Questions about a liver donation

[edisraw]

So my father just went jaundice. Im his only child. We dont have a diagnosis yet of any kind, so I might be jumping the gun on all accounts but I just need some general information to see if im even eligible.

I am 25 years old 6'5" 350 pounds, I smoke, the last blood test I had showed I have above regular liver fat but not fatty liver disorder, I smoke pot (habitually), Im on two prescription medicines Xanax and Cozaar, I've been on many a drinking jag in my short life and the last time I was drunk was about 11 days ago. I have panic disorder and OCD. I also have an insane fear of hospitals and surgery in general.

My father is 51 years old 6'0" even, about 245 pounds.

If it came down to it, would a doctor even except me as a donor? Like I said im afraid of hospitals and surgery and my mental state has been in question for some time now, but if thats what it comes down to I feel obliged to might the bullet...I just want to know if im even acceptable as an applicant.

[Fr Pat]

Dear Edisraw,
       Sorry to hear of your dad's problems. It's a great thing that you even consider offering him a liver lobe. I imagine that it will mean a lot to him just knowing that you care that much.
       As you are jusy starting to look into this you will have a lot to read and learn. If you click the section on living liner donation at the home page of this site you will find a lot of information about the requirements and testing involved.
       First of all, as you mentioned, you will need to find out a lot more about your Dad's condition. Liver transplant is not a treatment for all types of liver diseases. And not all patients who need a liver transplant meet the requirements to indicate that could successfully receive a transplant. If the doctors decide that he both needs a transplant and is able to receive one safely he would be put on the list for a transplant from a deceased donor. In some parts of the country the wait is longer, in other parts it is shorter.
      To become a living liver-lobe donor a person has to be in good health (so as to be able to safely undergo the surgery, and safely live with only a liver portion until it grows larger.) Overweight and some of the other problems you mention might be judged to be obstacles to living donation. Living liver donation is also stressful on the psychological level, so the potential donor's mental health and history have to be considered. All in all the doctors will not operate on a donor unless they are reasonably confident that he/she can handle the surgey and recovery well: physically, mentally and economically. And of course the actual health and condition of the liver has to be carefully examined.
      So, keep reading up on the topic and get yourself well informed. But from what I have read from other liver donors it looks like you would have a number of obstacles.
      But it might be that this experience can be another motivation to take better care of your own health in the future, both for your own sake and to be better avle to help your Dad and others.
      Hope some of this info helps. I myself am a kidney donor, so I'm just passing along what I have learned here and there about liver donation.
            best wishes,
               Fr. Pat

[sherri]

sounds like you may be jumping the gun so don't bite the bullet yet. Before you even think about becoming a donor for your Dad he will have to undergo tests to see if he is in permanent liver failure and if he is eligible for a transplant. People can become jaundiced and the condition may be able to be reversed so he may not even need a transplant. If he has certain types of cancers he would not be eligible as well. So you need to see what his diagnosis is.

In terms of becoming a donor the doctors would have to make sure you are extremely healthy both physically and mentally to undergo a risky elective surgery. Given your history of fatty liver, regular marijuana use, prescription for anxiety and Cozaar (I am assuming for high blood pressure) you may not even be eligible. In addition you would have to be a compatible blood type with your Dad. So there are a lot of ifs. You can start looking on this forum which describes liver donation and learn more about it. Your Dad may not even want to accept a liver donation from his only child. Lots to think about before getting to the actual process.

Good luck to you and your Dad and hope you get a definitive diagnosis soon.

Sherri

[edisraw]

I want to thank everyone for their answers.

Turns out my father has alcohol induced hepatitis the specialist said it was caught early so a liver transplant is 95 percent out of the question and should be handled fine without a transplant and more than likely without any medicine outside maybe some vitamins and antibotics all he has to do is not drink anymore, which he stopped doing 8 days before he went jaundice anyway...so hopefully everything works out.

Thanks for the info and advice.

Sincerely,

Ed