Good morning ... Urgent advice

[kenn73]

Hello, I only joined the network an hour ago and was diagnosed with cirrousis the day before flying abroad to work. I shall be away unto. May 5 and am in free fall over what to eat. Any advice in diet would be gratefully received. Also what to avoid.

[AyrshireK]

My hubby eats everything that he did before diagnosis except the things his body tells him it doesn't like/want - fatty foods, citrus and acidic stuff (this is because he has also has gastritis as a side effect of his portal hypertension. He has also has had varices in his oesophagus so tangy stuff really irritates his stomach and oesophagus).

Dietary advice with cirrhosis is normally to eat carbs and protein and eat little and often ensuring you don't go too long without food. Your liver will perhaps not be turning food to energy properly and in the long run someone with cirrhosis might start loosing muscle mass as the liver uses muscle for fuel. So avoid long fasts and eat a good carbo and protein rich supper to fuel your body for overnight.

The biggy with cirrhosis is to avoid salt - try and eat a low salt diet since lots of salt could potentially lead to fluid build up. Watch bottled waters because some of those are high in salt.

Coffee is good for the liver, recent studies have shown and hubby was advised by a dietician to have at least one cup a day.

The British Liver Trust produces a good leaflet which can be viewed on line at :- britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

You arn't away for too long, don't panic over it and when you get home hopefully you'll be seeing a hepatologist and at that time ask to see a liver specialist dietician who will properly gauge your current body condition and give proper advise on what your condition needs - it depends on the underlying cause of your liver disease too.

Hope this helps a little.

All the best to you.

Katie

[kenn73 in reply to AyrshireK]

Katie .. You are a Samaritan. I'm not a panic merchant but I just want to tackle this head on to ensure I do correctly and don't bring on additional problems. You are my first contact from this site. Thank you for being there. If I may, I will keep in touch?

Ken

[AyrshireK in reply to kenn73]

No worries Ken, look after yourself and any questions just ask, there is always someone who has trod your path before and although not experts we will always share our experiences.

Katie

[jojokarak]

I agree with katie, i have cirrhosis and i still eat same diet as before i was diagnosed. I have found i can't eat or tolerate some food now but that was just by trial and error i just avoid them now. I do miss eggs lol. It may not happen to you as we are all different, take care x

[kenn73 in reply to jojokarak]

Thank you kindly. It really is good to know there are kind folk like you about I'm feeling quite lost at the mo as I won't really know what stage I'm at until July so in a bit of freefall... Hope you're going ok Jo ?

[Hidden]

... And no alcohol

[kenn73 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry mike making a bit of a mess with my response. No, absolutely not but any other advice would be greatly appreciated?

[jojokarak]

We all feel lost at times but this site been a god send to me. Dont worry about anything as you say you dont know extent, it may be mild and you could turn it around and if its not you will get the help you need, but until you know last thing you need is stress just look after yourself. I ok thanks i am on new meds now and its best i felt in a long time my longest stay out of hospital now 3 weeks solid which doesnt sound long to you but feels great for me lol. Have you got a partner for support?

[kenn73 in reply to jojokarak]

Yes Jo Jo. A rock. Been married for 34 years. I'm pleased to hear your news. I'm only an email away.

[Hidden]

I think Jojo and Kate sum it up: all depends but get advice from organisations like BLT, your doctor, a dietician (if you can get an appointment). Cirrhosis is a slow disease and nothing dramatic is likely to happen in the next few days (or months for that matter). I was first diagnosed in 2007 and subsequently diagnosed with liver cancer in 2011 - due to a genetic disorder, exacerbated by alcohol - but this was caught early so I was eligible for a transplant.

No idea what your role is when working abroad and I too travel with work. One of the hardest things to do managing diet when you are in hotels, in company etc and it took me a while before I felt confident saying "No, I don't drink" without having to go into detail. Now I just say "Sparkling water please" and none says anything (to me at least).

Best wishes

Mike

[kenn73 in reply to Hidden]

I'm a travel journalist. mike alongside working for a local evening newspaper back in the uk on my I.pad wherever I am. So, like you, I can see the possible difficulties on the eating front. I'll take care and heed your advice and that of the others. Kind regards

[jojokarak]

Thanks ken and same to you about email away take care x

[ancientadolescent]

My advice is eat little but often I.e 6 small meals per day consisting mainly protein and carbohydrates. Also drink plenty of water. A defective liver cannot deal with too much at once,that is the reason for little but often.

[kenn73 in reply to ancientadolescent]

Be ever so glad if you could give me a clue about the size of your meals and what you eat please ... Seems a lot of food to eat. I'm in my early 70's still working seven days a week, so any suggested 'menus ' would be a terrific help particularly as I spend some time abroad and am in others hands as to what I eat. Luckily, in the home front I have a wife who o is an excellent cook.

Kind regards

[Hidden]

what is the cause of your Cirrhosis? if you stop the cause your Liver can regain some lost ground.