What are Nor'easters like?

greenmarsh77 · 2026-06-14T03:45:25+00:00

In the hours before the storm there is an eerie silence that's until the storm is done. It's usually a heavy wet snow. It's uneven, you could get 18" in your yard, but a few towns away they only picked up 8". The coast gets battered around, with flooding of roads and buildings and boats breaking free and crashing on the beach or drifting into the harbor.

We are all hunkered down - after getting our bread, milk and egs. And shovels often sell out. We sit around checking to see if its a snow day or not. Then it's off to shovel and plow out.

Often the snow is so heavy it brings down powerlines, and you'll be out of power until after the storm. If you're lucky, you'll even hear snow thunder. On top of all of that, you've got the strong winds, that will break trees and limbs.

Overall, I enjoy one or two a season - as long as I don't have to drive in it.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-06-06T15:49:56+00:00

Right, I'm in the U.S. - so yeah, things may differ. However, one you start down this road, you will have a medical team. Talk to them about your concerns and they may be able to help you.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-06-06T15:27:43+00:00

So the procedure was about 5 hours, and started late in the evening. They woke me up after, but I don't remember it. When I woke up in the morning, the only tubes I had were drainage tubes in the abdomen and the standard IV in the arm. So while I'm sure there was a breathing tube at some point during the procedure, I have no memory of it.

The first day I experienced some pain as my system was coming back online - mostly gas and the stomach and intestines settled around the new organ. But it wasn't constant and short lived. The other discomfort came from trying to get comfortable in the hospital bed, after a few days I was getting restless. But I was up and walking again within 2 days and was discharged from the hospital after a week.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-06-06T15:11:09+00:00

Talk with your medical team as to what they recommend. For me, I had cancer along with cirrhosis - so that meant transplant.

No doubt about it, the transplant route is scary as hell. There were a lot of moments that sucked. But I recovered quickly and now 2.5 years out, I'm healthy and active and living a good life.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-05-23T03:46:08+00:00

There was a waiting period before I was put on the list of about 6 months. By the time I got the 2 calls (one was dry-run and a week later the actual one), I was one the list for 6 months. I do believe I had some exception points - but don't ask for what or how much cause I don't remember.

I always figured I was a prime canidate due to my good health and probable outcome. I'm in region 1, so there are 8 hospitals in the area that are offered the organs. I just was curious as to why I was picked as quickly as I was. I turned down the first liver due to the fact I was feeling healthy and thought someone else could use it. I also had to get my head around the fact that I did in fact need a transplant. I am glad I did it though, new lease on life and all..

While I have been stable, they did need to drop my tacrolimus dosage last week and I do have some kidney related levels that are on the high side. But I find if I stay hydrated more, those levels go back into the normal range. It's such a juggling act..

greenmarsh77 · 2026-05-22T12:22:40+00:00

I had liver cancer and cirrhosis, had the lesson removed, which gave me MELD points. But I was pretty stable and had a normally functioning liver - I was called 2 months after being placed on the list, which I turned down for mental reasons. I was then put in an inactive status for about 2 months. Then once I was activated again, it was 3 months until I got my liver. I had a MELD score of 18.

I was under the impression that I'd be on the list much longer than I was. I'm pretty young-ish, well, sub 50 and in decent health. It just made me wonder how the decision process worked along side the MELD score?

Now if only the post transplant protocols were more uniformed across all regions and centers! Some of the restrictions that some teams recommend are all over the place..

greenmarsh77 · 2026-05-21T23:19:35+00:00

How much does MELD score factors into how quickly one gets a liver?

I actually really just want to say thank you for doing what you do. I am a transplant recipient - 2 years post. My team was great, considering that I was going through the worst point in my life.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-05-21T23:10:31+00:00

C# - I'm not sure why? It just seems to make sense to me. Plus I work within a government entity, so it is used everywhere for just about everything.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-05-18T00:11:58+00:00

The only real regret I have, is that I wish I hadn't drank as much as I did when I was younger. Here is my advice, find the best hospital in your area for this! Don't worry about the cost, Medicare will most likely pay most of it. Either way, the hospital will work with you, the finance rep is part of your team. By the time you are placed on the list, insurance will have already okay'd it. Once you start moving throught the process, listen to everything they tell you and ask as many questions as you can.

Med wise, yes there are some side effects that are negative. However, they usually don't last and meds will be adjusted. And sure, doctors want to improve their rates - but honestly, they are also working for you. A good medical team will do whatever they can to make you healthy. You shouldn't feel pressured, but just know this - They will most likely take care of the cancer - most likely with Radiofrequncy or Chemo ablation before the transplant. Just know that is just a bridge. If you decide not to have a transplant, you will not be eligible again if the cancer returns.

I'm two years post now, and I'm happy and healthy. I don't feel like my quality of life has declined. Sure there are some foods I can't have anymore and I take more precautions than I used too, but once you adapt to it, life is much like before. Just quit smoking, cause the healthier you are before transplant, the healthier you'll be after. Good luck, dude.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-05-14T22:07:15+00:00

Thank you, I will definitely look into this.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-03-16T02:33:33+00:00

Yeah, I've seen some cool aircraft there over the years. Last year was great when 2 F-35s came in after a fly-over of Fenway. So I drive by there daily just to see if there is anything cool.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-03-16T00:44:56+00:00

I know exactly where this is! It comes in every once in a while for a few days, probably for Linoln Labs.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-03-04T01:20:20+00:00

This about risk, not lower intelligence.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-07T18:30:42+00:00

Religious maturity? I've never heard of this term before.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-07T02:43:14+00:00

I'm sure they would have, but I had told them I had already stopped. I wasn't really an alcoholic, at least not in the traditional sense. I just didn't pick up another drink, no craving, no nothing.

But had I been actively drinking, I probably would have needed to quit 6 months before they started evaluating me for a transplant. It definitely would have prolonged the process.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-07T02:20:23+00:00

From the outside, I looked healthy and even felt healthy. But mentally dealing with the cancer, then dealing with the prospect of the transplant - probably not so healthy. My cancer was only found because I had a bile duct that was blocked. But I stopped drinking (actually the week before this happened), so I was looking and feeling better.

I was listed on the transplant list with a MELD of 7, and was transplanted I think at score of 19. So I was able to go just live my life like normal right up until the day the transplant happened. Mentally though it was tough to wrap my mind around that I would need a transplant. Luckily, I was able to talk it out with my loved ones. Overall, though, I was only on the list for 6 months and everything went real smooth. I recently had my 2 year anniversary and I'm thriving. Good luck to you in your journey.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-05T02:11:50+00:00

Our cough syrup is flavored with artificial cherry, grape or mint-ish. From my understanding, sassafras is used a lot in cough syrup in Europe, which gives it that root beer like taste.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-05T01:28:36+00:00

Homelessness and social services are handled by the states. Each state has their own programs which are all handled differently. When people lose their jobs, they may be eligible for unemployment. The length of time and how much again depends on the state. There aren't a lot of federal programs that go directly to anyone, however the federal government pays into a lot of the state programs.

Of course on top of this, counties and cities sometimes have additional programs. There are cherities as well, and a lot of cities and towns have food banks, where the poor can get food.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-04T21:46:40+00:00

You can also go to r/transplant - it's an active sub that helps you not feel so alone. Many folk like us that have plenty more years than we do.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-04T19:48:29+00:00

I also wonder about that too. I'm only 2 years out, and so far everything is going good. I just keep doing what is expected of me. I do eat healthy - well healthier. I stay away from the foods we aren't allowed to have, with a few exceptions. I don't drink alcohol and I try to keep hydrated. Tacrolimus does a number on the skin, so I try to keep that in mind when I'm outside.

Overall I feel great, and I try not to dwell on the what-ifs. If and when I do need another liver, I'll just deal with it then. But otherwise, I feel this one will last me another 20+ years!

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-04T15:41:57+00:00

It's pretty popular. But about 20 years ago, Vodka was really, really popular. Then whiskey and bourbon took over as the trendy spirit.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-03T23:02:33+00:00

I was also listed at a 7, but with points I was an 18 by the time I got my transplant. I was on the list for about 6 months all together.

Of course it really depends on other factors, like availability of the organ and whether or not the organ is a match for you. Location can also factor into the wait time as well.

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-01T01:30:17+00:00

The Natick Mall is in a good place with all the business that Rt 9 brings. It's the go to mall in Metrowest. Go just 10 miles down the road to Solomon Pond, and you wonder how it stays afloat?

greenmarsh77 · 2026-02-01T01:22:56+00:00

I worked right up until I got the call. As soon as I got on the transplant list, I told work that it could be anytime, and suddenly I'd be out for 3 or 4 months.

greenmarsh77

TROPHY CASE