Guest guest Posted May 8, 2000 Report Share Posted May 8, 2000 Here is another update from Laurie's husband Steve. I think they have to stay at the hospital longer than usual because it's not near her home so they had to kind of move in. Any e-mails to her I will forward to his address so Laurie and see it. I think they may be working from a notebook at the hospital. Peg Hi Peggy, well its 11:25 5-8-00 Laurie is doing fantastic, you would never guess that she has just gone thru a liver transplant. she still has her feeding tube in, the doctors say that her bowels have not woken up yet, so no by mouth feeding. she has her morphine shots but there trying to keep that at a minimum to, because they say that morphine slows down your bowels and will keep them from waking up also (they enjoy using that phrase). She was in pain yesterday mainly around the stitches but also her back and shoulder,8 hrs on an operating table so it is to be expected. She has been out of bed and sitting in a chair several times and I`ll have to admit its very nice to see, she stood up and washed herself this morning (by herself) and even though it did tire her out she was still very happy that she could do it herself. I`m trying very hard to think of some downsides of all this but other than the pain I can`t think of any, these people have made every thing look very routine. The coordinator was up a little while ago and told us that she could be going over to the cooperative care section in the next day or two, spend 5 or 6 days there and then down to the regular rooms (this hospital has one section that is like a regular motel for family and relatives, with one floor geared toward transplant patients). We were told 4 to 6 weeks after the actual surgery was the average time frame, of coarse there are exceptions but that is there average. I will keep you posted, I`m having trouble accessing my e-mail at home but your response did make it back to the hospital please feel free to pass that address on to any one who would like it. Lauries home address is: Lied: Laurie Coughennower The Lied Transplant Center 2085 NE 45th Court 987600 Nebraska Medical Center Des Moines, IA 50317 Omaha, NE 68198-7600 Laurie is going to go thru a room change pretty soon so I don`t want to give a room number at this time. Thanks and if you could pass this on I would appreciate it. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2000 Report Share Posted May 8, 2000 Laurie and Steve, Sounds like you are experiencing a " uncomplicated " transplant. I hope it continues to be so. > Hi Peggy, well its 11:25 5-8-00 Laurie is doing fantastic, you > would never guess that she has just gone thru a liver > transplant. she still has her feeding tube in, the doctors say > that her bowels have not woken up yet, so no by mouth feeding. > she has her morphine shots but there trying to keep that at a > minimum to, because they say that morphine slows down your > bowels and will keep them from waking up also. Getting the digestive system running again is one of the top priorities post tx. Lots of walking and light on the morphine helps do that. > She has been out of bed and sitting in a chair several times > and I`ll have to admit its very nice to see, she stood up and > washed herself this morning (by herself) and even though it did > tire her out she was still very happy that she could do it > herself. I`m trying very hard to think of some downsides of all > this but other than the pain I can`t think of any, these people > have made every thing look very routine. You are right - compared to the end stages of PSC, having a transplant is a piece of cake. I wouldn't want to do it just for the fun of it though. I'm sure you will have your ups and downs, just like everyone, but hope that with your new liver your life continues to be a celebration of joy each day. Tim __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2000 Report Share Posted May 8, 2000 What wonderful news, congratulations! had a really sore back for a few weeks after surgery. I think this is due to the position they put you in during the surgery, which is not all that natural. She was on morphine for about 3 or 4 days. Of course it's still too early to think about going home or going to the hotel section of the hospital, but they told that before she could leave she had to be able to: 1) be able to walk up steps, 2) eat without getting nauseous, 3) have had a bowel movement, 4) know meds and the warning sign of rejection I don't think she was able to do all the above for 5 to 7 days. Good luck, Roy T. Laurie update > Here is another update from Laurie's husband Steve. I think they have to > stay at the hospital longer than usual because it's not near her home so > they had to kind of move in. Any e-mails to her I will forward to his > address so Laurie and see it. I think they may be working from > a notebook at the hospital. > > Peg > > Hi Peggy, well its 11:25 5-8-00 Laurie is doing fantastic, you would never > guess that she has just gone thru a liver transplant. she still has her > feeding tube in, the doctors say that her bowels have not woken up yet, so > no by mouth feeding. she has her morphine shots but there trying to keep > that at a minimum to, because they say that morphine slows down your bowels > and will keep them from waking up also (they enjoy using that phrase). She > was in pain yesterday mainly around the stitches but also her back and > shoulder,8 hrs on an operating table so it is to be expected. She has been > out of bed and sitting in a chair several times and I`ll have to admit its > very nice to see, she stood up and washed herself this morning (by herself) > and even though it did tire her out she was still very happy that she could > do it herself. I`m trying very hard to think of some downsides of all this > but other than the pain I can`t think of any, these people have made every > thing look very routine. The coordinator was up a little while ago and told > us that she could be going over to the cooperative care section in the next > day or two, spend 5 or 6 days there and then down to the regular rooms (this > hospital has one section that is like a regular motel for family and > relatives, with one floor geared toward transplant patients). We were told 4 > to 6 weeks after the actual surgery was the average time frame, of coarse > there are exceptions but that is there average. > I will keep you posted, I`m having trouble accessing my e-mail at home but > your response did make it back to the hospital please feel free to pass that > address on to any one who would like it. > Lauries home address is: Lied: > > Laurie Coughennower The Lied Transplant Center > 2085 NE 45th Court 987600 Nebraska Medical Center > Des Moines, IA 50317 Omaha, NE 68198-7600 > Laurie is going to go thru a room change pretty soon so I don`t want to give > a room number at this time. > Thanks and if you could pass this on I would appreciate it. > > Steve > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > You have a voice mail message waiting for you at iHello.com: > http://click./1/3555/8/_/24674/_/957809379/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2000 Report Share Posted May 9, 2000 Steve and Laurie, Congratulations. This is amazing, wonderful news, particularly because the operation went so smoothly. We are rooting for an equally smooth recovery. Ezra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2000 Report Share Posted May 11, 2000 Steve So glad that everything is going so well for Laurie....It is time for you to have that little break so you will be ready for Laurie when there is no one around to help.....that will happen all to soon.... Give Laurie our best.... Luanne Ty's mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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