"Liver Transplant"

I was diagnosed with NAFLD and Chirrosis in March 2021 which came as a complete surprise as I had none of the obvious triggers other than being overweight. My condition was compensated for about 6 months then rapidly became decompensated, I had an attack of hepatic encephalopathy in April this year which was horrible and I had a continuous battle with fluid retention. I was referred to the transplant clinic in Edinburgh for an assessment and placed on the transplant list, which was a relief as I could feel that my health was declining rapidly.

I was only on the list for 24 hours when I received a call from the transplant coordinator stating that a potential liver had become available. I live in the Shetland Islands and logistically this can be problematic but I needn't have worried as the coordinator set everything in motion, ambulance, ambulance flight, escort from the runway and taxi to the result that 3 hours from the phone call I was at the hospital. My wife, who came with me was allowed to stay at the hospital for two nights until she could find accommodation nearby.

She was extremely nervous but I was surprisingly calm as I knew that this was my only chance and was reassured by the nurses that during the operation I would have a team looking to every aspect of my physiology. Thankfully when the liver arrived it was viable and the operation took place in the early hours of the morning. It took ten hours and I'm led to believe that due to my blood being so very thin, as a result of the disease, I required 8.5 litres of blood. I subsequently came round and a few hours after had my breathing tube removed so that I could speak to my wife on the phone. I was in a very fragile state and unable to do anything for myself, I also was retaining a large amount of fluid which was very uncomfortable.

The nurses in intensive care, high dependency and in transplant Ward 206 could not have been more nice and helpful despite being severely understaffed at times, they are all truly angels. Unfortunately one week after my operation I tested positive for Covid and had to be isolated for 10 days, thankfully my wife was allowed to visit as it did make me feel terribly vulnerable. Nonetheless each day provided a small, incremental improvement as one by one the various tubes and cannulas were removed and I started to achieve some limited mobility. 

After three weeks in hospital I was allowed to go home and requested to attend the clinic weekly for the next six weeks. This proved a little problematic as the flights from Shetland to Edinburgh seem to be plagued by delays and it caused quite a lot of stress as I knew beyond a certain point I would not be able to attend. But with one exception I did make all the clinics I was requested to attend and am now once every two weeks. My health continues to improve and I have no significant reactions to the medication. The mental side of recovery is something I hadn't expected as I find myself feeling that something as good as this might go wrong and having no frame of reference, when I get a twinge, itch or an anomalous blood test result I find that my anxiety heightens. 

I have, to date, lost 36kg post op, much of it fluid but also have lost approximately 25% of muscle mass which will take a long time to get back. 

Despite all of this, I realise how incredibly fortunate I have been to have been given a lifeline such as this.