Yes, a Hepatologist is much better.

March 30, 2005

Yeah, went to new GI/Hepatologist yesterday. This guy was great.

Feel like he knows exactly what he is doing with this disease. Easy

to communicate with, addressed all my concerns. What was amazing,

was this office didn't have me feel out one questionaire. The

doctor conducted the personal interview of symptoms, which I

thought was impressive. Others I have been to, you fill out paper

work, and they look at it, and come in and spend five or ten minutes

with you tops. This guy spent about 45 minutes discussing and

examining. Was much more informative about this disease. I have

either type II or type III , running a few more tests to try to

determine it, but he said that with aggressive treatment most

people with AIH live a normal life span. And the upside is that,

yes, AIH will eventually develope into scerosis of the liver, but

this kind doesn't develope into liver cancer, which is very rare.

As far as it ever going away, he said there is about a 3% chance of

it miraculously going away. Insisted that I just force myself to

exercise, weight bearing exercise, very important with the

medications that we with AIH have to take to help offset the bone

loss issues of taking prednisone, and imuran.

Wish I had been to him first, right off the bat, I think that my

initial outlook on this whole thing could have begun a whole lot

different. I think I have found the right docter for my care. The

only down side is he is quite an older gentleman, therefore, he

won't be my life long docter, will have to find a new one in the

future, but at least I am feeling confident that I will outlive

him. So that is a very upside to this whole thing.

So to those of you out there, feeling like your not getting the best

treatment, find a new docter. It makes the world of difference.

Kelli

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