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Message |
Blessed
Member
Username: Saints9
Post Number: 3
Registered: 08-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2011 - 04:01 pm: | 
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I am 4 mos. post transplant. 2mos. ago an ultra-sound showed a narrowing in my hepatic artery and I had a stint put in. I went back for a check-up this week and again this artery is narrrowing. My vascular surgeon says the entire artery is small so I go back Mon. for angioplasty and to see what he can do. Has anyone had this problem? Thank God my lab work continues to be good. |
thhout
Member
Username: Thhout
Post Number: 8
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, October 15, 2011 - 07:19 pm: |
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I've had stents in since I was about 4 months post-transplant. I'm now at 16 months. They change them every 2 or 3 months. Each time I go in there is the hope that they can leave them out, but unfortunately, they seem to always need to replace them. They left them out once and within a month I was back again. It seems that the narrowing keeps happening with out the stents. It really is not much more than an inconvenience. Same day surgery, twilight sedation. But I just don't like them messing around my liver!lol But I do notice when they are due for a change and when I've just had one changed. Yes it also helps keep your blood levels in line. Thats how I knew when they took the one out that I needed to have another one put in. My levels shot up. This may not be the same situation as yours as I've never had an angioplasty after surgery. The stents seem to take care of the issue for me.
I do remember that the first few months after surgery I was so afraid of everything that had to do with my body. I thought everything meant the end or at least that i was continually going to be an invalid. The first year is really stressful, but things will get better. It helped to me to think of my health as a series of problems that I could solve. This helped because I felt like I was in control a little and it dampened down my anxiety. Time will calm your worries because you will continue to heal.
Good luck with the stent issue. btw i started with 1 stent then they added one more. So this may also be what keeps things flowing. Also, do you take Actigall (ursidol)? This helps too.
Thoughts and Prayers
Theresa
| Liver transplant. Transplant. Date: 6-22-10, The Thomas Starzel Transplant Institute @ University of Pittsburgh Medical Center |
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Blessed
Member
Username: Saints9
Post Number: 4
Registered: 08-2011
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2011 - 01:15 pm: |
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My liver surgeon took me off of Actigall last wk. My vascular surgeon has had me on plavix since before my first stent. He's afraid I might develop a blood clot.
Thanks for the advice it seems I live from lab work to lab work. |
carpediem4u2
Member
Username: Carpediem4u2
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - 06:29 pm: |
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Stents are not uncommon after transplant. In the 8 months following transplant I had 5 stents put in my common hepatic artery. They are all permanent and my artery has been fine since then.
My surgeon told me they just had to ensure sufficient blood flow for the first year. By then, he told me, the liver would adjust for itself. Periodic 'doppler' sonograms seem to have proven him correct.
Good Luck and Good Health to you! Have they done or discussed any 'doppler' sonograms? |
Blessed
Member
Username: Saints9
Post Number: 5
Registered: 08-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 04:45 pm: |
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He has'nt suggested a doppler sonogram but I'm having ultra-sounds as frequent as lab work! The most narrowed spot is so hard to see that my ultra-sounds take about 1 1/2 hours. He put in a second stent Mon. during the angiogram. I go back in 2 wks. One of my Liver surgeons told me if they could keep it open for a year new vessels would have had time to form. Thanks for the info. When were you transplanted? |
carpediem4u2
Member
Username: Carpediem4u2
Post Number: 5
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 05:11 pm: |
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My transplant was exactly 3 years ago. Doppler ultrasounds measure the volume, speed and resistance of blood flow through the artery. They tell a lot more than a simple ultrasound. The color coding is fascinating. Here's a link to WEBMD's article on this topic:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/doppler-ultrasound |
papillonbleu
Forum Leader
Username: Papillonbleu
Post Number: 2084
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Friday, October 21, 2011 - 08:49 am: |
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Dear Blessed,
I do not have any experience with stents, but I want you to know that I will be sure to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that whatever is done, it will go well for you and there will be new healing and renewal. Many hugs.
Bobbiejo
Forum Leader-Multivisceral
dx: GERD 1995, gastroparesis 2002, pseudo-obstruction of the bowel 2004
multivisceral transplant, 6 organs, 10/06/05
University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
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