Posted by Sandy D. on May 01, 1998 at 23:09:21:
In Reply to: Re: Desmos, Inc. posted by KenC on May 01, 1998 at 22:42:37:
Ken,
I share your "willies" about immunosuppressant drugs. For a number of reasons I won't go into here, I called a few major transplant centers in Texas and Florida. I spoke with the transplant coordinator or a "scientific investigator" at each, and asked about the side effects of immunosuppressants. What I got was this list of horrors:
- great risk of cancer, some that have "killed the patient within 3 months"
- liver disease
- eye disease
- weight gain (almost universal)
- inability to fight infection (can lead to hospitalization and need for additional, expensive drugs to combat)
- others I can't remember now (notes are at work)
Unless there is absolutely no recourse, I would never choose to take immunosuppressants.
Also, Ken, as to your question of can you be an islet donor for your son, I believe the answer is no - unless you're dead.