Stage 4 cirrhosis and liver cancer: Can I get through transplant?

@slow1 Thank you for taking the time to reply. So what are you trying to say? If you didn't have anyone who depended on you, you would not have had the transplant?

I'll be real with you a transplant is a selfish thing. Please don't take this wrong and I didn't realize it till my first call. The reason I have been on lately in part is my first call was 3 years ago on Valentines day. I headed to Salt Lake in around 10am kept getting calls all I could think about was how someone had just died on valentines day of all days they are taking the organs and I'm receiving one in about 6-8 hours. My dad was driving my mom was there and I was laying in the back seat thinking about that. Got to Snowsomething then received a call it had psoriasis. But it got me thinking. If your unsure or have to question if it's worth it then WHAT DO YOU HAVE. life is short my friend and for you real short right now. Grab the son of the bitch by the horns and prove everyone wrong or right depending or just give up. If you give up it will be quick and miserable. Fight will be tough miserable but when it's over its worth it. Don't take the chance from someone else though. Like I said people would kill for this. In some places they do. Really think hard about that your holding someone's chance in your hands are you going to take it or give it to someone else. Feel free to message me anytime if your bored in the hospital or whatever. I'm blunt and honest but I do feel I owe my part in return for what I have been given.

@dandrew788 I had complications, which is common, and my first year was a challenge. I am going into my third year. I finally felt good my second year. My complications were duct issue that required a second surgery the morning after the transplant. I went into a coma for 12 days. I had to fight off double my weight of edema. Relearn to walk. I was a mess for a bit. Even with all that, I feel blessed. I fought for this life, and it feels worth living well for. That's how I honor my donor.

@dandrew788 hi there, I had my transplant 4years ago at age 54. I was very very sick with stage 4 cirrhosis, all of a sudden during Covid , an acute autoimmune situation I learned eventually. I am a widowed woman with a young daughter. I have a lovely partner and had to patchwork my care pre and post transplant. I was hospitalized something like 17 times before my transplant, first for hepatic encephalopathy and then for recurring fevers. I would be told here and there that once I had my transplant I would no longer be yellow, bloated and waterlogged and tired and itchy and just feeling lousy after 50 plus years of feeling strong and independent. I will share that I got my life back and more, and it’s worth all of it. My primary issues are getting sick more frequently than I had before, but I am also back to work full time as a community social worker and try to be careful. When I was first told I needed a liver transplant I was so overwhelmed and could not imagine that such a radical surgery would restore my life but it has. It is good to ask questions- I did not know of this forum until I had my transplant- lots of good info and kindness here.

@dandrew788, I see you received a wide range of responses to your question. Putting yourself on the list for transplant is a decision that often involves a lot of thought and emotions, some of them completely unexpected. Everyone has different considerations and circumtances that go into the decision whether to have transplant or not. Some of the criteria you've shared (and let me know if I have the details wrong) include: you have both stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, you are 66 and live alone. You have seen family members live and die with cancer. You question if you have the physical status to get through recovery of transplant. You also want to consider the mental health aspects of going through transplant.

Do I have that right so far?

These are smart criteria to consider. The good news is that you don't have to make the decision on your own. A critical step in the transplant decision making is an appointment with a specially trained transplant social worker. During the 2-10 evaluation period at Mayo Clinic, for example, you can discuss all your concerns and the social worker will walk through the decision making with you. Learn more here:
- Top Takeaways from "Transplant 101: Preparing for Your Journey" https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/newsfeed-post/icymi-key-takeaways-from-transplant-101-preparing-for-your-journey/

Here's an interview with one of Mayo Clinic's social worker so you can see how kind they are:
- Meet the Expert: Pat Dennis, MSW, LCSW, CCTSW, NSW-C https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/newsfeed-post/meet-the-expert-pat-dennis-msw-lcsw-cctsw-nsw-c/

@dandrew788, have you already met with a transplant social worker to share your concerns? Do you have a designated caregiver to accompany you should you decide on liver transplant?

I was stage 4 liver and kidney failure and was given a very short time to live, the hardest part was all the repairs I had to have before my surgery that took 30 days and being in ICU for almost 7 months acites off the chart 3 years post it’s all worth it I felt guilty afterwards for awhile I don’t know why and was depressed probably from all the trauma I had and learned how to walk twice, You can do this we all have in this group any support you need let any of us know