Help!? 36 yr old, hep c, meld score 14

[Kell3600]

I'v had hep c since I was 18. I have recently been in hospital with liver complications. My specialist has described me as- decompensated cirrhosis of liver. I have started treatment for hep c ( hib ). My MELD score is 14. I have other serious helth issues- c3 c4 fusion, with c4 now showing a breakdown!! Permanent numbness of fingers and toes due to scarring of spinal-cable...  Can anyone help me to understand how all of this will effect my life and or life expectancy??

[orphanedhawk]

I was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis and hep C in 2005. You are fortunate that there are new and better treatments now for the hep C virus.I did interferon/ribavirn treatment, which failed, had a very successful liver transplant in 2009 and then, two years later did interferon treatment again, which was successful. Now I am free of the virus and living a healthy full life. So, what is your life expectancy ? Who knows ? Getting rid of the virus, not drinking alcohol and taking good care of yourself are the first steps to your future healthy life. Whether or not you will need a transplant is something that only your time and your doctor, can help you determine. BTW: I had a live liver transplant, which means I didn't have to wait for a high MELD score to be transplanted.
Good luck on moving forward, and YOU can move forward !!

[flyinlynn]

You can also try posting in the cirrhosis community

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/show/1390

Hector SF is a very knowledgeable person about all this as he was transplanted 2 years ago and is a patient advocate. He is a community leader in the cirrhosis community he will be able to provide you with much valuable information

I believe depending on what transplant center you are with that commonly most transplants are given to those with meld scores around 30 but Hector  will know more about that

Good luck

[SurfsideGal]

Hi Kell. I am so sorry to hear about your medical issues. I can't speak to the spinal problems. However, has your specialist sent you for a transplant evaluation? Please ask him/her about that. You would make an ideal candidate for a new liver as you are so young. Of course the higher your MELD score the closer you would get to the top of the waiting list. MELD scores run from 5 to 40. I wish you the very best.