My mom was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver back in February. After months of therapy (it was related to alcoholism, which she’s struggled with since I was born), continued AA participation, random urine tests and a lot of work with her doctor, she is considered eligible to start the process to get on the liver transplant list.
We’re starting testing next week before Thanksgiving. Any Dopers out there have experience, themselves or a family member, with what to expect? She’s fairly stable, so my guess is that she won’t be super high on the list, but we’re hoping she will be able to get a new organ before she’s too old to be on the list anymore, whether that includes a partial donation from one of us or a full organ transplant from a cadaver.
Any experiences the Dope has to share? Recommendations? Cautions? Recommendations prior to testing (whether it’s hers or mine, assuming I could be considered a valid donor)?
I’ve never done this, so I have no idea what to expect. Thanks in advance.
No personal experience, but I’m a pharmacist and my cousin had a kidney transplant; my uncle, his father, was the donor. Both made uncomplicated recoveries, and last I heard, my cousin is doing quite well.
That said, it’s not always the miraculous back-to-life thing the general public often thinks it is. A large percentage of recipients continue to be chronically ill, just in a different way than they were before. 
Some of those anti-rejection drugs have dreadful side effects in some of the people who take them, although I’m sure the doctor has told your mother all of this. There are also some heavy-duty psychological issues that can come up in the whole process.
Everyone’s experience is different.
Thanks so much for the response.
I figured it may not be all sunshine & roses assuming she gets one. I guess we just need to make sure we’re realistic about it.
So, even if the donor is a relative, she still isn’t considered eligible until she can demonstrate that she won’t wreck the donated organ?
Pretty much. And honestly, even if that weren’t the deal, she’s been an alcoholic since I can remember. I will happily give her part of my liver or a kidney (assuming I would be acceptable), but my sister and I have wanted her to get help for years. This may sound selfish, but now that she’s stabilized, I need to know that she’s clean if I’m going to hand over part of my liver. It took her almost bleeding out on the bathroom floor to get help.
It took 3 years to find the right donor for my liver/kidney transplant, and I’m glad they waited to find the right donor.
There are problems which will have to be addressed. Make sure she is taking all her meds; I was lax in taking lactulose and the ammonia buildup in my brain caused encephalopathy- changes in mood and the ability to think and remember.
It’s been 20 months now, and the doctors agree that I have had a good outcome. I’m almost back in pre-sickness shape, but I gained weight over the recovery process and have to expend more effort in shedding it. The immunosuppressants have not had serious side effects but my high blood pressure meds cause some depression.
Support throughout the process is vital. Stay close to her; make sure she’s getting good care and taking care of herself; she can do the rest. best of luck for all of you, I hope she pulls through as well as I did.