-GI Specialist

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

In this group there aren't any questions that are too personal.

In April 1994 I went for a general physical and the tests came back showing

slightly elevated liver enzymes. After a second set of tests showed the same

numbers my doctor wanted me to go to a specialist. I was 50 yrs. old and had

never been sick, in fact, I never felt better. The GI specialist took more

tests (same results) and convinced me that nothing was wrong (due to the way I

looked and felt) He told me to come back at the end of Sep. In Sep he ran more

bloodwork and my numbers were even higher (in the 200's) I still looked and

felt great, that's when he told me to go and have a nice life.

A couple of weeks later I started turning slightly yellow. That's when he

decided to do a biopsy. He never told me the results but he did prescribe

prednisone (he said it would make the yellow go away). Except for the yellowing

I still felt fine, and was convinced I'd get better. A month later (middle of

Nov) I had fluid accumulation all over my body, it was hard to breathe and I was

sleeping all the time, I didn't have the energy to go to work. I called the

doctor's office and spoke with his nurse; she made an appointment for the middle

of Dec. I went to his office the very next day and demanded to see the doctor.

They said the doctor didn't have time for me, so I stood at the desk and told

every patient who came in that I was sick and the doctor wouldn't see me. They

brought me in to see him after a few minutes. He looked at me and made an

appointment for me to go to Baylor and gave me lasix to help with the fluid. I

went to Baylor on Dec 1st and three weeks later had a liver transplant.

From the beginning, I was in total denial, I had never been sick so I convinced

myself that I wasn't sick now. I had been tested for all the heps and they were

negative - I had never heard of autoimmune hep, and it was never mentioned until

I saw the doctor at Baylor.

I wasn't on the Internet at the time and I didn't know anyone else who had liver

problems.

To my own ignorance, add the fact that I had a total imbecile for a

gastro-enterologist that didn't know what he was doing and didn't care. I

surprise myself by being alive.

If given the opportunity, I will always strongly suggest that people go to a

medical center to be evaluated. Had I gone to Baylor as soon as my first test

results were in, they would have done a biopsy and begun treatment immediately.

I can't say for sure that the outcome would be any different but at least I

would have known that the doctor gave it his best.

Would I rather have my own liver? YES. Having had the transplant do I have a

good quality of life? YES, without a doubt.

There are plenty of idiot doctors out there, and if I can help to point the way

for even one other person to get competent medical treatment - well, it makes me

happy.

I try to think back to try to figure out what initially went wrong, or if there

were any other signs, but no luck. Hopefully, as more doctors become familiar

with AIH, there will be a cure.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

Sorry this is soooo long,

---

Barbara Ann

AIH transplant recipient

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