Blood pressure

[Teds123]

Hi can anyone tell me if things such as diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure are contradictions to a liver transplant

[Paulwil]

I have been told they can be both raised after transplant. I take amlodipine for high blood pressure, my cholesterol level is normal at the moment.

Best wishes

Paul

[Teds123 in reply to Paulwil]

Hi mate, I was wondering if high blood pressure would be a contradiction to being allowed to get a transplant..have you heard about this

[Isabelle2 in reply to Paulwil]

Me too!

[h0b0]

My partner is 2 years post XP & has recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Seemingly long term steroid use can cause this. He was also put on statins quite soon after XP.

[AyrshireK]

These would all be looked into at liver transplant assessment and a decision made whether it would be safe to progress to transplant or not. As others have pointed out diabetes and things can all occur after transplant and if you have them already they can become worse. Transplant team are the only ones who can say whether yes or no they'd be considered contraindications and it would be examined at t/p assessment as I say.

Katie

[i-love-my-friend]

I know that at least diabetes is a risk factor.

My friend had his liver transplant about 1 year and 8 months ago. Before his transplant he had type 2 diabetes and needed to inject insulin. He became a vegan and his diabetes improved so much that he only needed to take tablets. It improved more and finally didn't even need tablets anymore.

Physically his recovery has been amazing. He now regularly goes on 10 to 25 mile hikes.

His liver team doctor told him that he is the only post-transplant patient that he sees (out of several dozen) who does not need to take blood pressure medication (because high blood pressure issues are a side-effect of anti-rejection drugs). Instead, he takes two tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily, plus sticks with being vegan.

I know this is anecdotal, and you can dismiss it as such if you want, but there is also research supporting the health benefits of veganism for diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure. (Plus extra benefits for the planet and the animals.)

I can't recommend it more highly!

Best wishes with your health.