Happy re-birthday!

[Guest guest]

To Aubrey (and Caroline!) 05/10/98

From the archives of 1999:

From: Aubrey

Date: Mon Nov 15, 1999 12:37 pm

Subject: Introduction

I just joined this group a couple days ago and wish to introduce myself

to everyone else. I've had liver problems since 1981 that were finally

diagnosed as PSC in 1993. At that time I was told I would need a liver

tx in 10 to 15 years. In 1986 I had also started to have symptoms of

arthritis which was diagnosed as Psoriatic arthritis in 1990. After

having an arthroscopy for a torn ACL (which led to the dx of psoriatic

arthritis) GI symptoms started which finally led to the diagnosis of

Ulcerative colitis in 1992.

A variceal bleed in May 6/98 moved me from about 18th on the list to

number one and on May 10/98 received a 'new' liver in London, Ontario.

After 8 eventful days I was out of the hospital and after another 10

days I was home in Ottawa. Over the past few months I've been tapered

down to 125 mg Neoral twice daily, off and then back on prednisone (now

7.5 mg alternating with 5 mg a day), plus Asacol for my UC.

I read a post by Dawn concerning diet and liver disease that was very

informative. I've been a vegetarian for the past 11 years and credit

that for preventing me from having to experience encephalopathy when my

PSC was really bad. I may have had subtle mental changes but nothing

overt or at least nothing that kept me from pursuing my jobs as a

physician and reveiwer of clinical drug trials for Health Canada (our

version of the US FDA).

Eighteen months since my tx sees me feeling the best I've felt, both

physically and mentally, in the past 19 years. I've regained the weight

I lost in the 6 months leading up to my tx. I'm as strong and fit as I

was when I was 25 (I'm now 46). I can't thank my donor and their

family/loved ones enough. Although I and my family have sent messages to

them through the tx centre we have not heard back from them. Not a day

goes by when I don't think about their generosity and my good fortune.

I'm looking forward to reading some interesting postings from this

group.

Aubrey G, MD

Liver tx, May/98