Yesterday I had my appointment in the city with my dr at the transplant center. It was just a long day. I had to be up at 5 for the train at 6:50 all for an appointment at 9am. Train was fine. My dad picked me up at Secaucus to drive into the city. The bridge was crazy! We reached it around 8 and were stuck in traffic forever! Finally got to the parking garage at 9:30. I called and said we would be late of course. Luckily we made it up to his office around 9:45.
The appointment went well. Of course he had to say something about us being late and even when we said why I was told he suggests his NJ patients try to get later appointments. :/ I did try but his staff is horrible. But I didn't say that.
My blood work was fairly good. About the same as my last test. So no improvement but it's not worse.
My mri was good. No cancer. No fluid.
I explained my forgetfulness and confusion, headaches and exhaustion. All which he wasn't too concerned about. It's all fairly normal.
I then explained the pain by my liver and spleen and the discomfort it causes waking me up, and how I feel it bulging, he had me lay back and felt around. Says otherwise feels it and that sometimes when you know something is wrong you 'feel' pain... Figured this would be my answer. So I just said 'it's not serious then?' And he said no. So I'll take that.
Overall he was great. I'm learning how he is so its easier to handle. We decided I'll start a schedule. Alternating every 6 months between him and my other dr here in jersey. Every 6 months for an Mri as well. Every year an endoscopy unless I begin to feel pain or cough up blood. And I am going to try and get in the best shape i possibly can because that could help as well. He also believes if I can stay on my current medication - azathioprine and inderal without any flares that I will be able to stay off of predisone. He also believes if medication keeps working and I stay as I am or improve there is a very good chance for no need of a transplant. Ever. !!!!!
Ok excitement over because I want to be realistic as well. He then went on to say of course of it doesn't work I will most likely need one sometime in the future because progression will result in death without one ( his words, I'm not exaggerating here) which we all don't want ( again his words! But def true)
Last night was bad though. I began having the discomfort across my liver and spleen, which turned into pretty bad pain to the point I couldn't even tell if it was that or if I was getting really sick like a stomach bug, it caused nausea it hurt so much. I was even shivering but had no fever. I just got comfortable and slept all night in the same position. Today it's better but I feel worn from the long day. If that happens again I have to call my dr and get him to understand.
I have hopes of staying the way I am. I feel horrible but if I can get in better shape and listen to my body and really stay on track and give the medication even more time who says a year from now I won't be in a better situation? I can work toward that atleast and if it goes another way then I will handle it as well.
I've been very unhappy the past few weeks and it's starting to show. This appointment helped and I think will help turn my attitude around for now haha. It's difficult sometimes. I know how fast things can change. But I am hopeful. It's the only way I can live without being unhappy all the time.
A girl I found online a while ago through cirrhosis sites I've been following her journey, I just found out she passed away about 2 weeks ago. Finding these things out is so sad and really affects me personally now since I have a direct connection but it does make me want to fight even harder. Not because I don't want to die but because I want to be a success story for others who become sick so they will fight as well. The girls I've known who passed from cirrhosis both fought and it unfortunately turned out badly. But I know when I came into all this that is all I saw. An end result of death. And while it's very likely it doesn't have to be. I'm very thankful I seem to have a good shot. I'm very thankful to my drs as well.