What else can cirrhosis give you?

[Brett11]

Upper GI bleeding

Jaundice

Water retention

HE

Is there anything more nasty that I have to look forward to? My liver is too far gone to heal itself BUT it hasn’t got any worse lately.

Cheers,

Brett

[AyrshireK]

Have a read at the British liver Trust page on cirrhosis at britishlivertrust.org.uk/li... , it hasd details of symptoms associated with cirrhosis and whilst you say it is too far gone to recover, it can improve and a liver with cirrhosis can go from decompensated to compenstated if the cause of damage is removed and healthy diet and lifestyle followed.

Katie

[Hidden]

As most people on here will know, that the liver is our largest internal organ and it has 500 different roles. As the liver becomes scared blood flow becomes inhibited and some of these functions cease to work properly. This is the scenario I like to use in order to explain this...

Within the liver, and other parts of the body there is a gene which is called the CRCT2 Switch gene. This gene's job is to monitor the sugar levels within the blood. It's called the switch gene It's able to switch on and off as more sugar is required by muscles and organs as required. Once there's enough sugar, it is believed that insulin from the pancreas is the signal for this gene to switch off and stop dumping sugar into the blood system. CRCT2 is found in many cells including immune cells, heart and placenta and some studies suggest in liver cells too. Also down regulated in some cancers.

Because of the scaring of the liver, and the restricted blood flow to the liver, The insulin signal can't get through to the CRCT2 and tell it to switch off. The liver therefore continues to dump more sugar into the system. This is called "Insulin Resistance", and you now have type-2 diabetes.

I hope this analogy helps you Brett. The Liver, is a most wondrous bit of kit, which we all abuse and take for granted. That is, until something goes wrong.

Good Luck.

[Dldtx]

Sorry to say but hell yes there is not any real rules as what you get versus others, my new trick is just breathing it appears as of the last cat scan my pancreas is about to poop the bed. But before it does I think i will be seeing a oncologist because of the Atrophic fatty changes of the pancreas and Scattered peripancreatic adenopathy throughout the lungs . The list is real long so You may have a lot more to go so buckle up,like I said you may or may not get acites, heart problems,Tachycardia,aorta shunting, spleen, kidneys etc , lung problems, me waiting to exhale which adds more toxins, lower bleeding and so on. I have to say this shortness of breath or as the doctor said You got “sob” yeah, this sucks kinda hard to do anything without air. I enjoy the HE the most out of all it.

So keep your spirits up mind your diet and rest . I hope you don’t get anything more but if you do just remember you can handle it, it is what it is.

DLD 🤠

[Brett11]

It’s like how I told my friend last year. I said that I have had too many cirrhosis problems this year so that will be it. I can handle whatever cirrhosis throws at me in 2018. So far I’ve only had 2 operations, almost died twice during the first one due to loss of blood. AND it’s not even February yet lol. Bring it on. I always try and smile. What else is there to do? Wallow in my own pain due to my own stupidity when I was a bit younger? I’m not like that

[missunites]

well said Brett11, take each day as it comes. On the original post I also developed Osteoporosis and gallstones and peripheral neuropathy, been dry 3 years now but I accept that all these problems are of my own doing.

[LAJ123 in reply to missunites]

Please don't blame yourself for any part of this illness.

The society in which we all live promotes alcohol as a desirable, fun and 'normal' part of life. Most adults in the UK drink (80%) not everyone will be affected by liver disease but some either drink beyond the average or are less tolerant of the harmful effects of alcohol.

Nobody sets out to give themselves liver disease any more than heart, lung or any other disease.

Maybe with hindsight you would have done things differently, but we cannot see into the future. Most diseases / illnesses / conditions are avoidable but you don't hear of people being accused of causing their own illness in other diseases.

Jim

[missunites in reply to LAJ123]

I have far greater strength now than I did in the days before alcohol became a necessity.Last year I was in gyny day care when a few of the women started to talk about alcoholics ( usual scenario that we will drink anything and even suck an oily rag) wish I had said something but didn't want to get wound up just before my op. The sooner people realize we are just normal every day people like them but with an illness. I quite happily talk about it now as if I can help just one person I will have achieved something.

[LAJ123]

The list is long but the elephant in the corner is loss of libido with accompanying impotence in men and possible early menopause in women.

Some are too embarrassed to raise the subject with their medical team. The resulting psychological / relationship problems can be difficult to manage and should be discussed openly with all affected.

Jim

[Kristian]

I think DLD and Katie some things up rather well, nose bleeds and itch can be quite common things to experience if you haven't had those yet, not forgetting the loss of muscle. I'd also say, with the less common things it'll be a case of just recognising the signs and symptoms. That way if they do turn up you'll be prepared for what to do. One thing that isn't usually highlighted anywhere is Sepsis. Its not specific to liver disease or cirrhosis, but as we are a bit more susceptible to infections the possibility of developing sepsis is certainly there. I'd strongly suggest you familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms of that as it can be confused with other things. Early treatment is absolutely essential as it can get very bad very quick.

[LAJ123 in reply to Kristian]

Kristian,

Glad you mentioned sepsis.

One rare but extremely serious result of liver disease is when the ascites ( fluid accumulating in the abdominal cavity) becomes infected. There is no apparent reason / cause and for this reason it is called Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

If left untreated the infection can result in sepsis which is an overwhelming immune response that can cause multi organ failure and in a significant number can be fatal.

The following link will explain what to look for when somebody is unwell and you suspect that it may be something quite serious but you are not sure what it could be.

sepsistrust.org/what-is-sep...

I speak from experience as approximately three months after diagnosis I was hospitalised after collapsing at home with the worst pain ever, confusion and a high temperature. It was blue lights and sirens as the paramedics immediately suspected sepsis and were later proved to be right.

As already mentioned, it is rare but definitely something we should all be aware of.

Jim

[Hidden in reply to LAJ123]

Thanks for this reference to the sepsis site. I've just printed the sheet off for info, just in case. Much appreciated

[Brett11]

The old me was on a litre of vodka a day with not much food and a full time job. Loss of libido? I can’t remember where I left it ???

Sepsis doesn’t sound like fun. Let’s see what strange things I get this year. We only have a base hospital in Cairns, so it may be a chopper ride to Townsville or Brissie for more complicated things.

We have all been thru a lot on here BUT we are all still here. That’s the main thing innit!

[LAJ123 in reply to Brett11]

My brother in law is from Cairns - they now live in Brisbane.

[Brett11]

I couldn’t think of anywhere nicer to be in. Great Barrier Reef to the left, rainforest and mountains to the right.

[Beture47]

Port Douglas the Daintree Forest my favorite place

what a good Aussie attitude xx

[Brett11]

Two beautiful places.