My new liver is officially been living with me for 2 months now!! Our living arrangement is working out just fine! :) All of my labs have continued to be perfect and some drugs are started to get weaned! Yes!!! Finally going down on the Prednisone! That drug makes me super emotional and gives me chipmunk cheeks that are slowly deflating! I am feeling well and building strength and energy everyday....and not to mention living up my life!
I am just not getting over a cold that I did happen to catch, but other than that, I have felt great on the inside. My incision is completely healed and pretty impressive. I like showing it off too, it's my battle wound and I am pretty proud of it! Still have back pain from time to time, but I had back pain even before my surgery.I am hoping to get back to acupuncture to help with the back pain and my overall well-being. It is definitely something I really enjoy!
In 2 weeks I will be 26! eeekkk, I am getting old! I plan on celebrating with friends and family and hopefully even going away to Charleston, SC for a few days with some girls from work. It'll be nice for a change of scenery. And if you know me, you know I love the beach, even if its cold out.
Hope all is well!
xx, R
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
watch out drivers, i'm baaack!
Hey Everyone!!
Quick update:
No signs of rejection, perfect labs and more meds are getting weaned! YES!!!!!!!!!! Great stuff. This is a pretty awesome liver!!
And yes, I can drive again! Now I understand, however, why the docs say not to for 6 weeks...you really do use a lot of your abdominal muscles. It's not easy for me to drive long distances quite yet or anywhere with a bunch of turns (driving in the city is a lot harder on me). But it's alll good!
Still having intermittent bad back pain, but my doctors are letting me take baby doses of tylenol which doesn't always help. However, if I take the stronger stuff I'm prescribed, I can't drive...so I can't be held back so the tylenol will just have to do!
My gym membership is valid again Feb 1, so I am super anxious to get back in there and work out some of my kinks and rebuild my muscle. My muscles are so mushy! I also am going to take some hip/hop dance classes. I miss dancing so much and it's such a FUN way to work out.
Hope you all are well!!
xx, R
Quick update:
No signs of rejection, perfect labs and more meds are getting weaned! YES!!!!!!!!!! Great stuff. This is a pretty awesome liver!!
And yes, I can drive again! Now I understand, however, why the docs say not to for 6 weeks...you really do use a lot of your abdominal muscles. It's not easy for me to drive long distances quite yet or anywhere with a bunch of turns (driving in the city is a lot harder on me). But it's alll good!
Still having intermittent bad back pain, but my doctors are letting me take baby doses of tylenol which doesn't always help. However, if I take the stronger stuff I'm prescribed, I can't drive...so I can't be held back so the tylenol will just have to do!
My gym membership is valid again Feb 1, so I am super anxious to get back in there and work out some of my kinks and rebuild my muscle. My muscles are so mushy! I also am going to take some hip/hop dance classes. I miss dancing so much and it's such a FUN way to work out.
Hope you all are well!!
xx, R
Monday, January 4, 2010
2010
It's 2010!!
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday season and a very safe new year.
Christmas was everything I had hoped for and more...spent a lot much needed time with family and it was awesome. Had a great time at my Aunt's with all of my cousins...we always laugh so much! My bro and sis in law cooked an awesome meal too and there was even snow on the ground! What more could one really ask for?
So now it's a new year and I am ready to take on the world. I have so many goals.
First, still recovering and building my strength....then (in no particular order..) I plan to travel..to Vegas, NY, the Carribean, California! I am ready to hit the gym and start training to do the 6 mile relay( at the very least) for the Baltimore Marathon this fall. Get back to work...get information about going back to school...become a Certified Pediatric Nurse. Of course be a good daughter, sister, nurse, student, girlfriend, godmother/aunt..etc. And of course educate as many people as possible about organ donation...and hopefully get many people to register!
I am now 6 weeks post-op....and hopefully at my clinic appointment this Wednesday, they will tell me I can drive again. Yay!
That's all for now!
xx,
R
This picture is me and my neice, Madison on Xmas..
Thursday, December 24, 2009
1 month post-op, stapleless, Kyle in from Cali, and it's Christmas!!!
It is Christmas Eve!!! Hope everyone is getting their last minute shopping and errands done..so tonite and tomorrow you can relax and enjoy the holiday!! I know I will!!
So many things to update. First, Dec 22 was my one month anniversary of me and my new liver! I continue to do absolutely great! I went to see my surgeons yesterday in clinic and not only are some of my medicines slowly getting weaned (I take about 2o-30 a day) my blood tests and liver function is absolutely PERFECT! How great is that? I even got all 56 staples removed from my incision and the sutures where the drains were. It didn't even hurt, at all! And now I can definitely move around a bit easier! I even went out with my girlfriends this week and got back to joining the real world...now I am just anxiously awaiting Kyle's arrival from California..her flight should be here any minute!!
This Christmas is exceptionally special for me...not only did I recieve the best gift, the gift of health and life with my transplant, but I have met and come in contact with some truly amazing people. This experience has taught me so much about life...and how precious it is. It has taught me about faith. Taught me about trust and taught me about what you do for the people you love. I have learned there are so many good people in this world. I am just thanking God everyday...and remembering EVERYday to count my blessings because I am so lucky. I feel like I have it all these days...family, amazing friends and support, energy and a new found zest to make great things happen in my life and to do everything I always wanted to do without reservation.
Please take a minute to count your blessings this Christmas and remember what the season is truly all about (whether you are religious or not)...and if you are not already, please become an organ donor. It takes just a few minutes to sign up and it would be the best thing you could give me.Some states you sign up when you get your licence, but even if you are not sure if you are one or not, check there first, then go to this website www.donatelifeamerican.net.
The website also will answer any questions you may have about becoming a donor and how it works.
I hope everyone has the Merriest of Christmases...and the Happiest of Holidays...
Rachaelxx
PS. Here is a picture of me and my main transplant surgeon, Dr. Andrew Singer. Him along with Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Cameron helped to save my life. This was taken Dec 23 at my 1 month post-op visit.
So many things to update. First, Dec 22 was my one month anniversary of me and my new liver! I continue to do absolutely great! I went to see my surgeons yesterday in clinic and not only are some of my medicines slowly getting weaned (I take about 2o-30 a day) my blood tests and liver function is absolutely PERFECT! How great is that? I even got all 56 staples removed from my incision and the sutures where the drains were. It didn't even hurt, at all! And now I can definitely move around a bit easier! I even went out with my girlfriends this week and got back to joining the real world...now I am just anxiously awaiting Kyle's arrival from California..her flight should be here any minute!!
This Christmas is exceptionally special for me...not only did I recieve the best gift, the gift of health and life with my transplant, but I have met and come in contact with some truly amazing people. This experience has taught me so much about life...and how precious it is. It has taught me about faith. Taught me about trust and taught me about what you do for the people you love. I have learned there are so many good people in this world. I am just thanking God everyday...and remembering EVERYday to count my blessings because I am so lucky. I feel like I have it all these days...family, amazing friends and support, energy and a new found zest to make great things happen in my life and to do everything I always wanted to do without reservation.
Please take a minute to count your blessings this Christmas and remember what the season is truly all about (whether you are religious or not)...and if you are not already, please become an organ donor. It takes just a few minutes to sign up and it would be the best thing you could give me.Some states you sign up when you get your licence, but even if you are not sure if you are one or not, check there first, then go to this website www.donatelifeamerican.net.
The website also will answer any questions you may have about becoming a donor and how it works.
I hope everyone has the Merriest of Christmases...and the Happiest of Holidays...
Rachaelxx
PS. Here is a picture of me and my main transplant surgeon, Dr. Andrew Singer. Him along with Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Cameron helped to save my life. This was taken Dec 23 at my 1 month post-op visit.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Not staple-less ....yet
Hi everyone!
Quick update that my clinic appointment went great this past week! All of my liver function tests and other blood work look awesome!! My staples and sutures, however, are going to have to stay in another week....but that's ok, they kind of are like my security blanket! I don't want anything falling out, yuck!
It actually is funny, my surgeon, Dr. Cameron, the fellow, Dr. Daggar and the nurse practitioner, Maura all were in the hallway of the clinic about to come into my room...and they all look in my direction...smile from ear to ear and laugh! The say...ok..who is the patient? where is the one that had the liver transplant 3 weeks ago!?
7 more days til XMAS!! I can't wait to have fun with my neice this year and get to see her open all her toys!! She said to me... "Che Che (pronounced Chi Chi..she calls me that) did it hurt when you got your new liBer?" She has a hard time with her "Rs." How cuuute is that? And she wasn't even scared of my incision when I showed her.
Hope everyone is almost done all of their shopping! Remember not to get to stressed out and remember what the holidays are really all about..and all that we have to be thankful for.
xx, R
Quick update that my clinic appointment went great this past week! All of my liver function tests and other blood work look awesome!! My staples and sutures, however, are going to have to stay in another week....but that's ok, they kind of are like my security blanket! I don't want anything falling out, yuck!
It actually is funny, my surgeon, Dr. Cameron, the fellow, Dr. Daggar and the nurse practitioner, Maura all were in the hallway of the clinic about to come into my room...and they all look in my direction...smile from ear to ear and laugh! The say...ok..who is the patient? where is the one that had the liver transplant 3 weeks ago!?
7 more days til XMAS!! I can't wait to have fun with my neice this year and get to see her open all her toys!! She said to me... "Che Che (pronounced Chi Chi..she calls me that) did it hurt when you got your new liBer?" She has a hard time with her "Rs." How cuuute is that? And she wasn't even scared of my incision when I showed her.
Hope everyone is almost done all of their shopping! Remember not to get to stressed out and remember what the holidays are really all about..and all that we have to be thankful for.
xx, R
Monday, December 14, 2009
3 weeks+1day
Another week has flown by and I continue to do well! Still sore...but I actually feel better the more active I am. The more I sit around, I get so stiff! I still have my staples and sutures in, hoping they will come out at my clinic appointment on Wednesday....but I want the doctors to be sure they are 100% percent ready to come out first! Eeeek, I am scared!
Getting a lot of rest, getting my labs taken twice a week, seeing the surgeons once a week and slowly getting back to being active is what I've been up to! Getting kind of bored sometimes but preparing for Christmas is helping with that! A little more than a week to go before the big day!!
Kyle, one of my bestest friends that moved to California in August will be home for the holidays and I am sooooooooooo excited to see her. I can't wait to get all of our girls together and catch up, it has truly been SO long.
This holiday I truly feel so blessed...I feel like I got the BEST present ever. What more can I ask for? This is the first Xmas in 3 years where I wont be working..and even though I miss working and my coworkers and patients, I am really looking forward to the time with my family and friends. Time that wont be rushed finally, and I can really soak in all of the holiday spirit and happiness.
Speaking of happy...I am so happy these days..I feel like everyday is a great day and I am sitting on top of the world :)
Hope everyone is as equally well...
Love, R
Getting a lot of rest, getting my labs taken twice a week, seeing the surgeons once a week and slowly getting back to being active is what I've been up to! Getting kind of bored sometimes but preparing for Christmas is helping with that! A little more than a week to go before the big day!!
Kyle, one of my bestest friends that moved to California in August will be home for the holidays and I am sooooooooooo excited to see her. I can't wait to get all of our girls together and catch up, it has truly been SO long.
This holiday I truly feel so blessed...I feel like I got the BEST present ever. What more can I ask for? This is the first Xmas in 3 years where I wont be working..and even though I miss working and my coworkers and patients, I am really looking forward to the time with my family and friends. Time that wont be rushed finally, and I can really soak in all of the holiday spirit and happiness.
Speaking of happy...I am so happy these days..I feel like everyday is a great day and I am sitting on top of the world :)
Hope everyone is as equally well...
Love, R
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
2 weeks plus 2 days Post-op!
Had a really nice weekend! The party was fun and low key and it was GREAT to catch up with my family! I cannot believe it's been 2 weeks already since my surgery! I am healing well and becoming less sore everyday. Again, the only discomfort I really have is when I lay down at night and when I wake up in the morning. Once I get moving, I am golden :)
Reallyyyyy disapointing loss by my Ravens last night. Kinda put me in a bummer mood..but of course I have no time for that! We have 4 games left!
I am looking forward to helping with holiday decorating this week, spending time with some friends and doing some holiday shopping. I feeling so good everyday I am already itching to get back to the gym and start dancing...but I know I have to put the breaks on for now!
Hope everyone has a great start to their week!
<3 R
Reallyyyyy disapointing loss by my Ravens last night. Kinda put me in a bummer mood..but of course I have no time for that! We have 4 games left!
I am looking forward to helping with holiday decorating this week, spending time with some friends and doing some holiday shopping. I feeling so good everyday I am already itching to get back to the gym and start dancing...but I know I have to put the breaks on for now!
Hope everyone has a great start to their week!
<3 R
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