One year post transplant update

[orphanedhawk]

Hello to all my med help buddies,

I planned to write mid-month in celebration of my one year transplant anniversary but the computer demon had other plans for my interconnectivity.
My laptop was terminal. A new one will replace it in time. As for now, I am reverting to a life lived less online.

Last week I was scheduled to see my heptalogist but saw his colleague instead as my guy was stuck in Vienna due to the volcano.
The good news is I don’t need to have another biopsy for a year as my liver is still happy and healthy.

Continuing to douse my liver with coffee and dark chocolate, I wish you all good health and a happy spring.
OH

[orphanedhawk]

RFL: My heptalogist suggests I wait for the new meds though I don't think its been tested on those of us on immune suppression.
They recommend I stay on a lower than average dosage since I had a living related donor transplant.
I do hope to get off the meds altogether eventually. The idea of being free from HCV is like heaven.

Bird: The best way I know of to get yourself out and moving is to use it to do what you'd normally drive for. In other words, walk to the bakery for that loaf of bread. If that doesn't work, get a dog. Dogs need to be walked. It worked for a friend and she lost 25 lbs.


DD9th:
There's research supporting both coffee and dark chocolate as being good for our livers. If you do a search, you'll find it.

[DD9th]

Congratulations!  

Now, I must have missed the conversation on coffee and dark chocolate.  

I just happen to prefer Dark Chocolate over all others, and have some daily (though I usually feel guilty about that).....

And I recently bought an amazing espresso machine, and it makes such wonderful espresso, cappuccino, mochas (with dark chocolate), etc.... that I've been feeling a bit guilty about the increased intake in coffee recently... (I'm having an espresso in the am, and then a cappuccino or a mocha on my way to work)

As someone who is 1 month post tx... are you saying that those two things that I love so much ..... are actually good for my liver?  

I did not have a transplant, but did have Genotype 2b, and 24 weeks of tx, currently UND.

You mean I can have my coffee, and dark chocolate too?  

[GreatBird]

From one bird to another . . .

Congrats on your anniversary! Good for you for all the walking. I know I should be doing that. I seem to only manage it in spurts. Maybe I can use you as my inspiration.

[GoofyDad]

You mean imagination? It shows up once in a while. Gotta admit, spelling it was tougher than I thought.

[FlGuy]

That's a heck of a word to come up with.  I have to admit, I've never seen it in a thread before.

[Rockerforlife]

All you need now is a PI drug,you will be home free.Can transplanters do the new PI`s?

[GoofyDad]

Flguy - same caution goes out to you. Watch out spying those high flying chip shots - lest you receive a pandionidael chip shot yourself.


I grew-up fishing the Chesapeake with my grandfather and thought his stories of 6 ft wide Osprey nests were of his imagination. Now they are back all over the bay... where the birds were all but extinct a few decades ago. I think it was the DDT that nearly did them in.  

[orphanedhawk]

FLguy:
It's ospreys not to confused with things like cacti or fungi. We have those beautiful birds here on the West coast too.

Exercise is important and walking is the best. I'm lucky to have the option of hills and flat.
My daily walk improves my mind and body.
I thought my husband was nuts when I first got out of the hospital and he drug me to a big  Buddhist meditation center located on a mountain.
He brought along a blanket and food. Several times I stopped to rest even after just a few steps. Later my legs were sore but my muscles and stamina began to return.

Determined to keep hep C at bay, I now drink 4 mugs of coffee daily.

Thanks again my friends.

[portann]

Congratulations!  What a difference a year makes.  

I'm eating chocolate (darkest dark) for breakfast on the run to celebrate this fantastic news of yours.

You and your daughter are two fantastic souls - she's amazing, you're amazing.

Big hugs and love,

Susan

[Marcia2202]

Wonderful news!!!

Hugs, Marcia

[Trish77]

When I saw your post, I was amazed at how quickly time passes.  It's good to hear how well  you're doing.  I'm personally convinced my long-standing coffee habit and my affection for dark chocolate was helping me long before I had any idea that such things could be good for you!  It's nice when the things we enjoy are also good for us, eh?   Also good to hear your daughter has recovered well - a real family undertaking there. Thanks for letting us be part of your celebration!  Huzzah!! to you and yours and wishes for continued good health and happiness.

Trish

[FlGuy]

It's good to hear success stories.  And, to read that all in the family are doing well.

Part of my diet/exercise practice is a long walk/jog in the evenings. Now, in South Florida, is a great evening time of year.  Not far away is a new golf course under construction, it's just graded and shaped - no grass yet.  The place will be called Osprey Point.  As I walked around there this evening the ospreys (ospri ?) were successfully hunting in the lakes.  Pretty cool.  Don't think the fish agree with me.

[orphanedhawk]

Thanks everyone, I really am lol!
All of you helped bring me to this point just be sending your thoughts my way when I needed it the most.

Charm: Be careful what you wish for: I wanted to spend less time on  the machine and zappo!  wish fulfilled.

Yes, Bill we do use the same 'cutting edge' group.
  I was told 1/5 of the world's best liver docs were stuck in Vienna, at a liver convention~ not good if you needed immediate surgery.

Mike and Walrus, thanks so much for your empathy and advice.

Flguy: Yes, I'm on prograf although I think I'm a good candidate for going off immune suppression in the future.
The only complication I've had was a common one of an obstructed bile duct necessitating several ERCPs.
My daughter has been fine since about 2 months post surgery. She is happy and healthy. I believe live liver transplant is the way to go. Since they can do them as well as they do in Taiwan, there is no reason ( other than Insurance companies) we can’t do more of them here. Of course they're more expensive due to the need of 2 teams of surgeons.
Our relationship hasn't changed much as we’ve always been close although I do tease her about how much her liver loves to eat!
Honestly my husband was the one who had it hard being our caregiver and she was angry with him for a while but now all is fine. And I’ve become closer to  my sister who flew out to assist.

Okay, I'm typed out.
Hugs to all of you and happy Spring, seagulls, pelicans and all.
OH

[GoofyDad]

Really great news, OH! Glad to hear you're doing well.

NYGirl:  "I really just want to go outside for a moment and look up at the sky" --- keep an eye out for seagulls, sister!

[nygirl7]

Oh my Friend I am just so ecstatic how things have turned out for you.  You are a joy to know and an absolutely precious friend - such great news knowing all is well that I really just want to go outside for a moment and look up at the sky and send you ALL of the best hugs and wishes and happiness for the future......I think I'm going to go out take a walk and say thank you for everything working out this way for you. I think I'm a little bit overwhelmed I don't know why I'm usually such a grouch but boy this is a happy thing.

But dang this is just GREAT isn't it? Happy One Year Anniversary and many many more to come!!!!!!!!

Debby ♥

[child24angel]

So good to hear from you !, I was asking a friend about you not to long ago:)
I'm so glad to hear you're doing so well !!
Congratulations !! one year !!! and many more to follow
Many hugs
Elaine

[mikesimon]

Thanks for sharing your Anniversary with us.
Time does fly when things calm down and I am so happy that you're doing so well.
Keep it up!!
Mike

[FlGuy]

I've been curious and have wanted to ask, I guess this is my chance.  Mike Simon has written some about his experiences Post TP and I've learned a lot.  He has mentioned his prograff for anti-rejection.  Since your new part came from a family member, do you take the stuff too.  I think it was a daughter?  You wrote a while back that she was doing well and that her liver has re-grown.  Is she still OK and (you don't have to answer this) has your relationship changed at all?  Sorry for being so nosey but the relationship parts of all things HCV seem interesting to me (support, non-support, vacant spouses, super-star partners etc.)

[IAmTheWalrus]

I can't believe it has been a whole year gone by! My hepatologist visit last week was cancelled for the same reason. I can't feel very sorry for them, being stuck in Vienna of al places. I am sure they made the best of it.

More chocolate is a good thing. A much better thing is that you are here to enjoy it!

Stay healthy,
Brent

[tashka]

I am very happy for you! Congratulations on such a good outcome. Wish you health and happiness. This is a wonderful anniversary.

[Bill1954]

How cool to hear you’re doing so well, gal. As far as your hepatologist is concerned, I imagine there are worse places to be stranded, huh :o)? Maybe he can bring back some Viennese chocolates? Those would be called Wiener chocolates, I think. Or chocolate Wieners :o)? I never could get that right, LOL!

I believe we use the same group, don’t we? I need to schedule some follow up work with them myself; thanks for the reminder, by the way. I’m not on here as much either lately; I think this is part of the healing process…

My very best to you, my four star friend--

Bill

[GSDgirl]

Great news for you!!  I have wondered upon occasion how you were doing.

Denise

[Isobella]

Less online=good

1 year post-transplant=PRICELESS!!!!!

Such great news...Congratulations to you and thanks for posting!

Isobella

[charm27]

Im elated for you. Cannot believe 1 year has passed since you had your ordeal. Wishing you continued health and peace.

Reverting to a life  less online can be a very good thing at least for awhile-Im thinking of doing it myself-I need a break from it all.

Best of luck
Regard
Charm27=Thanks for posting your news !