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Lawrence R. Decoste
- Male
- ALBANY NY
- United States
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- Discussions (6)
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- Groups (13)
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Lawrence R. Decoste's Groups
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Fans of Three Rivers on…
66 members
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Nutrition & Supplement D…
6 members
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Transplants Who Are Seek…
1 member
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Holdol's TC Kitchen
60 members
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Body Image & Self Esteem
26 members
Lawrence R. Decoste's Discussions
Cardiac tamponade leading to a Percardial Effusion???
Started Sep 3
So Thankful to be Living a Second Life at 30 yrs old
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Lawrence R. Decoste has not received any gifts yet
Latest Activity
This is a great show :) Although the truth after transplant is way more challenging after you get your new organ its alot of responsibility
No generic here is there such thing???
I have low potassium also, I had a stay in the hospital 2 months ago because of it. Thay gave me a potassium drip that I thought was going to burn my namd off....crap that hurt! I am eating potatos, bannannas, humas, spinach and tomatoes to keep my…
Profile Information
- What is your city / state and country of residence?
- Albany ny
- How are you touched by transplantation?
- I am a Recipient
- If you are a recipient, what type of transplant did you receive?
- Heart
- Recipients: In this space, feel free to list those you are grateful to for receiving the Gift of LIfe:
- I am grateful to the person who gave me this heart he or she was generous, even though I never got in touch with him or her I will always be thankful for what was given to me. I suffered for 4 yrs living with a Diseased Heart that was enlarging ever so slowly, plus I had a pacemaker and I was put on an IV Pump and I had no choice but to go through with this and get a new heart. I am so happy and it is well worth the wait:)
- If you are a recipient, what type of donor did you receive your Gift of Life from?
- Deceased Donor
- If you are a recipient, when did you have your transplant(s)?
- August 28, 2008
- What is your principal transplant med(s)?
- Prograf, Predisone & Cellcept
- What is your hospital and, or doctor's name, city / state and country?
- NYC Presbyterian Hosptial in NYC -Donna Mancini & Allan Stewart
- What do you do for a living?
- I love to cook and enjoy the outdoors
- About Me: Please use this space to tell the community about yourself and your unique experience with transplantation:
- I am blessed to have a new heart, this means so much to me that a person was willing to give me second chance at life. I was scared going into this operation and I was also strong and in good faith. I waited since april of 2008 and got my heart in August 2008. Things are going good I am staying healthy eating the right foods drinking lots of water and following the doctors orders. I hope to live a long healthy life I have a 20 yr old heart in me I hope to live 20 yrs who knows I just need to keep happy and take things day by day. The worst part is the medication side affects and the possibility that my kidneys could fail later down the road but I am gonna be strong about this and live life to the fullest.
- How did you find out about TransplantCafe.com?
- Browsing online
- What is your relationship status?
- In a Relationship
- Entertainment: What is Your Favorite Type of Music, Bands, Movies, Art, Books, etc.?
- Star Wars
- What is Your Favorite Quote(s)?
- Life is like a box of chocolates, cause you never know what you gonna get:)
Expect the unexpected :)
Lawrence R. Decoste's Photos
Lawrence R. Decoste's Blog
Doctors said my Potassium level was really low, I am on 40 mg of Potassium pills again
This is so strange Iam on Prednisone 20 mg, cellcept (generic) 1000x twice a day and Prograf 3 mg twice a day, Almodopine 10 mg and Cozaar 25 mg twice a day My doc called me for my results to my blood tests I took yesterday my potassium was really low, I am wondering what causes my potassium to be so low I am very active I just gained 4 lbs since a month ago I am up from 138 to 142 highest weight recorded was 144 but my stomach gets so bloated feels like I have air in it I been eating like mad v… Continue
Posted on October 14, 2009 at 10:56am — 6 Comments
Can I take Simethicone????
I am expierencing lots of bloating with being on high doses of prednisone Dr. Oz said that Simethicone is behind the counter and helps in bloating and pressure on the intestines as transplants are we allowed to take this???
Posted on October 11, 2009 at 12:18pm — 6 Comments
Hey everyone
I am hanging in there I am on a lot of medication 1000x twice daily Cellcept 20 mg of prednisone and 3 mg of prograf twice daily , Almdopine 10 mg, cozzar 25 mg twice daily and host of other vitamins and pills. First two years are tough I finally realize I had some bumps in the road but I am staying strong one day at a time, I shake alot my stress is high but I am living which counts, constipation is frequent I take colace, sleep is ok its not easy but I am fighting and things will get better on… Continue
Posted on October 7, 2009 at 3:26pm — 4 Comments
Feel Free to Listen into my Online Radio Show on BLOGTALKRADIO.COM
Just want to tell everyone I have a radio show online on Blogtalkradio.com every Sunday from Noon to 2pm Its Under the Health Category its Called "Nutrition For The UnHealthy & UnFit Minded Person" I use the Show name Lance Mayfield come listen into my show. I always say "You Are What you Eat" and as a Heart Transplant its vital to eat healthy and watch what you eat so I urge everyone to tune in and invite your friends to listen into the show I have studied Nutrition for th 4 yrs I was sick… Continue
Posted on April 10, 2009 at 9:25am —
Heart Transplant Patients & Friends :)
I am starting a support discussion chat on paltalk.com here is the link http://www.paltalk.com free to sign up but if you want streaming video you need to pay extra 40.00 bucks for 1 yr. My discussion chat will be every Monday,Thursday,Friday--> 6pm Usa eastern time until 9pm eastern time Usa & Sundays noon - 4pm under health category- peer support. I hope to see you all there this is a good way to meet each other talk by voice & discuss things about each other. We all have a story to… Continue
Posted on February 6, 2009 at 9:02am —
Comment Wall (39 comments)
- At 11:25am on October 26, 2009,
Holdol said…
- Good luck at your appointments tomorrow Lawrence! I hope all goes well :)
- At 11:23am on October 26, 2009,
eric goberman said…
- I'll be heading in early for a quickie clinic..xray & chest..already did the blood work.
Depending on the timing. I'll try to track u down
- At 9:53am on October 26, 2009,
Lawrence R. Decoste said…
- Thanks for all your kind words one day at a time I am slowly progressing I have a part time job only 20 hrs a week taking that slow, hoping I DON'T get sick with Swine Flu getting my shots this week in fact I am happy:) wish me luck on my annual and biopsy tommorrow
- At 7:32pm on October 10, 2009,
Lili Feldman said… - Lawrence, I also had shaking , or tremors, as the Dr.'s call them. My doctor
reduced my Prograf slowly and now I take 1mg am & pm. I feel so much better.
Make sure you get an antibiotic from your doctor before you have any work done in your mouth. As for sexually, I'm on so many meds, it's affected that too. I'm thinking of getting testosterone shots, which is supposed to help women. I guess I'll have to shave everyday and pray my husband likes my new huskey voice! Maybe he'll think it's sexy.
- At 8:39pm on October 9, 2009,
Catherine J Geisen (Cathy) said… 
Kathys-Comments.com
Just Read About You And All Your Medication! Wow! Hugs and Blessings Cathy
- At 1:40pm on October 8, 2009,
Candie said… - Hi Lawrence, forgive me but I'm not sure about all the medications you are on.=:) Pretty new....until after I have a kidney transplant, then I'm sure I'll know all about "some" of the meds. Best of luck to you....
- At 12:25pm on October 3, 2009,
Karen Weddick said… - I know a sudden surge in Prednisone can cause emotions to go crazy. Back in the 70's when I was on 100mg everyday and I was 16 such a tender age, I puffed up like a balloon and looked like a turtle. I would break down at the drop of a pin. Prednisone and imuran were the basic immunosuppressants back then and cyclosporine but Prednisone has always been a great med. These days high doses aren't needed because of improved state of the art meds like prograf and cellcept. Prednisone is the lesser of two evils Rejection or uncomfortable side effects which are only temperary. Take care Lawrence, I have faith all will be fine.
Hugs and blessings to you,
Karen
glitter-graphics.com
- At 1:05am on October 3, 2009,
Karen Weddick said…
- Hi there Lawrence:
Sounds like you are going through a rough period right now. Hang in there my friend, things will look up eventually and depression is very normal. Did you know that 80% of people who go through a major surgery will go through depression? It hit me 8 months out and I did seek help and I am doing great today. Therapy works! You take care my friend and take each day as it comes and live for the here and now; live for the moment.
Hugs, Karen
glitter-graphics.com
- At 1:32pm on September 21, 2009,
Paul Anthony Worthington said… - That, is a hell of a lot of steroid Lawrence. I honestly don't think I have ever been on that higher dose since my transplant. I truely thought that the standard dosage post op was 5-10mg daily, but I have pestered and pestered my Dr to reduce the Pred as it was seriously affecting my weight (gaining about 2-4lbs a day). He prescribed Sirolimus alongside the Cellcept and I am now on 5mg alternate days.
As for Dresslers Syndrome I have never heard of it, I will look it up for future reference. Are you saying you are now in rejection 1yr out? Apologies if I misunderstood.
- At 11:09pm on August 29, 2009,
Karen Weddick said…
- Lawrence: You don't want to cut down on water since you are on prograf. Please read my blog: Prograf and water.
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I love cookies with nuts! But these would be my downfall because I don't know when to stop. I'm diabetic, do you think using Sweeta instead would be okay? And also to roll in? I loooove powdered sugar. I wish" they" would make one.
Thanks for the re…
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4 Months and doing fine
Hi everyone sorry i haven't been on i guess you can say i have been feeling better so i haven't spent a lot of time in front of the computer. Well I started my radiation treatments this past Monday, i go Mon - Fri for 7 weeks, but i am almost threw the first week so after tomorrow 6 weeks left. I am not having the bad nausea, but i have had prob with my bowels, and tired all the time. but just glad to get this done and over with. I found out how lucky I was to get the liver transplant the tumor…Double Anniversary
I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that this month is a double anniversary for me. On the 13th I will be 25 years out from my second kidney transplant. December, 25th will mark 30 years post first kidney transplant. It doesn't seem that its been that long ago,I will forever think about the families that made the faithful decision that saved my life and the lives of other complete strangers. I do celebrate on the anniversaries but, I also mourn because of the loss that was e…
Fight canceling Three Rivers
We can fight back and try to save Three Rivers. Go to : http://tvseriesfinale.com and vote. And speak your mind.Please and thank you! Lili
American Transplant Foundation needs your help/vote!
To everyone out there!!American Transplant Foundation is a non-profit organization that strives to eliminate our country's shortage of human transplant organs. We work to increase the donation of organs and tissue to reduce the growing list of men, women and children who are awaiting a lifesaving transplant.
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