NEW YEAR'S EVE AND LIFE WITH "OLIVER" IS GREAT.

As I farewell 2011 and welcome with great anticipation 2012 I want to acknowledge all who have taken the journey through the year with me and have been there to support, encourage and spend time with me.

It has been an amazing year for me in so many ways - I am "stent" free and thus far haven't turned yellow and my medication levels have been reduced - I am ALIVE AND WELL.

I wish to acknowledge my Donor Family at this time of their grief - it was two years yesterday since I started life with "Oliver" and this time of year must be difficult for that family.   I am thankful for their kindness and foresight in gifting me with LIFE.

I live with my transplanted organ but I am not my illness I choose to live life in the light of friendship, love and knowledge.  I will keenly be an advocate for Organ and Tissue Donation and share my story with those who want to know - but it does not define me.

I have a thankful heart for surgeons of great skill,  a wonderful Transplant Team, Nurses who treated me with dignity and kindness and who will always hold a special place in my heart.

Come with me into the new year in Love, Light and Hope.

With love and hugs,

Linda. 

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CHECKING IN ALIVE AND WELL

I have been missing in action - not that I have been unwell but I have been busy trying to put things together for Christmas - a time of the year I love and really enjoy.

I have had bloods drawn twice since last I was in touch and all is well and my report at Clinic on Friday showed that my blood pressure was lower which is a good thing.

My Specialist has decreased my Tacrolimus by 1 mg. per day and also added Pravastatin to help lower cholesterol (which isn't very high anyway.)

I have to have bloods drawn in two weeks to check both the Tacro level and to see if the Pravastatin is messing with my blood results.

All in all - a good visit - Clinic was running late and the traffic was horrible - but they are minor issues in the big picture of life - I am alive and well while for some life continues to be a struggle.  My love and thoughts go out to those who are feeling unwell and out of touch.

Thanks for calling by.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

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WELCOME TO WEDNESDAY AND 97 WEEKS

Good Afternoon and welcome to what has now become my weekly blog post and check in - and here we are at 97 weeks and all is well - or mostly well.

I have been taking a new blood pressure tablet and my feet have become swollen and I have been waddling like a duck, as has a friend who has other health issues - that's us above.

I have checked in with Specialist and I am advised to stop taking them and I will see him at Clinic soon - so hopefully my fat feet with start to subside very soon.  It is quite common with this medication.

Apart from that - all is well in my world and I am working quite diligently on dietary changes to reduce cholesterol without taking medication - and I am hoping against hope that I can achieve.

I received a lovely gift in the mail yesterday a bracelet handmade by a friend and in support of organ donation and with beads spelling out LIFE - thank you Lyn I shall wear it with pride.

Thanks for taking the time to check in and read my weekly post your support has been and continues to be amazing.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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GOOD MORNING @ 96 WEEKS

Good Morning and welcome to Wednesday (Wonderful Wednesday) and it is 96 weeks today since my liver transplant - and yes I am counting every sweet and beautiful day of my second chance at life.

I love the wisdom of Pooh Bear and share this lovely picture with you - grab it with both hands and know in your heart that you are brave, strong and smart.

At 96 weeks what's happening for me ?  I have had a long discussion with the Dermatology Department Head from Flinders and am not taking one of the medications prescribed and we are hoping that by introducing one at a time, should there be a Stevens Johnson reaction we will know what caused it.  It was a lovely and supportive phone call and much appreciated by me.   If I have problems I am to page them. Today will be the third day of taking the tablet and thus far all is well.

In conversation with someone recently I was told that the whites of my eyes were so white they were almost blue - I was delighted I almost kissed the guy who said it.  I keep looking to see if I am turning yellow again, but thus far I am in the pink.

That's about it for my check in this week - thanks for taking the time to read this blog - lots of busy times for me on line with a newly formed group LOVE YOUR LIVER which has taken off and is blossoming.

Take care and be present to each moment of each new day and live your life to the full.

Love and hugs,

Linda

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95 WEEKS AND FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW

95 weeks post transplant and alive and well and loving life.    Nothing much to report and there is no reason for me being two days late with this blog apart from the fact that I seem to fill my days very easily.

The little things are the thoughts and the seeds which when planted and nourished grow into something meaningful and worthwhile.   My little Facebook Group is growing all the time and I have "met" some amazing people and friendships have grown.  People who only in the last few weeks have had a liver transplant and with whom I rejoice at their new life.  Build it and they will come - and they did and still continue to do so.

I am still waiting to hear from the Dermatology Department regarding the medication and the adverse effects of Stevens Johnson - I will get in touch with them early next week if I have not heard.

Take care and thanks for following my journey - it is a good journey - we started off on a rough path but it seems to have leveled out and become a very beautiful path I walk.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

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CHECKING IN @ 94 WEEKS

For me today brings around 94 weeks post transplant and all is well.    I haven't taken the new tablets because of reading that there could be an adverse reaction to them causing Stevens Johnson Syndrome, so I have been in touch with the Dermatology Unit at Flinders and now await their response to see if it is okay to take them or if we have to find a suitable alternative.

I am finding joy in the journey and gratitude for all things - both big and small.

It really is a short check in today, but that is good as it means there is little to report.

Thanks for following my journey and supporting me as I travel my road.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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FRIDAY AFTERNOON CHECK IN POST CLINIC VISIT

It has been a very bus week for me and it's not over yet.   This afternoon I had my check in at Clinic at Flinders and of course, Friday afternoon, wet roads, traffic accidents and Clinic running late so it was a long afternoon.

It was a good afternoon in that my blood results were good  and my Tacrolimus has been reduced to 2mg. in the morning and 3mg. at night - 1 mg. less each day but it's a good start.

We discussed Prednisolone and I am to continue with that for the time being.   My blood pressure was higher than Doctor would like it so he had added another tablet to reduce that..  My cholesterol was okay, but they like it very low post transplant so I am to take a tablet for that too.

Because of me being immune suppressed I am to visit the Dermatology unit at the hospital so I will wait for an appointment for that.

So basically the story today is less one tablet and add two more.

I am to have bloods taken in two weeks and then visit Clinic in six weeks.   They will monitor my blood results at two weeks and let me know if I need to change anything.


I did have hopes for a longer spell between visits - but much better this way than to leave things go too long.


I am looking forward to a beading class tomorrow and relaxing for the day.


Thanks for your care and your interest.


Love and hugs,
Linda

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