I was diagnosed in early April 22 as needing a liver transplant. The outward signs were yellow eyes and skin, lot’s of weight loss, fluid on the legs from ankles to mid thighs, very extended abdomen with small veins extending out on top of the abdomen. My lower legs were red, itchy and “scaly” I was admitted to hospital and had 15 litres of fluid drained from my abdomen and put on a series of medication that involved water tablets, vitamin supplements, anti-biotics and protein supplements. After an exhausting week of tests I was deemed a suitable candidate for a transplant and placed on the transplant list. I had spent the best part of six weeks in hospital in mainly two visits. During which time they were able to assess my condition and “tweak” with my medication so it would be possible to go home whilst waiting for the transplant.
I was called for my first transplant the next day at 4am, It was a DCD liver. On arrival at the hospital I was tested (blood, chest xray, ecg) and told I would have to wait to see how things developed. A couple of hours later my transplant coordinator visited and said the transplant had been cancelled as there were no critical beds available. Total visit time 5 hours, I went home and was not down as I had been on the list less than 24 hours. I was thinking how hard can this transplant be?
2nd call was a couple of weeks later at 5am same procedure as before. Again a DCD liver. After 7 hours I was told the liver had degenerated too much to use. Again I left not too despondent but the slow realisation that a transplant was not straight forward.
3nd call was a couple of weeks later at 2am same procedure as before except I met the surgeon and the anaesthetist. Again a DCD liver. After 11 hours I was told the liver had been inspected by my surgeon and he deemed it too fatty to use. As the time involved had increased and meeting the surgeon and anaesthetist I had convinced my self it may happen. I was down, tired, hungry and despondent. It was starting to play on my mind and I could stop thinking about it.
4th call 10am saying not to come in but be prepared as they had another DCD and were working on it. Have a meal then go nil by mouth. 2pm got the call to make my way into hospital. Same as before. As time ticked by I got further and further into the process until they said all I was waiting for was to change into my robe. I now was experiencing feelings I hadn’t had before. For the first time all those risk figures in my liver “bible” became palpably real. I was facing the actual operation and playing through the outcomes. The night staff came and said theatre had called and said they were ready, prep me for 10 minutes time. 5 minutes later my coordinator appeared and said it was all cancelled – the surgeon had deemed the liver too fatty again. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach, I was in shock and disbelief! We shuffled out of the hospital saying all the right things to staff that had been helping me. It was a very quiet journey home. I have since felt deflated, lethargic and mentally very drained.
liver transplant : build up 
Post Liver Transplant
Liver Transplant Assessment
Unexpected liver transplant due to unexplained liver failure
Pos-liver transplant 
