Has anyone here had ascites in the past but no longer takes diuretics?

[JoJo]

My gastro doctor is planning to take me off my 25mg of spiro in a few months.

I have cirrhosis caused by alcohol. I have been sober for nearly 5 months now. I had ascites drained in April.

[Hidden]

I have had Ascites having many many drains and leading ultimately to a liver transplant, but I needed draining every other wk sometimes up to 27ltr yes you read it right 60 pints!! Your on a low dose of Spiro so hopefully your going to be on the right side, I'm far far from being an expert but keep off the booze it kills you and I've seen them die, I will never drink again ever. So good luck hope all goes well

[codie in reply to Hidden]

Good for you , i had all that u hav had, but as u say stay of the booze and life is fab keep up the good work I'm 5years off the booze and life only gets better . Good luck

[anne-marie50]

Hi JoJo

I also had Ascites and was on 200mg of Spiro a day and this was gradually reduced before I was taken off it completely. I understand your fear but honestly they know what they are doing. I too had Cirrhosis due to my alcohol abuse and I have been sober for 4yrs. Unfortunately I had damaged my liver so much it couldn't recover by itself and I had a liver transplant in February this year and apart from getting over such a big operation I am very well. I've also lost so much weight because I no longer have Ascites. I wish you all the very best & staying off the alcohol, eating a balanced diet & doing some exercise will help your recovery. Please do as the specialist says but never be afraid to ask questions as they will always answer them & put you at ease. I wish you good health for the future & if you ever need extra support in staying off the alcohol please feel free to contact me. x

[marie108 in reply to anne-marie50]

Hi! Anne-Marie, lots of healthy good wishes!

my husband is going for his check-up for the transplant list. He has had the TIPs operation (and encefalopathy as a result) He has been sober since he' had his first ascites 3 years ago.

Nice to know you're very well. Would like to know how long you had to wait for the transplant. how long before the surgery did they call on you?

It would be nice to be able to keep in touch with you.

Thanks .M

p.s. my husband is now on a low protein diet to lower his ammonium ?

[JoJo]

Thank you both for replying. It does worry me slightly that you've both needed transplants. I was hoping that my ascites won't return seeing as I am on a low dose of spiro and was only drained once.

My gastro doc said my LFTs were back to normal but more importantly, my 'synthetic protein' was now normal as well and that was important. I am just confused and not due another appointment til next year.

Anne-Marie, well done on your sobriety and thanks for the offer. I wish you both good health. X

[Hidden in reply to JoJo]

I had astites , drained once (12litres) and has not returned, Although Doctors insisted that it would, my stomach flAt and because of the diet change it looks better than ever (no vanity just saying) I put it down to diet and watching fluid intake 1 and a half litres only a day (coffee,tea included)

Luck to you

Barry

[rosmarin]

Yes my husband came off spironolactone ages ago after being diagnosed with cirrhosis and warned by doctor he would be dead within a year if he didn't stop drinking alcohol - he had a long standing alcohol addiction about 7 pints of beer a day at least or cider. This was 7 years ago and he was soon able to do without the spironolactone as the liver became stable though damaged. IHe has checks for fluid retention and they are always OK though his gut is distended this is due to an abdominal hernia . The main thing is to keep off the alcohol permanently though he drinks no alcohol Becks Blue which seems OK . Good luck to you and believe me cirrhosis does not have to mean the end!

[rosmarin]

I meant to add that the liver specialist told him that even a small amount of alcohol would trigger a very bad reaction as the liver will be ultra sensitive- he does not believe this was mentioned but he is still off the alcohol!

[JoJo]

Thank you Rosmarin. Hopefully my ascites won't return then. Well done to your husband on his sobriety and you for supporting him. I live alone but hope I won't return to my bad ways.

FWIW I was told the same by my doctor - even 1 drink could set me back to the state I was in in April. Don't wanna go there again, believe me.

[luco]

The "synthetic protein" you're on about is albumin. Albumin is necessary to bind fluids in your blood and tissues; when it's low these fluids leak out and cause acites. Eating a diet high in protein will help keep your albumin levels up, but take your lactulose too.

[bluedahlia in reply to luco]

I read your post with interest regarding the Albumin & the lactulose. My husband had end stage liver cirrhosis not alcohol related but nafld & has had a number of acitic drains. His fluid is in pockets & is low volume (4 litres). He becomes quite breathless when he needs a drain. What are the benefits of lactulose? He has been prescribed this but I don't understand the lactulose & how it is beneficial & I would appreciate your input on this please.

[AyrshireK in reply to bluedahlia]

In answer to your question about Lactulose - it is a type of medicine called an osmotic laxative. Lactulose has two quite different uses: treating constipation and, in higher doses, reducing a complication associated with liver disease called hepatic encephalopathy.

In treating hepatic encephalopathy lactulose also works by reducing the absorption of ammonia from the gut. The liver normally breaks down ammonia, but in liver disease such as cirrhosis the blood may bypass the liver, allowing this poisonous substance to pass to the brain. Here it can impair brain function, causing confusion, drowsiness and finally coma. By acidifying the contents of the gut, lactulose reduces the absorption of ammonia from the gut, thereby preventing this complication of liver disease.

Basically it helps to stop the build up of toxins in the body and thereby reduces the development of Hepatic Encephalopathy. Passing a partially formed stool 3-4 times daily is the best for getting rid of these poisons from the body.

Hope that helps.

Katie

[H1ghtower]

You would be better off coming off the water tablets ASAP i was told at hospital but it depends on your condition as to when would be the most appropriate.

As for the lactulose, it is innocous as far as the liver is concerned and thats all i was told by gp. I went a bit mad after being diagnosed and refused all laxatives in ward, but, regretted it as they made me have an enama AND lactulose in the end..

[Hidden]

Hi jojo your dose of spirolactalone is low. If your weight is good and most of the fluid is gone i wouldn't worry to much.ive been on spiro for nearly three years now(100ml).just stopped 3weeks ago.Im fine at the moment fingers crossed.

[H1ghtower]

Yeah i had 10 stone of ascitic fluid around 4 or 5 years ago and lost around 9 stone with a few drains and water tablets taken over a 4 month period. Since then whenever i am about 2 stone or more over my usual weight i actually prey its ascites rather than just plain fat as theres no dieting involved to get the extra weight off, just a course of tablets, lol. I,d give any weightwatchers champion a run for his money anyday.

The moral of the story is theres always light at the end of the tunnel if you look hard enough with a positive attitude. Ascites can also be blamed if youre a greedy overweight fat b@&£&&rd like me, haha.

[Catfishjumpin]

I was taken off, it was making my brain sodium dangerously low.

[Catfishjumpin]

Yes I have been taken off because it causes me to lose too much serium sodium, that level drops low enough, we black out or go into coma or even die. I almost died mine became so low.

[Gordon99]

I was taken off diuretics after two and a half years as they stopped working. I then had to be drained frequently until I received a transplant.

[Stizzer]

I had ascites prior to my transplant in December 2016. My cirrhosis was caused as a result of NAFLD and I didn't drink alcohol. I had my ascites drained on many occasions, about 25, and was relieved of 12-15 litres each visit every 10 days. Once I had the transplant there was no longer a need for any diuretics. Hope you are soon well