Could you explain why would not they transplant again? Looking at your age, she must be a young lady. Many patients get transplanted twice. Often second time is more successful.
I really don't know the details of your experience, but try not to give up on her. Find out if there is any way to get her a second transplant. Try to make it happen. And let us know how you are doing.
I very sorry to hear that your wife is so ill. I hope you may find some of this helpful regarding your questions.
Her doctor (hepatologist) would have the best idea of her current health and the prognosis for the future. But everyone is different, so no one can say for sure how long someone has to live. Each person is an individual whos disease progresses differently. The best indicator of how ill she is is her MELD score. The higher the number the more ill the patient is. A MELD score of over 40 usually indicates that the person is too ill to survive a transplant. Therefore the time to live is very limited.
You say your wife has hep-c. Is this the reason her liver is failing again?
Again, talk to her hepatologist. Maybe she can listed for a transplant at another transplant center? I know that the UCSF transplant center here in San Francisco does transplants for patients that have had a transplant before. UCSF Liver Transplant Program (415) 353-1888. There may be other transplant centers that will list your wife. Her doctor should help with this as the transplant center will need a referral from them.
At the very minimum her doctor should assist you in keeping you wife as comfortable as possible as her disease progresses. If her current doctor is not assisting both you and your wife please find a doctor who will.
Your should continue to take her medications to manage her symptoms. Perhaps her (HE) hepatic encephalopathy can be better managed with different doses of her meds?
Attacks of HE can be caused by sedatives and pain killers, electrolyte imbalance due to diuretics, infections and constipation.
In patients with cirrhosis, HE is frequently triggered by conditions that cause an increase in circulating ammonia, including gastrointestinal bleeding or a diet that contains high amounts of protein, sedatives and pain killers, electrolyte imbalance due to diuretics, infections and constipation. Because levels of ammonia in the blood and brain are elevated in these patients, the most popular strategy currently used to manage and treat HE involves reducing ammonia production. Traditional ammonia–lowering strategies include the use of certain sugar molecules that are not absorbed into the body (e.g., lactulose) or certain antibiotics (e.g., rifaximin), both of which reduce the production of ammonia in the gastrointestinal tract.
You can't do this alone. Please find medical professionals that will help both you and your wife.
I wish you both the best through this extremely difficult time.
Hectorsf
My advice is to prepare now. Nobody can say exactly how long she has but it is better to be prepared than to be blindsided.
Have you asked her doctor this question? They should be able to give you a general idea.
When my friend was dying from cancer, the doctor suggested she be close to family. She died a few months later.
My heart goes out to you. May she go peacefully.
Hi Chief,
Sorry to hear of your wife’s problems. There are others in here much better qualified to go over this with you than I; hopefully they’ll offer their advice shortly. I think the most accurate picture of your wife’s health will come from her doctor in the form of MELD score; this will probably give the best view of morbidity and mortality; much more so than guessing through internet chatter.
My best to you—this must be very difficult for both of you—
Welcome to the discussion group,
Bill