RE: swelling post transplant

[Guest guest]

I would contact his transplant doc and see what he has to say. He can

elevate his feet, but also take a towel and elevate is " groin

area " ,also an ice pack maybe helpful. We do this for our post surgical

open heart pts.

Is he urinating well? If he is having shortness of breath I would get

him to the ER because he could be in fluid overload which could cause

congestive heart failure. Did they send him home with TED hose to wear

and is he wearing them? I know that our open heart pts get pumped full

of extra fluid, so I can only imagine what a transplant pt gets during

surgery.

I know that we tell our pts to weigh themselves daily and if they gain

that much in a few days we want them to call the doc. I realize that

is because our pts are cardiac pts, but I would call his doc and ease

dusty's mind and yours.

I am so happy for you all that he got his transplant, I have been

following his on your savedusty blog. You are in my thoughts and

prayers

PSC 5/2770 Listed

In , " tcrumbliss "

wrote:

>

> Have a quick question... is experiencing swelling in his feet,

> abdomen and groin/prostate (well a very delicate area in which he is

> uncomfortable with). I have explained to him that it is normal, but

> he would really like some confirmation. I guess his questions is, how

> much swelling is too much. He was weighing 197 at discharge, but

> today it at 210, which means he has a good 10lbs or so of water weight

> (he has been eating well).

>

> Thanks-

>

> in Texas

> Brother, , 31, UC & PSC, LTX 12-12-07

>

[Guest guest]

, what is now experiencing was absolutely " normal " for Jim.

Jim experienced the swelling more in his legs at first, especially lower

around the ankles and feet, and he grouchily commanded daughters and

Jillian to each take a foot and massage away... ankles included.

Zero time for long-windedness now (per our latest off-topic family crisis

update), but I wanted you/your brother to not worry tooooooo terribly much

about this? Explain to your brother, if you can, that the transplant

surgery, while definitely a lifesaver, doesn't " fix " every last little

thing, as in immediately. A few things, like this, can take a bit of time.

Jim's JP hole (-Pratt; so named for the drainage tube site) and

certain areas of his wide, transverse incision sprouted leaks, even with

extra stitches/subsequent use of superglue. He had to patch himself with

incontinence pads, & hoo-boy, our trashcan weighed a ton. From whenceforth

on God's green earth did all that fluid cometh? LOL. But he was like the

Little Dutch Boy dealing with days and days and days of... leaks. In my

former posts, I fondly called him Mister Leaky (among other things!!!).

As Jim's ( & 's) medical advocate, I reached a point where I became

clinically curious about allllllll sorts of things, this stuff included, as

I was able to ask & ask away at a teaching hospital like USC in Los Angeles,

where they were transplanted. " What's your personal best with paracentesis

-- how much fluid have you tapped out of one patient at one time? " or " just

how big can a transplantee's legs... or a man's, um, 'private parts' swell

upon transplantation? " They loved the questions, & answered in detail!

All that being said, though, gave you a perfectly sterling response --

& it's always the bestest idea to run e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g by the doctor(s).

Merry Christmas to you & yours, dear & (and everyone else in

this wonderful support group). It will be an especially sweet Christmas for

you & your beloved brother, no doubt. Back in '01 when it was Jim/'s

time for son-to-father Living Related Liver Transplant, & we as a family

listened to " Hark the Herald Angels Sing, " the lyrics " born to give them

second birth " just... well, slayed us. As in not a dry eye in the house!

Maureen ( & Jim & & & Jillian & Stryder & Indiana & Leia)

swelling post transplant

Have a quick question... is experiencing swelling in his feet,

abdomen and groin/prostate (well a very delicate area in which he is

uncomfortable with). I have explained to him that it is normal, but

he would really like some confirmation. I guess his questions is, how

much swelling is too much. He was weighing 197 at discharge, but

today it at 210, which means he has a good 10lbs or so of water weight

(he has been eating well).

Thanks-

in Texas

Brother, , 31, UC & PSC, LTX 12-12-07

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply's!! It really helped!We did call the clinic, he is having absolutely no pain, no fever, no redness. They said we could go to the ER, but i would hate to do that since the ER here hasn't ever done well with him pre-tx, no telling how scared they would be post-tx....

is elevating, and is going to get up and do a little more walking today, than yesterday, that always seems to help...Merry Christmas!!!! in TexasBrother, , 31, UC & PSC, LTX 12-12-07

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