muscle wasting

[66766]

Would appreciate any information on how much muscle wasting you suffered prior to liver transplant. Anyone get to where walking was difficult unaided?

[LAJ123]

Hello 66766,

Muscle wastage is very common in liver disease.

Over a one year period I went from fully mobile to walking with a stick to aid with balance and general weakness. On several hospital admissions I was unable to walk at all and it was only with physiotherapy and a lot of gentle 'bullying' from my partner, that I gradually got the strength to be listed for transplant. A huge effort was made by the dietician on the transplant team to try to recover the lost muscle mass. Obviously, with some success as I went on to have a transplant in March 2016.

As for post transplant, the recovery was more than complete. I could feel, even in intensive care, a daily increase in energy and strength. It was almost difficult to believe how rapidly it happened. Like many things in life, I didn't really know how weak I had become until my post transplant self took over. Nine weeks post transplant I did a 5k sponsored walk for the ward where I was cared for when recovering from surgery. Finally, sixteen months after receiving my new liver, I won a bronze medal playing table tennis at the 2017 British Transplant Games.

My point is this, no matter how weak you feel, however difficult it is to keep active because of fatigue and muscle and joint pain, by being positive you can prepare yourself for the assessment, listing and hopefully a successful transplant.

Take care,

Jim

[19581979 in reply to LAJ123]

You are an inspiration to us. Thanks.

[Millie09]

Hello 66766

I have some muscle wastage but my weight is fine .I have lost an inch in height and have recently been diagnosed with T_2 osteopenia in the hip. I thought it was just old age creeping up yet I'm a young 55yr old who up untill 4 weeks ago was walking fine ; I now have a walking stick to help me, I am just in the process if buying a high chair for the kitchen and my Drs have forwarded my details onto physio for a bath rail to be fitted on the outside of the bath .

I have had cirrhosis 9 years now and the last 9 months I have developed lots more symptoms

I do try to keep on the move as much as I can but with no strong painkillers to help I find it hard .keep on staying focused . Linda

[k-dog]

Hi I lost most of my muscle mass during the 5 months leading to my liver transplant. Never got to mobility issues though. 8 months later I haven't gained much due to not being allowed to lift weights. I have however gained just over 10kg in weight, mostly fat I guess 😔, although I'm 6ft 2 so it doesn't show and this is actually a healthy weight for me, I was seriously underweight before the transplant.

[Hidden]

walking and climbing stairs was an impossibility alcohol f****d me up real bad,walking o.k now though have ataxia and peripheral nuropathy,energy levels real low,was on liver transplant list but stabled out not to warrant a transplant,still feel like i have been hit with a shovel daily,Mentally it is crap you try to smile but you know deep down you aint gonna ever do the things that you could and enjoyed doing.spend alot of time on reflection kinda nice,arr well enough of me talking blarney.best of luck all.