Diagnosis

[Jane1973]

My partner 48 has just been diagnosed with alcohol cirrosis. He has suffered severe anxiety and depression for years. A fibroscan confirmed diagnosis. He has also just had an ultrasound abdomen scan. We have not been told if the liver is decompensated I have only read about this does anyone know how this is diagnosed

[briccolone]

Hi Jane sorry to here this. In all Likliehood his liver is compensated otherwise you’d know all about it. What symptoms currently? Key thing now as he’s been diagnosed is to stay off alcohol. Is he still drinking?

[Jane1973 in reply to briccolone]

He dosent have any symptoms at moment. He has a slightly swollen tummy. Had ultrasound scan waiting for results. No he is off the drink

[GavBelfast in reply to briccolone]

I honestly have no idea.

My drinking has tended to take a pattern of peaks & troughs, but it is only very recently that a consultant has said my liver enzymes are "off", but that has coincided with a different doctor thinking that I had gout (in my elbows) & putting me on two medications that I know to be hard on the liver.

A subsequent out-patient appointment indicated that I never had gout & the consultant told me to stop taking gout medication immediately.

I was also put on a drug called Naltrexone, to curb alcohol excess, but that DOES seem to affect liver function tests in some people.

It's only really my GGT that is raised -everything else is within range &, while I have put on weight, it seems to be middle-age spread rather than anything sinister - for now.

One thing's for sure: drink is a curse, &. in my case, the root cause has been insomnia & self-medication.

[Hidden]

Don't know if there's a specific set of factors that indicate decompensation, but generally speaking, this involves symptoms like ascites (fluid buildup in the belly) that can not be controlled with diet and diuretics and must be surgically drained periodically.

Hepatic Enccephalopathy (mental confusion due to ammonia buildup) is another area that can be difficult to control when liver disease is decompensated.

When these issues are effectively treated, or not a substantial problem, the patient is considered compensated & stable. Compensated disease can often be controlled and managed for many years before progression of disease leads to decompensation.

Hope this helps.

[gamesmaker]

Hi. Sorry about your news - but so pleased he has stopped drinking. . Even if we have the same diagnosis on paper, we are all different, and have different histories. It is frustrating - but the best course of action is via the consultant., The various test results, have to be looked at together to get the whole picture, Even then the diagnosis can alter over time. It is no alternative to try and diagnose for ypurself

Good luck and keep in touch.

[kurtymac]

To add on to what everybody has already said. Im not sure if they do it the same way as in the states. I would stay on top of his MELD score, it isn't perfect, but normally is pretty good at judging liver health. Decompensation normally based of symptoms, varicies, jaundice, HE, High elevated INR, ascites. The main thing to do now is not drink and maintain a healthy died. Watch animal protein as it can exacerbated HE symptoms. However, take all commands from the doctor. It's a tricky balance to keep everything in check as muscle wasting can become a concern aswell. Endoscopy will have to be done to check for varicies to prevent possible bleeds. cirrhosis won't go away, but the liver can regain much of its function back by staying away from alcohol and other hepatic toxic substances.