My Dr. Visit and What is Happening

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
I spoke with my Internist over the phone (as I requested) last Friday. He loves to remind me of all the things I need to get tests for and additional dr.s to see. I felt overwhelmed with health issues to address. He told me he would order more tests and we'd have the next visit in 3 mos. I told him some things I've been experiencing and he told me to see the specialist for the liver. I have already seen 2 of them and have not been able to get an appointment and one dr. is no longer with the place I go to. Then my Dr. said "we have to get you on the transplant list." I have not processed this yet--I had been thinking in the past that I would not qualify to be on that list with my age and other things (the hoops they make you jump through) and that when my liver fails that would just be the end.

So, the visit has me thinking a bit now. I will get an appointment to see the Hepatologist and see what she has to say. I did see her in 2018 and got a few ultrasounds but did not get some other tests because you need to have someone with you and I don't have anyone--or anyone I'd feel comfortable asking. My brother used to take me to some medical appointments when I needed to have someone with me but he lives on the other side of the country now.

As for the possibility of a transplant I just don't know if I can do all they want done to get on that list and don't know if I even want additional time added onto my life. My liver is not completely gone...yet...and from what I've heard it's a miserable life until death when it gets really really bad. I've heard when you get a transplant you have to have 2 care providers to help you after the surgery...that sort of leaves me out at this point. Also, with covid 19 still around I don't want to go with anyone anywhere. So, I will wait till I get the vaccine before I attempt to address all of this.

Well, that's my current quandry.
 

Ruthanne said:
I spoke with my Internist over the phone (as I requested) last Friday. He loves to remind me of all the things I need to get tests for and additional dr.s to see. I felt overwhelmed with health issues to address. He told me he would order more tests and we'd have the next visit in 3 mos. I told him some things I've been experiencing and he told me to see the specialist for the liver. I have already seen 2 of them and have not been able to get an appointment and one dr. is no longer with the place I go to. Then my Dr. said "we have to get you on the transplant list." I have not processed this yet--I had been thinking in the past that I would not qualify to be on that list with my age and other things (the hoops they make you jump through) and that when my liver fails that would just be the end.

So, the visit has me thinking a bit now. I will get an appointment to see the Hepatologist and see what she has to say. I did see her in 2018 and got a few ultrasounds but did not get some other tests because you need to have someone with you and I don't have anyone--or anyone I'd feel comfortable asking. My brother used to take me to some medical appointments when I needed to have someone with me but he lives on the other side of the country now.

As for the possibility of a transplant I just don't know if I can do all they want done to get on that list and don't know if I even want additional time added onto my life. My liver is not completely gone...yet...and from what I've heard it's a miserable life until death when it gets really really bad. I've heard when you get a transplant you have to have 2 care providers to help you after the surgery...that sort of leaves me out at this point. Also, with covid 19 still around I don't want to go with anyone anywhere. So, I will wait till I get the vaccine before I attempt to address all of this.

Well, that's my current quandry.
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I'm pretty sure Medicare now covers transportation to and from med appointments. Doctor's office might have that info for you, and maybe a number to call too.

If I were in your shoes (and I do have liver disease, it's just not very serious at this point), I would be in the same quandary. I don't think, for me, a transplant would be worth the extra 5 to 10 years - the longevity rate I read in an article about it. You might look into that aspect of it. And, speaking for myself, I'd rather the liver I got went to a younger person who probably has kids.
 
Murrmurr said:
I'm pretty sure Medicare now covers transportation to and from med appointments. Doctor's office might have that info for you, and maybe a number to call too.

If I were in your shoes (and I do have liver disease, it's just not very serious at this point), I would be in the same quandary. I don't think, for me, a transplant would be worth the extra 5 to 10 years - the longevity rate I read in an article about it. You might look into that aspect of it. And, speaking for myself, I'd rather the liver I got went to a younger person who probably has kids.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply.
 
Murrmurr said:
I'm pretty sure Medicare now covers transportation to and from med appointments. Doctor's office might have that info for you, and maybe a number to call too.

If I were in your shoes (and I do have liver disease, it's just not very serious at this point), I would be in the same quandary. I don't think, for me, a transplant would be worth the extra 5 to 10 years - the longevity rate I read in an article about it. You might look into that aspect of it. And, speaking for myself, I'd rather the liver I got went to a younger person who probably has kids.
Click to expand...
I do have transportation for medical appointments but don't want to go in now because the virus going around and I need to find someone to go with me for procedures that I need have done. I believe I'm a little younger than you and I do have dependents so I may want to have a liver transplant I just don't know yet... I have some thinking to do.
 
Ruthanne said:
I do have transportation for medical appointments but don't want to go in now because the virus going around and I need to find someone to go with me for procedures that I need have done. I believe I'm a little younger than you and I do have dependents so I may want to have a liver transplant I just don't know yet... I have some thinking to do.
Click to expand...
Yep, that would make all the difference in the world in my thought processes as well. And when there are people in your life who depend on you, I think that has a natural way of increasing a person's longevity, so there's that, too.
 
Murrmurr said:
Yep, that would make all the difference in the world in my thought processes as well. And when there are people in your life who depend on you, I think that has a natural way of increasing a person's longevity, so there's that, too.
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Thank you.
 
they determined i had sleep apnea and told me i needed oxygen and a cpap at night. with my insurance at the time i couldn't afford it so i had to make the decision to let it go. now i have decent ins. and i can't get the specialist to act like he gives a rip. go figure.
 
MarciKS said:
they determined i had sleep apnea and told me i needed oxygen and a cpap at night. with my insurance at the time i couldn't afford it so i had to make the decision to let it go. now i have decent ins. and i can't get the specialist to act like he gives a rip. go figure.
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Maybe it's time to find another specialist because that one sounds like a dud.
 
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