liver failure, need specialist

[DesparateMom939]

daughter is in liver failure and her specialist, a pac?, dropped her because she was depressed and told us she had to get a psych eval, which has taken me over 2 weeks just to set up an appt, now set for oct 6, intake: and then another month for testing.
now, she's very sick....recurring fevers, aches and pains, confusion, weakness, etc.  what do we do in the mean time?  she has been compliant with her pac, but these things take time.  what if she takes a real turn for the worse?
we really need a specialist that can deal with the probability of a transplant anyway.  she has hep c, and hepatic encephalopathy, and a scarred liver that can't heal itself any longer.  
also, she has refused to take lactulose.  i must say her depression is much better as she no longer has excruciating(sp?) pain from that drug.  she has been taking a stool softener and is pretty much free of the lower pain in her stomach and impactions(???)  for the first time in so many months.  i don't know if this problem with lactulose has anything to do with the fact that she is lactose intolorant.  
with all the help on this site, i am calling tomorrow re:rifaxin(sp?).  this will take some time as we will be turned down and have to appeal.
note, if i had to live in as much pain as she was in, i would be depressed and want to die too.  and that was where she was at.
question is, does anyone know of a specialist in the philadelphia area that is good and would take her with medicare and access plus?
she had a tox screen - clear.  she hasn't had any drugs or alcohol for over 10 months, maybe longer.
anyone?  
i can only get a list of names.  i don't even know if they are surgeons/physicians that deal with transplants?
thank you all for your help and caring.
a frantic mom with a daughter who can not care for herself....can't even manage her daily prescribed meds.

[Bill1954]

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine—

[phone]

[Bill1954]

Ah; thank you, Tashka… I missed that.

Bill

[copyman]

Take her to the University of Penn. Dr Reddy is a top Hepatologist there. Wishing you and your daughter the best.

[tashka]

I think, pac is PA-C, certified physician assistant.

[Bill1954]

It sounds as if your daughter needs a referral to a transplant center for evaluation.

I’m unfamiliar with the term ‘pac’? Can you tell us more about that?

In the interim, if she needs emergency care, you should take her to the local emergency room, and contact her primary care doctor.

I mentioned rifaximin as a potential alternative or supplemental to Lactulose; with her doctor’s guidance, of course. I believe there may be alternatives available as well; she needs to by seen by competent and qualified specialist.

Hopefully, someone that is familiar with the Phila, PA area will offer some suggestions; I know we have many members from the NYC area, but not sure about the Phila area.

Watch this thread over the next few days; good luck to you both—

Bill