Re: Compensated liver disease versus decompensated

[Guest guest]

Hi! All .. it's been a long time since my last post, but I try to keep up with

everyone. Just had to respond .. especially about the Transplant Institute here

in Memphis. My husband had his transplant there Aug. 5, 2008.. and is doing SO

well. And yes.. the same team that handled Steve Jobs!

Diane - I think you are here in TN.. so PLEASE - if you decide to come here,

contact me. Every person that we met is so wonderful and caring. We got amazing

care and could not have been more pleased.

You can find me at dottygiusti@....

Everyone take care.

Dotty (for wonderfully healthy husband Jim)

> > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Hi, everybody. I want to clarify for some newcomers the difference

> > between

> > > > compensated liver disease and decomopensated. When a person is

> > diagnosed

> > > > with cirrhosis, the diagnosis itself is no indicater of the total

> > picture.

> > > > It would be no different than if the doctor told you that you had

> > cancer.

> > > > Cancer? What kind of cancer? What stage of cancer... you get the

> > picture, a

> > > > quick google search can find for you the least bad and the worst bad

> > kind of

> > > > cancer to be told that you have. It is not as quite so simple with

> > liver

> > > > disease, but we can make it so with some simple explanations and tools.

> > The

> > > > tools are MELD score and Child Turcotte Pugh score. Both of these

> > simple

> > > > scores can give you and your doctor a very quick glimpse of how sick

> > you

> > > > are. Jackie posted today that her dear husband is in the hospital and

> > has a

> > > > MELD score of 26... well 26 is getting up there. I truly believe that

> > he

> > > > will be getting a liver pretty quick now. All of his other ducks are in

> > a

> > > > row, and they have been to HELL and back to please the surgical team

> > for

> > > > this surgery.

> > > > The Childs score goes by a combination of complications and blood test

> > and

> > > > not by blood test alone, so it is more subjective. The score increases

> > for

> > > > ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy.

> > > >

> > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child-Pugh_score

> > > >

> > > > http://www.mayoclinic.org/meld/mayomodel6.html

> > > >

> > > > Decompensated liver disease is when the person develops a major

> > > > complication. These include ascites or bleeding varicies or hepatic

> > > > encephalopathy or hepatorenal syndrome, or hepatopulmonary syndrome. At

> > this

> > > > point, it is prudent to get a referral for a liver transplant.

> > > > In the case of alcoholic cirrhosis, a 6 month to two year period of

> > > > sobriety is required not only to prove to the team that you are serious

> > > > about quitting drinking

> > > > but also to either improve or get worse. Most patients improve, but

> > some

> > > > get worse and require a transplant soon. Some never make it to the

> > point of

> > > > transplant, and die.

> > > >

> > > > In the case of compensated liver disease, a person can live a very long

> > > > time if the original cause of the disease is stopped, either by

> > lifestyle

> > > > changes or by treatment in the case of Hep C.

> > > >

> > > > So, when we say that a person can live a long long time with liver

> > disease,

> > > > this is a true statement, but once signs of liver failure begin to show

> > > > up,(complications) it is usually only a matter of time before the

> > person is

> > > > very very sick and must either seek a transplant or hospice care for

> > end of

> > > > life. These seem to be the only two really reasonable choices.

> > > >

> > > > Cirrhosis is the end stage of all liver diseases, so it is oten called

> > end

> > > > stage liver disease at most transplant centers.

> > > > End stage liver disease is not always by itself a death sentence... in

> > fact

> > > > for most people with ESLD, they die from some other complication or

> > > > infection and not the end stage liver disease itself. It is no picnic,

> > but

> > > > it need not stop a person from going on with their lives. My opinion is

> > that

> > > > a person can extend thier time by abstaining from alcohol, and eating

> > as

> > > > healthy a diet as possible and keeping a positive attitude.

> > > >

> > > > Just remember- compensated versus decompensated... there is a big

> > > > difference.

> > > >

> > > > Love, Bobby

> > > >

> > > >