tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4818003785720571672.post6568768664906097447..comments2023-03-26T12:49:06.515-07:00Comments on Love and Hope for Lauren: Back Home AgainPamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10972041572780087629noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4818003785720571672.post-47997127728405472182013-04-16T08:07:07.902-07:002013-04-16T08:07:07.902-07:00Pam,
Heather took Lasix after both her surgeries. ...Pam,<br />Heather took Lasix after both her surgeries. After her liver resection she started looking several months pregnant and it was discovered it was due to a bile leak. We didn’t learn this was the reason for several weeks though. Her doctor’s thought it was from the cut part of the liver weeping or fluid retention. She was prescribed Lasix, but that didn’t help. She had a HIDA scan, but the bile leak didn’t show up on it. When she was released from the U of M she would see her gastro specialist that lived near us. He took care of things he was able to handle, but she had to return to the U of M for more serious problems. Her gastro doctor had her abdomen drained and that is when a gallon and a half of bile was removed. Up to that point we were not sure what the fluid was. Because the HIDA scan was negative they thought it was weeping from the cut side of the liver. The gastro doctor inserted a drain and bag in her lower abdomen which gave her relief and prevented the fluid from accumulating in her abdominal cavity again. <br />Heather went to a meet and greet with a new hepatologist at the U of M since her old doctor left the hospital. He took one look at Heather and said she had a bile leak and admitted her immediately. I told him she had a HIDA scan that was negative, but he said he knew it was from a bile leak. The next day she had an ERCP preformed and they patched the leak and she felt much improved and it fixed the problem. <br />After her transplant when she was still in the hospital she developed a large amount of fluid retention in her hips and legs. She was able to laugh about it, because it looked like she had Kim Kardashian’s booty! In this case the Lasix worked like a charm and resolved the problem quickly.<br />I’m not saying Lauren has a bile leak, but we went through something similar to what Lauren is experiencing. Once the fluid issue was resolved Heather recovered quickly. <br />I hope they can get to the bottom of what is causing Lauren’s fluid retention so she can feel better. The extra fluid made Heather hot and just not feel well. I truly sympathize with what you’re going through and hope this can be diagnosed and resolved quickly. <br />Praying and thinking of you all!<br />Hugs, CathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4818003785720571672.post-81213921144317304042013-04-14T18:20:16.323-07:002013-04-14T18:20:16.323-07:00I appreciate anything you have to say, Cathy. I lo...I appreciate anything you have to say, Cathy. I looked up therapeutic massage and it said to lightly massage toward the heart, so I massaged Lauren's lower legs and she said they felt better. They don't seem as puffy. She really doesn't want to go to anybody for a massage. We went one time to a place for cancer patients and she got a massage that made her so sore she cried that night. So I will try and massage her legs every day and see if that helps. Did Heather take Lasix and if so did it help? Lauren will have to go to the bathroom once, maybe twice after taking it then nothing. I wish it would make her go all day. I think the reason Lauren's neck and shoulder are still sore is because of the way they positioned her during surgery. I can't imagine laying in one position for eight or ten hours. Ouch!! I'm sure she will feel way better one of these days. She is already much better than right after surgery. It is so difficult and anyone that says it's not is lying!! You do not sound like a know it all whatsoever. I am so grateful for your help. God bless and thank you so much.<br /><br />Love and hugs,<br />-PamPamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10972041572780087629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4818003785720571672.post-36765399920658494402013-04-14T15:29:16.650-07:002013-04-14T15:29:16.650-07:00Pam,
Lauren is a fighter and she will get through ...Pam,<br />Lauren is a fighter and she will get through this! I understand how much worry is involved and what a grind this is. I hope I don’t sound like a know it all. I’m just a mom who’s been through something similar. It helped me when people shared and gave me a better understanding that things sometimes take longer. Pam, you know Lauren the best and will know if something is seriously amiss. <br />On a few occasions we paid for Heather to go to a massage therapist near our home who offered therapeutic massage. In the hospital we were fortunate that a compassionate (male) transplant nurse had the knowledge and time to help. We learned from that experience and added it to our toolbox of helpful things. The massage gets their lymphatic system moving. <br />During surgery they are put into weird positions for long hours and then spend a lot of time in bed so it’s no wonder they are achy on top of trying to heal from surgery. <br />In Heather’s case it took 3 months to recover from her liver resection. I’m not saying it will take Lauren this long, but it’s not uncommon for the recovery to take a while. Heather was physically in the hospital a month from her complications. They would release her then something would crop up and she would be readmitted. You have the advantage of having Kristen and her husband on your team, which is truly a blessing. <br />I hope things really go Lauren’s way soon and her fluid issue is resolved. A couple days can make a huge difference and remember she is healing even with the fluid. Praying and thinking of you all.<br />Take care, Cathy<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4818003785720571672.post-29807065721557273642013-04-13T22:04:52.873-07:002013-04-13T22:04:52.873-07:00Thanks so much for all of your wisdom and experien...Thanks so much for all of your wisdom and experience, Cathy. We tried and tried to get someone from occupational therapy to come and wrap Lauren's legs and massage them. We had a physical therapist that was really nice and wrapped them and then my daughter, Kristen wrapped them for her. That was one thing that I was really upset about. Occupational therapy never came and we were told they were too busy. That is just not acceptable and I wonder if Lauren would have felt better if they would've seen her. Lauren walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes today and seems less puffy. This whole process is so slow!! And difficult. I never dreamed it would be this hard. Thanks again for making me feel better, Cathy. You are an angel!!<br /><br />Love to you and Heather,<br />-PamPamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10972041572780087629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4818003785720571672.post-34720210441874203412013-04-13T18:53:50.266-07:002013-04-13T18:53:50.266-07:00Pam,
I’m very relieved Lauren doesn’t have blood c...Pam,<br />I’m very relieved Lauren doesn’t have blood clots! My daughter also experienced fluid retention, hair loss, low blood pressure and her incision was slow to heal. <br />One of the transplant nurses preformed therapeutic massage on Heather with amazing results! Within a couple hours her digestive system started working and her water weight went way down. Perhaps this might help Lauren so I wanted to mention it.<br />We were told the hair loss and slow healing was caused from lack of nutrition. Drinking something like Boost a couple times a day was helpful. Heather lost 30 pounds from each of her surgeries. Once the water weight dropped off she looked pencil thin. Heather developed bile leaks as well as retaining water. In her case the bile broke through areas her liver was weakest. These are diseased livers that are being operated on so unfortunately sometimes the recovery is up and down. Heather’s blood was tested and she was given bags of potassium and magnesium on a couple occasions. Her wounds healed practically overnight as a result. She also felt much better.<br />Pam, going through this is a grind and I’m so glad you have good family support. There are many ups and downs with these big surgeries, but remember, Lauren is healing each and every day. Her body is trying to cope to her reduced liver function plus her liver is regenerating. Slowly, but surely she is getting there. Heather said that the thing that helped her most after her transplant was being forced to be active. We walked the halls of the hospital and around the neighborhood when she got home. I lost a few myself and also earned a few grey hairs in the process! Take care and tell Lauren I’m thinking of her.<br />You’re in my prayers and I wish you and your family the best.<br />Hugs, Cathy<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com