No Joke

Just when I finally started sleeping again, I got hit by the insomnia monster.  I had been in bed since 12 but no luck sleeping.  So I gave in and reached for my phone.  My trusty late night companion.  I thought about finishing up one of the many unfinished posts I have.  But I was sucked into the black hole, other wise known as Twitter.  I got caught up with every ones day.  Checked in with a few of my transplant buddies.  And then decided to search twitter for Liver transplant to see what I could find. 

Scattered among medical information and prayer requests, I found a mess of jokes about drinking and needing a liver transplant.  Seriously people?

It's drinkin' time!!! I'm predicting a liver transplant in my future....any volunters?

Signin up 4 a liver transplant....so muc *beer* in d system..

I fink after last nyt I should sign up for a liver transplant...... Lmao

Now I wont sit here like I'm any better than them. I have a family full of drinkers. Well, I grew up on an island full of drinkers.  And I was no stranger to the bottle myself.  I'm not anti-drinking, but one word comes to mind!  Moderation.  Drinking no longer has a place in my life.  And if it is a part of yours, I dont love you any less. I guess I'm just so aware now how much damage something we think is so cool and something some people cant stop is hurting us. 

Now that being said, I feel the need to clear up that my Budd Chiari Syndrome was not caused from drinking.  And who knows maybe if I did drink more my blood would have been thinner and I wouldn't have gotten a blood clot.  But it is what it is and I have what I have.  I just wish people would think before they say/type things.  It may be funny now, but when you are sitting there and a Dr is telling you that you will need to have a liver transplant, I promise you, PROMISE, you will not be laughing then. Especially if your liver looks like this

A healthy liver in adults weighs about 3 pounds (left). A liver damaged by alcoholism shows a buildup of fatty tissue (middle), and a liver with cirrhosis is enlarged and swollen (right).

© A. Glauberman/Science Source, Photo Researchers, Inc.