My early savior, Prof. Makuuchi in Tokyo

         NASATOSHI MAKUUCHI,M.D. Ph.D

Chairman                
                          Department of Surgery
                  Professor and Surgeon in Chief
                  Hepatobiliarypancreatic Division
       Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division
  Department of Surgery, Postgraduate School of MedicinE
                                University of Tokyo

   7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo 113-8655,Japan
       Phone: 81-3-5800-8841
       Fax.     81-3-5800-8843

 

Marco was a student of To-Dai. He had searched all hospital in Japan with capacity of conducting the liver transplantation. To-Dai was on top of the list. He paid a visit Dr. Makuuchi and requested for an appointment for his father.

It was on Wednesday. Almost immediately after finishing his operating process from operation table, Kon

Kunihiko name was called. I went his room. He was sitting in the diagnostic room with 4 interns standing behind him. Yes, it was exactly the scene of TV show WHIT TOWER.

He asked me some questions and ordered me to take off my shirt. He exam my abdomen with on site Echo scanner. He pointed out the screen to his students then ordered blood drawn and CT scam

He administrated Sho-saiko-to and Augmentin medicine to take 3 times a day.

I had to wait for the lab and CT result next week.

When I went back for the 3^rd day, some strange thing happened.

I was feeling freezing while lying in bed in the night. I tried to add two more blanket and heavy comforter. I was still feeling cold. This was not catching a cold. It reminded me of the same feeling like catching Pneumonia. I had to wear heavy down jacket to get into sound sleep.

I started mind searching and was wandering what went wrong. I decided that Sho-saiko-to was against my system. I immediately stopped taking it. In stead, I restarted taking Ganbonin daily and felt fine.

My wife told me that there was a news report that TG9 (Sho-Saiko-to) does have one or two incident that the side effect of TG9 causing HB patient died of Pneumonia.  That was exactly happened to me when I took it. I was alert  and not continue taking it.

That is why I repeated warning patient while taking medication watches your body’s reaction. If some thing goes wrong you stop the medicine and tell doctor immediately your situation.

Dr. Makuuchi said, up my next visit, his observation and test results did not warrant an operation or liver transplantation. I just needed closely watched by doctor once a week.

I had stayed in Tokyo for3 months. I told Dr. Makuuchi that I had to go back to Yosemite.

“You are still in a situation that required lying in bed most of time. I could not help it. It is your life. In any case, keep me informed by sending periodic test result, I am going to help you by offering my professional advice.”

I have been more than grateful and blessed for what a kind doctor treat people like people.

 

Michael