Re: Worried about my mom

[Guest guest]

I would keep taking her into emergency until the docs finally do something that

makes a difference to the swelling.  With medical care these days, the squeaky

wheel gets oiled.  You don't make a huge fuss, .... they will just ignore you,

I've found.  My 92 year old mother gets a lot of medical care for the very fact

that EVERY time she doesn't feel well, she goes into emergency.  Each time, they

" have " to give her a lot of tests, or else she could sue them and win.

 

--Diane

Subject: Worried about my mom

To: livercirrhosissupport

Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 6:51 AM

My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about 3

weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has bad

knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting worse.

She has elevated them and stayed off as much as  she can. In 3wks she has gained

40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of blood

work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no idea

what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down they

really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open. She has

also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what does

it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my

prayers are with all of you and your families.

                                              Candace

     

------------------------------------

Group Email:    livercirrhosissupport

web address:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/livercirrhosissupport/

[Guest guest]

Dear Candace Rose, Hi, I am Bobby, 46 years old, end stage liver disease from

alcoholism. I am sorry to hear about your mom. When the liver gets sick, it

loses the ability to make the protiens in our blood This protein is called

albumen. Also when the liver gets scar tissue inside, blood has a hard time

flowing. This is called portal hypertension. Those two things put together cause

swelling in the extremities and belly. This is because the cells of our body

cannot hold water very well. The nurses and doctors sometimes call this " third

spacing " . The water seeks it's own level and seeps in to other spaces. Hence,

the term- third spacing. Lasix is sometimes used to get the kidneys to process

some of the water and get rid of it in the urine. It does not always work. My

loved one died in August 2006 from liver disease, and she was swollen in her

belly until the last week of her life, and then she started to get dehydrated.

The often had to do " paracentesis " which is draining the fluid from her belly

with a needle. The doctors and nurses should be telling you this. You mom needs

a higher level of care in my opinion. Take her to a LIVER TRANSPLANT CENTER.

If you need help finding one, please let us know, and we can assist you. Love

Bobby, moderator LCS (DOT)

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:51:54 AM

Subject: Worried about my mom

My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about 3

weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has bad

knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting worse.

She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has gained

40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of blood

work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no idea

what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down they

really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open. She has

also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what does

it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my

prayers are with all of you and your families.

Candace

[Guest guest]

Hi Candace,

I am so sorry your Mom is suffering so much. In my opinion, the first thing

you need to do is ger her to a major medical center that has a liver

transplant program. You can look it up on the internet and find the one

nearest you. Once you find that, take her to their ER. There will be

doctors there who will know how to take care of her. She is obviously in

liver failure, and it sounds like she's in the latter stages of that. There

are things that can be done to help her be more comfortable. If her current

doctors don't know what to do, get her new doctors. Her life most probably

depends on it at this point.

I am praying for you and for your Mom.

Many hugs.............

Diane C. from TN

http://auntdisexperimentallife.blogspot.com/

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 8:51 AM, Candace Rose <

independentwoman_19840803@...> wrote:

>

>

> My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about

> 3 weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has

> bad knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept

> getting worse. She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In

> 3wks she has gained 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er.

> They did a bunch of blood work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it

> should help. They have no idea what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days

> and her legs are not going down they really look worse and if they get much

> bigger they could just bust open. She has also been complaining that her

> teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has anyone ever gone through

> something like this? If so what happened and what does it mean? The dr.s

> don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my prayers are with

> all of you and your families.

>

> Candace

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Great advice, Diane.  Mirrors what mine was, only in a lot more relevant

detail.  An emergency room seems the first step, and being the squeaky wheel

that gets oiled to the doctors:  so often you have to make a fuss before they

really take you seriously, I've found.

 

I take my mom into Emergency often, and sometimes just for bellyaches (usually

turns out to be Gastroenteritis).  There's no point in waiting for a doctor

appointment, as my mom always feels like she's " critical " (sometimes she has

been, like when her heart acted up; .... she's now on medication for that and

her fibrillation is under control, thank goodness.... she's 92, so I just

appreciate every day that I have with her and try to insist that she get the

best medical care possible.  Fortunately, she does have good health insurance,

which simplifies things, but if you're in a bad way, Emergency Rooms are

required to give a person care by law.

 

Candace, I am praying for you and your mother.  Please keep us updated!

 

--The Other Diane

>

>

> My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about

> 3 weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has

> bad knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept

> getting worse. She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In

> 3wks she has gained 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er.

> They did a bunch of blood work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it

> should help. They have no idea what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days

> and her legs are not going down they really look worse and if they get much

> bigger they could just bust open. She has also been complaining that her

> teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has anyone ever gone through

> something like this? If so what happened and what does it mean? The dr.s

> don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my prayers are with

> all of you and your families.

>

> Candace

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Diane, you are so very blessed to still have her with you. My Dad seems to

enjoy the ER route as well. However, unless I feel he is truly emergent, I

discourage use of the ER. We have done the walk in clinic on several

occasions and have gotten just as good care there. It costs less (he has

good insurance but I don't like wasting money, theirs or mine) and it's much

less likely to lead to an unnecessary hospitalization. I find that ERs will

often hospitalize an individual for 'observation' when they could do just as

well at home. I know that varies greatly by facility and location. I'm just

thankful you are able to get good care for her at whatever resource you

choose.

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 4:59 PM, Diane wrote:

>

>

> Great advice, Diane. Mirrors what mine was, only in a lot more relevant

> detail. An emergency room seems the first step, and being the squeaky wheel

> that gets oiled to the doctors: so often you have to make a fuss before

> they really take you seriously, I've found.

>

> I take my mom into Emergency often, and sometimes just for bellyaches

> (usually turns out to be Gastroenteritis). There's no point in waiting for

> a doctor appointment, as my mom always feels like she's " critical "

> (sometimes she has been, like when her heart acted up; .... she's now on

> medication for that and her fibrillation is under control, thank

> goodness.... she's 92, so I just appreciate every day that I have with her

> and try to insist that she get the best medical care possible. Fortunately,

> she does have good health insurance, which simplifies things, but if you're

> in a bad way, Emergency Rooms are required to give a person care by law.

>

> Candace, I am praying for you and your mother. Please keep us updated!

>

> --The Other Diane

>

>

>

> >

> >

> > My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and

> about

> > 3 weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she

> has

> > bad knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept

> > getting worse. She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can.

> In

> > 3wks she has gained 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er.

> > They did a bunch of blood work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it

> > should help. They have no idea what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days

> > and her legs are not going down they really look worse and if they get

> much

> > bigger they could just bust open. She has also been complaining that her

> > teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has anyone ever gone through

> > something like this? If so what happened and what does it mean? The dr.s

> > don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my prayers are

> with

> > all of you and your families.

> >

> > Candace

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Diane.  My mom has Kaiser Insurance, so we " have " to go to the local Kaiser

Hospital,... fortunately a 12-15 minute drive away,.... which is a large health

insurance/hospital chain here in California.  My mom seems to get great care

there, and they give her a lot more tests when we go in as an " emergency " than

when we go in just as an appointment.  Often, her stomach pain is so severe that

we have to treat it as an emergency.  She tends to have chronic

gastroenteritis,.... never figured out why exactly, but it's come on ever since

she had radiation treatments for cervicular cancer back when she was a young pup

(82).  (She's 10 years cancer free now).

 

How old is your dad?  I read in your blog that he's living with you now.  Hope

that's a nice, cozy situation for both of you.  I did the opposite:  moved IN

with my mom!  She's the one with the nice, four bedroom house,.... I was the one

with the shabby rental apartment.

 

I agree, though, and heartily:  if your problem doesn't seem to be acute, but

all means go to a clinic or get an appointment. 

 

--Diane In Cali

>

> >

> >

> > My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and

> about

> > 3 weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she

> has

> > bad knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept

> > getting worse. She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can.

> In

> > 3wks she has gained 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er.

> > They did a bunch of blood work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it

> > should help. They have no idea what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days

> > and her legs are not going down they really look worse and if they get

> much

> > bigger they could just bust open. She has also been complaining that her

> > teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has anyone ever gone through

> > something like this? If so what happened and what does it mean? The dr.s

> > don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my prayers are

> with

> > all of you and your families.

> >

> > Candace

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

hi i was reading about candices mom i am in stage 4 cirrhosis i was swelling a

lot off and on and have been on lasixs and spirnolactone. and about two months

ok i started swelling realy the dr couldn't understand why since it had been

under control but i notice i was not urinating as much has before iin 2 mos i

had gained about 30lbs so he decided to change my fluid pill to demadex 20mg

twicve a day and i have lost 15lbs in 1 week. and feel much better i am also on

a very low soduim diet. hope this information might help your mom.

god bless you and i will pray for your mom

bev, houston,tx

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 9:41:18 PM

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

Hi, Diane. My mom has Kaiser Insurance, so we " have " to go to the local Kaiser

Hospital,... fortunately a 12-15 minute drive away,.... which is a large health

insurance/hospital chain here in California. My mom seems to get great care

there, and they give her a lot more tests when we go in as an " emergency " than

when we go in just as an appointment. Often, her stomach pain is so severe that

we have to treat it as an emergency. She tends to have chronic

gastroenteritis,.... never figured out why exactly, but it's come on ever since

she had radiation treatments for cervicular cancer back when she was a young pup

(82). (She's 10 years cancer free now).

How old is your dad? I read in your blog that he's living with you now. Hope

that's a nice, cozy situation for both of you. I did the opposite: moved IN

with my mom! She's the one with the nice, four bedroom house,.... I was the one

with the shabby rental apartment.

I agree, though, and heartily: if your problem doesn't seem to be acute, but

all means go to a clinic or get an appointment.

--Diane In Cali

>

> >

> >

> > My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and

> about

> > 3 weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she

> has

> > bad knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept

> > getting worse. She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can.

> In

> > 3wks she has gained 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er.

> > They did a bunch of blood work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it

> > should help. They have no idea what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days

> > and her legs are not going down they really look worse and if they get

> much

> > bigger they could just bust open. She has also been complaining that her

> > teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has anyone ever gone through

> > something like this? If so what happened and what does it mean? The dr.s

> > don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my prayers are

> with

> > all of you and your families.

> >

> > Candace

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for replying. The doctors and nurses are not telling us anything. When

she went to the er all they did was blood work and sent her home. I thought they

should have kept her and ran tests for her kidneys and liver. She is having a

hard time walking to the bathroom and I wish I could help her. No one has even

told her about draining fluid I told her after I found out from you all. Her

stomache hurts a lot and just like 3wks ago she finally had a bowel movement

after over a month of not being able to go. That alone should had made the dr do

something. Now she hardly eats, shes so swollen she cant hardly move, and for

the past few days all of her teeth hurt reallt bad. Im just so upset not knowing

what is going on or what to do. Thank you all for explaining some things to me.

Thoughts and prayers with you all.

                                     

Candace

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

To: livercirrhosissupport

Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 12:43 PM

 

Dear Candace Rose, Hi, I am Bobby, 46 years old, end stage liver disease from

alcoholism. I am sorry to hear about your mom. When the liver gets sick, it

loses the ability to make the protiens in our blood This protein is called

albumen. Also when the liver gets scar tissue inside, blood has a hard time

flowing. This is called portal hypertension. Those two things put together cause

swelling in the extremities and belly. This is because the cells of our body

cannot hold water very well. The nurses and doctors sometimes call this " third

spacing " . The water seeks it's own level and seeps in to other spaces. Hence,

the term- third spacing. Lasix is sometimes used to get the kidneys to process

some of the water and get rid of it in the urine. It does not always work. My

loved one died in August 2006 from liver disease, and she was swollen in her

belly until the last week of her life, and then she started to get dehydrated.

The often had to do " paracentesis " which is draining the fluid from her belly

with a needle. The doctors and nurses should be telling you this. You mom needs

a higher level of care in my opinion. Take her to a LIVER TRANSPLANT CENTER.

If you need help finding one, please let us know, and we can assist you. Love

Bobby, moderator LCS (DOT)

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:51:54 AM

Subject: Worried about my mom

My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about 3

weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has bad

knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting worse.

She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has gained

40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of blood

work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no idea

what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down they

really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open. She has

also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what does

it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my

prayers are with all of you and your families.

Candace

[Guest guest]

candace is she taking lactalose for the constipation i havwe take 4 times aday

they me to have at least 4 bowel movement per day lactalose helps get rid of the

amonias and toxins in the liver.if i were you i would write down everything

people told you about and present it to the doctors because there is no reason

for her to be so miserible. i hope this helps. if you ever just want to talk

just yell. i am new at this just been almost 2 years so i am still learning

alot everyday.but its a shame that we have to try to search the answers for the

dr.

god bless

bev,houston tx

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Wed, July 14, 2010 9:03:31 AM

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

Thank you for replying. The doctors and nurses are not telling us anything. When

she went to the er all they did was blood work and sent her home. I thought they

should have kept her and ran tests for her kidneys and liver. She is having a

hard time walking to the bathroom and I wish I could help her. No one has even

told her about draining fluid I told her after I found out from you all. Her

stomache hurts a lot and just like 3wks ago she finally had a bowel movement

after over a month of not being able to go. That alone should had made the dr do

something. Now she hardly eats, shes so swollen she cant hardly move, and for

the past few days all of her teeth hurt reallt bad. Im just so upset not knowing

what is going on or what to do. Thank you all for explaining some things to me.

Thoughts and prayers with you all.

Candace

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

To: livercirrhosissupport

Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 12:43 PM

Dear Candace Rose, Hi, I am Bobby, 46 years old, end stage liver disease from

alcoholism. I am sorry to hear about your mom. When the liver gets sick, it

loses the ability to make the protiens in our blood This protein is called

albumen. Also when the liver gets scar tissue inside, blood has a hard time

flowing. This is called portal hypertension. Those two things put together cause

swelling in the extremities and belly. This is because the cells of our body

cannot hold water very well. The nurses and doctors sometimes call this " third

spacing " . The water seeks it's own level and seeps in to other spaces. Hence,

the term- third spacing. Lasix is sometimes used to get the kidneys to process

some of the water and get rid of it in the urine. It does not always work. My

loved one died in August 2006 from liver disease, and she was swollen in her

belly until the last week of her life, and then she started to get dehydrated.

The often had to do " paracentesis " which is draining the fluid from her belly

with a needle. The doctors and nurses should be telling you this. You mom needs

a higher level of care in my opinion. Take her to a LIVER TRANSPLANT CENTER.

If you need help finding one, please let us know, and we can assist you. Love

Bobby, moderator LCS (DOT)

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:51:54 AM

Subject: Worried about my mom

My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about 3

weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has bad

knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting worse.

She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has gained

40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of blood

work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no idea

what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down they

really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open. She has

also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what does

it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my

prayers are with all of you and your families.

Candace

[Guest guest]

The doctors should give you a diagnosis of your mother's condition before they

release her from the hospital.  If they don't, you should make a fuss (a loud

one) and insist that you want a full diagnosis of your mother's problem and how

to correct it, or refuse to leave.  You may have to make a huge stink and

threaten to sue for medical malpractice if you don't get answers: 

unfortunately, the way they try to rush you these days makes us have to turn

into seemingly nasty people just to get the answers from the doctors that we

deserve to get about the health state of our loved ones. 

 

I know this from experience, coz I have had to make huge scenes at the hospital

to get answers on my own mother's condition.  Once I do, they finally take me

seriously and take the time to give me the info that I need to know for sure how

she's doing, and what can be done to get her better (or at the very least make

her comfortable).  You shouldn't settle for any less, if you can help it.  I

know this is hard if you're not an assertive person, but it could well be what

it takes to get them to give you answers.

 

Does your mother have health insurance?  Because I've heard the horror stories

about how non-insured patients are treated, and am wondering if you guys are

getting the brush off from your doctors just because you're non-insured.

 

--Diane

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

To: livercirrhosissupport

Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 12:43 PM

 

Dear Candace Rose, Hi, I am Bobby, 46 years old, end stage liver disease from

alcoholism. I am sorry to hear about your mom. When the liver gets sick, it

loses the ability to make the protiens in our blood This protein is called

albumen. Also when the liver gets scar tissue inside, blood has a hard time

flowing. This is called portal hypertension. Those two things put together cause

swelling in the extremities and belly. This is because the cells of our body

cannot hold water very well. The nurses and doctors sometimes call this " third

spacing " . The water seeks it's own level and seeps in to other spaces. Hence,

the term- third spacing. Lasix is sometimes used to get the kidneys to process

some of the water and get rid of it in the urine. It does not always work. My

loved one died in August 2006 from liver disease, and she was swollen in her

belly until the last week of her life, and then she started to get dehydrated.

The often had to do " paracentesis " which is draining the fluid from her belly

with a needle. The doctors and nurses should be telling you this. You mom needs

a higher level of care in my opinion. Take her to a LIVER TRANSPLANT CENTER.

If you need help finding one, please let us know, and we can assist you. Love

Bobby, moderator LCS (DOT)

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:51:54 AM

Subject: Worried about my mom

My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about 3

weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has bad

knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting worse.

She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has gained

40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of blood

work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no idea

what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down they

really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open. She has

also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what does

it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my

prayers are with all of you and your families.

Candace

[Guest guest]

I have to say, I must live in a wonderfully blessed area with regards to

healthcare. I have never had to make a scene at a medical facility in order

to assure good healthcare for myself or anyone I love. I have had to be

direct with both doctors and hospital staff, but not ugly. I have never

threatened to sue a medical professional and do not think I would even I

thought it necessary. I would just do it. I don't like threats. I don't

like to get them and I don't like making them. That's just me. I really

feel for all of you who have so much trouble with your healthcare

providers. Again, I tend to forget how truly blessed I am.

Diane C from TN

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 10:39 AM, Diane wrote:

>

>

> The doctors should give you a diagnosis of your mother's condition before

> they release her from the hospital. If they don't, you should make a fuss

> (a loud one) and insist that you want a full diagnosis of your mother's

> problem and how to correct it, or refuse to leave. You may have to make a

> huge stink and threaten to sue for medical malpractice if you don't get

> answers: unfortunately, the way they try to rush you these days makes us

> have to turn into seemingly nasty people just to get the answers from the

> doctors that we deserve to get about the health state of our loved ones.

>

> I know this from experience, coz I have had to make huge scenes at the

> hospital to get answers on my own mother's condition. Once I do, they

> finally take me seriously and take the time to give me the info that I need

> to know for sure how she's doing, and what can be done to get her better (or

> at the very least make her comfortable). You shouldn't settle for any less,

> if you can help it. I know this is hard if you're not an assertive person,

> but it could well be what it takes to get them to give you answers.

>

> Does your mother have health insurance? Because I've heard the horror

> stories about how non-insured patients are treated, and am wondering if you

> guys are getting the brush off from your doctors just because you're

> non-insured.

>

> --Diane

>

>

>

>

> From: Bob Aragon <robwalkingeagle@... <robwalkingeagle%40yahoo.com>>

> Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

> To:

livercirrhosissupport <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 12:43 PM

>

>

>

> Dear Candace Rose, Hi, I am Bobby, 46 years old, end stage liver disease

> from

> alcoholism. I am sorry to hear about your mom. When the liver gets sick, it

>

> loses the ability to make the protiens in our blood This protein is called

> albumen. Also when the liver gets scar tissue inside, blood has a hard time

>

> flowing. This is called portal hypertension. Those two things put together

> cause

> swelling in the extremities and belly. This is because the cells of our

> body

> cannot hold water very well. The nurses and doctors sometimes call this

> " third

> spacing " . The water seeks it's own level and seeps in to other spaces.

> Hence,

> the term- third spacing. Lasix is sometimes used to get the kidneys to

> process

> some of the water and get rid of it in the urine. It does not always work.

> My

> loved one died in August 2006 from liver disease, and she was swollen in

> her

> belly until the last week of her life, and then she started to get

> dehydrated.

> The often had to do " paracentesis " which is draining the fluid from her

> belly

> with a needle. The doctors and nurses should be telling you this. You mom

> needs

> a higher level of care in my opinion. Take her to a LIVER TRANSPLANT

> CENTER.

>

> If you need help finding one, please let us know, and we can assist you.

> Love

> Bobby, moderator LCS (DOT)

>

> ________________________________

> From: Candace Rose

<independentwoman_19840803@...<independentwoman_19840803%40yahoo.com>

> >

> To:

livercirrhosissupport <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:51:54 AM

> Subject: Worried about my mom

>

> My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about

> 3

> weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has

> bad

> knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting

> worse.

> She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has

> gained

> 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of

> blood

> work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no

> idea

> what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down

> they

> really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open.

> She has

> also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

>

> anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what

> does

> it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and

> my

> prayers are with all of you and your families.

>

> Candace

>

>

[Guest guest]

Daddy is 77, will be 78 in November. He is relatively healthy, but has COPD

which has gotten dramatically worse over the past 6 months. He was exposed

to chemicals in the Army, smoked for 25+ years and was exposed to chemicals

in his former employment which have all contributed to his lung condition.

Momma died inn April 2006 and he has lived with either me or one of my

sisters since, except for about the first 8 months after her death.

My late husband and I moved in with my MIL in August of 2006 after she fell

and fractured 6 vertabra in her thoracic and lumbar spine. He was an only

child and her house was more spacious than ours. She fell again in March

2008 and broke her hip. She then had to move into the nursing home and now

lives in an Assisted Living home. We stayed at her house after that because

Terry (my husband) was too sick to move back home by that time. I stayed

there after his death until this March, when I moved back to our home. I

have been so much happier since coming back home where we made our memories

together.

Daddy is so much less healthy now and we really don't expect it to be a lot

longer before the Lord calls him home. He struggles so much with breathing

sometimes now. I hate seeing him like this. I can barely think of giving

him up, but I also cannot bear seeing him suffer. To want to keep him here

to continue suffering would be selfish of me, so my sisters and I are

preparing ourselves for his homegoing, at whatever time that may come.

I am so thankful I've had this time to take care of him. It's a struggle

on some days due to my own health issues, but we manage and he seems to be

very happy and I am most grateful for that.

Diane C from TN

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 9:41 PM, Diane wrote:

>

>

> Hi, Diane. My mom has Kaiser Insurance, so we " have " to go to the local

> Kaiser Hospital,... fortunately a 12-15 minute drive away,.... which is a

> large health insurance/hospital chain here in California. My mom seems to

> get great care there, and they give her a lot more tests when we go in as an

> " emergency " than when we go in just as an appointment. Often, her stomach

> pain is so severe that we have to treat it as an emergency. She tends to

> have chronic gastroenteritis,.... never figured out why exactly, but it's

> come on ever since she had radiation treatments for cervicular cancer back

> when she was a young pup (82). (She's 10 years cancer free now).

>

> How old is your dad? I read in your blog that he's living with you now.

> Hope that's a nice, cozy situation for both of you. I did the opposite:

> moved IN with my mom! She's the one with the nice, four bedroom house,....

> I was the one with the shabby rental apartment.

>

> I agree, though, and heartily: if your problem doesn't seem to be acute,

> but all means go to a clinic or get an appointment.

>

> --Diane In Cali

>

>

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and

> > about

> > > 3 weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because

> she

> > has

> > > bad knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept

> > > getting worse. She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can.

> > In

> > > 3wks she has gained 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the

> er.

> > > They did a bunch of blood work and told her to take lassic for 7 days

> it

> > > should help. They have no idea what is wrong with her. It has been 5

> days

> > > and her legs are not going down they really look worse and if they get

> > much

> > > bigger they could just bust open. She has also been complaining that

> her

> > > teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has anyone ever gone through

> > > something like this? If so what happened and what does it mean? The

> dr.s

> > > don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my prayers are

> > with

> > > all of you and your families.

> > >

> > > Candace

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

hi diane c, where in tn. do you live thats wgere my family are.

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Wed, July 14, 2010 11:14:58 AM

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

I have to say, I must live in a wonderfully blessed area with regards to

healthcare. I have never had to make a scene at a medical facility in order

to assure good healthcare for myself or anyone I love. I have had to be

direct with both doctors and hospital staff, but not ugly. I have never

threatened to sue a medical professional and do not think I would even I

thought it necessary. I would just do it. I don't like threats. I don't

like to get them and I don't like making them. That's just me. I really

feel for all of you who have so much trouble with your healthcare

providers. Again, I tend to forget how truly blessed I am.

Diane C from TN

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 10:39 AM, Diane wrote:

>

>

> The doctors should give you a diagnosis of your mother's condition before

> they release her from the hospital. If they don't, you should make a fuss

> (a loud one) and insist that you want a full diagnosis of your mother's

> problem and how to correct it, or refuse to leave. You may have to make a

> huge stink and threaten to sue for medical malpractice if you don't get

> answers: unfortunately, the way they try to rush you these days makes us

> have to turn into seemingly nasty people just to get the answers from the

> doctors that we deserve to get about the health state of our loved ones.

>

> I know this from experience, coz I have had to make huge scenes at the

> hospital to get answers on my own mother's condition. Once I do, they

> finally take me seriously and take the time to give me the info that I need

> to know for sure how she's doing, and what can be done to get her better (or

> at the very least make her comfortable). You shouldn't settle for any less,

> if you can help it. I know this is hard if you're not an assertive person,

> but it could well be what it takes to get them to give you answers.

>

> Does your mother have health insurance? Because I've heard the horror

> stories about how non-insured patients are treated, and am wondering if you

> guys are getting the brush off from your doctors just because you're

> non-insured.

>

> --Diane

>

>

>

>

> From: Bob Aragon <robwalkingeagle@... <robwalkingeagle%40yahoo.com>>

> Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

> To:

>livercirrhosissupport <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 12:43 PM

>

>

>

> Dear Candace Rose, Hi, I am Bobby, 46 years old, end stage liver disease

> from

> alcoholism. I am sorry to hear about your mom. When the liver gets sick, it

>

> loses the ability to make the protiens in our blood This protein is called

> albumen. Also when the liver gets scar tissue inside, blood has a hard time

>

> flowing. This is called portal hypertension. Those two things put together

> cause

> swelling in the extremities and belly. This is because the cells of our

> body

> cannot hold water very well. The nurses and doctors sometimes call this

> " third

> spacing " . The water seeks it's own level and seeps in to other spaces.

> Hence,

> the term- third spacing. Lasix is sometimes used to get the kidneys to

> process

> some of the water and get rid of it in the urine. It does not always work.

> My

> loved one died in August 2006 from liver disease, and she was swollen in

> her

> belly until the last week of her life, and then she started to get

> dehydrated.

> The often had to do " paracentesis " which is draining the fluid from her

> belly

> with a needle. The doctors and nurses should be telling you this. You mom

> needs

> a higher level of care in my opinion. Take her to a LIVER TRANSPLANT

> CENTER.

>

> If you need help finding one, please let us know, and we can assist you.

> Love

> Bobby, moderator LCS (DOT)

>

> ________________________________

> From: Candace Rose

><independentwoman_19840803@...<independentwoman_19840803%40yahoo.com>

> >

> To:

>livercirrhosissupport <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:51:54 AM

> Subject: Worried about my mom

>

> My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about

> 3

> weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has

> bad

> knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting

> worse.

> She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has

> gained

> 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of

> blood

> work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no

> idea

> what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down

> they

> really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open.

> She has

> also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

>

> anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what

> does

> it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and

> my

> prayers are with all of you and your families.

>

> Candace

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm in West TN.

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 11:33 AM, Beverly Hurlock <beverly_hurlock@...

> wrote:

>

>

> hi diane c, where in tn. do you live thats wgere my family are.

>

> ________________________________

>

> From: Diane Chandler

<diane.chandler.75@...<diane.chandler.75%40gmail.com>

> >

> To:

livercirrhosissupport <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> Sent: Wed, July 14, 2010 11:14:58 AM

>

> Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

>

> I have to say, I must live in a wonderfully blessed area with regards to

> healthcare. I have never had to make a scene at a medical facility in order

> to assure good healthcare for myself or anyone I love. I have had to be

> direct with both doctors and hospital staff, but not ugly. I have never

> threatened to sue a medical professional and do not think I would even I

> thought it necessary. I would just do it. I don't like threats. I don't

> like to get them and I don't like making them. That's just me. I really

> feel for all of you who have so much trouble with your healthcare

> providers. Again, I tend to forget how truly blessed I am.

>

> Diane C from TN

>

> On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 10:39 AM, Diane

<mystery_perry@...<mystery_perry%40yahoo.com>

> >wrote:

>

> >

> >

> > The doctors should give you a diagnosis of your mother's condition before

> > they release her from the hospital. If they don't, you should make a fuss

> > (a loud one) and insist that you want a full diagnosis of your mother's

> > problem and how to correct it, or refuse to leave. You may have to make a

> > huge stink and threaten to sue for medical malpractice if you don't get

> > answers: unfortunately, the way they try to rush you these days makes us

> > have to turn into seemingly nasty people just to get the answers from the

> > doctors that we deserve to get about the health state of our loved ones.

> >

> > I know this from experience, coz I have had to make huge scenes at the

> > hospital to get answers on my own mother's condition. Once I do, they

> > finally take me seriously and take the time to give me the info that I

> need

> > to know for sure how she's doing, and what can be done to get her better

> (or

> > at the very least make her comfortable). You shouldn't settle for any

> less,

> > if you can help it. I know this is hard if you're not an assertive

> person,

> > but it could well be what it takes to get them to give you answers.

> >

> > Does your mother have health insurance? Because I've heard the horror

> > stories about how non-insured patients are treated, and am wondering if

> you

> > guys are getting the brush off from your doctors just because you're

> > non-insured.

> >

> > --Diane

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > From: Bob Aragon

<robwalkingeagle@...<robwalkingeagle%40yahoo.com><robwalkingeagle%

> 40yahoo.com>>

>

> > Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

> > To:

>

>livercirrhosissupport <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> > Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 12:43 PM

> >

> >

> >

> > Dear Candace Rose, Hi, I am Bobby, 46 years old, end stage liver disease

> > from

> > alcoholism. I am sorry to hear about your mom. When the liver gets sick,

> it

> >

> > loses the ability to make the protiens in our blood This protein is

> called

> > albumen. Also when the liver gets scar tissue inside, blood has a hard

> time

> >

> > flowing. This is called portal hypertension. Those two things put

> together

> > cause

> > swelling in the extremities and belly. This is because the cells of our

> > body

> > cannot hold water very well. The nurses and doctors sometimes call this

> > " third

> > spacing " . The water seeks it's own level and seeps in to other spaces.

> > Hence,

> > the term- third spacing. Lasix is sometimes used to get the kidneys to

> > process

> > some of the water and get rid of it in the urine. It does not always

> work.

> > My

> > loved one died in August 2006 from liver disease, and she was swollen in

> > her

> > belly until the last week of her life, and then she started to get

> > dehydrated.

> > The often had to do " paracentesis " which is draining the fluid from her

> > belly

> > with a needle. The doctors and nurses should be telling you this. You mom

> > needs

> > a higher level of care in my opinion. Take her to a LIVER TRANSPLANT

> > CENTER.

> >

> > If you need help finding one, please let us know, and we can assist you.

> > Love

> > Bobby, moderator LCS (DOT)

> >

> > ________________________________

> > From: Candace Rose

> ><independentwoman_19840803@...<independentwoman_19840803%40yahoo.com>

> <independentwoman_19840803%40yahoo.com>

> > >

> > To:

>

>livercirrhosissupport <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> <livercirrhosissupport%40yahoogroups.com>

> > Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:51:54 AM

> > Subject: Worried about my mom

>

> >

> > My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and

> about

> > 3

> > weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she

> has

> > bad

> > knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting

> > worse.

> > She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has

> > gained

> > 40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of

> > blood

> > work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no

> > idea

> > what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going

> down

> > they

> > really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open.

> > She has

> > also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably.

> Has

> >

> > anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and

> what

> > does

> > it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you

> and

> > my

> > prayers are with all of you and your families.

> >

> > Candace

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Are you close the the University Hospital in Knoxville? If so, they have an

excellent staff and are very conscientous with regards to informing family,

etc.

Diane C from TN

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 1:33 PM, Candace Rose <

independentwoman_19840803@...> wrote:

>

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

> and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go

> up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want

> to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good drs.

> Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its too

> late.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It seems to me that if she's in the later stages of her cirrhosis, at the very

very least they should be doing EVERYTHING to make her feel more comfortable.

Maybe there's not a lot of options, but there has to be some. I know it's hard

and frustrating, but it sounds to me like you're going to have to be the

" squeaky wheel " before they're going to do what needs to be done to (at least)

make her more comfortable. It burns me that you have to go through this: I

know how hard it is, coz I have the same stressful situation every time I take

my mother in. In fact, we now take her to Emergency EVERY time, coz we've found

it's the only way to get their attention and get her semi-decent care. It's so

wrong. Healthcare in this country is shockingly bad. It troubles me deeply.

--Diane

>

> >

> >

> > Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal

> is to run some tests

> > and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive

> person but when it

> > comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She

> still hasn't heard

> > anything about the blood work they did at er. This was

> on Fri. Should we go

> > up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that

> they don't even want

> > to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it

> alittle better for

> > her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty

> hospital and really good drs.

> > Now if I can get them to do something before its to

> hard on her or its too

> > late.

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Candace,

I went through exactly what your mom is going through. I had Hepatitis C and

liver failure, and I had a liver transplant. I'm doing great now, and the Hep C

is not detectable anymore. First of all, as everyone has said, you need to get

her to a transplant hospital, or a hepatologist. If she is interested in

getting a transplant, she should get on the list soon. When I had swelling in

my feet and belly, the Lasix and Spironolactone (diuretics) worked for a while

but stopped working eventually. My doctor sent me to the hospital to have the

fluid drained. Your mom is in liver failure and needs to see the right doctors.

We can't say that enough.

I hope our suggestions help you.

Take care.

Penny

>

> My mom is in stage4 of hepatitis c. She has a lot of the systoms and about 3

weeks ago her feet started to swell. This is not unusually because she has bad

knees and they make her feet swell. As the days went on they kept getting worse.

She has elevated them and stayed off as much as she can. In 3wks she has gained

40 pounds of fluid. Her doctor made her go to the er. They did a bunch of blood

work and told her to take lassic for 7 days it should help. They have no idea

what is wrong with her. It has been 5 days and her legs are not going down they

really look worse and if they get much bigger they could just bust open. She has

also been complaining that her teeth hurt really bad. She is miserably. Has

anyone ever gone through something like this? If so what happened and what does

it mean? The dr.s don't know and aren't telling us anything. Thank you and my

prayers are with all of you and your families.

>

> Candace

>

[Guest guest]

Candace,

You can go to the hospital to get copies of your mother's lab test results. She

would need to go too, or have something in writing from her to say that you can

get her medical records. She has a right to her records. Most of us here can

tell a lot by her lab test reaults, although none of us are doctors, but from

our own experiences and learning. You need to get her an appointment with a

hepatologist or at a transplant hospital too.

Penny

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it comes to

my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard anything about

the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go up there in person

to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want to try to figure out

whats going on or how to make it alittle better for her. I live in east TN and

we have a specialty hospital and really good drs. Now if I can get them to do

something before its to hard on her or its too late.

>

[Guest guest]

also my cousin is a nurse in morristown tn maybe she could recomend someone. is

your mom on a transplant list.

bev tx

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Wed, July 14, 2010 1:48:28 PM

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

Are you close the the University Hospital in Knoxville? If so, they have an

excellent staff and are very conscientous with regards to informing family,

etc.

Diane C from TN

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 1:33 PM, Candace Rose <

independentwoman_19840803@...> wrote:

>

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

> and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go

> up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want

> to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good drs.

> Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its too

> late.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I live close to Knoxville and town bout an hour and a half to two hours

away. No she is not on a transplant list because no doctors told her she could

get on one. She didn;t know anything bout it til I told her. She went to her

family dr yesterday and he's getting her blood results from hospital. Shes

calling today to make appt with her gastronologist. All the dr just act like its

no big deal and its all in her head. Like she's making a bigger deal out of it

than it is. They don't want to listen to her. She just keeps feeling worse. She

is sick all the time and she keeps getting sharp pains in her side kind of like

spasms. Now her teeth are hurting and I think one is infected. She is so

emotional that you cant talk to her without her crying. Im doing everything I

can but these dr are really upseting me. I don't like to be rude and usually

agree with what they say but this is my moms life and they arent taking it

serious. I swear if something

happens and I find out they didnt do everything they could there will be a

big scene made. I dont understand if they took an oath to help people why are

they not helping her? She is so tired of being treated llike this that she is

about ready to just give up and if you knew my mom you'd know she's a fighter.

All of this angry towards drs and trying to find one to help is taking precious

time away from us that we will never get back. Sorry to keep ranting on Im just

upset. Hope all of you are well. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

 

                                        \

       Candace 

>

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

> and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go

> up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want

> to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good drs.

> Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its too

> late.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Candace

 

Please get your mom to the dentist..It is important to get there.

 

Hugs and prayers going your way.,

 

Lyncia

Thank you God for this day and for my tomorrows .

 

Love, Lyncia 

 

 

>

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

> and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go

> up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want

> to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good drs.

> Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its too

> late.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would take her to a dentist but her insurance doesnt cover that and we dont

have the money to pay for it. She has been taking antibiotics though. Could her

having this infection really bring her down?  I mean its going on almost a year

that she started getting sick like just a cold and can't get over it. I have

never seen my mom stay so sick. It lasted a good 4-5months. Its was like it

wouldn't go away or as soon as she would start feeling better she would end up

with something else. I would hate to see that happen again because I dont have

the money for her to see a dentist. Thoughts and prayers are with you

>

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

> and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go

> up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want

> to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good drs.

> Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its too

> late.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I believe that the dentist would really help, but I understand not having the

money.  Let's see what the others have to say.

 

Lyncia

Thank you God for this day and for my tomorrows .

 

Love, Lyncia 

 

 

>

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

> and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go

> up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want

> to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good drs.

> Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its too

> late.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Candace, I am so very sorry that you and your Mom are having to face this.

If her family doctor will try to help her, or her GI doctor, she will most

likely get in to see a Hepatologist sooner. However, if they will not;

drive the distance to one of the larger medical centers and take her to

their ER. They will see her and will do tests to find out what exactly is

going on with her. I'm quite sure the hospital in Knoxville has a team that

can help. I do not know whether they perform transplants there or not, but

if they do not, they can refer her to a transplant hospital. They can help

her determine the facility closest to her and that would be the most

convenient for her.

As for the dental issue, if you cannot afford a dentist and she is taking

antibiotics, stay with that for a week or so. However, if she doesn't begin

to get better, perhaps she could call a dentist's office and work out a

payment plan in order to get in and have the issues addressed. I know we

had to do that with my husband and I have had to do the same for myself.

I don't want to be nosy, but does she have Medicare? How about Medicaid?

If she has Medicare and falls within certain financial parameters, she can

qualify for Medicaid as well. It will help with her medical bills, as well

as increase her Social Security earnings each month through Supplemental

Security Income. Contact her local Social Security office for information

and help with filing.

Again, I am so very sorry for all the two of you are facing. You remain in

my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated as to how things are going

for her.

Many hugs.................

Diane C from TN

http://auntdisexperimentallife.blogspot.com/

On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 1:18 PM, Candace Rose <

independentwoman_19840803@...> wrote:

>

>

> I live close to Knoxville and town bout an hour and a half to two

> hours away. No she is not on a transplant list because no doctors told her

> she could get on one. She didn;t know anything bout it til I told her. She

> went to her family dr yesterday and he's getting her blood results from

> hospital. Shes calling today to make appt with her gastronologist. All the

> dr just act like its no big deal and its all in her head. Like she's making

> a bigger deal out of it than it is. They don't want to listen to her. She

> just keeps feeling worse. She is sick all the time and she keeps getting

> sharp pains in her side kind of like spasms. Now her teeth are hurting and I

> think one is infected. She is so emotional that you cant talk to her without

> her crying. Im doing everything I can but these dr are really upseting me. I

> don't like to be rude and usually agree with what they say but this is my

> moms life and they arent taking it serious. I swear if something

> happens and I find out they didnt do everything they could there will be a

> big scene made. I dont understand if they took an oath to help people why

> are they not helping her? She is so tired of being treated llike this that

> she is about ready to just give up and if you knew my mom you'd know she's a

> fighter. All of this angry towards drs and trying to find one to help is

> taking precious time away from us that we will never get back. Sorry to keep

> ranting on Im just upset. Hope all of you are well. My thoughts and prayers

> are with you all.

>

> Candace

>

>

>

> >

> >

> > Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some

> tests

> > and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> > comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> > anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we

> go

> > up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even

> want

> > to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> > her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good

> drs.

> > Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its

> too

> > late.

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Candace, my very best friend in the whole world was like your mom is now.

She was being seen at Denver General,the teaching hospital here in Denver, which

is the big " public " hospital. It is a really good trauma center, and of you have

a gunshot wound to the head or chest, your chances are greatly improved if you

are taken there. But Ardis didnt have a gunshot wound at all, she had end stage

liver disease like your mom. She needed a liver transplant and no one told us.

No one ever told us at all. That hospital is not good for much else after all.

After her social security came in, I took her to a very very good private

doctor. He told us that Ardis' only chance was across the streeet at the

University of Colorado Health sciences center. Since it is staffed by the very

same people who work at the " public hospital " I was sceptical. But I took her

there and asked at first and then later demanded a liver transplant evaluation.

My friend Ardis Lorraine was given a chance for this special appointment! Even

though she was an alcoholic in denial, and in the very last stages of liver

disease, she saw the head professor of the largest and best liver transplant

program in the rocky mountain region. The very first liver transplant was done

right there at CU.

The same doctor whom saw my friend is now in charge of my case. My friend and

loved one was regarded as just as important as any other patient , no matter how

affluent or poor. You mom has not seen the head transplant surgeon at the

transplant center near you, but she should, and as soon as possible.

I firmly believe that Ardis was employed my God to show the way to living a

longer life for those who have end stage liver disease. I am lighting the road

for you today, and it is only because Ardis and I traveled this same road in the

pitch black darkness in the summer of 2006. She went home to be with Jesus on

August 3rd that summer, but there were many important lessons learned. She did

not die in vain, nor do any of us. Please take your mother to the very largest

regional medical center in your state, and when she is admitted, ask for a

social worker, and ask for a " LIVER TRANSPLANT EVALUATION " . Love, Bobby and

good luck.

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tue, July 20, 2010 12:18:41 PM

Subject: Re: Worried about my mom

I live close to Knoxville and town bout an hour and a half to two hours

away. No she is not on a transplant list because no doctors told her she could

get on one. She didn;t know anything bout it til I told her. She went to her

family dr yesterday and he's getting her blood results from hospital. Shes

calling today to make appt with her gastronologist. All the dr just act like its

no big deal and its all in her head. Like she's making a bigger deal out of it

than it is. They don't want to listen to her. She just keeps feeling worse. She

is sick all the time and she keeps getting sharp pains in her side kind of like

spasms. Now her teeth are hurting and I think one is infected. She is so

emotional that you cant talk to her without her crying. Im doing everything I

can but these dr are really upseting me. I don't like to be rude and usually

agree with what they say but this is my moms life and they arent taking it

serious. I swear if something

happens and I find out they didnt do everything they could there will be a big

scene made. I dont understand if they took an oath to help people why are they

not helping her? She is so tired of being treated llike this that she is about

ready to just give up and if you knew my mom you'd know she's a fighter. All of

this angry towards drs and trying to find one to help is taking precious time

away from us that we will never get back. Sorry to keep ranting on Im just

upset. Hope all of you are well. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Candace

>

>

> Yes she has insurance so I don't see what the big deal is to run some tests

> and find out whats going on. Im not a very assertive person but when it

> comes to my loved ones suffering you bet I can be. She still hasn't heard

> anything about the blood work they did at er. This was on Fri. Should we go

> up there in person to get answers. It feels to me that they don't even want

> to try to figure out whats going on or how to make it alittle better for

> her. I live in east TN and we have a specialty hospital and really good drs.

> Now if I can get them to do something before its to hard on her or its too

> late.

>

>

>