice a day and prednisone was reduced to 15 mg once a day.
The problem I am having is lose weight daily and I am eating very healthy - no sugar or salt for the last 30 days. My blood sugar test is average 110 in the morning before breakfast and average 155 or higher before dinner. My Doc said that is OK for now and they will monitor it closely.
The other problem is back pain and my right abdominal below the incision seems to be numb and very tight. Does any one has any of these symptoms?
My hands and fingers feel cold and tinkle and minor numbness.
Thank You |
Forest
Member
Username: Forest
Post Number: 39
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2014 - 08:15 am: |
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Hello Andrew and welcome! So very glad to hear you are doing so well, post transplant. You can expect to lose some weight, it's normal. Your appetite will improve I'm sure. I am 31 months post TX, and have gained about 25lbs. My Transplant was due to PSC. Your pain could just be healing of the tissues which can make the area around the incision feel that way. I had the same feeling post TX. Back pain could be stiffness from inactivity. Prograf is a neurotoxin, and can/does cause the hand and feet numbness. I am taking Prograf 3/am and 2/pm every day and I feel the slight numbness as well. Also, it will cause sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures.
Take all your medicines ON TIME, don't miss a dose, this is VERY important, for you to have a successful recovery, and life post transplant. Communicate promptly, any sudden changes in weight, blood pressure and temperature to your Doctor/Coordinator. I Wish you all the very best in your recovery!  HUGS!!!
Forest
U/C, 1993, PSC, 2000
Liver/Kidney transplant 8/21/11
St. Louis University Hospital |
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Andrew
Member
Username: Andrew
Post Number: 3
Registered: 03-2014
| | Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2014 - 10:53 am: |
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Dear Forest,
Thank you for your encouragement . I am very active 49 years old .. I walk 1 mile a day and 2 miles every other days and I clocked in at about 10 miles weekly with some stretching in between.
For appetite, I eat everything but very small portion. I feel full fast and don't know why. I stayed away from sweet and salt. I used to weigh around 155 lbs and now only 120 lbs. I slept through the entire night up once or twice to use the rest room. I wanted to eat desert so bad but I don't want to take insulin shot - no desert for me. I can an appointment next week with my doctor/nurse, I'll post how it went.
Thank you. |
Forest
Member
Username: Forest
Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2014 - 02:23 pm: |
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You are doing very well then, to be that active, wow! I am 51, weigh 178lbs, and because of the Prograf, I'm diabetic. I have to limit my sugars too, and I don't take any more shots or Glyburide, since mid 2012. I don't know what else to say about the back pain, other than let you Doctor/Coordinator know if it bothers you. My last blood test was normal. My liver and kidney are very happy. I have to watch the red meat, to avoid high levels of uric acid from too much protein. I feel very good, and have good strength in my muscles. Not yet back to work, but perhaps withing a month or so, I will go back and give it a try. Electrical construction.
Forest
U/C, 1993, PSC, 2000
Liver/Kidney transplant 8/21/11
St. Louis University Hospital |
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regscott
Member
Username: Regscott
Post Number: 29
Registered: 04-2010
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2017 - 11:58 am: |
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Andrew,
Some of your back pain may be due to your surgery. The position you're placed in during surgery in order to make it easier for the surgeons to access your liver and associated vascular system is slightly hyperextended ed. So for the entire duration of your surgery you were on your back with your back purposely hyperextended, abdomen pushed upwards by the positioning of the table. After a few hours that would cause anyone back pain, and if no one told you that was going to happen or gave you some exercises to do to help deal with the hyperextension, it's no wonder you're in pain and frustrated about it! During my consult with the transplant surgeon that was one of the first things that was mentioned, especially as my surgery is going to take a long time to just get my polycystic liver out of me. Part of my post transplant experience is going to include physical therapy to help my back recover from being hyperextended for 12+ hours; they've already built that into the plan. Now they just need to find the right size liver and a matching kidney!
I hope this information helps! Perhaps your doctor can get you some physical therapy sessions to help alleviate your back pain. I'd be very cautious about doing anything on your own simply because you're still healing from surgery, so moving or twisting the wrong way could cause a problem with some of the deep internal healing process. I don't know, so ask your coordinator or doctor first before starting any PT regime. Good luck!
Ruth
Ruth
Pre-dual liver and kidney
Polycystic Kidney Disease and Polycystic Liver Disease (PKD/PLD) |
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