RE: Re:- blood draw 3 months

[Guest guest]

Ken was DX

in 1999 with stage 4 End Stage Cirrhosis we were told by the Hepatologist at Baylor to get

his blood tested every 3 months – which we did until late 2004. The new Hepatologist at Baylor said as

long as Ken is “stable”

he shouldn’t be getting his blood tested so often and suggested we change

that to every 6 months unless something came up or numbers showed a real

change.

He told us one reason for

less frequent testing is that liver numbers don’t make big changes that

fast (especially in the early stages) but change more gradually over longer

time periods. The doctor told us Ken would

know if something was wrong and could request blood tests at any time. He also told us that getting blood tests

that frequently can take a real toll on veins (scar tissue) making it very hard

on the patient at transplant time.

He said they will get more than enough sticks right before and after TX

and we should work on saving Ken’s

veins until needed. So now Ken goes

every 6 months. We only wished

someone had told us about that before. Ken went

for 4 years getting blood tests every 3 months and the doc was right, his

numbers didn’t change all that much the whole time.

Truthfully, I think Ken is

better off mentally with less frequent testing, he can actually relax and some what

forget without that constant reminder. It also gave his (and our) spirits a lift,

thinking he wasn’t as sick as someone else had told him he was. Everyone (and every doctor) is different

and has to do what they believe is best, not trying to talk you into anything

or tell you what to do – just wanted to tell you our experience and what Ken’s

doc said.

Barb

in Texas - Son Ken

(30) UC 91 & PSC 99

-----Original Message----- From: My son has blood tests

every 3 months.