@rose999, Good Morning. I want to welcome yo to Mayo Connect. I am a volunteer mentor. I am also a transplant recipient (Mayo Rochester). The questions that you ask are beyond my personal experience. I want to share the following link to Mayo's Liver Transplant Department. You will see that all Mayo Campuses work together in providing the best interest of each patient. There is also contact information (phone and email), so you can contact them for more information if you desire.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/liver-transplant/home/orc-20211818
You say that your doctor "believes that your cirrhosis is compensated". I want to share my experience with you. I received excellent care by my local providers: PCP .... transplant department. But, due to complications I was sent by my transplant department to Mayo. At Mayo I experienced a level of care that I would call 'excellent +++'. They were able to treat me and my conditions, as a unique individual, not as a textbook case. So I received exactly what was best for me.
In your case, I encourage you to check out a second opinion - maybe there is a way to take care of your liver.

Are you currently being seen/monitored by a GI/or liver specialist?
Rosemary

@rose999 You are fortunate that your cirrhosis is compensated, I did not have many symptoms for a long time other than hepatic encephalopathy. That was enough, although thankfully they were not too frequent. Regarding age, I think many of the major medical centers look at the whole person, evaluating their overall health. I know that was true at my transplant center, Mass General Hospital. I was two days short of 69 when I was transplanted.
You are also fortunate in having a friend who is willing to be a live donor. I hope he turns out to be compatible and that you can have a transplant at the appropriate time.
I personally do not know if all of the Mayos are "equal" but you can find the stats on them on the SRTR database.
I hope all goes well for you in this journey of dealing with cirrhosis and that you don't have to go through the symptoms that can be really bothersome. Have you been evaluated and given a MELD score?
JK

My local GI said I didn’t have cirrhosis because liver biopsy looked good. My new Barnes specialist said biopsy was taken from healthy part of liver. Blood work shows low platelets at 70,(spleen 16cm) low wbc, low red but normal ast. I have severely itchy skin, a touch of HE, portal hypertension so they did MRE which show cirrhosis as does Cat scan. I have had now 5 strictures in my esophagus in last two yrs. The local GI doctor now says hecan see inflammation throughout stomach. My son had liver transplant in April 2017, my brother died last Sept of undiagnosed liver disease but they misplaced biopsy, and my 14 yr old grandson has had two bouts of acute pancreaitis in last 6 months. It is mitochondrial related but the doctors think all our liver problems are unrelated. I am going to ask my specialist here if I should go to Mayo. I tend to be very cold so I was looking at Mayo in FL.

@senior999, I am sorry to hear of the liver/cirrhosis history that your family has had. It sounds like even the doctors are confused about what/if any connection exists among your family members.
I want to share with you the link to Mayo's Transplant Department. You can go to Mayo Clinic on your own or with a referral from your doctor. When you contact Mayo, you can ask if you will need to go to FL or to another Mayo Campus. (I needed to go to Rochester because of the specialist who was there. - Don't let the cold keep you away if that is where you need to go.)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/liver-transplant/home/orc-20211818
Rosemary

@senior999 RosemaryA is right. To perk your interest in Rochester, MN, further, there are two Gift of Life transplant houses about 6 blocks from the clinics with a "subway" (underground walkway) entrance about 2 blocks from the houses. Also, there is a really good (albeit a bit pricey) hotel right across the street. I certainly hope you find answers and healing wherever you end up.

@senior999 I have always wondered about biopsies, it has always seemed to me that it's sort of a hit or miss test. You may get an area with a problem or you may not.
The first real symptom of my cirrhosis was that my platelet count started going down, and over time it continued to decrease. At that time I was seeing a hematologist and he could not figure out my problem despite doing various tests. He then diagnosed it as ITP. I was also cold all of the time, and I had problems sleeping at night but those problems came later. I had the low platelet count for about 10 years prior to being diagnosed with cirrhosis, and when I was finally diagnosed and went to a hepatologist in Boston she figured that I had cirrhosis for about 10 years. A CT scan was what finally diagnosed my cirrhosis.

With such a family history of liver problems it's hard to imagine that they are not related.
I hope you get some good results from whichever Mayo you go to. I am sure you will.
JK

@contentandwell, Thank you for sharing. I always appreciate, and look forward to your liver input! I think it is amazing how many different symptoms we experienced on the path to transplant. And also how many similarities, too.

That is a good question about biopsies! I never thought of that:-) I think that my liver was pretty much damaged throughout.

Being cold was also my fate pre-transplant. I remember the heated blankets- Heavenly!! ( Mayo Methodist 10-2 in Rochester has my vote for the best heated blankets ever! )
I was not able to get a good night sleep, either. I remember how much I wanted to sleep, how much I needed sleep! Thankfully that is now a distant memory.
Enjoy your day!
Rosemary

@senior999 in addition to @2011panc reply - At the Gift of Life Housing, there is a free shuttle bus that picks up and drops off right at the door:-) Rosemary

@rosemarya Yes, thankfully now it is all history, particularly the lactulose! UGH. Typical symptoms, all of which I had are:

* Declining platelet count
* Hand tremors
* Recently diagnosed diabetes
* Cold
* Trouble sleeping leading to day naps
* Hand tremors
* and, the big one -- HE - confused, irrational, tired

My hands were really shaky, more at some times than others. That was diagnosed as "essential tremor" but since it is gone it was obviously from the cirrhosis. As I said, together these are all indicative of cirrhosis so I can't help but wonder why no one put 2 and 2 together sooner than they did, particularly after I started having HE episodes.

Loss of appetite is also a symptom but that was one I never had. I never lose my appetite which of course is why I got so heavy. So far I am keeping my weight down and hopefully I will continue to be able to.

JK

My platelet count also is down. Has been for about 1 year. Just diagnosed with Cirrhosis.