Hi Robin,
I guess I'm the only in here that has experience in what you're talking about (Liver Transplant October 8th, 1997, coming up on TEN years!!!)
Anywho, Everything you described is what they did for me... Although I believe the Anesthesiologist left out a few things that they may or may not do to you...
Now everyone I know that's been transplanted either before me or afterwards, has had a "T" tube inserted into their abdomen attached to their bile ducts temporarily so that the Dr's can monitor your new liver's bile production rate on a daily basis. You can most likely expect that tube to be in you for at least a couple of months unless you god forbid, encounter complications that would justify not to remove it until everything is stabilized...
The other thing that they may or may not do to you is to cut open an opening to insert a tube into your main arteries or veins, (I forgot which of the two) in your groin area and underneath your armpit but, they may or may not need to do this to you because, It's only done in the event that they have to use the bypass machine while the surgery is being performed so, take comfort in the fact that if you're petite in size, more than likely they will not have to perform this and age is'nt a factor.
The main thing that you have to concern yourself with usually after being discharged is coming down with active CytoMegloVirus or CMV... This may or may not occur but, it all depends how much your immune systen has been suppressed so, if you feel like you're getting weak, do NOT HESITATE to go to the ER ASAP!!!
I say this not to scare you!!! I'm just passing on my own, and alot of folks experiences after transplant!!! The only other thing that might warrant the same reaction would be symptoms of rejection no matter how mild they are!!! Do NOT HESITATE TO GET TO THE ER ASAP!!! Please do not think that you might be turning into a pain in the you know what - to the folks there because, they fully expect these thing to occur so, they'll be prepared for you, especially if they are a center of excellence!!! One last thing about post-op ICU... PLEASE DO NOT PANIC while you're there!!! Just think of it as a vacation, and those folks will be pampering to your every need and soon enough, you'll be out of there!!! Only do'nt for once think that you can force them to release you from those tubes earlier than necessary because, it just will NOT HAPPEN!!! I know this because I tried and failed miserably!!
!
Your time in this world as you know it is about to end but, that only means that you need more than ever, to get prepared for your new life that will soon begin!!! A new life beyond your wildest dreams, and that much I'm sure of because, that is what happened to me!!! Now I'm not saying it's going to be easy in the beginning...OHHH MY God - NO!!! However, If you hang in like you did all these years like you've already have, you'll make it through the "hump."
Once you do, you'll think at times that you feel twenty years younger... Remember what I'm about to suggest to you... When you feel like that, you can easily set yourself up for an injury of some sort, or start feeling very weak afterwards so, PLEASE do'nt let those feeling fool you!!! I know, because I did, and I paid dearly everytime!!! So just remember your limitations and you'll do fine
In any event, I'll be P.U.S.H. ing for you as I'm sure others will too!!! Go get em Robin!!!
P. = Pray
U. = Until
S. = Something
H. = Happens
Dios te bendigas mi amiga!!! May God bless you my friend!!!
Respectfully,
Henry
P.S. That's my Mom and my two fellow band members visiting on my B'day in the hospital...
Btw, I'm the lead singer (Joe Cocker voice) and I also play the Conga's...
Jeff, who's behind and above me, plays the Bass, and Doug plays the Piano!!! We still play around town on reunions and such.
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