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heart transplant

My father has had 2 valve repairs (1998 & 2001) & was dx with CHF 2 years ago (& his valve is also leaking again).  He was placed on a transplant list in 12/03, but was recently taken off due to liver disease (he had his gall bladder removed 7/04 & began retaining water, resulting in their doing a liver biopsy).  It has been described as not yet chirrosis, and of a kind that will likely get better over time.  His current heart team is relatively new to doing transplants & are concerned that the risk of tranplant outweighs the benefit.  We are upset because we feel transplant is his last hope & he is young (65).    Do you perform heart transplants on patients with liver disease?  Outside of transplant, are there any other options/treatments available to him (meds did not work in the past, which is why he was put on the transplant list).  I should note that he isn't hospitalized at this time, nor is he on milrinone.
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Avatar universal
Im sorry to hear about your unfortunate circumstance but i know of a product that may be able to help you its worth a try  listen to the testamonial of this gentleman who was on a trnsplant list as well

My name is Richard Giunta. I am 61 years old and live in Freeport, NY. I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy which was caused by a virus. This led to a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. I had a 20% heart infarction rate and was a candidate for a heart transplant. They put me on the transplant list. At age 61 I did not think there was much hope in me getting a heart. They would give a heart to a younger person. I felt absolutely terrible. I was very lethargic and was not able to do anything. I was coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and I would cough up mucous constantly. The doctors put me on a battery of drugs, which made me feel worse, and I quickly lost my independence and my manlihood. I also developed erectile dysfunction. The doctors and nurses said, "you can't do this... you can't do that..." My quality of life was horrible. I was short of breath and could only stand a few minutes, and then I would need to sit down.

By some odd miracle I received a business publication I do not subscribe to, and I thought to myself, "while I am alive, I will try it..." Within 2 weeks of using Heart and Body Extract I noticed a difference in how I felt. I noticed my symptoms were going away. I was not coughing, wheezing and sneezing like I used to. The mucous was disappearing and clearing out. I gradually stopped taking my medications, and got my sex life back. I can get an erection again. I've been using the product for a total of 8 months, and I do not feel such a strain on my heart and stomach. I have way more energy and vitality. I have a quality life again. I can do anything I want to. I do not restrict myself to anything. Whatever I want to do, I do! I experimented going on and off the product at intervals, and have concluded I need to be on Heart and Body Extract for life, as it keeps me feeling well. When I do not take Heart and Body Extract, I go back to feeling lousy. Heart and Body Extract is a natural product, which works! It is the whole formula that is effective due to the careful proportion, synergy and balance of the herbs as a whole. The doctors noticed I was getting a lot better and said, "are you using your medications?" I said, "No". They said, "Keep doing what you're doing, but we do not want to know what your doing." The regular medicine in America is from the dark ages. It does not heal. It is the worst in the world. Thank you Heart and Body Extract. You have given me my life back! I am happy and have a positive attitude. I feel better about myself. I feel independent and in control of my body.

God Bless you Heart and Body Extract! Continue your good work and help others!

Sincerely,
Richard Giunta

It can be found at www.newheartand body.com Good Luck!




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Avatar universal
Yeah right you have been here a long time.  If you have you would know we dont use your little f word here.....lmao to funny.
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Avatar universal
Wow I've been an observer here for a while and want to know if you EVER get over your PMS?  You have to be one of the most negative persons I've seen in medical forums.

tis the season to be "jolly"....So.....

"Jolly the F*** up"

jollynick
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Avatar universal
You are so right and I am sorry I didnt just forget it sooner.  I wish every one here happy heart days.
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Avatar universal
oops I forgot!!
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Avatar universal
I love you all. Please, no more animosity! We're all decent human beings whether new or old on this forum. People are arguing over stupid things. Medhelp might pull the plug on all of us. Let's just go back to our normal routine. Welcome, new and old posters. We'll all do what we do and coexist with each other in peace. Everyone have a good night.


Erik
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the information.  From your response, it seems that unless the liver disease is caused by the CHF (& I don't think it is), a transplant is unlikely.  Is that right?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't think his liver condition is serious enough to require a transplant.  Right now, his only treatment for it is to avoid all salt.  His heart doctor also discontinued amniodorone, which I've been told is damaging to the liver.  The concern raised by his heart team was whether hecould survive the surgery, as opposed to whether he can tolerate meds (unfortunately, he has had to take tons of meds for quite a while now).  His doctor feels of my father's chance of survival for the next year is higher than his chance of survival if he underwent a transplant surgery right now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im really sorry you all are going through this.  I have heard amnio can be very damaging to the liver.  Maybe the withdrawl of that med will help alot.  I know it has a half life of like 6 months.  I wish your father the best of luck and maybe the dr can give you a lot better insight and ideas.
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Avatar universal
Hello im very sorry to hear of your fathers situation.  Several fatctors from what I understand and this is just wht I have gathered which could be completely off bade.  Your fathers live condition could be very damaging to a transplanted heart.  The liver handles most of the drugs that we take.  I dont know exactly what all kinds of meds you have to take after a transplant except for sandimun.  However if they liver can properly distibute or eliminate these drugs it can becaome toxic for the transplanted heart.  Causing it to die or reject. HAs anything been said about a liver transplant?  If they expect his liver to get better then maybe they will re add him at that point int time..
Helpful - 0
74076 tn?1189755832
Hello,

This is a very good question.  First, one key factor in the success of heart transplant is an experienced transplant team.  Yes, we do transplant and are one of the highest volume centers in the world.  Our success rate and survival is statistically very good compared.

Whether we transplant with liver disease depends on the type of liver disease.  Severe heart failure causes fluid retention and congestion of the liver mimicing cirrhosis.  Optimizing the heart failure will help the liver if this is the cause.   If he does not respond to medical therapy, we sometimes us an invasive heart pump called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to bridge to transplant.  Other centers will sometimes use medications like milrinone, dobutamine, and dopamine to treat the heart failure and sometimes bridge to transplant.

Consider getting a secnd opinion at another transplant center.  If you decide to do this, make sure you collect all your records from the other hospital including echo tapes (in addition to reports), left heart catheterization films (the tape and the report), labs and clinc notes.

If you live near Cleveland (or even if you don't), we would love to help.

Good luck and I hope this helps.
Helpful - 0

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