Hi. I am just looking for input on how post-transplant recipients feel regarding their fatigue, pre vs post. Do you find a noticeable improvement? I don’t know if tiredness is liver disease or just life lol. I have late stage cirrhosis, but am 50 and have a fairly busy life. 
Do you find renewed energy? Thanks
Fatigue was a major issue for me pre-transplant. After transplant, it is normal to be worn out from the surgery, trying to gain back weight, get moving around the floor, doing your laps. But it’s a different feeling than the energy sucking fatigue you are having now. And I could tell the difference almost immediately. I felt so much better, even with the surgical pain and an oxygen problem that I experienced as a side effect of the PSC, I felt better the first day I was awake. And goodbye to peripheral edema too. Once the plumbing is working things change quickly. It’s still a long road to recovery, regaining mobility, gaining strength, getting out of bed and moving, but it was like I was a new person.
When I compare fatigue before transplant to after for me it was a vast difference. Each of us is going to be different in this respect depending on our health conditions going into surgery and any complications. I was on high dose prednisone after surgery in an effort to prevent recurrent PSC. I really felt like a new man, with renewed energy. I had a voracious appetite whereas before surgery I really didn’t feel like eating that much. After your initial recovery from surgery I believe you will notice a big improvement regarding fatigue. I really felt 20+ years younger with my new liver. Good luck on your journey.
Mark
PSC 2011 / Liver Transplant 2015
Fatigue is a nasty side effect of liver disease. I had it in droves pre-tx. There were many weekend days I that I had three naps, plus a nap when I got home from work.
During the first month post-tx, what caused me many to lose a lot of sleep is that I could not get comfortable-my back ached, which I have heard is common in liver transplants.
As time went on, I did a lot of walking that helped me get my strength back. A nice nap often followed but I did not chalk that up to liver-related fatigue. That might have just been my ego.
Being now 5 years post, I think my energy level is about 90 % pre-PSC. That is something I can live with.
Jeff
Absolutely! I noticed pretty much straight away. It was like someone had switched the light on again. Dont get me wrong, in the early days after transplant you will get tired quickly and that does take a while to return to what would be considered normal. Even quite a few months later activity can catch up with you. However, its not like before transplant. Its not that desperate fatigue you had before. You’re just a bit tired, a bit of a rest and your back firing on all cylinders. Its more down to a lack of fitness than actual fatigue by that stage.
5 months after transplant i did my first walk back in the hills. Was i knackered? yes, but at least i was able to do it whereas 12 months previously i struggled to walk up the stairs. Over time fitness redeveloped as i was able to do more and after 12/18 months post transplant i was pretty much back to pretty much normal/average fitness levels.
Hope thats helpful.
Pre-tx my husband was fatigued without energy to much. At 32yrs he’d tire out easily - my 70yr grandpa was more active then him to put it into perspective.
Within weeks after TX he felt alive again with gusto but his energy level slowly recovered; it took some time as he was very-very sick before TX. He’d sleep majority of the day.
Now, 7 years later he’s running laps around me (and it’s awesome)!
Hi,
Pretransplant I felt very weak and would be tired very easily. I had very less appetite and wondered if this is how it will be in future. Post transplant I was a new person after a few weeks in recovery. Full of energy and had tons of appetite. I was inspired by an athletes who after transplant went on to compete in the olympics 2 years later. I like to walk and today I easily put in my 10k steps. Wish you all the best.
Mike.