? about liver transplants & AIH

April 23, 2003

....... You must believe that many more people live long lives when

AIH is successfully treated.... transplant is NOT the norm.

People are transplanted because 1) the disease was discovered after

significant damage has already been done. 2) they have had AIH for a

very long time 3) treatment didn't work (this is true in a small % of

patients. ) But all in all if treated early and correctly a transplant

may never be needed. By early, mean the disease has not caused so much

damage as not to respond to treatment.

One coul have a case say for 10 yrs before Dx and it may not have

destroyed

too many cells yet.

Of course each of us is different so we react to treatment

differently....and even the treatment may vary.

One can live with as much as 85% of his liver gone....so transplant is

truly the last option.

You are right about one thing it is downright silly to worry about

something that may never hapen and if it does it is so far in the future

that you may get hit by a bus before hand.

Besides I'm sure that those of us who have been transplanted will agree

that the procedure is definitely not the end of the world...even Patty,

who needs another but not because of AIH.. Post transplant one's quality

of life is almost immediately enhanced many fold. The success rate pof

transplatation is now 90% or more. (The Cleveland Clinic is about 95%

now..

Transplantation is something that most of us should put way in the

backof our mind and absolutely not to worry about.

Keep on keeping on , darlin'. Every thing going to be OK.

When my time comes, I plan on being out of town where they can't find

me.

love you jerry

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