Ian was initially nervous about having a liver transplant, but when his consultant told him there was a strong likelihood that his cancer tumours would keep recurring, Ian knew he had to join the transplant list. Thank you for sharing your story, Ian.
Although I was overweight and perhaps overindulged in alcohol, I felt healthy. Visits to my GP were rare until the age of 60 when routine blood tests revealed that my Gamma GT levels were high. I was referred to the QE Hospital in Gateshead and sent for CT and ultrasound scans. After examining them my specialist hepatologist referred me to the hepatology unit at the Freeman Hospital.
At my first appointment in October 2015 my consultant told me that if I wanted to be helped I had to stop drinking immediately. I listened to her and it’s now more than eight years since I last had alcohol.
After a series of consultations, MRIs and CT scans, hepatocellular cancer tumours were identified on my liver and my consultant suggested a liver transplant. However, she saw how very nervous I was about that so suggested instead that we try eradicating the tumours as they were relatively small. I initially had a TACE procedure in November 2015, followed follow by an ablation procedure in November 2017 to remove a smaller recurrence. Regular scans confirmed the success of these procedures, but other small tumours were identified, resulting in a further ablation procedure in December 2018.
Hepatologist’s advice
While this monitor-and-treat process served me well for three years, I was advised that there was a strong likelihood of recurrence and the only way to a complete recovery would be a liver transplant. I took the advice of my consultant and was placed on the transplant list in March 2019 and got the call from my transplant coordinator at 1am on September 9th 2019.
I headed off to the Freeman with some confidence, but it turned out to be a long day waiting for the green light and the liver to arrive and be prepared. My youngest daughter and I had some concerns after being told of the risks involved, but the supervising nurse convinced me that all would be OK and that I had to be told about them prior to giving final consent.
The next two weeks are a bit of a blur, but I remember becoming delirious and having the most frightening nightmares in ITU. My doctors were concerned about the blood supply to my liver and after a biopsy confirmed my body was rejecting it, I was relisted for another transplant. A new liver became available almost immediately and I was retransplanted on 20th September 2019. Thankfully this one worked – the delirium began to settle and I slowly recovered.
Among the key factors to my successful treatments, liver transplant and recovery was my fitness level
I’m really grateful for the wonderful care I received in ITU from surgeons, doctors, sisters and nurses over the next couple of weeks. I was then moved on to the ward where I gained strength. One highlight was my daughters taking me to the hospital entrance to see my much-loved lurcher Honey who proceeded to drag my eldest across the car park to greet me after our five-week separation!
A few days before I was released I encountered some serious pain. After an ultrasound was carried out an endoscopy was arranged where a stent was inserted into my bile duct. Two days later that magical day arrived when I was able to go home, five-and-a-half weeks after I’d arrived, but not without a few tears and hugs with the team on the ward. I have so much respect for the staff.
I now attend regular clinics to monitor my recovery and look forward to them with real enthusiasm. In January 2020 my bloods became of concern, especially my haemoglobin level which dropped, leading to a series of blood transfusions in the day patient unit. I became used to regular visits and the considerable time it took to transfuse the blood. I took each visit in my stride throughout November and December, regardless of the tediousness and necessary time involved.
A more normal life
I was fastidious with taking my medicines, checking blood and injecting myself with insulin. A problem was identified with the Tacrolimus dosage levels which were satisfactorily resolved but there were still issues with haemoglobin levels and I was readmitted to hospital in mid-January 2020.
I received blood transfusions and antibiotics over a two-week period to regularise my bloods and counter fears of neutropenic sepsis. This appeared to be successful and I was discharged. I was quite weak but soon back on the road towards a more normal life, until lockdown happened. I spent that time gardening and was actually very active – the garden had never looked so good!
I had to make one excursion to the Freeman to have the stent in the bile duct replaced in early April 2020, but throughout the summer my recovery and strength really improved. I am now back playing golf regularly and walk Honey daily. I attend clinics and have a stable medicines regime. In October 2020 the bile duct stent was removed and the natural duct was brought back into use, thus not requiring future replacement of a stent.
Among the key factors to my successful treatments, transplants and recovery was fitness level. I’ve always played sport, including football and cricket and, more recently, golf. However, the expertise of the surgeons carried me through to a successful outcome and a return to a full quality of life and I’m very grateful to them.