Transplant List Evaluation Week - Post

We live over an hour away from the transplant hospital. It was grueling to make that drive for five days in a row through rush hour traffic and be there before 7:00 AM. I couldn't make that commute for work every day!

They took 24 vials of blood from me in one sitting on the first day! I'm glad it was a good morning to bleed for them. I had pulmonary testing (blow, blow all the way out, keep blowing, almost there, great AND STOP), cardiac testing (the adenosine is going to make you feel a little weird. You might feel short of breath, chest tightening) uh, no kidding! Bone scan, CT of abdomen, echo cardiogram, chest X-ray.... what else.... oh, just finishing the 24 hr urine. yay!

The insurance meeting was great. However, I know that it isn't the same for every transplant person. We really need comprehensive health care in this country. You should NEVER have to worry about paying for your medical care when you are as sick as a transplant patient. I met a woman who was a MELD 19 with chronic ascites. She just wants to feel better, that's all, just better. Her ascites does not respond to medicine or diet. She needs a liver.

My MELD is ok for now. As long as my GI varicies respond to banding and my INR doesn't get too bad, I won't need a liver for quite a while. I'll know in three weeks if I'm going to get listed or not. Better to get listed and not need it than to need it and not be on the list. You don't want to show up at the ER with a failing liver and get bumped to the top because you are now Status I.

Accrued some medical bills, lost about 10 days pay, but gained a lot of knowledge that should save my life.

Not a bad trade.