Re: My First Post- I hate it when people get the ol snake oil treatment

[Guest guest]

Dear erin_brokovich_for_president. your loved one is not the first one being

sold snake oil. This rumor finds its way through doctors offices all the time.

" He can't get a referral because his regular doctor says he is not a candidate " .

First, there are a lot of " regular doctors who are arrogant enough to make that

statement, but in reality, they wouldnt know if he is a candidate for US Senate

or President or a liver transplant. See, only one man can say whether he is or

not, and that man's nameplate says " Head Transplant surgeon, Any University

Transplant program " . But even he doesn't know right off the bat. Not at

all...See, this head surgeon guy doesn't know if your loved one can be a

candidate or not, until a comprehensive exam called a liver transplant

evaluation has been performed,so it is very very unlikely that the rules are

being followed. In fact it is malpractice for a doctor to refuse your loved one

a referral to a higher specialist in the field related to his disease... Liver

disease in this case, and the doctor who treats liver disease is called a

hepatologist, and that doctor works along side a ... you guessed it, head

transplant surgeon!!

Your husband has a serious disease, and should at least have a doctor who is a

specialist in that field, or else you should expect a bad outcome, one which

might have even been different.

The regular doctor is not the one performing a liver transplant, and therefor

cannot make a decision regarding that!

Take home point here- call your husband's insurance company and check if he

needs a referral for a specialist, (all insurances are not the same) if he does,

then ask his doctor's office person to send out a referral to the hepatologist

you wish to take him to, and then go to the appointment, and see what happens.

Remember this one thing, ASSUME NOTHING. EVER. He is alive today. Swelling is a

medical sign, and though it is usually serious, there might even be more than

one reason for it. My uncle lived for 6 years after developing serious

swelling, and continued to drink, HEAVY. He defied every single prediction eve

made. Support groups are great, but even this one should be taken with a grain

of salt, unless there is a low sodium diet in place. HAHA. Good luck, and give

em hell. Love, Bobby... moderator, but not a doctor

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tue, March 15, 2011 10:16:17 PM

Subject: Re: My First Post

Jackie,

He has Hep C (I'm safe) and rheumatoid arthritis and supposedly that makes him a

non-candidate for a transplant. They said that the immuno-suppressant drugs

would cause those things to overtake his body.

Dr. Rise Stribling is here in Houston at The Liver Center at St. Luke's. He has

an appointment with his new gastro doc to see if he can get a referral. I

understand that he cannot get a referral if his current doc says he's not a

candidate.

I have no way of knowing what's what -- that's one of the reasons I'm here on

the board.

Any wisdom would be helpful!

:-)

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> Subject: My First Post

> To: livercirrhosissupport

> Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 7:10 PM

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> Greetings, everyone.

>

> My better half has end-stage liver disease and today will mark the

> ____th time to take him to the ER. (This will be the third since New

> Year's Eve, 2010.) Last time (two weeks ago) was for edema in his legs

> and abdomen and hestayed for about a week. The times before were for

> elevated ammonia. Today, the tell-tale signs of encephalopathy were

> upon us. He couldn't remember my last name, what today's date is is

> (todayis a special anniversary for us) or the year.

>

> I'm really sad. It has been such a rollercoaster ride, this past

> sixmonths. (I think the stress has affected my immune system -- I've

> had colitis, cellulitis in my hand and strep throat, all inthe past

> three months.)

>

> I never know if he is coming home.

>

> I've been told by others his support group that the massive swelling

> marked the beginning of the end. I try not to think about that. He has

> his " affairs " in order. We did that while he was in the hospital a

> coupla week ago.

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> Thanks for listening.

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