I'm being evaluated for a possible pancreatic/liver/kidney transplant, any advice? I'm scared spitless

Question

i have been IDDM since 1994 and on insulin pump therapy since 1999. the diabetes, no matter how hard i try, is not controlled. i have an enlarged liver, i do not drink, smoke or do drugs. i adhere to a "homemade" low cal, low carb diet consisting of lots of veggies, pork, dairy, etc. about 2K or

Answer 1

I don't know what to say -- that's terribly unfortunate. However, you should definitely speak to a medical malpractice attorney concerning the improper removal of your gallbladder. If you live in new york, e-mail me, and I can give you a list of some of the best malpractice attorneys.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

That is a really tough one. Transplants can be life-saving but they are also risky. I myself would have a transplant as the very last resort. Ask your doctors if there is any other way to treat your diabetes, lipids, heart disease, liver problem, and kidney problem (though you didn't mention what kidney problem you have). Ask the doctors what the risks of the transplant process are for you specifically. Also ask the doctors what your quality of life is likely to be after the transplant. You need to be fully informed about all the options.

You might also want to look into what is going on with your diet. A low-carb diet may not be the best thing with your lipid profile and coronary artery disease (and also if your enlarged liver is due to the high triglycerides). There are a number of books out, written by doctors, about the benefits of a low-fat, whole-foods plant-based diet. Check for books by Caldwell Esselstyn, Dean Ornish, Neal Barnard, Joel Fuhrman and John McDougall. They have recipes, too.

Good luck, and I hope everything turns out well.

Answer 4

I understand mentally where you are at and why you are scared. However, since my case was different, I cannot completely understand your situation. I developed chronic pancreatitis when I was 25; that was last year. My attacks started in May 2002, and I slowly moved up a ladder of doctors until I found one that was world renowned and considered the expert in the pancreas; he has a research facility and about a staff of one hundred working under him. He told me there was nothing else to be done. I would be a doped up (I was on methadone at that point since I was working with a pain clinic for the chronic disease) zombie for the rest of my life. A daunting realitization for someone of 26. Luckily, and this is why I feel I have witnessed a miricle in my life, my Dad went on the web and found a surgeon at University of Chicago. Dr. Thistlewhaite or Dr. T, advised me to come in to see if there was anything that could be done. The reason I consider myself so lucky is that U of Chicago is one of four islet cell transplant teams in the country. He spoke in detail with my previous Dr. and decided that the best for me was to take out my pancreas, melt it down with alchohol, retreive my islet cells, and insert them into my liver. I am now (7 months later) working again full time and I do not have diabetes. I was the first at the hospital to have this procedure done. It was not easy, but here I am. With your diabetes you can get a cadavric islet cell transplant. Now since they go into your liver, my guess is that you will be at least a double organ receiver. It cannot hurt to call his office. This man does multiple transplant surgeries all the time and he is a man of great faith in humanity amoung other things. Go to the University of Chicago website, call them. It can"t hurt anymore than the pain you are already in.

Hoping you can be a living miracle as well,

Liz

Answer 5

Your first new child at 39?? Congratulations! i'm no longer a mom (yet). i'm going to be on your footwear whilst i'm, in spite of the indisputable fact that. you likely are scared, yet whats up. the female physique does not bypass menopausal until eventually it hits 50-60, oftentimes. So if mom nature has something to declare, then you definitely are meant to have the skill to conceive and supply start up until eventually then. relax! It happens continuously:) this is the actual workout consultation of your life (giving start), so while you're no longer in shape, then think of roughly that and get occurring it good now. Congrats lower back. you would be a large mom, you're older so which you're starting to be the endurance and know-how that maximum mothers and dads don't have recently:)

Answer 6

Please get a hold of me. My best friend has had pancreatic problems for four years. She went to the best pancreatic specialist IN THE WORLD, they transferred her islete cells to her liver. She is diabetic free They were honest and told her a transplant wouldn't work well. HER EMAIL IS [e-mail] she said you need to speak with her. Only four hospitals in the country do the procedure; university of chicago, university of southern cal. and one in southern Mo. She is only 26 and has had her enzymes levels over 1400 and up to 2500. This past September they REMOVED her pancreas. They melted it down after they took it out and removed her enzymes and injected them into her liver so she can still produce insulin. I want you to speak with her, she finally is coming around. She is actually writing a book about her experience. She can tell you so much, and give you the doctors name. He use to work at the Mayo Clinic until he started his own pancreatic research lab. She is the 29th person (or something like that) to ever have the procedure done. She was the 1ST EVER to have her own enzymes re-injected into her liver (most have cadavers enzymes injected into the liver. You have a better shot than what they have done to you. By the way, they removed her gallbladder and spleen when they did the procedure. Granted your case is just as sensitive as hers (with your liver problems). I'm sure your better of seeing her doctor, he's the NUMBER ONE rated doctor for pancreatic problems in the world. You need to give me your email address so I can forward it to her. God bless you, I will be praying, I know the physical pain you must be in. I remember my friend was constantly hospitalized with this, in major pain, had to fast and be put on methadone for her chronic pancreatic attacks. She gave up hope, became a total different angry person until this doctor came around. Now she is finally starting to get back to her normal self. Granted, she did have some complications for 5-6months after the procedure, but she came out of it. It's worth a try, right? I'm praying for you this very moment. Email me, k.

Answer 7

I couldn't just sit around and do nothing like my doctors suggested.

They didn't want me to do anything or to take herbs or herbal remedies, but I had to try something - they just wanted me to do dialysis!

This program allowed me to take control of my health. I went from Stage 4 to Stage 3 kidney disease.

It was easy to do and my BUN, creatinine and anemia are all in better ranges.

Reversing Your Kidney Disease?