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overseas transplants

Do any of you know of any information regarding overseas transplants?  My fiance has Hep C - (diag 2005). We went to the closest transplant hosp back then, but other then his routine testing and more meds, we haven't heard any more about his status for transplant.  He tried the interferon, but was unable to complete the treatments after 3 attempts.  Doc said it did more damage to his liver.  Finally asked his liver doc where he was on the tp list and he told us that he wasn't on the list and wouldn't get on it until his liver ceases to function.  This seems like a non-productive way to attack his disease.  Seems that the sooner they get him on the list, the less $$ it would cost them and the better chance he has to survive longer.  He is getting so weak and has a lot of ammonia in his system which gives him the shakes real bad, slurring, and loosing his balance.  They have now given him a new medicine which has helped somewhat.  A co-worker of his went to China for a kidney transplant and total cost including air/hotel for spouse, etc was $15K.  This seems incredible to hear.  Sooo am wondering if anyone here has considered it or knows anything about this.  Would appreciate any info you have.  Thanx
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179856 tn?1333547362
See Hawk it's a good thing you are still around!!!

Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
Hi,
I'm the member mentioned by Bill. I had a transplant in April.
Like your fiance I had a lot of ammonia. Be sure he's on lactulose. It works for ammonia build up.
One important thing to always remember while helping him is his mental faculties are probably fuzzy. I didn't realize how much I'd faded away until after my transplant.

The way the 'list' for transplants works is the person with the greatest need receives the transplant first. Not who is on the longest.  And if you're in an area where many people need a tp you could be very very sick before that happens.There are other considerations as well such as blood type but first he needs to get his MELD score.

The fact I didn't have insurance led me to look overseas for a transplant.

Most countries give precedence to their native citizens first.
I spoke to a doctor in Thailand who told me one foreigner who lives in Thailand received a transplant there in 2007 because no one else needed one when a cadaveric liver came available. They are just starting to do live liver tps there and have only done a few.
I have a good dentist in Bangkok and trust Thai medical care.

I wouldn't consider China. It is a fact that China uses prisoner's organs in transplants. I find this morally repugnant. It leads to the idea that people may be killed just for their organs.

My son, researched the net to find a good hospital that does live liver transplants. My grown daughter was my donor. My main concern was donor complications. In the U.S. donor mortality is 1 out of 500. In Singapore it was 1 in 200.
The only place I read about online in China was in Hong Kong and it cost $150,000.

I opted for Taiwan. The cost for tp, tests, and hospital room was $75,000. This was for both myself and my daughter. This didn't include airfare, food etc.
They claim no donor mortalities and few complications. The donor in Taiwan has to be a blood relative.
The surgery was excellent however the aftercare was not. We encountered many cultural problems. If you are seriously considering this, send me a private message and I'll give you more information.

OH

Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
Yes; we have a member here that just recently received a liver TP overseas; hopefully she’ll see this and chime in. In her case, the transplant was a living donor transplant; I believe the partial organ came from a relative. If you are considering a cadaver source, be *very* aware that some developing countries use less than moral methods to obtain organs… I’ve heard of organs being taken from prisoners and mental patients without consent. Make your choices carefully.

Has your fiancé been evaluated for transplant yet? Do you know his MELD score? Others will hopefully weigh in with more informed information for you.

Best to both of you—

Bill
Helpful - 0
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