Banding Esophageal Varices

Good morning
I'm a liver transplant recipient. Prior to my transplant in October 2020 I lived in a tunnel of horror. I experienced "too many to count" esophageal bleeds. I couldn't go anywhere without taking a container of some type in case I had a bleed. I couldn't travel from home without researching where the closest trauma hospitals were located. I one year I had 3 bleeds that required immediate trauma care. In a 4 year span I had 17 endoscopies between prevention and responsive care. Hang in there.!!! Your time will come. Will keep you in my prayers. 🙏

@yaminaburleson I am 14 months post liver transplant and my diagnosis of cirrhosis- end stage liver disease- in March 2021 and it was sudden. I was driving and got very confused, taken to an Emergency Department and from there I feared for my life. I was 53 and my mother was 82. At one point, when I had to be rushed to the ER , I begged my wonderful mother not to let me die! How awful that must have been for her to hear. But she did save my life by letting me live in her sweet home, and helping to establish a healthy routine so that I could get through 7 months preparing for a liver transplant. Now I am a healthier, energized person and now I’m taking care of my own mother who is aging and getting weaker. I bring her healthy meals, take her places, and enjoy her company.

You may want to ask the GI about a referral to a liver transplant team for a complete evaluation. You can ask about your son’s MELD score which comes from bloodwork and helps tell doctors how “bad” your son’s liver is and therefore where he would be placed on a transplant list. Ask about the medications he takes for liver disease, and what they do for him.

My local gastroenterologist recommended, while I was very sick with liver disease, to eat a high protein diet that included meat and also plenty of other non meat protein including beans and rice, tofu, yogurt. I was told to drink lots of water to protect my kidneys, and to exercise everyday I could. All of this plus medicine plus my loving mother helped me steady myself and feel like I would live. The beginning was hardest. Lots of care to you and your son.

Happy New Year and tank you so much for the advice. Our case is similar to yours. I am 67 and my son is 49. We live together in the same house we call home. I didn’t notice that something was wrong with him until we were traveling from Florida to Washington DC. Since he always wear baggy clothes because he’s always at home due to other health challenges. We rushed him to the emergency in Virginia. They took him immediately even though the place was packed. They actually saved his life. They put him immediately on potassium and other meds. When we came back home. His gastroenterologist took over and run her own blood tests and the scans, ultrasound…etc. she didn’t change the meds prescribed for him. In our last visit, she told us the the blood tests came negative, he doesn’t need treatment for Hepatitis C and his jaundice is fading. He still need to have Parantescis every 2 weeks. And something like endoscopy that have a long name I can’t memorize. It’s to take a look at his esophagus and part of intestinal system. Repair what need to be repaired of some kind of vessels. She told us that he has to finish 6 months on meds before she can discuss the transplant. She is hopeful that if he continue to stay away from alcohol and tobacco and takes care of his health and takes him meds, he might not need the transplant. I think that he will not be a candidate for a transplant because of his health amelioration. We keep our hope and prayers and see what comes in 4 months.
I keep you posted. I am glad that you are in good health and you got your life back together.
I will definitely need more advice from you going along with what you went through.
May God bless you and your mother 🙏💕

@annettebc, I have not seen any update and I am wondering how you are feeling. Were you able to get the appointment with the specialist you were hoping for?

@yaminaburleson, I am wondering how your son is getting along? Have the paracenteses' given him any relief from the ascites? Were you given any helpful information at the Dec 20 appointment?

@katebw, @footballmum
I have seen parts of your stories scattered throughout these transplant support discussions. I want to invite you to share your story where it can be easily located and visible to provide hope and support.
-Organ Donation and Transplant: What is Your story?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/organ-donation-and-transplant-what-is-your-story/

Hi Rosemary, appreciate the check in. I had Covid for the first time Dec 11 I was out of work for the full 10 days. Mainly to confirm negative test, Before I returned to my Hospitality job.
I was supposed to have another EGD. My throat was too sore for that to
happen. I still have a lingering cough from Dec. Chest X-ray shows lungs are still struggling.
I did not see the specialist. I rescheduled for April.
Also trying to get back into Liver specialist. I will have my 4th CT scan in April to see if the ducts and cysts have done anything.Meanwhile work, work, work.
I have been reading others stories. Praying for those with struggles.

@annettebc, What a disappointment for you to have had to cancel your scan because of Covid. It is encouraging, though, to hear that you have been able to return to your job after 10 days. I really hope that when you see the liver specialist in April that he will have some reassuring results to report after the CT scan.
I am happy that you are reading about what other members have shared about their experiences. I think that anyone who reads this will appreciate your concern. Anytime you are moved to make a comment, or a message of encouragement, Please do so. And don't be hesitant about selecting a reaction.
Take care, and keep in touch.