Rehab today & Post Transplant Diet

Today was day one of rehab, well it was more like physical therapy. I only concentrated on lower body activities, I did a TON of exercises with ten pound ankle weights. Which is good I need to build some muscle on my chicken legs! Lol. I was there working with respiratory therapist and a physical therapist assistant, they both were great! Super friendly staff, and the other patients were super friendly as well! Although I think I was the only female there that WASN’T on oxygen. I kept having flash backs, after first I kind of had a panic attack. I kept thinking “oh god, if I push myself I’m going to end up on oxygen!!” I finally calmed myself down and said “you push yourself all the time while your out walking around!! You have new breathers you can do this!!” Being able to do the exercises and not get short of breath, really made me stop and think how AMAZING it is to breathe like a “normal” person and participate in activities again. I know I say this often, but I’m am SO thankful for this gift I have been given!! These lungs and a second chance at life is indescribable!!

After I finished rehab Kerry went and watched a college softball game. I thought about going, but it was raining. Not much for sitting out in the rain, ha ha. Sorry Sadie. Kerry said you had a good game though! Kerry dropped my mom and I off at Paint The Town again. We had so much fun yesterday we went back again! Today the had any type of drink wear on sale today. My mom and I each painted a coffee cup. Since it was nasty outside it was a great way to “waste” a couple hours and just relax. After we finished painting we walked across the street to a restaurant called Boom. It is a Japanese and Asian cuisine. So good!! My mom had a bowl of soup, and I had gluten free shrimp spring rolls with sweet and spicy chili sauce. My oh my I was in heaven!! Would love to go back!! After we finished out light lunch we walked into the Apple Store while we waited for our taxi to arrive. I could have went nuts in that store!! LOVE Apple products!! It was pouring buckets outside, and the wind was howling we had to take shelter somewhere’s ha ha!

After we arrived back at our apartment, I kicked my shoes off grabbed my quilt and just relaxed on the couch. My sternum was aching, not such why or what, so I took a pain med and just relaxed! Had no plans for the evening except for watching Monday Night Raw from beginning to end!! I missed last weeks and not having a DVR I was having major withdrawals! Ha ha. I am proud to say I watched it from beginning to end, and I sure hope Roman can take down Brock this Sunday at Wrestlemania!!!

A few nights ago Melissa M commented on our blog “Crab Pot Time” asking “with all the medications you take to take, are there any food restrictions besides the “no wine?” Or any other restrictions at all, post transplant?” Great question! Yes my diet has changed post transplant. I can’t drink wine or any alcohol because I’m on a medication called Voriconazole. I only have to take it for three months, but it help prevents fungal infections. I’m on a pretty high dose, with it being already toxic to your liver my doctors do not want me mixing alcohol on top of that, which could really do damage to my liver. Don’t want to damage any other body parts, so I will just wait my time! The good news is I will be home when I can finally have a glass of wine, and hopefully I will be surrounded by my family and friends when that happens! Will be a celebratory moment! As far as food goes, any fruits and vegetables I eat have to cleaned and scrubbed with Fruit & Vegetable Wash. You can buy it in any local grocery store. I cannot eat green onions anymore because you cannot clean them throughly. So bacteria can grow in every nook and cranny. I am not allowed to eat oysters, mussels or clams, even if they are cooked you can’t clean the insides before you cook them. So the risk of bacteria growing on the inside is still high. Raw mushrooms, raw eggs (or any foods containing raw eggs such as cake batter or cookie dough) and raw meats, such as sushi are out of the question. Again because of the risk of bacteria growing, even if you clean and scrub the mushrooms, still too many small spaces you cannot reach. I can eat cooked green mushrooms and green onions, just not raw. Chicken, pork and beef products have to be cooked throughly and to a specific temp. No more medium done steak for me. :(. I also have to be careful when buying deli meat, or going to places like Subway. I cannot buy freshly sliced deli meat, only because you don’t know what has been placed on the meat slicer. Generally most stores wipe down the meat slicers at the end of the day, so it is very each for bacteria to go on them and then be transferred to your deli meats. So I have to buy prepackaged deli meats. Deli meat (fresh or packaged) contains Listeria, a bacteria that can cause food-borne illness. Instead I have to heat lunch meats before eating to 120 degree. I also have to freeze lunch meats and defrost them in the microwave when I’m to make a sandwich. I can still eat cheese, thank goodness! Anyone who knows me know how much I love cheese! Although no more blue cheese, certain types of feta, brie, camembert, and queso fresco cheese, because they all contain a certain type of mold within them. I cannot eat foods that have been cooled or warmed to room temperature. Which includes meats, fish poultry, beans, potato, pasta salads, cheese, and lunch meat or any kind of meat. When it comes to leftovers I can only keep foods for two days, if they have been in the refrigerator for longer they have to be thrown away. Defrosting foods have to be done in the fridge not room temp, or in the microwave if I were to eat it right away. Unpasteurized products such as some juices, Apple cider, and milk are out of the question. Do not smell food to check for freshness. You could inhale molds or fungus right away, which causes you to go into rejection. When reheating soups, broths or stews boil for several minutes to kill any bacteria. When it comes to can food, throw out any cans that have budges, dents, holes ruts or leaks. Can foods need to be wiped off before opening, and the can opener needs to be sanitized after ever use. I have to be very careful of bacteria growing anything! But in a nutshell my diet has changed completely!!

I hope I answered your question Melissa and I didn’t confuse you guys too much! If anyone still has questions about anything I would love to answer them! Please just leave a comment either on the blog, or on facebook and I will get them! Well it’s been a long day and we have an appointment with Dr. Wright tomorrow morning who is an Endocrinologist. Since my blood sugar levels have been stabilizing, my requirements for insulin should decrease anyways! Keep your fingers crossed!

Hope everyone had a good Monday! Goodnight!

Until next time………

~Jen~
“Just Breathe”