January 2009 Blog Posts (28)

Marco Pierre White.... it's time to move aside!

This week happens to be my turn to cook, which I have to admit, I look forward to a great deal! I have been attemtping various recipes now for about 5/6 months and so far have not had too many complaints.

I thought I might try and make it easier on myself and prepare ahead and make the dessert a day early. Yesterday I made Sticky Mango Upside Down Pudding (if you have just read those 5 words you have now just gained 5lbs in weight!). It was quite straight forward. Prepare the pudding… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 31, 2009 at 5:00am — 3 Comments

Introducing the National Transplant Assistance Fund

Hello Transplant Café Members,

The National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF) is proud to report it is now a member of the Transplant Café community! We welcome this opportunity to meet and greet members, exchange information and stories, and most importantly, become a valuable resource for members in need of financial assistance for their transplant.

Who We Are:

Established in 1983 by medical professionals, NTAF is a… Continue

Added by HelpHOPELive on January 29, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

Does anyone know when they started working & driving again post heart transplant???

I am on my 5 month heading toward 6 months post transplant I feel great try to be active although somedays are better then others. I was told 6 months I can start driving again is this true??? do I need doctors approval?? When can I start working??? after 6 months or do I need to wait a year I am just dumbfounded on this I am 30 yrs old I want to return to work if I can soon.

Please let me know when you returned to work and what kind of work feel free to share thoughts???

Added by Lawrence R. Decoste on January 28, 2009 at 8:47pm — 11 Comments

Another birthday, another year..... nearly another milestone!

Today, sadly I turned 29 and I am suddenly becoming aware of why those people, when in my youth, said they no longer wished to know their age, felt that way.

I suddenly feel quite the pensioner, although the weight and the HF are probably not helping with that feeling. I find myself no longer wanting to head to town at the weekend and get drunk on as many pints as possible whilst trying to outdo your mates!

Having said that, I must admit I have been feeling that way for a… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 28, 2009 at 2:30am — 3 Comments

A new set of contacts, but more importantly a new set of friends!

As usual for my Tuesday mornings I joined my parents for a stroll around town. I thought I might blow some money, so went well out of my way and bought myself a small blender for making sauces (ideal for that nice fruit topping on one of my, now Famous, cheesecakes!) and blew all of £1. At the thought of spending so much money I came to my senses and left the shop!

By now it was time for me to head for the Cathedral Coffee Shop. Now being a regular visitor to the cafe (their homemade… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 27, 2009 at 3:03pm — 2 Comments

The ability to be forced to one's knees by the scurge that is Panic Attacks

Ever since my transplant all those years ago I have suffered severe panic/anxiety attacks. At first they would happen on a regular, yet random basis. I would be in the playground, at home in bed, or could have been in any situation when I suffered an attack.

After a few years, say 4 or 5 they dissipated and were never to be heard of or seen again. Then when I was 14 I had a sudden attack whilst I was down one of my haunts which just so happened to be near a brook in a wooded area.… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 26, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

What a week.

I woke up on Friday January 9th with a fever in the 99 degree range and aches all over my body. I called my heart doctor since I've never had the flu since my transplant. They said if I started getting worse to come into the hospital. On Saturday my temperature was in the 101 degree range but I felt better and was able to get half a container of yogurt down. On Sunday I woke up with my temperature in the 102 range and felt even worse than I did on Friday. I got the chills and could never warm… Continue

Added by Debbie Sayward on January 23, 2009 at 4:30pm — 3 Comments

My Pesky Prograf Levels

For some reason after being stable for quite awhile now my Prograf levels have been causing troubles here lately. I was always one of those who had to take a fairly large amount of Prograf to get my levels to where they need to be. Well that was then I guess!! I had gone into the hospital for a couple days right after Christmas for what they seemed to think was a 24 hour bug or something. About a week after I had regular labs my Creatnin was up and when we got the Prograf levels next day we… Continue

Added by Heather Hazlett on January 23, 2009 at 9:14am — 8 Comments

Seltzer Water is this good for your heart???

I drink water and milk but also now include seltzer water and welchs natural Juices is this a good choice for me???? I think seltzer is good for you, I know that carbonated water helps the stomach digest better and relaxes the les spinchter I have gerd and this seems to help me out alot. What do you guys and gals think do you think its healthy and do you drink it????

Added by Lawrence R. Decoste on January 22, 2009 at 2:14pm — 2 Comments

On BBC 1 Breakfast TV today

Hey all

Hope everyone is doing ok

Here is an article that went out on UK television today, on the news. There has a been a BIG media blitz here today all over the Uk. The Nhs Transplant was set a target to reach donor registers - and that has been exceeded...the news everywhere has been about this!

BBC 1 early morning TV clip

keep smiling

Jussie x x

Oh..u may… Continue

Added by Justine on January 22, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

NFT Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about the services the National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) can offer to transplant candidates and recipients:

Will NFT disqualify a patient if he or she has insurance or a high income level? No! NFT never turns anyone away based on insurance coverage or income level. Even patients with good insurance or an upper-level income may not be prepared to face the soaring costs associated with… Continue

Added by NFT on January 21, 2009 at 2:17pm — No Comments

The dreaded curse of Palpitations: Part II

As a forward, I thought it wise to explain what has happened in the past with my transplanted heart as regards to the Palpitations I have been suffering....

At age 15 I began to feel very regular Palpitations. I had been experiencing them for a number of years by then, but it was 9 years post op, and they were becoming very regular and powerful Palpitations. I recall the days in my youth, spent down the old railway (long since ripped up and disused) climbing trees with my mates and… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 21, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

The dreaded curse of Palpitations

Today was just like any other day, except for one thing. I have started having Palpitations again, nothing too serious and nothing too regular. Now I was prescribed Bisoprolol 2.5mg od some months back as my Palpitations were so bad my energy levels were at zero and I was continuously laid up in bed for approximately a week. Since being given the Bisoprolol the Papitations ceased and I was able to go about my day-to-day tasks while having a lovely Sinus Rhythm.

That was until today.… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 21, 2009 at 11:26am — No Comments

How a Puppy Helped a Transplant Patient

NFT patient Michael Miller has been battling health issues since 1997. At 16 years old, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which led to three transplants in 11 years. After his first transplant (cord blood) in 2001, complications from multiple infections took such a toll on his body that doctors were not sure he would make it.

Once he recovered, Michael's mother, Freda, decided she never wanted him to miss out on anything in life. Soon after, she bought him a Great… Continue

Added by NFT on January 20, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

A boost to ones ego?

Having just risen out of my pit around 10am and done the usual (wash, dress, meds and brekkie) I received a phonecall from Professor Stella Mills. Now she was my supervisor throughout my Degree at Stafford University, without her I would have never succeeded.

Now my initial impression what that she was calling to see how I am and what I have been doing since graduating. It would seem I was wrong!

It appears I am to be nominated for 'Adult Learner of the Year' Award in… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 19, 2009 at 3:26am — 1 Comment

Does anyone know if Yogurt with live cultures is alright for me to eat????

Hi I am just curious to know I am on Neoral, Cellcept and Prednisone can anyone tell me if eating yogurt with live cultures would be ok. I know that a live vaccine is prohibited for up to a year because of the bacteria, however yogurt is pasteurized I think it would be safe I just want to make sure. I want to be safe about this because I don't want to eat something I am not supposed to be eating. No doctors have told me to eat a certain yogurt I am just curious to know about the live cultures.… Continue

Added by Lawrence R. Decoste on January 18, 2009 at 8:30pm — 4 Comments

2007 to Now

2007 was a good year for me, I graduated from Stafford University with my MRes in Computing Science, basing my research paper on the effects of the Internet on Education and Plagiarism. There was one problem though.... I was rapidly gaining weight and my abdomen was becoming ever more tight and uncomfortable (It was agony to turn over in bed) I weighed in excess of 18st. (116Kg)

I was admitted to Papworth Hospital and they were able to remove the fluid, 3.5st(22Kg) in total. Then due… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 18, 2009 at 12:17pm — No Comments

Day to day life when living with the failure of a transplanted heart

Current Medication and Doses:

Mycophenolate Metofil 1g bd

Prednisolone 10mg od

Bumetanide 3mg bd

Spironolactone 50mg od

Bendroflumathiazide 5mg alternate days

Bisoprolol 2.5mg od

Ramipril 2.5mg od

Allopurinol 200mg od

Pravastatin 10mg od

Aspirin 75mg od

The meds are easy to take (except the Mycophenolate, they are meal in themselves!) with zero adverse side effects. If anything, having been on the Diuretics for over a year now… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 18, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

In the beginning....

At 5.45am on Sunday 18th May 1986, a six-year old boy was wheeled into Papworth Hospital theatre to undergo a heart transplant operation. Outside, his parents counted the seconds. The operation would be Paul's only hope of life.

A few months earlier, Paul had his fifth Christmas in full health, and on 28th January he celebrated his sixth birthday. Then events turned for the worse. He became ill - not unusual for a child of his age - but he deteriorated rapidly and was admitted to the… Continue

Added by Paul Anthony Worthington on January 18, 2009 at 10:53am — 1 Comment

NFT Has Record-Setting Year!

In 2008, the National Foundation for Transplants had a record-setting year by signing up 149 new transplant patients. Compared to 2007, NFT saw a 65% increase in the number of new patients. We are now currently serving nearly 800 patients! Please help us serve the needs of these patients.

By offering fundraising support and guidance, NFT staff members assist patients as they raise awareness and funds for essential medications and medical care. We are looking forward to another… Continue

Added by NFT on January 16, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments