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It's not all about the MELD Score
There are lots of threads out there with questions and comments about MELD Scores. I just had my 1year/3 month pre-liver transplant review and my MELD is a 10. The doctors at Mayo/Phoenix emphasized that the MELD isn't everything as some people are sicker than their scores indicate. They have me on the "active" list and am in the discussion at their weekly team meetings. I have venous congestion that is of major concern because if it continues to grow it causes other operative problems. I have had esophageal varices banded - 6-8 times (no bleeding so far) - but that has precluded using a blood thinner to allow the body to dissolve the clot on its own. If my next upper endoscopy - in the next 2 weeks here in Tucson - shows no new varices we may try the blood thinner even with my low platelet counts. Though it increases the risk of bleeding, with weekly monitoring its a risk/reward decision. The bloid thinner will likely raise my INR and temporarily raise my MELD, it's worth a shot if the body breaks up the clot.
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Sounds like transplant and hair loss would make a good new topic to start. Any takers?
Congratulations @johnshaw. Might I call upon you to support members in the Addiction & Recovery group if someone is in need of your inspiration and support? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/addiction-recovery/
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3 ReactionsI would like to get more suggestions for hairloss and hear other's experiences.
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1 Reaction@amyintucson I had terrible hot flashes, primarily at night. I would wake up and throw the covers off. They gradually subsided, but I still get them a bit, never more than one a night, some nights none.
I hated the hair loss too, but biotin did help. For some reason I’m losing some again. There’s always a lot on the shower floor after I shower so I just bought some biotin again and plan to resume taking it.
JK
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1 Reaction@contentandwell is Biotin a sort of shampoo or rinse? How is it used?
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1 ReactionBiotin is a supplement that you take by mouth. I was told to take 2.5 mg daily, but you should check with your nurse team or pharmacy.
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1 ReactionWhat does Biotin do? Does it grow hair? Does it stop hair from falling out?
Biotin is vitamin B7. It’s supposed to help growth and thickness. After my transplant I lost a lot of hair. I don’t know if the biotin helped or that my hair would’ve grown back on it’s own, but it seems to be as it was before surgery or maybe even better. I’ve now got wavy hair, which I’ve never had before. ??
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1 ReactionThanks for the info. I may ask my team if it is ok to try. Was your transplant team onboard with it?
Yes, I contacted my team first and they referred me to the specialty pharmacy. I’m assuming the hair loss was due to the trauma from surgery and I also had steroid infusions. My fingernails also had horizontal grooves on them and one was also kind of falling apart. Biotin is supposed to help with both. It’s all good now 🙂
@jolinda, @cmael,@amyintucson, @gaylea1, @contentandwell,
I aso had thinning hair and nail issues. When I mentioned it to the transplant dermotalogist at my 4 month check-up, he said I could take over the counter Biotin for it. That must have been at my 4month check up. I remember that I had devised a way to safely wrap my finger tips with tape to prevent them snagging and pulling off, and I wore gloves for protection on my first post transplant hiking adventure 6 months after my transplant. My hair and nails recovered nicely. That was 9 years ago.
My hairdresser also recommended that I use a gentle shampoo.
This past year, I started taking biotin again, and my transplant team did not have any problem with it.
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