| Author |
Message |
Anxiously Waiting
Member
Username: Jo11287
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2012
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 04:35 pm: | 
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Hi All,
I'm very new to this, so any advice I can get would be most appreciated.
My Dad is currently waiting for a liver transplant. He is diagnosed with NASH. His current MELD Score is a 27. This past week, he really took a turn for the worse. He went to the emergency room in NJ on Monday 3/19 and the hospital discovered a large bleeding ulcer on one of his intestines. Upon further research, I found out ulcers like this are commonly from liver disease.
We almost lost him on Monday night. The ulcer started bleeding again, but the doctors managed to stop it. He was transferred to his NY Hospital this morning (3/22). He is currently stable but is still on a breathing and feeding tube. He is highly sedated to keep him calm and give the ulcer time to heal. I'm sure his encephalopathy will be back terribly when the sedation drugs start to wear off. His legs are completely swollen and have been for months. The doctor in the emergency room in NJ said each of his legs must weigh about 40 pounds with all the additional water.
Does anyone have any information on what MELD Score NY patients typically need to have to get a transplant? We almost lost him this week. I don't how much longer he can go on like this.
Any advice or help is greatly appreciated. |
ono
Member
Username: Ono
Post Number: 156
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 07:30 pm: |
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Although I can't help you about NY, it has more to do than just MELD score.
The liver has to be a match.
Is there any possibility of a live liver transplant ? In this case you, or another family member or friend, could donate a portion of you liver, and he would not have to wait for one to become available.
My daughter was my donor. We are both doing great.
Good luck. |
Anxiously Waiting
Member
Username: Jo11287
Post Number: 3
Registered: 03-2012
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2012 - 08:53 am: |
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Thanks for your response.
Our first thought was live donation. However, because of my Dad's large size (he is about 6'3) his Liver Doctor felt that a live donation would not work. It looks like he needs a whole one. |
ono
Member
Username: Ono
Post Number: 158
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2012 - 07:18 pm: |
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Not even if it's from a large person?
I'm no surgeon but I know they take part of the liver from the donor and the liver grows. My daughter donated 66% of her liver to me but we are close in size, actually I'm a little smaller.
Good luck~ |
health journey
Member
Username: Health_journey
Post Number: 57
Registered: 04-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2012 - 06:50 pm: |
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All the things that you mentioned happened to your dad happened to me in 2009. I had NASH, the bleeding ulcer, encephalopathy, high meld score. I actually went into a coma several days. All of that brought me up high on the liver list and I had a liver within 3 months. That was 2 1/2 years ago and I am doing well. Just wanted to let you know he can survive this. My transplant was in NJ.
Liver Transplant 10/25/2009
UMDNJ |
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A+ willing donor
Member
Username: Crazydave0866
Post Number: 19
Registered: 12-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2012 - 08:55 pm: |
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I would be willing to be tested. I am 5' 11' and weigh 210 so I might be tall enough to be a living donor. I am A+ and ever since our friend's child was saved by a living donor have wanted to do likewise. Contact me at EDITED OUT . Have a great day and I hope that your dad is hanging in there ok.
David |
Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 17287
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2012 - 07:09 am: |
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Dear Crazy Dave
This is not a website to promote yourself to donate your organs. I would not take anyone seriously unless they worked with an agency that specializes in this service.
I am not saying that Dave is not genuine with his offer but if DAVE really wants to donate part of his liver he should go about it the safe and correct route.
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ono
Member
Username: Ono
Post Number: 159
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2012 - 06:02 pm: |
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Hostess Rise:
Is there such an agency ?
I'd be interested in knowing of one, if it's exists.
Thanks~ |
Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 17289
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2012 - 06:10 pm: |
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ONO
If someone wants to donate their organ it would be wise to contact their local organ procurement office. First I would contact a transplant center to start.
Perhaps someone on here has more information.
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ono
Member
Username: Ono
Post Number: 160
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2012 - 10:49 pm: |
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I saw a video on utube about a man who had 80 people offer to be a living donor for him, when his story was covered by a local newspaper.
In my opinion if more people even knew about this option, there'd be less people dying while waiting for a cadaveric liver.
Forums do seem like one way to get the word out there, although of course it can't exactly be condoned for reasons you've mentioned. |
A+ willing donor
Member
Username: Crazydave0866
Post Number: 20
Registered: 12-2011
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2012 - 10:55 pm: |
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Yeah! Sure you could contact such an agency - Hostess but I have been told that they do not accept non directed donations, meaning unless you have a relationship with the person most facilities won't even look at someone as a donor. So I am looking to make a personal connection and get to know someone to make it a personal gift - not something anonymous. And what is wrong with me trying to make a connection on this website, which after all is a logical place where I could meet someone who does need a living donor? Wouldn't that really make me a transplant buddy? Anyone agree? |
ono
Member
Username: Ono
Post Number: 161
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 07:46 pm: |
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I'd like to see more live liver transplants.
A forum is one place to connect with people on the other hand since all are strangers, one never knows who is sincere and who is not. |
thhout
Member
Username: Thhout
Post Number: 11
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Friday, March 30, 2012 - 02:16 pm: |
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I'm with you Ono. I'd love to see as many transplants performed as possible. I also think maybe there should be a safe way designed do this. A registry of some kind. Something similar to to the bone marrow registry.
| Liver transplant. Transplant. Date: 6-22-10, The Thomas Starzel Transplant Institute @ University of Pittsburgh Medical Center |
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ono
Member
Username: Ono
Post Number: 162
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Friday, March 30, 2012 - 06:59 pm: |
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I had a living related donor transplant, my daughter was my donor.
Can't say for sure, but I've had no rejection episodes and other than a bile duct issue, no complications.
There is ongoing research at UCSF about related donor liver tp recipients going off Immune Suppressions altogether.
If live liver transplantation were more common in the US, we would not have people dying waiting on a liver, or even having to wait while they become sicker and sicker. |
A+ willing donor
Member
Username: Crazydave0866
Post Number: 21
Registered: 12-2011
| | Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 - 10:29 pm: |
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Yes, if more people knew more people could be saved. Let people know that there are people like me who are wanting to donate to someone that we have made a connection with and have them contact me.
David |
