Liver Transplant PodcastDX PodcastDX

Gina Rapacz is a 48 year old mother of 2 teenage daughters living in the Chicago suburbs.  She recently had a liver transplant after hers failed and she lingered on the transplant list in Chicago for over a year.  Her transplant was completed at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. She is now on her way to a healthier life with a new liver. See Transcript of this show below.

Transcript 
Lita: [00:00:16] Hello and welcome to podcast DX. This show that brings you interviews with people just like you whose lives were forever changed by a diagnosis. [00:00:24][8.7]
Lita: [00:00:26] I'm Lita. [00:00:26][0.2]
Ron: [00:00:27] I'm Ron. [00:00:28][0.2]
Jean: [00:00:28] And I'm Jean Marie. [00:00:28][0.6]
Lita: [00:00:29] Collectively we are the hosts of podcast d x. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Always ask the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking any new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. [00:01:03][33.5]
Ron: [00:01:05] On today's show we will be interviewing Gina a liver transplant recipient. [00:01:09][3.8]
Jean: [00:01:10] Gina is a 48 year old from a Chicago suburb, where she lives with her husband two teenage daughters Nikki Sarah and their adorable puppy. Coco. [00:01:18][8.1]
Lita: [00:01:19] Hi Gina thank you for joining us today. [00:01:21][2.0]
Gina: [00:01:22] Hello. Thank you for having me. [00:01:24][1.2]
Ron: [00:01:25] I understand it's been almost six months since you had a liver transplant. Yes I was transplanted September 30th 2017. [00:01:32][6.7]
Gina: [00:01:33] In North Carolina at Duke University Hospital. [00:01:35][1.6]
Lita: [00:01:36] Well you look great. [00:01:37][0.6]
Gina: [00:01:38] Thanks. I actually I feel great. This is the best I've ever felt actually. For. A long long time. [00:01:43][5.4]
Lita: [00:01:43] . Gina, what symptoms first led you to the doctor. [00:01:48][4.8]
Gina: [00:01:49] Well. As far back as I can remember 2016 I had a really bad swollen. Ankles from water retention. Very tired. I was always cold. The doctors were. Thinking I had cancer. Which. Led my disease to. Worsen. As they were testing me for cancer. But it was not. [00:02:11][21.6]
Jean: [00:02:13] How long did it actually take before you got. A correct diagnosis? [00:02:15][2.1]
Gina: [00:02:17] My symptoms were bothering me for at least five months before they diagnosed my liver problem. [00:02:21][4.4]
Ron: [00:02:24] Gina, Can you recall any specific symptoms that really stood out. [00:02:27][3.2]
Gina: [00:02:28] Yes of course. My stomach. I look like I was nine months pregnant. And the build up of ascites is a toxic fluid. That forms in your stomach. Making it. Enlarged. My eyes were no longer clear they were. Foggy. and my skin was chapped & itchy. Always thirsty. Almost like you want to stick your head in the swimming pool. I lost my appetite. I had dry heaves almost throwing up but not quite. Always had leg cramps. My calves were so painful they'd wake me up at night. I would try standing up. They were. Very. Painfully twitching. And the muscles would cramp up. You. It's like a charlie horse times 10. Very painful. Terrible terrible. [00:03:13][45.0]
Lita: [00:03:14] Were there any embarrassing symptoms that you had? [00:03:17][2.5]
Gina: [00:03:18] Yes I actually would. I, I had. A bad case of diarrhea all day I would go maybe eight to 10 times a day never knowing when it was an attack. But usually when I was at Target or Wal-Mart shopping. And I would have to use a public bathroom for no reason at all my nose would start bleeding. And. It was on a daily basis. [00:03:43][24.7]
Jean: [00:03:44] Did anything help relieve any symptoms. [00:03:46][1.3]
Gina: [00:03:47] Well for the chills