Liver Cirrhosis

[sazal]

I diagnosed last week liver cirrhosis. My liver stiffness 15.1 kpa. I don't know much about this cirrhosis. How much serious is condition? Is it curable?

[carmik]

Sorry folks this is not a reply but I am having trouble finding where I actually post a new message.

MY hubby is post liver transplant by 6 years. He has symptoms which could be related to low thyroid function.

His doctor is refusing to test him as she says " it was tested 5 months ago". Surely it could have changed in 5 months and does anybody know if she is within her rights to refuse.

Effectively I think she is breaching her contract with regards to not effectively looking after a post transplant patient..

Anybody had this or know the answer please.

Thanks

[AyrshireK in reply to carmik]

Hi, Carmik. Have you got a box at the top of your screen which says "What's your question?" - that's where you now type your post to start a new thread.

Sorry I don't know an answer to your question, I wonder whether you could run it past the transplant centre as it could perhaps be linked to him being post transplant. Your hubby is under their care for the rest of his life so they might pull strings to get this issue checked and monitored.

Katie

[freddie76 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks we are there week after next and that is what we intend to do.

On ipad still can't find where you go

Thanks anyway

[Hidden]

sazal, sorry to hear about your new diagnosis, Have you had a biopsy? I know you had a scan but usually with your score the doc. sometimes want to do a biopsy. We are waiting for lab work to see if my FIL needs a biopsy. Is your condition due to alcohol? or do they not know. You can to the right place for support because i only joined about 2 weeks ago and have learned a lot reading the post. I am a caretaker of my father in law and have learned so much about the liver. I am a social drinker but since my father in law is going thru this even I have stop drinking...I drink a bottle of wine/month but i don't do that anymore since I read all these post and after taking my father in law to his doctor appointments. I also know alcohol isn't the only thing that can cause liver problems but why take chances with such a great organ.

[sazal in reply to Hidden]

Hello Sophia, Thanks for the reply. I have not done biopsy and i drink alcohol occasionally (Once in a month). My doc says it's due to alcohol. Its good to see, you take care of your father in law. Hope he get well soon. Yes, Alcohol is not the only reason of Cirrhosis. It might be hepatitis B and C, NAFLD (Non alcohol fatty liver disease ), Autoimmune disease. So it's totally depends patient condition.

[AyrshireK]

Hello sazal, welcome to our merry band. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis of cirrhosis. Do they know what has caused your liver to become damaged? If they can establish the cause and either treat the cause or remove the cause then it should prevent the liver becoming even more damaged. A kPa Fibroscan score of 15.1 is fairly low in the grand scheme of things for cirrhosis and in relation to some causes 15.1 wouldn't even have reached the level to be deemed cirrhosis but advanced fibrosis. Cirrhosis used to be thought to be irreversible but thinking on this is changed and whilst it is unlikely that a cirrhotic liver can ever become totally normal again if the cause of the cirrhosis is dealt with it is certainly possible to improve your liver function etc.

If you haven't already read it yet there is an excellent guide about cirrhosis on the British Liver Trust website at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

What is important with a diagnosis of cirrhosis is now to look out for and prevent some of the symptoms which can also begin to arise due to the damage your liver has sustained so it is about monitoring - 6 monthly ultrasound scans and bloods are needed to check for any changes in the liver, a low salt diet to prevent fluid build up, no processed foods, healthy eating with sufficient protein and carbohydrates to fuel and prevent muscle wastage, exercise and generally looking after yourself. Doctors might want to arrange an endoscopy to look at whether you are suffering from portal hypertension as that can bring about internal bleeds and fluid build up. You'll need to watch what medications you take to prevent any worsening of your condition.

Hopefully doctors are going to arrange follow up to advise on what they plan to do going forward.

Wishing you the very best of luck,

Katie

P.S. My hubby has had a diagnosis of cirrhosis since April 2012, he remains fairly stable at the moment after spending some time on the transplant list in 2014-15. He got well enough that he was taken out of transplant system and although not living life as he planned he is still living life.

[Damasc]

Sorry to read about your recent diagnosis, Sazal. I am working every day on Katie's good advice.

I was diagnosed last October with cirrhosis. That was a shock even though I have had a fatty liver for awhile. Over the past 10-12 years I became totally driven by alcohol & dug a hole so hard to get out of that I just kept on digging myself deeper & nearly died from heart & liver complications.

I knew I was living with Hep C. I've had exposure to Hep B & have developed immunity to this virus. I had been waiting for treatment of Hep C with better success & less side effects. But I had to stop drinking completely. It took a health scare not just the diagnosis for me to accept it & do something. Hearing how others have dealt with their problems helps a lot.

Now there are new drugs which have shown a 95% success rate. I have just started on a once-a-day tablet for 12 weeks (was referred to a clinic last year).

Now there were no biopsies, no injections. And cost is funded. But blood work is needed to find out what type/s of virus it is. I am in Australia but I read UK wants to clear all Hep C.

May hope find you now, Scarred & less Scared.

[Hidden]

Hi Sazal,

Welcome to the forum.

You will find lots of useful information regarding your diagnosis on the British Liver Trust website. There is also a publication on Cirrhosis of the liver;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/wp...

If you need to ring our helpline it is open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm on 0800652 7330

Best wishes

Trust1