@joanaiken Each year a transplant recipient undergoes a series of tests and examinations, to ensure all continues to be on the right track for good health. This happens around the anniversary date of the procedure. I believe that is what @jerrynord may be referring to.
Ginger
Aling these lines, at my 11th transplant evaluation last year, my team told me not to expect another transplant if anything happened. I feel this is fair to give someone else a chance. Also makes you more aware of taking care of yourself.
@jerrynord You have mentioned before that you are 80. That probably is a reasonable cut-off date, although many people after age 80 are in remarkable health, as is my husband who will be 85 in July. I went to a doctor's appointment with him when he was seeing a new doctor who I had been to. The doctor was amazed at how good my husband looked and also that he takes no medications whatsoever, just occasional ibuprofen.
I tell my husband I married him for his longevity genes, since very few of my relatives in the past generation have made it as far as 70.
JK
Hi @bibiliverbug, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Are you referring to age with respect to becoming a liver transplant recipient or regarding eligibility to be a liver donor?
Aling these lines, at my 11th transplant evaluation last year, my team told me not to expect another transplant if anything happened. I feel this is fair to give someone else a chance. Also makes you more aware of taking care of yourself.
Hi @jerrynord 😊
Happy to meet you. When your team told you not to expect another transplant, what brought up that conversation? Are you starting to show signs of a problem?
Welcome, @bobbayers to Connect. That's wonderful that you were able to get a liver at that age, I am sure that will give hope to many who wonder if they will be able to. Your transplant center sounds very progressive to do that, I have heard that some have an arbitrary cut-off date based on age which is sort of crazy I think since many people in their 70s are in such good health.
I was about to turn 69 when I had my transplant. My new liver was 34 at the time. It's quite rare that a liver will be re-transplanted but I have heard it is done occasionally. I would hope it would be when I die, it would be a shame for a beautiful liver to go to waste.
JK
Hi, @phillydawg. I had my transplant, a simultaneous liver and kidney transplant (1 deceased donor, 1 surgery, 2 organs) at age 60. I am approaching my 16th year since transplant and doing well. I have always followed the advice of my transplant team, and continue to follow lab schedule, take my meds as prescribed, and avoid alcohol.
My PCP says that I am healthier now than most of his 60 year old patients.
I transplanted at Mayo in Rochester after being flown out of ICU in Kentucky with acute kidney failure and inactivation from transplant list while waiting for a diagnostic clearance from suspected cancer in bile ducts. Life is good!
I'm here if any questions, or if you just want to chat while waiting. Rosemary
Each transplant center has its own age qualifiers. Much is based on your general health from what I have experienced. I have had 2 liver transplants since 2000 because of an unusual genotype of Hep C. It took 16 years waiting for meds to treat the Hep C. My 1st transplant was at 44 and my second was at 61. I have a Heptologist and now a Nephrologist. My kidneys were damaged by Prograf/Tacrolimus immune surpressant. I am about to turn 69 and both doctors said mid to late 70's can still get a transplant.
Each transplant center has its own age qualifiers. Much is based on your general health from what I have experienced. I have had 2 liver transplants since 2000 because of an unusual genotype of Hep C. It took 16 years waiting for meds to treat the Hep C. My 1st transplant was at 44 and my second was at 61. I have a Heptologist and now a Nephrologist. My kidneys were damaged by Prograf/Tacrolimus immune surpressant. I am about to turn 69 and both doctors said mid to late 70's can still get a transplant.
In November 2021, my cancer doctor in Tucson said I had 2 months to live (bile duct cancer) and not to bother calling Mayo because I was too old at age 71 for a liver transplant.
I called Mayo and my primary care doctor's PA had already called Mayo. Mayo set me up with 2 weeks of testing (endurance, psychological as well as every conceivable medical test).
January 3rd, 2022 the board reviewed my case. January 5th I was put on the transplant list as inactive with a level 6. I had 36 rounds of chemo and radiation end of January and into March. We waited the month to "de-radiate" April, I had a laproscopy to see if the cancer had spread.
Aoril 16 I was told there was no spread of cancer, that I was at level 26, and that I would being getting a liver soon. Much to my surprise, I got the call 2 days later to be ready to go to surgery. April 20, 2022 at 2:00 a.m mid surgery, my cousin received a message "old liver out, nee luver in". a
Now I am able to tell you that after almost 3 years post transplant, that it us worth calling Mayo.
Hope this helps,
Barbara
aka ajdo129 (the coded name for my donated liver).
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11th transplant evaluation ? Why so many ?
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1 Reaction@joanaiken Each year a transplant recipient undergoes a series of tests and examinations, to ensure all continues to be on the right track for good health. This happens around the anniversary date of the procedure. I believe that is what @jerrynord may be referring to.
Ginger
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3 Reactions@jerrynord You have mentioned before that you are 80. That probably is a reasonable cut-off date, although many people after age 80 are in remarkable health, as is my husband who will be 85 in July. I went to a doctor's appointment with him when he was seeing a new doctor who I had been to. The doctor was amazed at how good my husband looked and also that he takes no medications whatsoever, just occasional ibuprofen.
I tell my husband I married him for his longevity genes, since very few of my relatives in the past generation have made it as far as 70.
JK
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1 ReactionRecipient
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, John. Are you currently being evaluated to received an organ transplant?
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2 ReactionsHi @jerrynord 😊
Happy to meet you. When your team told you not to expect another transplant, what brought up that conversation? Are you starting to show signs of a problem?
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1 ReactionJK,
I saw your comment to @bobbayers in 2020. How are you doing with your new liver. I am on the list as a 70 year old.
Thanks,
Phillydawg
Hi, @phillydawg. I had my transplant, a simultaneous liver and kidney transplant (1 deceased donor, 1 surgery, 2 organs) at age 60. I am approaching my 16th year since transplant and doing well. I have always followed the advice of my transplant team, and continue to follow lab schedule, take my meds as prescribed, and avoid alcohol.
My PCP says that I am healthier now than most of his 60 year old patients.
I transplanted at Mayo in Rochester after being flown out of ICU in Kentucky with acute kidney failure and inactivation from transplant list while waiting for a diagnostic clearance from suspected cancer in bile ducts. Life is good!
I'm here if any questions, or if you just want to chat while waiting. Rosemary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionEach transplant center has its own age qualifiers. Much is based on your general health from what I have experienced. I have had 2 liver transplants since 2000 because of an unusual genotype of Hep C. It took 16 years waiting for meds to treat the Hep C. My 1st transplant was at 44 and my second was at 61. I have a Heptologist and now a Nephrologist. My kidneys were damaged by Prograf/Tacrolimus immune surpressant. I am about to turn 69 and both doctors said mid to late 70's can still get a transplant.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionIn November 2021, my cancer doctor in Tucson said I had 2 months to live (bile duct cancer) and not to bother calling Mayo because I was too old at age 71 for a liver transplant.
I called Mayo and my primary care doctor's PA had already called Mayo. Mayo set me up with 2 weeks of testing (endurance, psychological as well as every conceivable medical test).
January 3rd, 2022 the board reviewed my case. January 5th I was put on the transplant list as inactive with a level 6. I had 36 rounds of chemo and radiation end of January and into March. We waited the month to "de-radiate" April, I had a laproscopy to see if the cancer had spread.
Aoril 16 I was told there was no spread of cancer, that I was at level 26, and that I would being getting a liver soon. Much to my surprise, I got the call 2 days later to be ready to go to surgery. April 20, 2022 at 2:00 a.m mid surgery, my cousin received a message "old liver out, nee luver in". a
Now I am able to tell you that after almost 3 years post transplant, that it us worth calling Mayo.
Hope this helps,
Barbara
aka ajdo129 (the coded name for my donated liver).
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
7 Reactions