Liver Transplant

hovis · ‎10-24-2014

My BIL has to have a liver transplant. They say the surgery is fairly easy but the recovery really takes a long time. Do you know anyone that has had one ? Thanks.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

No I don't know anyone who has had a liver transplant so I'm no help. However you can find some info online but I know I like to talk to someone who has dealt with it personally. I wonder if there is a transplant forum elsewhere that you can chat with. I wish your BIL well as well as the rest of his family. IIt's truly a gift he is receiving. Hope he heals well and thrives. Bless the donor!!!

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I know a relative of someone who had a liver transplant and died. The patient was in serious decline, and too sick by the time he had surgery, but it was his one and only shot, and he wanted to go for it. The surgery itself went fine; his physical condition compromised the procedure, and he was never able to stabilize and start improving.

2 close friends had kidney transplants and have done very well. A former coworker survived 2 lung transplants and is doing very well.

Yes, recovery does take a long time; there is no thinking in overall terms that 6-8 weeks from now I'll be healed and this will all be over. Initially there's the post op healing process, where the concern is healing an incision, avoiding infection, and not overdoing. After that, the long term healing process begins, where the patient learns true patience and limitations. Understanding that your immunity is compromised, and you always have to be cautious.

All of my friends became disabled after their transplants, so they dealt with months and months of healing, as well as accepting the loss of their jobs and the daily routine they knew so well. They have learned a new normal, that centers around staying as healthy as possible.

Best wishes to your BIL.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

A young girl at our church had liver transplant in August or early September. Every case is different and I'm sure recovery depends on many factors chief among them, the patient's physical condition and any co-morbidities. The 13 year old we know was fortunate, her liver condition was discovered early before any of her other organs had been damaged and she received her transplant just a few weeks after being listed in the transplant registry. She's going back to school in January, so her recovery was not very long.

Gooday · ‎03-23-2010

My DH had a kidney transplant 10 years ago. He had the transplant on a Thursday and I got a call at 5:00 p.m. on that Saturday telling me to come pick him up. The new kidney was placed just above his groin area because in 1992 he had stage IV bladder cancer and his osteomy was where the kidney normally would have been transplanted. The surgery went wonderfully.

However, a few days after he came home, a few of the staples popped and we were in the E.R. where they removed all the staples. We were told the wound would have to heal by "secondary intention". For those who are NOT nurses, this means no sutures but cleaning the wound twice a day with sterile saline, packing the wound (it looked like a gutted fish) and monitoring it. It took about 4 weeks but heal he did!

DH has been on two anti rejection drugs and a very small dose of Prednisone. He has monthly blood work to monitor the anti rejection meds levels as well as to check his creatinine level. God bless his birthday is Tuesday and he will be 71 years old.

Unfortunately, he has developed type II diabetes as a side effect of the anti rejection meds. He cut his toe right before Thanksgiving and it got infected requiring a left big toe amputation. He is healing well but we are both getting cabin fever.

I know it's not a liver transplant but, if I can help, let me know.

Sammycat1 · ‎03-09-2010

No transplant is easy. Because of my former job, I watched many liver transplants being performed by the surgeon called the father of modern transplantation, who also did the 1st liver. A liver transplant is one of the most complex and lengthy, taking up to 12 hours. There's a lot of work with blood vessels.

A patient can be in the hospital from 1 to 2 weeks or longer, going from ICU for a few days then to a private room. Recovery and living in a new reality takes months.

Of course anti-rejection meds are key to suppressing the immune system, for life, and they can cause many side effects.

It's a tough surgery and recovery, but can give someone a chance at life with loved ones they wouldn't have otherwise...it's a miracle in and of itself.

I've had 2 friends have them. One unfortunately died in the hospital (his heart gave out) but the other is still doing well almost 10 years out.