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Liver transplant - Let's support each other
Transplants | Last Active: Jun 22 9:17am | Replies (1606)Comment receiving replies
@contentandwell
I don't remember what your Meld was during your waiting time. Mine has been holding around 8 for 2 years. At my last visit my Dr. told me not to get complacent as it could go up quickly.
So...I wait! Feels like pregnancy.....even the bloat..lol
Replies to "@contentandwell I don't remember what your Meld was during your waiting time. Mine has been holding..."
@jeanne5009, I also used to feel like I was pregnant, and overdue while I waited. Everytime that I had a paracentesis to drain the fluids, I felt normal for a few days though.
I hope that your doctor will call you sooner rather than later. The hard truth is that there is absolutely no way to know when that will be. Are you ready? Is your bag packed? Here is some advice from all of your friends on Connect -
-Waiting for the Call: What needs to get done at home before you go?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/waiting-for-the-call-what-needs-to-get-done-at-home-before-you-go/
-Packing question: What did you have ready for "the call"?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/packing-question/
As you have already learned, We are going to answer any question that you want to add to those discussions.
Hugs and Hope.
@jeanne5009 My MELD started at around 15 I think, in July 2015. What I remember better was that after doing an MRI and discovering malignant lesions it went up quickly to 18. Then it generally went up by 2 or 3 points I think it was, every 3 months. By the summer of 2016 I was at MELD 28. I was doing OK and not feeling too unwell, except for the tremendous fluid retention that I suddenly developed, most of it in September.
I got the call on September 22 despite my MELD not being over 30 which was surprising since MGH at that time was generally transplanting in the low 30s. I almost contacted Mayo to get on their list because they told me they thought they could transplant me specifically at 28! I am happy that I was able to stay at MGH since it's just about 55 miles down the highway.
It's sort of unusual that I was feeling so well other than the fluid because when the transplant occurred at 12:30 A.M. and they dissected my old liver it was pretty much spent! So, I was very fortunate that I got the call when I did.
I must have just been an excellent match for the young woman who was my donor. She and I were of very similar size and had to be the same blood type, B+. When they called they said they might be splitting the liver with part of it going for a pediatric transplant but that did not turn out to be a good match apparently because I got the whole liver.
JK
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Mine (Melsd score) went up every 3 months or so. Went in at 25 then 27 then jumped to 30 in a period of 8 months. It got scary near the end but got my transplant in the nick of time.