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22-year old alchoholic denied Liver Transplant.

40 replies

Frasersmum123 · 21/07/2009 19:23

here

I think its extremely sad that this young man died, but I can totally see where the DR's are coming from.

OP posts:
ilovemydogandmrobama · 21/07/2009 22:49

Oh, I see. so his liver was so damaged that it didn't have any chance of regeneration. Poor kid.

hazygirl · 22/07/2009 11:32

as a mum of a 24 year old son who has been in hosspital with liver failure ,he calls it enjoying himself ,i wish prices of alcohol was pushed up,and pray one day it wont be me who ends up losing her son.
my ds has been on tablets for three months with no drinking and as soon as he comes off them he drinks heavy again,he says hes not an alcoholic.
my heart goes out to family

shivster1980 · 22/07/2009 13:44

My Dad died last year, he was 62.

He had a liver transplant in 2004, he was not an alcoholic and had long periods of self-imposed abstinence in later life but did drink socially until his liver cirrosis was diagnosed. In his mid teens until mid 30s Dad binge drank with mates in the pub. My mother and to some extent the doctors blame the eventual state of his liver on his heavy drinking in early life.

Rest in Peace Dad.

I feel deeply saddened by this story and so sorry for the family of this young man. How broken hearted he must have been to drink himself to death by age 22.

Rest in peace Gary.

noddyholder · 22/07/2009 13:48

I think they should have given him a chance tbh.the criteria are that you need to live independently for at least 6 months I think alcohol free.he couldn't leave hospital so couldn't do it.I have had kidney failure twice and 2 transplants and I think that makes you value your health and your life above everything.He should have had the chance to change and learn. He was young everyone makes mistakes

expatinscotland · 22/07/2009 16:49

it may have had nothing to do with his not being given a 'chance'. we don't know. he may have not been a candidate for liver transplant at all because he was too ill, there may not have been a suitable donor available, etc.

Northernlurker · 22/07/2009 18:46

But noddy - why should a doctor agree to put a healthy liver in a very ill man who has not demonstrated, for whatever reason, any ability at all to comply with an abstinent regime? When the waiting list is made up of people who are not so acutely ill and have demonstrated that will to preserve themselves? It would have been impossible to give him a chance without denying that to somebody else and whilst you obviously have absolutely the right priority on your life and health that isn't the case for all patients. A significant minority of patients basically destroy their transplants through non-compliance and for every person who knackers their nice new organ because they can't break their old life patterns or won't take their medications or do their blood tests, there is one poor bugger still on dialysis hoping for a life changing call. I expect his doctors did want to give him a chance, just couldn't do so at the expense of somebody else's life?

noddyholder · 22/07/2009 18:59

I thought his mum said and his doctor on news that there was no way he could ever demonstrate abstinence as he wasn't well enough to go home and do it.Might have misheard.

noddyholder · 22/07/2009 19:01

They would have had to transplant him and then ask him not to drink I suppose.It would have involved huge faith and trust as you say he may have been non compliant once he was 'well'.

Northernlurker · 22/07/2009 19:06

And of course what we don't know is how many times he hadpromised his family or doctors etc that he would stop drinking before he ended up in hospital in crisis? The background to his case would have played a big part in the decision I think. It is terrible though, he must have been so frightened

Hazygirl - sorry to read about your son, I hope he can come to a better understandi g of his illness soon and recover.

noddyholder · 22/07/2009 19:18

it is so sad.But that toxic feeling which I am sure is similar to renal failure is so awful and all consuming it gets into every bit of you and I suppose having been there I really feel for him.

Northernlurker · 22/07/2009 19:23

No it isn't something you'd wish on anyone is it? How long have you been transplanted now? Have you had the information about not having your tacrolimus dose accidentally switched from the twice a day stuff to the slow release stuff? There's a safety alert about it at the moment.

noddyholder · 22/07/2009 20:25

Hi NL I am on transplant 2!One in 1985 and another in 2000 anniversary next week!I had to stop tacrolimus after 18 months as I had terrible neuro side effects.i am currently back on my old regime of azathioprine and prednisolone and feel great.I can't seem to tolerate the more hi tech drugs and I agreed with the docs that I would take my chances with the weaker type and have at least some good years All good so far have everything crossed all teh time!

KIMItheThreadSlayer · 22/07/2009 20:45

How much do you have to drink to write off a liver by the age of 22?

George Best should never have been given another liver IMO

Northernlurker · 22/07/2009 21:10

Sounds like the regime works for you Noddy - Happy anniversary

noddyholder · 22/07/2009 21:12

Thanks NL every day a bonus.

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