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Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact...
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Several ?'s just need you all's advice.
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My mom lives in Tuscon, AZ and I live just north of Rockford, IL, between Madison, WI and Chicago, IL. I just found out from a phone call yesterday that she is now going to go see a transplant team to see if she qualifies for a transplant. I want her to move here due to we (my 3 sons and I) are all the family she has. I dont think that the medical system is good out there. I have very big doubts. Is there anyone that could tell me about the medical transplant system out there. I'm going to go see her the 3rd week of January, should I really convince her to come here? I am so close to Mayo in Madison (about an 1 hour) and Loyola or other in Chicago (about an hour and half). It just takes her forever to get into the doc out there for any medical probs (about 6-8 weeks) and out here I know I can get her better medical attention. The big draw back is that she can't really handle the cold here, hence her being in AZ. I'm so torn. There have been other reasons why I want her here, she of course doesn't tell me everything the doc says or she is experiencing. She is sicker then she lets on to be. I found out that she is haveing seizers and then she said something about the bile and acids not being processed ang getting into her blood stream and causing Alzheimers like systems, which I have noticed when talking to her, but she is stubborn and will not really admitt it. She is only 57 years old!! I really could use some advise and help. And I really don't know how to tell my three kids she is bad as she is. They all have bdays coming so they are 20,18,13.
Posted on 12/20/08, 10:12 am |
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boy, i feel for you. difficult decions to make. i wouldn't know what to tell you? don't worry about telling your kids though. they're all grown up and i'm sure they can handle this pretty good.
my thoughts are with you... 
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First question: has she ever gone before to see if she qualifies?
There are good medical facilities all over, so I would not rule out the people she is currently seeing. Find out some info about her current team before jumping to a conclusion that the medical community near you is better. Find out more info on her current health, and status with the virus. What's her stage and grade? Has she done treatment before? If yes, what were the results? What has her dr suggested she do now until she knows her qualification? I don't think she would like to be changing her medical team; you may want her closer, but the most important thing is her health and the support system she has or could have. I am not sure how you think that her appts would be any quicker where you are; there are long waits for appts all over the country for drs, so there is no guarantee that she would get better treatment and faster appts being closer to mayo clinic. Do you know if the drs near you would take her as a new patient? What would the changes be for her coverage? This virus is slow progressing and you will know more once she has had her qualification appt. When you go to visit her, arrange to speak with her medical support team and then see how you feel about uprooting her. You may find that she has a fine medical support team and there are people nearby that she can lean on for support. If she is as stubborn as you say, you may be right but she still won't move. Once you talk to her drs, you may have a better picture about her condition and what you can expect. In the meantime, you could call around your area and find out some info about her possible relocating. If she is as ill as you say, some prior arrangements will need to be in place if she is going to move. Knowledge is power; gather as much as you can.
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AZ actually has a very good medical care system for the disabled and the critically ill, altho I cannot speak specifically to your question on liver transplant. Google "AHCCCS", that is the state medical community for everyone unable to afford insurance and does not recieve it thru employment, it has restrictions on income, assets, that type thing, but if you qualify, my understanding is it's the best around. There is also a Mayo in AZ, it's in the valley, about an 1-1/2 hour drive from Tucson. Just so you know, St. Joe's in Phx has an EXCELLENT oncology team/wing and AZ also has an abundance of geratric doctors due to it's high population of senior citizens. I believe it's 55 in AZ to be considered a senior right? Anyhoot, as for the weather, it is hot in the summer, but we're talking 3-4 months of uncomfortable heat and 8-9 months of perfection. I get her on the weather part, I don't take well to cold as a lot of us in this community I noticed don't take well to it either. I'm not trying to talk you out of trying to bring her where you can personally take care of her. Obviously, having a loving caring family around you when you are ill is good. I just wanted to help point you in the right direction to help get some of your questions answered. I wish you all the best, and would just say, don't force your Mom to do something that obviously causes her stress. Is she computer lit? There are a lot of ways to care from someone, whether close or far. xoxo
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