Transplant
I am one
of those people who have been blessed with vibrant good health. Dennis and I seldom, if ever, met our
insurance medical deductible. That
is why all of this came as such a shock.
I have
unsuccessfully fought a weight problem most of my life. If you can think of a weight loss plan,
I have tried it. I did not do
fin/fin, however. I’m sure I
misspelled that. In 2003 I decided
to try an over-the-counter weight loss pill called Malibu Trim by the Taebo
Corporation. I took a pill in early January and 3 hours later came down with
chilling and aching. I assumed I
had the flu. Two weeks later I
felt better so I took another pill.
The same symptoms occurred, this time much worse.
This was
on a Sunday. By Friday I had
turned yellow and was so ill I had Nicholas take me to the doctor here at
Fairview. That is when I started
seeing Dr. James Garner as my PCP, a wonderful guy. He immediately entered me in the hospital. I was sure the pill had caused it
because things were identical. No
one agreed with me.
After a
week at the Fairview Hospital I was taken by ambulance to Integris Baptist
Hospital at Oklahoma City. I was
now under the care of Dr. Gurakahr at Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you I was
terrified and had turned dark yellow.
After a
biopsy I was proved right! It
showed a chemical damage of 25%.
They began to look at that pill with different eyes. I was told that my liver should heal
itself. I improved rapidly, lost
60 lbs., and didn’t have to quit my job.
Things went along pretty well for 6 years. I didn’t feel perfect, but after all, I was in my 50’s. Age was affecting me, too, I figured.
Things
took a dramatic turn in March of 2009.
I’ll begin with that next time.
