Liver transplant - Let's support each other

Posted by lmctif @lmctif, Oct 29, 2018

What topics do people who are waiting for a liver transplant want to talk about? Who has had a liver transplant and wants to talk about?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Profile picture for benlam11 @benlam11

My Meld score was in the high 20,s , however I needed a Liver and Kidney transplant. I was transferred with extreme HE (Like in a Coma) from Las Vegas and after being revived at the MAYO and an additional heart test, I received my transplant within 24 hrs. This was after a 2 year journey of misdiagnosis in Las Vegas. Never give up and stay positive - they journey will be worth it.

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@benlam11 Thank goodness you were transferred to a good transplant center. Being misdiagnosed is so difficult. My symptoms should have led to a diagnosis of cirrhosis so easily but they did not. Thank God the neurologist added it all up.

@beckyy39 MELD 25 really is not that high overall. You can of course get a type O liver also. I was told that was an advantage.

@rosemarya Ahh, distance from donor (she was in Cambridge, right next door to Boston where I was) and my time on the list both probably helped me.
JK

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Profile picture for khh @khh

Is there anything overall that is recommended for people with our issues to do differently than following the rec for immunocompromised individuals?

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@khh, Healthy life style - stay active, eat healthy foods, abstain from alcohol, avoid over-the-counter medicines and supplements, stay updated on routine medical prevention, stay up to date on vaccines, are a few that come to mind. Most important is to follow doctors advice develop an open communication with a doctor whom you trust.

You are asking some terrific questions! And you are so right that there are a lot of 'us' out here! We stick together, and we are here for you and for each other.

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Here is an Infographic: MELD scores for liver transplants
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/infographic-meld-scores-for-liver-transplants/
@khh, @beckyy39, @benlam11, @contentandwell, @tjgisewhite, @racing212, @seahorstmayo, @joanaiken, @jeanne5009,
As many of you have been sharing about MELD score in this conversation, I want to share this with you.

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Profile picture for JK @contentandwell

@tjgisewhite What else do they base who gets the next available liver besides MELD? Of course I know blood type and size, but are there other things? If so I was not aware of them but I found it surprising that I got my transplant at MELD 28 when they were generally transplanting at MELDS in the 30s in my region.

@racing212 Good luck with the testing. Please let us know how it goes.
JK

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This week at Mayo in FL I was told because my blood type is A+ and that isn't as common, generally, you don't get your liver transplant until you have a MELD score of 25 because there are fewer organs available.

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Profile picture for JK @contentandwell

@tjgisewhite What else do they base who gets the next available liver besides MELD? Of course I know blood type and size, but are there other things? If so I was not aware of them but I found it surprising that I got my transplant at MELD 28 when they were generally transplanting at MELDS in the 30s in my region.

@racing212 Good luck with the testing. Please let us know how it goes.
JK

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My Meld score was in the high 20,s , however I needed a Liver and Kidney transplant. I was transferred with extreme HE (Like in a Coma) from Las Vegas and after being revived at the MAYO and an additional heart test, I received my transplant within 24 hrs. This was after a 2 year journey of misdiagnosis in Las Vegas. Never give up and stay positive - they journey will be worth it.

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Profile picture for khh @khh

I am A+ and I think that’s pretty common. I wouldn’t think that would be a huge deterrent in my case. What is your experience with this?
Karen

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@khh that is probably a plus, as my B type was. + and - don’t matter. O type can go to anyone but O can only get type O so that blood type is at a disadvantage from what I’ve heard. You can get a type A liver or a type O liver.
JK

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Profile picture for Tammy @tjgisewhite

@contentandwell They also base it on how many people are on your list according to your blood type.

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I am A+ and I think that’s pretty common. I wouldn’t think that would be a huge deterrent in my case. What is your experience with this?
Karen

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There might be some other things they consider, but I’m not really hearing of anything definite. I have read about increased “pulmonary artery pressures” making a difference if you reach certain numbers. All I know is I have “pulmonary hypertension”. I don’t know any numbers. Also, apparently my liver is terrible like yours. They say my “liver density” is way off the charts even for people with severe cirrhosis and I know I bleed everywhere all the time. I’m sure everyone else does too.
I am happy to hear you did receive a liver and I pray you are doing great!

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