Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Last night I checked out of Univ of Mich Hospital in time to be home for the weekend. Again I can report that the bed at home has it all over the hospital bed for comfort - it may not do all the fancy maneuvers, but I slept a lot better last night. As has said, each transplant is a new experience. Without the reserves of strength that I took into the 2nd tx (6/18/07) the 3rd (7/7/07) just left me wiped out. So I rested and dozed more frequently during this last hospital stay. Recovery again went very well. Extubated less than 12 hrs after surgery, NG tube and Foley catheter out as early as I can recall, with steady and regular bowels made me confident that I was ready to go home. The were 2 glitches - the major one a rise in creatinine to 3.2 on the 2nd day post tx, indicating poor kidney function, nephrologists were call in to take a look at why that was happening. They quickly zeroed in on the details of the surgery report, which showed a considerable period of low blood pressure occurring during the transplant. This is a known cause of poor kidney function during recovery and should resolve with time. So we waited for the next days blood draw where their decision to do nothing was justified. Creatinine came down to 2.8 and continued down to normal prior to discharge. The minor glitch was a very leaky drain site. Fresh pads would soak through within an hour and fluid would soak my gown and run down my leg if I stood up. More of an annoyance than a problem I certainly did not want to go home gushing fluids like a saturated sponge. One of the residents tried to throw a tighter stitch around the tube, but that hardly slowed the flow. The solution was to pull the drain out. Without the tube running through the abdominal wall the hole closed up and hasn't leaked since. Most annoying things - heparin shots and finger sticks for blood glucose testing. I only had one nurse who was patient enough to give a comfortable heparin shot. Others all wanted to empty the syringe as fast as possible. It is so much better when it goes in slowly. Blood glucose monitoring four times a day (I sympathize with Ken on this one) means getting stabbed with a lancelet 4x a day. The depth of the cut is very dependent on the pressure applied. Most nurses had no idea of how light the pressure could be to get an adequate drop of blood and used max pressure, which just leaves finger tips all chewed up. I am glad I don't have to go through that anymore, although I am still testing at home I have an advanced meter that uses a blood drop less than 0.1 the size needed in the hospital. Tim R - member of the 3 transplant club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Tim,I am so glad to hear that you are home !!I hope that all goes well and that you get better and stronger everyday.Take good care of yourself and don't do too much too soon!I've been praying for you,LeeLast night I checked out of Univ of Mich Hospital in time to be homefor the weekend. Again I can report that the bed at home has it allover the hospital bed for comfort - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Hi Tim, Sure glad to hear you are home again and doing well. I just got back in town last night and imagine my surprise when I started reading Beth's updates on you. I left for up north right after I talked to you, with the knowledge that everything was going fine, I thought. Irene and I are so happy that you now have a functioning liver and are back home again. Our thoughts are with you, Penny and your son. You were pretty much my hero for your help and support after my transplant, but now you have been elevated to a place I have no word for. your friend, Tim L PS I remember how much fun it was to have the ascites leaking out. Remember when I sprung leaks all up and down my incision. They would sew one spot and the leak would find the next weakest and they ended up sewing on me six different times before it was contained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Tim, You sound wonderful! I'm so glad you are home in your comfy bed doing much better. wife of PSC & UC 2000 J pouch 2004 Tx 11-18-06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Tim, It sounds like a fantastic recovery, especially since it's your 2nd transplant in 3 weeks (3rd transplant total). You & your recovery seem amazing. You're an inspiration. Where do you get your strength? Stay well, and I hope the recovery continues to go really well. -Marie _________________________________________________________________ Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play Chicktionary! http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_hotmailtextlink2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 Tim, You are one amazing guy. Congratulations on tx #3 being so successful. Settle down at home and take care of yourself. Thinking of you. Ricky From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Tim RomleinSent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 1:40 PMTo: Subject: Tim Romlein - Home again Last night I checked out of Univ of Mich Hospital in time to be homefor the weekend. Start a new topic .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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