Saw a top Mayo hepatologist today in consult, in follow-up of my mid-May surgery to remove the rt. lobe of my liver, due to cancer. I developed a hiatal hernia several weeks ago, and have to wait a while to have it repaired...until I am fully healed from the cancer surgery. It is causing me to feel slightly nauseous and affects my appetite. However, this has been a good thing in terms of my weight. After being put on Lasix and Aldactone, I lost 10 lbs. in a week--ascites. I have gone on to lose another 5 lbs., and will try for another 6 or 7. That will bring me to my normal weight. I was told to keep the diuretic doses the same, or even cut them in half--but if I start swelling up again, to increase the dosages.
I asked about hep C treatment and was told it would be considered after the hernia repair. At the time I was diagnosed in '93, they didn't do genotypes...so I don't know what kind I have. I mentioned this, and was sent to the lab for special blood work today. I've been extremely fatigued lately, as I was prior to surgery. For the 2 mos. post-op I felt a lot better than I do now. I feel it is the hep C causing this.
Unless I hear otherwise, I do not have another Mayo appt. until Oct. At that time, I will be put through all the testing I had prior to the rt. hepatectomy. This will determine if I am still cancer free. and how well the left lobe is functioning.
I was reading one of Mayo's in-house publications today, in which it was mentioned that they have the shortest wait time for transplant of any medical facility in the country. The wait time is just over one month! I'm assuming that is after all the pretesting, and being put on the transplant list.
Connie