I am a rule follower

Luckily I have always been a rule follower since my new liver came with a list of rules. I recently read a blog entry of a fellow liver recipient who doesn’t follow the rules and doesn’t understand how any transplant recipient can.  Her reasoning is that she needs to live her life to the fullest in honor of her donor. I feel the exact opposite. I will follow the rules so I can LIVE as long as possible with the gift my donor gave me. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I caused my liver to fail by “breaking” a rule. I don't think the rules are that bad and don't think any prevent me from living my life. Each transplant hospital has their own set of rules. Below is some of mine:

• No alcohol.  Not going to lie...Sadly the hardest rule for me. Not really hard but damn I miss my evening cocktail or glass of wine. Totally worth it to be alive though.
•  No gardening without gloves. Luckily I have never been known to have a green thumb and who would want to touch cow shit with their bare hands anyways?
• No puppies since they don’t have full sets of shots. Only for first months after transplant. This is Sammy's favorite rule. He doesn't want a brother or sister.
• No spas and steam room- not sure when this rule expires but not forever. Lot's of germs in those.
• No fresh fruits or vegetables when WBC is low.
• No leaving the house when WBC is low.
• Blood pressure and temperature twice a day.
• No over the counter pills or vitamins without Doctor approval.
•  No lifting over 15 pounds until 6 months post transplant.
• Stay out of the sun. I’m getting old anyways…prevents wrinkles
• No grapefruit. Weird, I know but it counteracts with my medicine. I missed grapefruit at first until Joe reminded me that in our six years of marriage, he has never seen me eat one.
• Never ever missing a dose of my medicine.  Luckily I will never forget with loved ones hounding me.
•  Live my life and leave the worrying to my medical team. Kinda cool I have a team…and damn they are smart. I have access to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My primary transplant Dr even gave me her cell phone number. Yes, that makes me feel special.

Overall, not a bad trade for living. I don’t see any rule worth breaking? I know people freak out when I go places but as my Doctors tell me I need to live my life. As soon as my WBC is above 750…I get the hell out of the house.  Just so long as I follow the rules, they are happy. I also talk to my transplant nurse at least twice a week who is in constant contact with my Doctor.  They know about everything I do and are so happy I am living my life. Trust me…I won’t overdo it. I need to take great care of my liver…for my donor. 

PS.... My Dr took me off of the medicine that was causing my WBC to be low. Its been in the normal range for two weeks now. Now lets really hope I don't get CMV.