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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Weakness Caused After Liver Transplantation

Thank you. Here's my question or concern. I had a liver transplant in 2009. I started having weakness issues that has increased for many months , now. I get very weak anytime I work or when I am on my feet the entire day; once this occur it take days to restore my energy. I take vit D (50,000 units) and potassium (400 mg). DR states she does not believe it is related. Can you give some advice, please?



This condition prevents me from working full time. Ever since surgery; I can not do the things I use to do, such as cook, clean, lack energy to complete house hold work.
Mon, 21 Jul 2014
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Gastroenterologist, Surgical 's  Response
Hi,
I am sorry to hear you are having these issues after liver transplantation. The goal of liver transplant is to restore a normal life style to patients who would be otherwise very debilitated due to liver failure. One of the major factors which affects recovery after liver transplant is "how sick you were before the transplant". If you were bed ridden before transplant, then it takes that much longer after transplant to regain normal body strength as all the muscles would have become weak. Intensive physiotherapy regimens are normally instituted for these patients so that they become completely functional again. Added to this, there are a lot of medications, which the patient has to take, which decreases appetite and also which have potential to cause decreased blood cell counts. This could in turn cause weakness. Also since the immune system is suppressed after a transplant, infections are very common which can again lead to weakness.
In your case, it has been more than 5 years since your transplant. It is unlikely that any infection or drug effects are the cause of weakness. Provided your liver function tests are normal, I would also suggest getting your heart and lungs checked as the most common symptom of any dysfunction is weakness. I am pretty sure that your transplant program has already looked into these treatable causes. If all systems are normal, then the only thing I would suggest is to gradually increase your exercise tolerance by adhering to a exercise regimen.
Hope this helped and hope you get well soon.
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Suggest Treatment For Weakness Caused After Liver Transplantation

Hi, I am sorry to hear you are having these issues after liver transplantation. The goal of liver transplant is to restore a normal life style to patients who would be otherwise very debilitated due to liver failure. One of the major factors which affects recovery after liver transplant is how sick you were before the transplant . If you were bed ridden before transplant, then it takes that much longer after transplant to regain normal body strength as all the muscles would have become weak. Intensive physiotherapy regimens are normally instituted for these patients so that they become completely functional again. Added to this, there are a lot of medications, which the patient has to take, which decreases appetite and also which have potential to cause decreased blood cell counts. This could in turn cause weakness. Also since the immune system is suppressed after a transplant, infections are very common which can again lead to weakness. In your case, it has been more than 5 years since your transplant. It is unlikely that any infection or drug effects are the cause of weakness. Provided your liver function tests are normal, I would also suggest getting your heart and lungs checked as the most common symptom of any dysfunction is weakness. I am pretty sure that your transplant program has already looked into these treatable causes. If all systems are normal, then the only thing I would suggest is to gradually increase your exercise tolerance by adhering to a exercise regimen. Hope this helped and hope you get well soon.