Liver failure

[Deanne]

My niece is in ICU with sepsis (e.coli infiection in the blood) and liver failure. She had to be airlifted from the admitting hospital to a larger center and her family was told over the weekend that her odds were very poor, but today her white blood cell count is looking better, her blood pressure is maintaining, her liver function is slightly improved, and she's sometimes awake. Her Dr's are now "cautiously optimistic." They can't address the liver issues until they know she'll survive the sepsis. They don't know now why her liver is failing. She's only about 30 years old, not a drinker or drug user, and was supposedly healthy until her boyfriend had to call 911 for help last Friday. The family is meeting with a social worker later today to talk about a liver transplant. I don't know anything about liver transplants.

Does anyone have any advice I can give them? She had to have several blood transfusions. I emailed my brother (her father) that the need to disallow blood transfusions if there are any other options. The initial transfusions were necessary to save her life and it sounds like they've been discontinued. Since her liver values are slightly improved, she might have up to a year before she needs a transplant, or she might need one right away. It's too soon to know.

Any advice for them?

Thanks!

[Rerun]

Wow, Deanne, this is aweful.  AND they don't have liver dialysis.........  I hope she pulls through.  Blessings...

Rerun     

[monrein]

So sorry to hear this Deanne.  I distantly know a couple of people with liver transplants and both received a piece of liver from a relative.  One was an older woman, now deceased but she lived to be 78 and the liver was still fine after 18 or more years.  The other person, I met in hospital because cyclosporine for her liver trx had knocked out her kidneys and she was in getting a kidney from her sister-in-law.  Both liver and kidney doing well last time I ran into her.
I have no advice but I will definitely be thinking of her and sending positive thoughts her way.   

[texasstyle]

Liver failure can be ACUTE meaning it happened suddendly, or CHRONIC meaning at least 6 months. An acute liver failure could be from an overdose of Tylenol lets say, or a trauma to the liver from a car accident. Cirrhosis damged livers (where there is little healthy scar tissue left buecause it's mostly taken over by scar tissue known as fibrosis) an come from of course alcohol and viruses such a Hepatatis C and sometimes B. There are other things that can lead to failure such as a blocked or damaged bile duct. The list is probably endless. What ever reason I'm sorry your niece is going through this. Sepsis infection is very dangerous, I hope she can come through this quickly. I would like to think she has age on her side. Her blood transfusions "may" have been to increase her white blood cells and often Platelet cells (help you clot) which is often effected by liver failure. Should she need a trnasplant she would have a transplant team which would be set up through the center she is in. She should not be in a regular hospital. She needs special attn. Get her social workers number and call her! The best way to find things out is by starting through her. Educate yourself. I'm glad to hear her fuction has improved. I'm curious to find out why she went into failure in the first place. Getting on a TP list is not something you do in a day but it sounds like she has specialist working for her. She will have to be considerated a canidate first.  She can expect lots of Dr. vissits and testing.  One of the things that puts you closer to a transplant is your MELD score. It tells how sick you really are and I don't know every detail on it. I must say, she is fortunate that she "has time" before she may need a TP. Many people find themselves ill and need it right away. Ask questions to the Dr.s, nurses etc... you'll learn a lot as you  and her go along.

[Deanne]

At first they were saying it was acute liver failure, but once the sepsis is under control they're planning to take a closer look to see if she has an underlying chronic condition. I saw one message that they were testing for Hepatitis, but no one posted the results, so I assume it's negative. They can't ask Kristine yet about prior symptoms. I don't live near them, so I can't be any help in-person. Luckily, one of her sisters is a couple of years into a pharmacy program and I think she's the one doing most of the talking with the medical team. It sounds like they're doing everything they need to do. The family met with a social worker yesterday and are taking initial steps to talk with her medical team about a transplant. One of her other aunts has already offered to be a donor if needed. Hopefully she means it and is a match! Kristine was airlifted to a hospital that handles transplants, so at least she's in the right place.

As I understand it, the blood transfusions were because she was bleeding internally. I saw a message posted about a scope being scheduled to see if they could figure out why. It sounds like the transfusions have stopped.

The latest updates are that they're starting to wean her from on the ventilator and she's starting to be a bit more alert. She wakes up sometimes, is able to look at them and nod yes or no to questions. I don't think they can get an accurate MELD score yet since her function seems to be getting better. I imagine they'll have to wait until the sepsis is taken care of before her liver function stabilizes to find out where she really is. At least it's looking like she'll survive the sepsis attack. One thing at a time....

I hope she has good insurance!

[boswife]

How dreadfully awful to go through this.  Im so sorry.  I do know people who have recieved 'pieces' of liver and have gone on to live wonderful lives.  Even as posted before on this, older people who were compromised to begin with.  Hope some answers come soon for her, an all her family.  Terably hard to go throu.  Sending pryaers

[paul.karen]

Positive thoughts sent to your niece and her family..

[Mimi]

She'll be in our prayers.

[Deanne]

My niece was finally moved from ICU to intermediate care yesterday / today. But I guess with good news must come bad? Her caring bridge page continues to repeat that she's confused and delirious, and the latest says her medical team suspects she might have hepatorenal syndrome and might need to go on dialysis. I looked it up, of course. Hepatorenal syndrome is kidney failure that results from liver failure. It has something to do with blood flow. A liver transplant would likely resolve it, but if what I'm reading online is correct, she'd need a liver transplant very soon to survive this complication.

[Sax-O-Trix]

I hope your niece comes through all of this okay  

[Deanne]

Thanks. It isn't sounding good. I just saw another niece post on facebook that she's more confused and delirious than ever, that they're doing a liver biopsy to see what they can determine for a transplant and that she's too sick for a living donor and will need to be listed for a cadaveric liver. I assume this means she needs a full liver instead of being able to regenerate a part of a liver.

[thegrammalady]

oh, deanne, i feel so for you and your family.  it's hard when you don't have answers and can only wait and see what happens. i will be thinking of you.

[paris]

Saying lots of prayers.  This is all so sad.     

[okarol]

Poor girl, I am so sorry. It's just so much happening, I pray she can keep fighting. 

[looneytunes]

Deanne, I'm so sorry to hear about this.  I hope your niece has a strong fight in her. 

I do know a gentleman who had a liver transplant 12 years ago and he is going strong.  His was a cadaver transplant. 

[Deanne]

My niece figured out that she's dying and told her mom (my sister-in-law) that she's at peace with it. My SIL said she was lucid over the weekend and was able to communicate her last wishes, talk about her burial, and sign paperwork to grant power of attorney. I think that made her family feel a bit more at peace as well. They found out on Friday that she doesn't qualify for a liver transplant. Now her kidneys have failed, too, and her blood pressure is too low to undergo dialysis. Since she won't be here for her 30th birthday in April, they had a 5-minute Valentine's party for her over the weekend. My SIL told me they had about 30 people crammed into her room with party hats & noisemakers.

[willowtreewren]

I'm so sorry. For you, for your niece and for all of those who love her.

 

[texasstyle]

Oh I am so sorry to hear this! My heart just goes out to you and your family. Sounds like your family is a great support system for her. Of course she will need that. It so very hard when we have to sit back, and watch these kinds of things happen. I'm sure your family would do anything to help right now. Feelings of helplessness can be over whleming. My prayers for all of you..

[monrein]

Such sad news.  My thoughts are with her and the rest of your family too, Deanne.   

[Jean]

this is so sad to read about. My thought and prayers are with you and your family at this terrible time. Poor baby, she is so young too.

[Deanne]

Kristine passed away early this morning. May she rest peacefully and laugh at the antics of we mere mortals from a distance now. May her family and friends find peace and comfort in their memories.

I'm not attending the funeral. I think my Mom wants to disown me for it. I haven't seen Kristine for many years, so while I feel for the pain her immediate family must endure, I'm not grieving at such a personal level as they are. I would rather go later instead of paying over $1100 for a ticket to spend only a couple of days there now.

[texasstyle]

I'm very sorry to hear this. My prayers for your family. That is an expensive flight, I can understand your choice. I sure hope you & your mother get through this. At times like this everyone's emotions go crazy. Things will eventually settle.

[Jean]

One of my clients has a daughter who is currently in the ICU, due to first, liver failure and now, failing kidneys. Her poor Mother is 89 years old and surely does not understand this at all. Thanks for your info, I will pass it on to her.