50 miles, 3000ft, DONE!

[RodeoJoe]

For those who have sponsored me, supported me and followed my posts I thought I'd let you know I completed the sponsored bike ride earlier today.

uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fu...

There were some tough hills but some great views, and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course I wore my Kings College Hospital T-Shirt which on the back in big print has the words "I had a liver transplant and I feel great". A couple of people asked if I was serious, and were genuinely surprised that I was, in fact one guy couldn't seem to get his head around it. Another cycled up alongside me for a few miles, started a casual conversation then he told me he'd given up alcohol for 3 months after a scare at the Dr's. He said that he was surprised as he wasn't getting hangovers, could cycle 100 miles and held down a job as a Managing Director.

So I'm feeling really pleased with myself today, when I pull in all the sponsorship I'll have raised over £500 for Kings College Hospital

Can't wait for next year when I'll be pushing it up to 70 miles and will raise even more money.

[Millie09]

👏👏👏👏👏👏🙌.. fantastic !!! You look great on that bike !! Well done and congratulations on achieving your goal .😊

[RodeoJoe in reply to Millie09]

Thank you Millie. I love this website, all the comments and support have been a great motivator.

[Millie09 in reply to RodeoJoe]

Well deserved ! And your most welcome

[Brummi]

Well done Rodeojoe, respect to you.

[RodeoJoe in reply to Brummi]

Thanks Brummi.

Compared to a bad day with liver disease it was a walk in the park.

[Brummi in reply to RodeoJoe]

I will see how things go, maybe do the next one with you...lol

[Dulux]

Brilliant, well done mate, have donated to what I believe is one of the best charities there is, having somewhere for loved ones to go during that difficult time, so they can be close when it matters is fantastic.

Slightly disappointed by the lack of a tutu!😂👍

[RodeoJoe in reply to Dulux]

I'm wearing one now

Yes it's a great charity, I genuinely believe that having loved ones near by helps a lot with recovery.

And thanks for the sponsor

[Dulux in reply to RodeoJoe]

Good lad 😁

I'm not allowed on my bike yet, and the fun police still take me for walks, but I'm getting there.

I'm happy to sponsor, well done you.

[RodeoJoe in reply to Dulux]

You'll get there.

[Kate50]

Well done I knew you would do it, don't even know you but feel a bit like a proud big sister or something 👍🏻🌟

[RodeoJoe in reply to Kate50]

Thanks Mops greatly appreciated. I definitely had a number of things in mind doing this. I wanted to prove to myself I could do it, I wanted to be able to come back to this site and tell people that after transplant there's every chance of riding a bike, horse, doing a marathon, playing football, or whatever. Before transplant I assumed life after would consist of hospital visits and complications, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

[Gaynorlowson]

Well done You should be very proud of yourself.

[Ronin990]

So glad for you. Well done and keep it up!

[Hidden]

Congratulations are in order, very well done. I hope I feel like doing something similar one day. At the moment I just seen to be feeling worse each day xxxx

[RodeoJoe in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Lynne. I was there 3 years ago, being able to walk a mile was like running a marathon. That bike ride was easy compared to some of the worst days I had. I would never have imagined I'd be able to ride 50 miles again. I'm certainly not trying to suggest that everyone can get better and start doing marathons, BUT it's definitely not impossible.

[Hidden in reply to RodeoJoe]

Thank you xxxx

[Litimag]

You look great mate, top advertisement for what can be achieved with a new liver. That shirt actually makes you look like cycle police

[RodeoJoe in reply to Litimag]

I thought the same about the t-shirt.

[TheMaestro07]

Huge well done! Fantastic effort.

[Hidden]

Huge congratulations!

Team BLT

[Beture47]

brilliant fantastic

I am hoping to do a sponsored walk next year 67 miles from my local hospital to Kings College Hospital, where I received my liver transplant 23 months 😊😊👏👏👏

[RodeoJoe in reply to Beture47]

Great work!

[4pjx__]

Good for you! You give us all some hope!

[matt137]

Wow what an acheivement RodeoJoe. Thats pretty darn awesome!

[Treeclimber62]

I haven't made a comment before ,but started to view the comments since just before Christmas when I found out I had liver cancer myself . I must admit I was worried when they said I needed a tx. Away I had one 3 months ago ,I would like to thank all of you who comment as you helped me get through it even you don't know me ,but people like rodeojoy have inspired me more than you could know .thank you.

[RodeoJoe in reply to Treeclimber62]

Great first comment. This Web site should be on the recommended list when you have liver disease. I only found it after tx. Not knowing what the future holds after transplant is terrifying. Hope your doing well, and hopefully feeling better than before transplant.

Not all of us do as well after transplant, and I try to be mindful of that. I've been extremely lucky, but getting back to "normal" is always possible.

[Treeclimber62 in reply to RodeoJoe]

Thanks for that the weird thing is I didn't feel ill I'm 62 , but always been active and have a physical job ,tree surgeon, I'm very lucky in that I seem to have recovered well ,thanks to great care from the staff at the Q E hospital and the people on this website I seem to be getting my old mojo back anyway anyone who is waiting for tx I would say try to keep positive and take comfort from the people on here.

[Lee1919]

How did you get a transplant so quickly? My daughter Lisa who is 46 and recently diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver has very bad ascites and has lost so much weight she looks like a skeleton with a very large belly. She can’t eat or sleep and I feel I am losing her. Please help me understand what I can do to help her this is Lee19. Please help. You look wonderful!

[RodeoJoe in reply to Lee1919]

Hi. So in answer to your question i was actually diagnosed with cirhosis about 13 years before transplant. But once symptoms like acities and jaundice etc started i avoided drs and hospital for about a month maybe more. I was terrified of what i might hear from them. I eventually had to go to the gp and was refered to a consultant. Once seen i was hospitalised, for about a week. They pumped me full of vitamins and tried to stabalise me. After that the consultant pretty much told me i was on my way out. It was then that i booked an appointment with the consultant and demanded i get referred to a transplant centre. I was and was put on the list after my tests. When on the list you are categorised as priority, i think theres even a higher priority or normal. This is done to try to save the sickest first.

Is your daughter on the list?

[Hidden]

Congratulations on the bike ride! I was thinking of doing one to my next liver clinic appointment in 3 months. It's 70 miles both ways so might need to get an Uber on the way back 😅.

I'm really struggling rebuilding my stamina though. Last ride was around 12 miles and started getting some discomfort where the liver is as well as being exhausted for the following week. This was over 2 weeks ago.

I'm one year post transplant. When did you have yours?