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Liver transplant - Let's support each other
Transplants | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (1623)Comment receiving replies
@stella25 I had a complete liver transplant (non-living donor) a year or so ago. My MELD score was over 30 at time of transplant. As a result I have blocked bile ducts and also undergo ERCPs. None of them have been what could be described as even tolerable. Three failed miserably but I now have only one stented bile duct. I was supposed to have it evaluated March 16th but the ERCP was cancelled. Has your son ever experienced Pancreatitis due to an ERCP? I'm asking because every time I have one I get this debilitating outcome. I end up in hospital anywhere from 7-10 days immediately following an ERCP. The pain is worse than any labour pains and lasts a long time. I am on morphine, demerol, gabapentin and tramadol to help relieve the pain. Eating any solid or semi solid increases the pain so I have clear fluids only during this time. Recovery takes months as eating becomes an issue. I am wondering how many other people go through this with ERCPs? I've heard it is common and to be expected but I've only found one other person who goes through this as well on this site.
Replies to "@stella25 I had a complete liver transplant (non-living donor) a year or so ago. My MELD..."
@gaylea1
My caregiver/friend has just had the Whipple procedure done 10 days ago. He was very fortunate..they found no cancer. He is doing well so far....of course he has a wonderful caregiver looking after him...lol...me.
Prior to this he had his gall bladder removed and developed pancreatitis along with sepsis. He had 2 EDGs prior to that until the hospital transferred him for an ERCP .They removed a stone in the bile duct and we thought we were ok. Scans indicated a cyst on the pancreas that we watched for about a year. It suddenly doubled in size so we quickly had the Whipple. Dr. was not Mayo but extremely well recognized for the Whipple procedure.
He told me that any disruption of the pancreas can lead to a bout of pancreatitis. Gary had it when he had this latest procedure.
I will always associate ERCPs with pancreatitis. Had we not had the ERCPs, we would not have found the precancerous cyst and he would be having chemo now.
We are very grateful.
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@gaylea1 I am so sorry to hear that. My son has been having ERCPs every 3 months for the past 2 years. He has never experienced pancreatitis or any other problem. They always have him start antibiotics the day following his procedure & liquids only for the 1st 24 hours. He had a stent that they sometimes replace & sometimes remove. I have heard from others of bad experiences. My son had his gallbladder removed 2 years ago. They did a liver biopsy at that time & found him to be stage 4 cirrhosis. Following that procedure he developed cholangitis & his 1st bile duct stricture. His MELD was 34. He was not on the transplant list at the time. They did an emergency ERCP & placed a stent. That was when his transplant team decided he would be evaluated for transplant. Since that time his MELD has come down and has been in the range of 15 - 17. His last ERCP was this past Monday. The center was taking strict precautions. He was tested for Covid-19 48 hours prior to the procedure. Was wiped down & temperature taken day of. No visitors were allowed in. We dropped him off & picked him up. The only time my son complained of pain was a slight sore throat after his very 1st ERCP. Has not experienced that since. Have all your ERCPs been done at the same facility? Maybe want to look into trying another doctor.