There is more to this story....
The results of my CT scan came back, and a number of things are concerning. Right now it looks like I *may* have an untreatable liver disease which would probably require me to have a liver transplant by the time I'm 50.
Or die by that time if I can't get a transplant.
But they need more information to make the proper diagnosis as it could be another auto-immune related issue which is more treatable and has better long-term prospects. A liver biopsy is another test which has been discussed, however there are multiple areas in question and the biopsy simply cannot provide broad enough feedback for the areas in question. The Hepatologist is pushing the CI team to purse the MRI avenue, and of course the MRI team would be pushed as well. I've already begun to make contact with Med-El to see if they can provide further support on the issue, but due to the holidays things will be delayed.
From the conversation with the Hepatologist, the MRI is the best method to examine the issues and make the diagnosis. I have various health issues at the moment, and medication can do more harm than good to the liver as well. So, again it's extremely important to understand what the situation with my liver is so they prescribe proper medication and limit additional liver damage due to medication. To me it seems there is just as much risk in not having the MRI and them making an "educated guess" based on limited information.
Obviously I think this is a situation in which the benefits of the MRI are much greater than the risk, and hopefully everyone involved will come to the same agreement even if it is with reservations. I'm not suggesting people with a CI make MRI scans the norm, but at the same time it has to be known that this is a possibility. After all, I'm the one who told them that it is a possibility to perform an MRI with my particular implant and if technology and thinking are changing, then the medical field needs to be educated.
As I mentioned in a prior post, I will most likely need routine screening of my liver, especially if I do have the untreatable diagnosis as we will need to monitor how fast or slow my liver is degrading. So the need for this will be there for many years to come. Plus, I need to know if I should stop investing in my 401K and use that money to start paying monster premiums for a better life-insurance plan, morbid thought but it's reality.
