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It's not all about the MELD Score

Transplants | Last Active: Nov 14, 2023 | Replies (217)
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@contentandwell

@johnshaw Congratulations on ending you use of alcohol, I’m sure that must have required a lot of strength.

I will be very interested in hearing what your doctor (hepatologist?) says. I had always heard that cirrhosis cannot be reversed, it can be stalled at best, but I have heard some people say they cured it! Since cirrhosis is basically scars on your liver I do not understand how scars can be eliminated. It does sound as if you are making effort to prevent further damage and I know people can do well if the damage does not progress so hopefully you are one of those people.

Enjoy DC, it’s dreary here in NH. The cherry blossoms in DC are probably gone by now. My daughter lived in DC before moving to NYC. I like DC more.
JK

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Replies to "@johnshaw Congratulations on ending you use of alcohol, I’m sure that must have required a lot..."
gaylea1 | @gaylea1 | Apr 27, 2019

My original MELD score was 25 and it only went up from there. When I finally reached 30+ they deemed me ill enough to top the transplant wait list. It took 17 months on the wait list to be transplanted. My blood type and small physique held me back. I was diagnosed with cirrhosis and the scarring was irreversable. I'm not sure if they'd transplant you with such a low score but they do take each case individually.

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mickj | @mickj | Apr 27, 2019

@contentandwell I don't think MELD score necessarily correlates with level of cirrhosis. A little over 2 years ago, when I found out I had liver disease, my MELD was 40. My last blood test prior to transplant (10 months ago), my MELD was 14. But I was still getting 7-8 liters of ascites fluid drained per week, so obviously, my liver was still not good.

I think that the fact that creatinine is a factor in the MELD calculation is where some of the disconnect happens. To test my little theory, if my creatinine was at the same level today as it was when I was first diagnosed (over 8), and my sodium, bilirubin and INR were what they are today, my MELD score would be 21. As it is, with all 4 MELD factor in "normal" range and a new liver, my MELD score is 9.

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