Cirrhosis question

[Mae3690]

So my dad was diagnosed with de compensated cirrhosis a few months ago. He's been drained twice but it seems a tad better since they upped his water pills. He tells me everything is ok, but that is hard to believe. He's still working even tho Drs say he absolutely shouldn't be. He says his score was 15? Not sure what that is or what it means?

[ironicfelix]

You are asking for a score of 15. Your father was probably referring to the MELD score. Stands for Model for End Stage Liver Disease, I believe. It is an algorithm based on three lab values (Bilirubin, Creatinine, INR). It is not a static value. Can go up, but also can go down.

Good luck

[Brett11 in reply to ironicfelix]

The lowest is a score of 6. I can’t remember how high it goes. I was MELD 17 a few months ago.

Cheers,

Brett

[Mae3690 in reply to ironicfelix]

Can it go up and down quickly? I feel like he goes from a super bad day to a good day. This disease is really a roller coaster

[Sugartafffy]

Hello Mae3690, I am caregiver to my fiance that also has cirrhosis..They have a system which tells the Dr.thru his blood work how sick your Dad liver is.its called the Meld score ,the higher it goes the sicker they get..the lower it goes the better they feel..Your Dad has Acities where fluid build up in his tummy so by taking water pills and watching his soduim his fluid will be flushed out.Thats a good thing.As far as working if he can handle it..its all good.Being at work keeps their mind busy..My fiance does photography and his meld score is 15 and he to had his water pills increase. As long as they have energy it's really great. Because their are days that the fatigue sets in..they go thru good day and bad days .All I can say is hang in there we will be going thru some bumps along the road...I just learn to take it one day at a time for I know it's a gift each day..Bless you.

[Mae3690 in reply to Sugartafffy]

Thank you so much! It is a terrible unpredictable disease, I am learning. I will see him one day and he can barely stay awake and then the next he sounds a lot better. He had really bad varices according to the specialist. He had to have 3 bandings done within a month. I'm not sure if he's still drinking, 40+ years of it so I have a hard time believing he can stop cold turkey. I really pray he did. Still a heavy smoker:(.

[Sugartafffy in reply to Mae3690]

Mae..you and I got something together..what has happen to him is exactly what is happening to my finance..he has not stop his drinking volka .he drinks everyday and smokes also..in April he had 5 varicis bandage he has portal hypertensive and portal gastropathy. He did go back to have his varicis check and no bleeds which is good but they did find a small hernia..I tried everything to stop his drinking but nothing worked.i guess he has to give it up on his own..mean while I just do the best I can..

[Hidden]

Hey Mae. Im sorry to hear your Dad is going through this. I am curious how they diagnosed him with compensated cirrhosis as Acites and variceal bleeding from portal hypertension are exactly what makes a person to be considered decompensated. If get that cleared up. If he is still drinking that would be horrible as alot of times decompensated cirrhosis can revert to compensated simply by stopping the drinking. I hope you both the best . And as for sugartaffy i can only imagine the frustration and saddness having your boyfriend still drink like that in such ill health. It will surely do him in if he doesnt stop no question.

Lots of love

[Sugartafffy in reply to Hidden]

Hi!! Nice to meet PhoenixPalazzo.its very much so hard to see and know that he still drinks knowing he has all this going on with his cirrhosis..I tell him every once in awhile but he denies it and yet I know wherever he goes he has his little bottle of water,but it's not water cause Volka is clear and you would think that its water.so far he is stable nothing is happening to him..only thing I notice he has drop weight and losing some muscle mass..so I guess I just do my best and not aloud myself to get worked up knowing what I know...he has to decide if he want to give it up...if you know anything what to expect next please tell me so I can prepare myself for the unknown...keep intouch..Have a good day!