Re: Steatohepatitis *Judie*

[Guest guest]

Umm..

who told her the transplant would only buy her a few years..? I have

been taking care of liver transplant patients that are 5, 10, 15, 20

years out.. antirejection drugs have improved tremendously.. if her

hepatologist is selling a transplant as a short-term fix, she needs to

seek a new transplant center. Also, I don't know how willing she is

to travel, but our transplant candidates often get organs fairly

quickly once they get on the list.. plus we have the best transplant

teams in the nation here in the texas medical center. Not to mention,

the nurses that work Dunn4 West are wonderful ladies, for the most

part (that's my floor, lol).

Just my .02-

Hugs,

Liane

> Some of the changes in the liver tissue caused by steatohepatitis

can, in

> rare cases, lead to eventual cirrhosis after many years >>>>>

>

> True......Mikes cousin is now on the liver transplant list for this

very

> condition. If she had weight loss surgery 10 yrs ago she wouldnt be

in such

> poor health right now. She is very obese too. (150 lbs overweight)

> Sadly, the liver transplant will not save her life but it will give

her

> extra time.....a few yrs if shes lucky. We dont expect she will

even get

> close to getting the transplant becuz there is a shortage of

livers.....

>

> Judie

[Guest guest]

Umm..

who told her the transplant would only buy her a few years..? I have

been taking care of liver transplant patients that are 5, 10, 15, 20

years out.. antirejection drugs have improved tremendously.. if her

hepatologist is selling a transplant as a short-term fix, she needs to

seek a new transplant center. Also, I don't know how willing she is

to travel, but our transplant candidates often get organs fairly

quickly once they get on the list.. plus we have the best transplant

teams in the nation here in the texas medical center. Not to mention,

the nurses that work Dunn4 West are wonderful ladies, for the most

part (that's my floor, lol).

Just my .02-

Hugs,

Liane

> Some of the changes in the liver tissue caused by steatohepatitis

can, in

> rare cases, lead to eventual cirrhosis after many years >>>>>

>

> True......Mikes cousin is now on the liver transplant list for this

very

> condition. If she had weight loss surgery 10 yrs ago she wouldnt be

in such

> poor health right now. She is very obese too. (150 lbs overweight)

> Sadly, the liver transplant will not save her life but it will give

her

> extra time.....a few yrs if shes lucky. We dont expect she will

even get

> close to getting the transplant becuz there is a shortage of

livers.....

>

> Judie

[Guest guest]

Liane,

from what I know from talking to him, she is in very bad shape and there is

a list a mile long ahead of her. She is bad enough now to where she cant

think or talk right sometimes.

I will pass on this information in hopes that something else can be

done....shes going thru the U of W which is supposedly one of the best but I

dont know that much about about it. Were you taking care of patients with

NASH?

Judie

[Guest guest]

Liane,

from what I know from talking to him, she is in very bad shape and there is

a list a mile long ahead of her. She is bad enough now to where she cant

think or talk right sometimes.

I will pass on this information in hopes that something else can be

done....shes going thru the U of W which is supposedly one of the best but I

dont know that much about about it. Were you taking care of patients with

NASH?

Judie

[Guest guest]

Judy,

I have taken care of preop transplant patients with EVERYTHING.. If

She is yellow and confused, she *ought* to be higer up on the list..

Make sure she takes the lactulose, though.. I know the diarrhea sucks,

but that stuff pulls the ammonia out of the blood and keeps them less

confused. Another option until transplant might be to have her doctor

contact Dr. Risa Ghalib at Methodist Hospital in Houston- she is using

dialysis in a selective way on really bad liver diseases, and the

results are really good so far.. and it would not hurt to do some

internet research about transplant centers.. Methodist (and

Memorial Hermann)has many international transplant patients, and many

people choose Houston because there are 3 top 100 hospitals there

doing transplants.. plus the high population and proactive Organ donor

programs here mean that we can generally meet the needs of our

patients on our lists. Tell your brother to research all transplant

centers nationwide, and email the liver coordinators at each facility

and ask questions.. tell him that the only " stupid " question is the

one not asked.. and its his right to seek the best healthcare

available. I wish you & your family lots of luck, & keep me updated,

OK?

Hugs,

Liane

> Liane,

> from what I know from talking to him, she is in very bad shape and

there is

> a list a mile long ahead of her. She is bad enough now to where she

cant

> think or talk right sometimes.

> I will pass on this information in hopes that something else can be

> done....shes going thru the U of W which is supposedly one of the

best but I

> dont know that much about about it. Were you taking care of

patients with

> NASH?

>

> Judie

[Guest guest]

Judy,

I have taken care of preop transplant patients with EVERYTHING.. If

She is yellow and confused, she *ought* to be higer up on the list..

Make sure she takes the lactulose, though.. I know the diarrhea sucks,

but that stuff pulls the ammonia out of the blood and keeps them less

confused. Another option until transplant might be to have her doctor

contact Dr. Risa Ghalib at Methodist Hospital in Houston- she is using

dialysis in a selective way on really bad liver diseases, and the

results are really good so far.. and it would not hurt to do some

internet research about transplant centers.. Methodist (and

Memorial Hermann)has many international transplant patients, and many

people choose Houston because there are 3 top 100 hospitals there

doing transplants.. plus the high population and proactive Organ donor

programs here mean that we can generally meet the needs of our

patients on our lists. Tell your brother to research all transplant

centers nationwide, and email the liver coordinators at each facility

and ask questions.. tell him that the only " stupid " question is the

one not asked.. and its his right to seek the best healthcare

available. I wish you & your family lots of luck, & keep me updated,

OK?

Hugs,

Liane

> Liane,

> from what I know from talking to him, she is in very bad shape and

there is

> a list a mile long ahead of her. She is bad enough now to where she

cant

> think or talk right sometimes.

> I will pass on this information in hopes that something else can be

> done....shes going thru the U of W which is supposedly one of the

best but I

> dont know that much about about it. Were you taking care of

patients with

> NASH?

>

> Judie

[Guest guest]

thanks Liane, I will forward all information to him in the morning.....

I wonder if she is considered too far gone? She was told she had to remain

on the list and in order.....other people are ahead of her as unfortuate as

it sounds. On the other hand how will her new liver handle being obese?

Seems without the wls she is doomed anyway? Her husband had to quit his

job and work from home as she can not be left alone anymore......she cant

drive either becuz she doesnt know half the time where in the heck she is!

I will let you know what I find out.....asap

thanks again

hugs, Judie

[Guest guest]

thanks Liane, I will forward all information to him in the morning.....

I wonder if she is considered too far gone? She was told she had to remain

on the list and in order.....other people are ahead of her as unfortuate as

it sounds. On the other hand how will her new liver handle being obese?

Seems without the wls she is doomed anyway? Her husband had to quit his

job and work from home as she can not be left alone anymore......she cant

drive either becuz she doesnt know half the time where in the heck she is!

I will let you know what I find out.....asap

thanks again

hugs, Judie