MELD Score went down

@pjrace, I would like to Welcome you to Mayo Connect. I also want to say that I'm happy for you that you have completed your evaluation testing and that you are qualified for a liver transplant! That is a big step. I remember feeling exhausted and worried after my evaluation. And I also remember the phone call from the transplant dept when they gave me the good news, which was followed by the official letter from UNOS. By the way, I received a liver and kidney transplant at Mayo Rochester in 2009.
Perhaps you have heard patients refer to their transplant journey as a roller-coaster, or a runawy train - It is because our condition can change frequently. This is why the doctor will want to update blood labs and compute the MELD score. Your MELD score is calculated using five blood test results — bilirubin, serum sodium, INR, albumin and serum creatinine. These results are entered into a mathematical formula using the UNOS MELD score calculator. In some cases there may be special circumstances which your doctor will be able to explain. Already, you have experienced this by your current situation. I had some periods of time when the score ws stable and other times when it went up.
You can read more about MELD score here:
Liver Transplantation: Understanding the MELD Score
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/newsfeed-post/liver-transplantation-understanding-the-meld-score/
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When is your next appointment with the transplant team? It sounds like you are living at a distance from the transplant center. How will you be monitored from the distance?

We live 11 hours from Mayo Phoenix. We will be relocated on the 23rd (confirmed today) and await the transplant. Labs will be done at Mayo when we get there. Looking forward to getting settled into our place and having a little vacation before it gets crazy.

my meld score went from 25 down to 6 doctors told me i would die within a year 4 years ago and now im not even sick Doctors are wrong alot of the time

Hi, @prophet7. I'm happy that your MELD score went down! It can do that, just as it can go up. That is why you might hear liver transplant patients refer to being on a roller-coaster or runaway train during their health journey. That was my experience - Up, dpwn, up, down,...up, up, up until my progressive liver disease (PSC) Primary Schlerosing Cholangitis resulted in my need for a transplant.
My transplant was 16 years ago and I am doing well. I am especially glad that you are doing well, too! I hope that whatever caused the elevated score to have been treated and eliminated from your health 'radar'.

@pjrace, I thought you might appreciate some of these related discussions as you prepare for your liver transplant at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

- What's your Liver Transplant experience Mayo Clinic (Arizona) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-long-waiting-at-mayo-clinic-in-arizona-for-liver-transplant-after/

- Is having a car mandatory at transplant lodging? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-having-a-car-mandatory-at-transplant-lodging/

- Waiting for the Call: What needs to get done at home before you go? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/waiting-for-the-call-what-needs-to-get-done-at-home-before-you-go/

- Packing question: What did you have ready for "the call"? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/packing-question/

All the best with the move closer to Mayo Phoenix and the little vacation before it becomes medical. Be sure to ask all the questions you want while you wait and keep us posted. 🙂
- When liver is available for transplant how much time to arrive? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/when-liver-is-available-for-transplant-how-much-time-we-have-to-arriv/

And for your caregiver:
- What to watch for as a caregiver after liver transplant https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-i-should-stay-watchful-as-a-caregiver-after-liver-transplant/

- Transplant Caregiver Advice: Got Tips to Share? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/transplant-caregiver-advice-got-tips-to-share/

We are 14 hours away from Mayo Phoenix, so we also did a temporary move last year. A few weeks after we arrived my MELD went from 21 to 19. They did not take me off the list since the underlying numbers do fluctuate, instead they scheduled another round of labs. Sounds like they are doing the same for you?
However, before I could get the updated labwork done, I got the call to come in for transplant.
We stayed in Phoenix for another 2 months post-transplant, which worked out well because there was no way I was going to feel like packing up and doing a drive back home before then! The team there is great. Everyone is very caring ... including everyone we met on the transplant team as well as anyone we interacted while there - transplant floor nursing staff, lab staff, pharmacy, checkin, kitchen, etc. I'm almost 1-yr post now, and they are very responsive whenever I have questions or concerns. Best wishes to you!

I do agree, the staff is unbelievable. I did my evaluation the first week of January, they called on the 6th to tell me I was on the list and relocate ASAP. We are flying down on Thursday the 23rd.
Did you stay in a hotel or at the Casitas behind the hospital? We are staying at the Casitas, if you did stay there, how was it?

When we did the evaluation we stayed at the Residence Inn by the Mayo Clinic, which was nice but a bit expensive even with Mayo rates. But having it so close was great.
Then for the transplant, we rented a furnished condo that was about 20 minutes from Mayo.
When I had a rejection episode in September, we tried to get into the Casitas, which I hear are very nice, but we were unable to get a reservation so stayed again at the hotel. Casitas had us on a wait list, but I think their scheduling is complex since their guests sometimes have to extend their stays for health reasons. Glad to hear that you were able to book it.