Hello everyone, I have a question can your liver ever recover on its own, I have cirrhosis of the liver, any ideas?

[stillhopeful1966]

I feel better, but at times I wonder, is there really anyone that has had this illness, and recovered?

[Hidden]

Cirrhosis is supposed to be a progressive disease by nature, but with early stage disease the progression is often very slow. Child-Pugh Class A patients are supposed to have up to 15 - 20 years before they need to start thinking about a transplant.

Speaking of transplants, Hepatitis-C has been one of the largest drain on livers for transplant & Hep-C is being cured now. This should mean less competition for livers for transplant over the next decade or so.

The fatty liver epidemic has also sparked a sharp increase in funding and research for liver disease, and a pharmaceutical may be developed to help resolve fibrosis or at least stop progression of disease in the not too distant future.

Plenty of reasons to continue to be hopeful!

[Dldtx]

I don’t have any sugar to coat this You probably knows this anyway but Cirrhosis is Chronic liver damage from a variety of causes leading to scarring and liver failure. i Have yet to hear of anyone getting better with Cirrhosis without transplants more of the continuous side effects as time passes. First You have to stop whatever caused cirrhosis like hepatitis C or alcohol or whatever. The key to treating liver disease is to diagnose the condition as early as possible. Then the question is how long before I need a transplant which will depend a lot on committing to a healthy lifestyle diet and exercise and without Alcohol and tolerance to medications. In my situation hepatitis C is my problem so I did the medication and it’s been undetectable for going on several years. But because of Cirrhosis I have multiple problems and diagnosis for my lungs,heart,kidneys,spleen,brain or mental health because of HE , stomach, muscles , bones, constipation, eye sight, insomnia etc ... maybe this will help you figure out where your at and some more knowledge of this wonderful disease we all have here. It is what it is might as well be happy about it for you and your family’s sake, as soon as I was diagnosed I updated my will told everyone I thought needed to know paid for my funeral. Bought me new harley and a Mercedes moved into a smaller home. Now the discussion are more joyful about how I feel and what do I want to do. So pick your head up and keep living best you can.

Stage 1: Initial Stage of Liver Disease: the first step includes inflammation of the liver or bile duct.

Stage 2: Fibrosis of the Liver : Many times, symptoms of liver disease aren’t present until this stage or the next. In the fibrosis stage, damage or scarring from the first stage begins to block the normal blood flow of the liver. In this stage, the liver isn’t functioning correctly, but through treatment, it may be able to heal and prevent any further progression of the disease.

Stage 3: Cirrhosis of the Liver: A chronic condition, cirrhosis of the liver creates permanent scarring that blocks the blood flow. This dangerous stage causes other serious conditions and symptoms that increase the severity of the liver disease and is recognized as one of the leading causes of death in the US. For this stage of the disease, doctors focus treatment on managing the symptoms in order to prevent the most advanced liver disease stage.

Stage 4: Liver Failure and Advanced Liver Disease : In the final stage of the disease, liver failure signals the end of all normal liver function. The patient now requires immediate medical attention to prevent death. Symptoms of liver failure include vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue as well as the symptoms from stage 3. While the progression from cirrhosis to failure can take years, the damage is irreversible and leads to eventual death.

[Hidden]

Hello, I (and no doubt many before me ) have asked this same question, I was given an answer which I’ve taken great comfort from.

Your liver, if you can imagine , has dead cells, living cells and dying ones.

Once the,for example the virus (hep c) has been delt with the dying cells can recouperate , the doctor had emphasised that it’s difficult to differentiate between the dead and the dying.

Forgive me but I stress that until my diagnosis I had little to no knowledge of liver medicine so if I’ve got it wrong...

it certainly made sense at the time and encouraged life style changes thus improving overall health , the doctor who answered my concerns also said that if I’d asked him if the liver damage could reverse itself 10 years ago he would have given an emphatic ‘no’ but now he could based on his experience of the last few years , could only give me an ‘I don’t know’’ answer.

Barry

[stillhopeful1966 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I agree see with me I was apparently in stage 4, I have done everything the doctor has asked of me, I was told after 6 months of no drinking and taking all the Meds he would put my name down for a liver transplant, well it's now 3 years and my doctor says I don't need a new liver I'm very close to stage 2, and doing well, I feel good my medication has been decreased, should I believe him? I'm hoping I can beat this , I like to hear the truth but some ppl have no faith, I still do

[Hidden in reply to stillhopeful1966]

Yes I think you need to be at deaths door to meet criteria for transplantation.Just not enough livers I guess, it’s a horrible way to get one but imagine all the organs going to waste due to lack of donors. I’ve read that apparently more non donors than donors? (Correct me if I’m wrong)

Old argument I’m sure , but it certainly hits home to a terminal liver patient eh?

Your doing well, luck to you!

Barry

[Barnetaccounts]

Hi, totally agree with Barry. The liver is an incredible organ if and I stress if we look after it. In Nov 16 I went

In for a transplant, haemorrhaged on the table and they battled to save my life. In fact my wife was told that I wouldn’t come out of the coma. When I did my hepatologist gave me 6 months MAX. Well I am still here approaching 2 years and often ask myself and my professor why. The fact I don’t drink and I eat healthier than I ever did means my liver can function. I still have a terminal diagnosis but still travel, enjoy being with my wife, my grown up kids, my grandkids etc. So the moral of my story is treat your liver like a newborn child. Don’t over exert it, and it could function for a long while. Abuse it and it will pay you back. 10 years ago they would have said its only a matter of time, but nowadays things are looking up.

Ray

[Hidden in reply to Barnetaccounts]

Hello, did you get your new liver before the bleeding or did they abort? I suspect not as you where given 6 months, do you have cancer ?

[Hidden in reply to Barnetaccounts]

I gather that a 6 month prognosis means you started bleeding before the organ was transplanted? (And of course no cancer was present) you’ve given me food for thought though.

I was informed that nothing could be done once I’d been diagnosed with cancer , prior to which the doctor was organising a two day stay in hospital to determine eligibility for transplant.

I’ve since ‘kicked’ the cancer , so I felt that a transplant maybe an option if conditions return to pre diagnosis but I’m no longer sure . Such an evil disease and happened so fast , three months from pillar of health and feeling ‘off’ at the gym to a death camp inmate lookalike with cancer , never smoked,took drugs or drank ! Go figure!

Perhaps past life issues ha !

[Barnetaccounts in reply to Hidden]

I bled on the operating table whilst being prepped for my transplant. I have cancer and that in itself is not a precluder to a transplant although tumour numbers and size are taken into account

[Hidden in reply to Barnetaccounts]

oh I see , so you had cancer and then attempted transplant?( Cancer I assume was within size criteria etc) . Did you have any Portal Vein issues?

I’m very interested as my cancer which was 18cm x12cm was around the portal vein area and was told that even if I cleared the tumour transplant would be difficult if not impossible.

Apologies for the barrage of questions, you’ve been very helpful

Thank you

Barry

[Barnetaccounts in reply to Hidden]

No portal vein issues other than slight hypertension when initially diagnosed. Never heard anything else after that.

[Gordon99]

The important thing to do, in my book, is to stop the cirrhosis getting any worse.

To do so requires a change of diet. Cutting out toxins. It is not easy but it is worth it.

I stopped drinking, reduced salt intake, stopped eating processed foods. My cirrhosis was advanced when it was diagnosed. NAFLS - the changes kept me going long enough until I was finally given a transplant.

Good luck.