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What Are The Symptoms Of Liver Cirrhosis?
Question: Hello I have had XXXXXXX Cirrhosis (by biopsy) for 11 years , and have been somewhat stable after a time in 2004 when I had been very sick. My platelets are in mid 50,000 for a year , but I now have Jaundice again,Hepatic encephalopathy again, white stools again , I still have acities, varacies, edema, portal hypertension. my alkaline phosphatase is 152IU/L but my AST is 43IU/L and my ALT is 48 IU/L which really are not high. I am extremely tired now and also have this rash(like sceriosis) on both arms which I never had , I have very dry eyes (like sand in them) which I never had , I don't know if that has anything to do with my liver. well I am now being tested for a liver transplant , but by my calculations my MELD score is low . where do you go from here?
Brief Answer:
Maintain your strength, and wait for your turn, no other way out :(
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I am really sorry to hear about the low MELD scores calculated during your last blood sample draws, but the discussion of 'what next' for patients with low MELD scores is an ongoing and in my opinion a never-ending discussion.
I believe in complete honesty, and so I shall be as straight forward with you as possible sir, without editing any information. The MELD score is more commonly used in XXXXXXX and European parts of the world, where the 'system' controls who should receive a donated organ and who should wait.
As your scores are low, you may not be given top priority or first preference, even if you came before the person after you with a more promising MELD score. 1/5 th of patients waiting for a transplant, unfortunately do not survive. And so I believe in informing the waiting patients what they can do to maintain their strength and courage to help reach that point where they can get their donated organ, and also survive it.
The main suggestions would be :
+Exercise regularly (at least 5-6 times a week): Light exercises, walks, etc; nothing too strenuous
+Take all the medications prescribed by your doctor religiously
+Keep in constant touch with your health care center and provider
+Absolute minimum salt in your diet (preferably less than 1500 mg per day)
+Fresh fruits in your diet
+Fresh vegetables (boiled preferably)
+Fish
+Lean meat
+Avoid eating out
+Stay active and move around as much as possible
Unfortunately sir, all we can do at this point is to try our best and maintain your strength and wait for a donor liver to come our way. There is unfortunately no other way out of this, I am really sorry to inform you this. I too do not believe in the system followed in your country, and wish there were a way out of it, but this is certainly a frustrating wait for many of the individuals on the waiting list.
I am sorry once again, and I would like you to know that you should please feel free to write to me about any clarifications. Please forgive me if I have failed to mention or explain anything in particular, and do write back to me with any such specific questions that you have and I shall be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.
Maintain your strength, and wait for your turn, no other way out :(
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I am really sorry to hear about the low MELD scores calculated during your last blood sample draws, but the discussion of 'what next' for patients with low MELD scores is an ongoing and in my opinion a never-ending discussion.
I believe in complete honesty, and so I shall be as straight forward with you as possible sir, without editing any information. The MELD score is more commonly used in XXXXXXX and European parts of the world, where the 'system' controls who should receive a donated organ and who should wait.
As your scores are low, you may not be given top priority or first preference, even if you came before the person after you with a more promising MELD score. 1/5 th of patients waiting for a transplant, unfortunately do not survive. And so I believe in informing the waiting patients what they can do to maintain their strength and courage to help reach that point where they can get their donated organ, and also survive it.
The main suggestions would be :
+Exercise regularly (at least 5-6 times a week): Light exercises, walks, etc; nothing too strenuous
+Take all the medications prescribed by your doctor religiously
+Keep in constant touch with your health care center and provider
+Absolute minimum salt in your diet (preferably less than 1500 mg per day)
+Fresh fruits in your diet
+Fresh vegetables (boiled preferably)
+Fish
+Lean meat
+Avoid eating out
+Stay active and move around as much as possible
Unfortunately sir, all we can do at this point is to try our best and maintain your strength and wait for a donor liver to come our way. There is unfortunately no other way out of this, I am really sorry to inform you this. I too do not believe in the system followed in your country, and wish there were a way out of it, but this is certainly a frustrating wait for many of the individuals on the waiting list.
I am sorry once again, and I would like you to know that you should please feel free to write to me about any clarifications. Please forgive me if I have failed to mention or explain anything in particular, and do write back to me with any such specific questions that you have and I shall be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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