Saying hi to all

[Erica95]

Hi everyone, I have compensated cirrhosis and have joined this group for support. I was diagnosed about 3 yrs ago and have portal hypertension and gastrophy. I have some symptoms, but they are not yet signs of decompensation. I am 58 and live in Canberra Australia. Looking forward to sharing and caring with you all...thanks 😊

[AyrshireK]

Welcome to our merry band Erica, hope you find lots of help and support here.

Katie

[Erica95 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie, thank you 😊

[Brett11]

Yaayyy! Another Australian on here! I was starting to feel alone. Cairns here

[Erica95]

Hi Brett ☺

[1football]

Hi Erica

This is a great place to chat and get support it’s helped me enormously

Huw

[Kristian]

Hi Erica, welcome to the fun house

[Brett11]

I’ve had cirrhosis since November 2016 with all the related health dramas that come with it. I thought that I have been thru everything but I have just been told that now I have chronic heart failure. Oh well , that must be one more to add to the list. My cirrhosis was alcohol related but I stopped drinking in October 2016

Cheers,

Brett

[Febeli57 in reply to Brett11]

Hello Brett can I ask what were your symptoms healthwise for your chronic heart failure? Because I know it's very common with alcohol related cirrosis ? Thanks

[Brett11]

I only found out about the heart thing last time I was in hospital. I had rapid weight gain and a shortness of breath after walking a couple of steps. My scan showed an enlarged heart with no explanation for saying that I now have CCF or CHF. My feelings are that if the doctors aren’t worried about it yet then neither should I. I’m having another scan thingy in a few weeks to determine once and for all if it is heart failure.

Cheers,

Brett

[Hidden]

Welcome, I too was diagnose last year of alcohol cirrosis, in fact right now am here in bed in discomfort due to banding varices that occurred yesterday

[Saintgeorge in reply to Hidden]

Look after yourself, all the best wishes

[RonShirt]

Can you explain what compensated and uncompensated Liver Cirrhosis is?

Thanks

[AyrshireK in reply to RonShirt]

In simple terms compensated cirrhosis is where the liver is seriously damaged but is still able to do many of its major functions - the liver does around 500 different jobs so even with compensated cirrhosis there can be various jobs it is no longer able to do as it tries to cope with doing its most important functions.

Decompensated cirrhosis is when the liver is really struggling to even cope with its most important of functions such as the detoxification of blood leading to more advanced and potentially life threatening symptoms such Hepatic Encephalopathy, portal hypertension leading to potential internal bleeding (varices) and ascites, jaundice and pruritis (a maddening and life affecting itch).

For more information about cirrhosis and some of the terminology you might find the British Liver Trust page about cirrhosis explains some of the staging information and symptoms. Page is at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

Any more questions just fire away and we'll try and help.

Katie

[RonShirt in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks very much for this.

One thing I've never understood is that I always thought that the kidneys purified the blood, or is it that they simply remove excess fluid?

Ron

[AyrshireK in reply to RonShirt]

It's a complicated process involving both the liver and kidneys, if the liver is out of kilter it can also affect the kidneys and toxins arn't evacuated from the body via urine and urea and it's often the ammonia which should have been excreted which then recirculates round the body and the brain causing HE symptoms etc. Common blood tests taken for monitoring liver disease are FBC's (full blood count), LFT's (Liver Function Tests), U's and E's (Urea & electrolites also known as Kidney Function Tests).

There is again information on how the liver works at the BLT site. britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

The organs all work together and like I say can have impact on each other.

Katie

[RonShirt in reply to AyrshireK]

OK Thanks

[Nyork10]

Hi there Erica

Im the same as you I haven't been on this site very long and I have found it very helpful.

In terms of my liver I have had cirrhosis for just over a year, upon admission to hospital it was severely decompansated and now it is compensated - its been a challenge to do that in a year! I also have portal vein thrombosis - i don't know if you're on any blood thinner for your portal hypertension?

Anyway, i thought i'd say hello as it sounds as if we are both at a similar stage with this illness - any questions just ask. I'm 36 from Newcastle, UK (the original one not the NSW one!) 😉😉😉😆

[The-perfect-storm]

Hi Erica, I also am new to this support group (my only support group) I have found it to be very helpful, sometimes a friendly word is all that is needed to lift the mood.

Like some of the other people I came here through the British Liver Trust website and I would advise visiting there as there's load of good info on there.