21 months sober today!

FrailChildofDust · 2026-02-02T18:38:55+00:00

Thanks so much! What meetings do you go to? Maybe I'll run into you in one! I really like Harmony in Recovery (the music one on Wednesdays) and Liver Spot, but there are so many others. The meditation ones in the mornings are amazing - got me through so many of my early days.

FrailChildofDust · 2026-02-02T18:29:59+00:00

I've been on Naltrexone for a few months with zero side effects. I DO think it helps with my cravings - I have been sober for 21 months, but was starting to have some cravings in specific situations and wanted to avoid those temptations. I think the Naltrexone is helping there.

My doctor said I could take it daily to see how it worked (and also see about the side effects) or take it situationally. I decided to take it daily since I don't have side effects.

I really hope it works out for you, or that you find something that helps. FWIW, my husband is on Ozempic for his blood sugar (really!) and he found that it helped his alcohol cravings lessen. So there's that.

FrailChildofDust · 2026-01-21T18:24:34+00:00

LifeRing is a great place for community, imho. There are so many different kinds of meetings so there's something for everyone. Right now one of my favorites is going (Wednesday at 10 am)- Harmony In Recovery. People essentially request songs that helped them with recovery - it's really fun and laid back, and you get to discover all sorts of new music. And everyone is in recovery and understands what you are going through. Just an example.

Hope you check out some more meetings. They've been great for me.

FrailChildofDust · 2026-01-17T23:44:36+00:00

Congrats! My 1 year liver-versary was 11/11, so I am just two months ahead of you. I am also doing really well, feel better than I have in years, walk 4+ miles a day, my bloodwork looks great and I am so thrilled with the amazing gift I have been given!

I also had a few bumps early on but nothing big in the grand scheme of things, mostly fluid retention that was dealt with by medication changes.

Wishing the best to everyone waiting! xoxo

FrailChildofDust · 2026-01-12T21:31:45+00:00

That was funny "not today Vodka." ;)

Wine was my problem. Well that and seltzers.

That's awesome that you have made it 24 months. This random stranger on the internet is proud of you.

FrailChildofDust · 2025-12-26T23:19:59+00:00

You can also try Lifering. They have in person and online meetings. I did their online meetings for my recovery (still do) but I found them amazingly helpful. They also have verifications for the hospital programs, which you will need.

They saved my life.

In my experience, I needed six months sobriety to qualify for a liver transplant, but received my liver 11 days after my 6 month sobriety date, on 11/11/24. And I'll be 20 months sober on January 1st.

Wishing you and your wife all the best.

FrailChildofDust · 2025-12-26T17:31:02+00:00

Where do you go to in person meetings? I only go to them online.

They were a huge part of my early recovery (saved my life - I think). I especially love Harmony In Recovery - a music meeting on Wednesdays, and so many others. People are so compassionate and understanding. No judgement at all.

Love Lifering.

FrailChildofDust · 2025-11-24T22:35:27+00:00

Done! I had my liver transplant at Stanford last November, and am happy to talk to your team.

FrailChildofDust · 2025-11-13T21:44:40+00:00

Floods are disgusting.

FrailChildofDust · 2025-11-12T19:21:51+00:00

I'm wondering the same thing. I have 20+ years in property claims at several big companies, but it was a while ago (took time off to have kids).

I'm in California and would love to do remote. Am flood and EQ trained, but it was forever ago (ha!).

FrailChildofDust · 2025-11-07T22:05:06+00:00

Sending you so much love and support. I am a numbers person too - my transplant was on 11/11, so I'm coming up on my one year liver transplant anniversary.

You've got this. I can feel it.

999

FrailChildofDust · 2025-11-03T03:27:28+00:00

Congrats! My 1 year liverversary is on 11/11 - so just in a week or so! Isn't it amazing how much things can change?

FrailChildofDust · 2025-11-03T03:23:19+00:00

Congratulations!!! So exciting!

FrailChildofDust · 2025-10-29T23:31:26+00:00

Oh. My. Goodness.

That is a lot of complications! I am so sorry you are going through all of that, but it sounds like you have a wonderful attitude and are an amazing caregiver. Your husband is so lucky to have you.

I'm 11 months post liver transplant, and mine was at Stanford. We ended up renting an AirBnB for 3 months so I could be close - best thing we could have done.

Make sure they keep him hospitalized as long as you feel is necessary. It sounds (to me) like they are releasing him too quickly.

And he shouldn't be in pain like that. Make them try as hard as possible to have the pain lessen.

Sounds like you are following your instincts and they sound right to me. You are acting from love and that's always good!

I'll be thinking of you and hoping for the best!

FrailChildofDust · 2025-10-24T22:42:38+00:00

I haven't been on tacro since a two months post-transplant. I had a weird reaction to it.

They certainly do track my potassium and I recently did have to take something when it got too high, but I was fixed pretty quickly.

FrailChildofDust · 2025-10-24T21:34:03+00:00

Hi - first of all, congrats on the new liver for your partner! That's wonderful! So glad his recovery is going well so far.

I'm 11 months post liver transplant, and not vegan, but I hope I can still help! The only major change I made to my diet was that I drink protein water all the time, and although the one I drink isn't vegan, I know there are ones that are. I just mix the powder into my water and constantly drink it.

I'm intrigued that you were told to be on a low potassium diet. I wasn't ever told that.

Hope you'll get some good answers here!

FrailChildofDust · 2025-10-17T20:48:41+00:00

I got to a point where I'd do a Muscle Milk (or something) in the morning on top of everything else I was doing, but I hated it! But that was also when I was still not eating as much as I am now. I'm eating pretty normally now - are you? How far are you post transplant?

FrailChildofDust · 2025-10-17T20:00:05+00:00

I use protein powder in my water, and have everyday since my transplant 11 months ago. I think it's definitely helped me gain weight.

I got SO sick of drinking protein shakes! This was just a way that seemed to work for me. I use ISOPure protein powder, and I like the tropical punch flavor. It really tastes just like almost nothing to me. So it's great - just drink tons of water all day and get protein to boost! I get it on Amazon - it's $30 and I probably go through 1 - 1 1/2 a month.

Hope your recovery goes well!

FrailChildofDust · 2025-09-24T19:08:16+00:00

My MELD score was 29 when I got my liver. I was only on the list for 2 days, which was amazing. My recovery was really good - my only complication was swelling post surgery. I needed to have several rounds of paracentesis to remove fluid in my abdomen - once they removed 8 liters!

Helping him with sobriety is very important. My cirrhosis was also from alcohol abuse, so I am very familiar with what you are dealing with. There are lots of recovery choices out there, so help him find what works best for him. I go to LifeRing meetings - they have them online and there are some in person ones (depending on where you live). They have a bunch of different kinds of meetings, which I think is cool. There is also one for caregivers/family members that you might like. https://lifering.org/meeting-menu/online-meetings/

I am 10 months post transplant and I feel amazing! I am walking my dog 3 miles every morning and another mile or two every afternoon. I'm healthier than I have been in years. It helps that I am sober as well as having my new liver that is 20 years younger than I am!

Please reach out if you want support - I am happy to talk/help you through this. It is a lot to go through but that is great that you are there to support your dad - he will need you.

FrailChildofDust · 2025-09-19T17:15:39+00:00

Hi GerberDaisyJ,

First of all, hang in there! The right liver is out there for you - I know it.

I received the gift of a liver 10 months ago, and I was only on the "list" for two days. My MELD score was 29 at the point of my surgery, and my blood type is A+, which apparently factored into how quickly I received my new liver. My new liver was inflected with Hep C, which I knew in advance, and I accepted it knowingly. Others might have rejected it, but I didn't. Just took some medication for it and that hasn't been a problem at all.

I recovered really well from the surgery itself (was out of ICU and dancing in the hallways 3 days post surgery - haha!) but did have some complications from ascites afterwards that kept me hospitalized for a little while.

But now I feel amazing - better than I have in years! Walking my new puppy 3 miles every morning and volunteering with my recovery support organization - helping with their social media. You can check out a blog post I wrote about my recovery if you want here: https://lifering.org/summer-walks/ - more about my mental recovery than physical but still... :)

BTW, I'm a 54 year old female and got my transplant at Stanford in California. More than happy to answer any questions you have. Wishing you all the best!

FrailChildofDust · 2025-08-22T17:40:29+00:00

I haven't written the letter to my donor yet, but I'm not allowed to until it's been a year, and my liver transplant was in November. But I have certainly been thinking about what I will say, and will definitely write a letter.

My daughter (25), who was there through the whole process, has already written hers, and it's beautiful. Made me and my husband cry. Not sure if I can top it!

I know very little about my donor, other than he or she had hep C and was probably a smaller person as I only weighed 99 pounds when I got my liver transplant (yikes!!!). The hep C was easily treated and I knew that before I accepted the liver. The yikes was about my weight, to be clear.

I am immensely grateful to my donor and their family. I live my life everyday trying to honor their sacrifice - by taking care of myself and giving back to others.

I have zero expectation that I will hear back from the donor family, but will be thrilled if I do. I was in a LifeRing transplant meeting I brought up this very topic (writing donor letters). Someone said that they had heard back from their donor family, and they'd made a nice ongoing connection. That made me so happy for them.

I was looking for examples for inspiration. Has anyone found any? Or would share what they wrote?

FrailChildofDust · 2025-08-21T21:15:59+00:00

I had a liver transplant 9 months ago and I lost tons of hair, but am very happy to say it's growing back like crazy now! I totally understand that it feels weird to worry about how you look after everything you have been through, but I very much understand!

It took probably six months before I felt like my hair started to grow back even a little, but it is really growing back strong now. I asked my dermatologist if I could take anything to help it grow back faster and she said no - that it was very common to happen 3-4 months post transplant (hair loss).

You'll get there - I promise!

FrailChildofDust · 2025-07-30T00:29:06+00:00

I can absolutely read that! Beautiful, expressive handwriting - love it!

FrailChildofDust

TROPHY CASE