Blog post for EastEnders and spoke to ... - British Liver Trust

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Blog post for EastEnders and spoke to research team

Jahida profile image
16 Replies

Hello all

I spoke to EastEnders research team quite a few months ago regarding my liver failure and transplant journey. We also discussed Phil Mitchell's storyline.

Recently I had an opportunity to write a blog post however EastEnders haven't published it as of yet. However the NHS organ Donation site have uploaded it. It may come up on Huffington Post. Hoping it will all help to get people to sign up!

I've done quite a few radio interviews this year too to help out.

Following is the link!

organdonation.nhs.uk/news-a...

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Jahida profile image
Jahida
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16 Replies
LAJ123 profile image
LAJ123

Jahida,

The producers of Eastenders must have listened to your story because I think it has become quite accurate.

I suppose the last thing I need for my first Christmas post transplant is to watch a very realistic portrait of how I was last Christmas !

The 'everything is too much effort' and the look of bewilderment on 'Phil's' face remind me all too well of how it was.

However, if it educates the public and results in people considering their own attitude to alcohol, then I think its amazing and well done.

As you said in your blog, they also need to make it absolutely clear that alcohol is not the only cause of liver disease, liver failure and ultimately the need for a transplant.

I just hope that all on here have the good fortune get the result that you and I've had and we can continue to give support and encouragement.

Jim

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak

I disagree I don't think they have listened to you at all and phils portrayal has been diabolical, as I have said on a previous post people who know nothing about cirrhosis have made comments about it not being that bad to live with. I love the fact it's raising awareness of organ donation but a lot of people are still biased about donating livers to alcoholics or drug users and that doesn't do any good at all I am sick of having discussions with ignorant people who are making ridiculous comments. All that ever gets mentioned is George best!!!

I have friends who have had cirrhosis through alcohol and even they said not in a million years would they have been given a transplant 6 months after giving the booze up. He hasn't had any complications of cirrhosis it's a ridiculous story and I personally think it's doing more harm than good.

in reply to jojokarak

I agree it's all so quick. Assessment and 3 weeks later a liver is available. So ridiculous I was shouting at the telly in annoyance last night. Plus jaundice he looked orange. Maybe they should have left it longer to be more realistic. I already have people saying 'why hasn't hubby had a transplant yet surely it doesn't take that long'. You have to prove you are committed to stopping drinking I think it makes the process look easy and minimises the symptoms that Hubby and everyone else with end stage liver disease feels. I knew this would happen.

Ignorance annoys me to. George Best died in agony cos he couldn't stop drinking. Hubby has been sober for 18months now and he has to prove everyday that he is committed to this. Plus I get people saying he doesn't deserve a liver cos it's his fault by someone that starts most of her sentences with 'I was so drunk....'

Maybe they should have talked about scrotal oedema hubby has had he for a month now and is probably stuck with for God knows how long or severe muscle wastage or 4 weekly drains.

Xx

retwos profile image
retwos in reply to jojokarak

Well said it's laughable how it's bein portrayed, another low about organ transplant , I totally agree with you

Dulux profile image
Dulux

They will never portray things as reality it's a work of fiction for entertainment, the key is it gets people taking about it, which is a good step, since needing a transplant I've given up my time to promote awareness of transplant, most people I have met like the idea but have never really talked about it, between us on here and the various charities we can make a difference.

Jahida profile image
Jahida

I agree Dulux. I haven't really watched the storyline but everyone has to understand that it is more for entertainment than completely focusing on a cause. There are plenty of other storylines that soaps have as well. The whole point is people will talk about it and you have the opportunity to discuss it.

I apologise for even posting this link here. I feel a little attacked. I didn't concentrate on the length of time someone falls unwell with liver disease and how long it takes for a transplant.

Take care

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak

Why would you feel attacked I think that's a bit oversensitive..... No one has said anything personally to yourself you brought up a subject what is relevant to us all and everyone will have different opnions on how something is being portrayed of course were going to have personal connections to how it's being done as we have all had different experiences of living with cirrhosis.... Just an example of a "soap" doing it right in my opinion is emmerdale and the dementia storyline and I don't even watch it but I have watched due to people's opnions on how realistic it has been done. I think soaps have a duty if they are going to do a storyline then they should do it properly a lot of people watch them and some are influenced by them especially if they knew nothing about the subject matter in the first place.

Jahida profile image
Jahida

This storyline started in march I think so it has been over 6 months.

Liver disease is different for everyone and it is good that transplant is being talked about. If it helps even one person to think about the quantity of alcohol they drink then it's a good thing. It doesn't help us down the bottom fighting this disease 24/7. Whether we suffer from it ourselves or have to watch our loved ones suffer it's still painful so seeing eastenders display it with ease really hurts.

More needs to be said about Alcohol and it's Danger so that people don't need to get to the stage of needing to have a transplant in the first place.

LAJ123 profile image
LAJ123

To all,

The only inaccuracy I could see was that the character wasn't seen to be engaging with alcohol services prior to transplant ( although I haven't watched every episode )

For me it was very true to life.

I went from diagnosis to transplant in just 14 months. After many episodes of hepatic encephalopathy ( Phil also was shown having epidodes ) and just over 8 months alcohol free. I was listed for only two week before a liver became available. A fellow patient had a similar story.

So for me it eerily accurate, right down to the same hospital !

When I talk about my experience, I go to great lengths to explain there are many reasons someone might need a liver transplant. So far I've not had anybody suggest I was an unworthy recipient, but maybe that will come some time in the future.

Jim

Why do you always have to stir things up. You have no idea what our lives are like. You have no idea what we have been through. So everyone is entitled to there opinion.

I said you don't know what each individual person has been through and you always have a negative comments to say. I never said you preach to others or that you didn't know about this condition. You see what you want to see and you can be very hurtful by blaming me for people leaving. People make there own decisions and have to stand by them. I fight everyday and will continue to do so.

I hope you feel good about hurting me like you have I really do. Goodbye

I said goodbye.

Cmon guys. Enough is enough, this isn't the place to criticise or attack.

Everyone with liver disease experiences it in their own way, it's impossible to portray everyone's cause or style of suffering.

For what it's worth, for once I agree with Jim, in that for me(except for the cause), it was quite true to what I experienced. Though I realise that someone else may experience it in a different way.

Be nice, we're here to support each other after all.

Mike

Jahida profile image
Jahida

I really didn't mean for people to leave when I posted this thread. I really kept in mind about people that have gone through liver disease through non alcoholic disease because they feel quite judged and even professionals assume that alcohol causes majority of the liver diseases whereas there are a lot of different liver diseases.

This is a soap. They will not play out a storyline on a realistic time scale. In fact had they done that, the viewers would have lost any interest on the issue. Sometimes it is fast paced to build tension and excitement. People start wondering about certain diseases and start talking about it. Plus, people that drink heavily, this is an eye opener for them.

We all have different stories. Our time from being unwell to a transplant varies. However for viewing ratings, they sometimes have to cut it short but I have to applaud EastEnders for actually carrying out the storyline for over 6 months.

Anyway we are all here with health problems. We have all been through the mill and still going through it. We should be supporting one another.

Poppy I hope you'll come back. Please do not leave.

Kind regards

Jahida

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