Ascites .

My husband has decompensated cirrhosis with ascites which has caused major fluid retention. He has had it drained on a regular basis and tried diuretics which then caused kidney problems! He just had spironolactone increased to 100mgs., but still can't get fluid under control. Has anyone else experienced this?

[h0b0]

Hi. Yes my partner had ongoing problems with ascites. Had to be drained on a regular basis until he was lucky to have a transplant.xx

[Yuiop]

My husband has the very same problem, back in next Friday to get drained. He's dropped to 50mg for his kidneys. His sodium is very low as well.x

[Hidden in reply to Yuiop]

My husband had to drop to 50 for same reason, also had low sodium and got very confused. It's hard isn't it?

[Yuiop in reply to Hidden]

It is, it's a Circe we appear to be stuck in at the moment. He's put on a stone and a half in last 18days, and his deuretics were halved just a week ago! I don't know if he will last to next Friday to get drained! He keeps telling me I'm deaf, but it's because I can hardly make out what he's saying!

[Hidden]

Hello there, I'm a cirrhosis survivor and hope that I can help.

My first question to you would be "is he drinking enough fluid?" - I was drained once while I was still in hospital, and was told to drink a litre and a half of water per day initially, then it went up to two litres.

Drinking the prescribed amount along with taking Spironolactone made me pee like a racehorse (and very frequently!) and I've never had ascites again since.

[KT60]

Hi yes my husband was the same. Just lost him recently to liver cancer, but yes he was on 100mg of spiro did nothing for him so was increased gradually but then caused kidney problems so went back to being drained was like that on and off for over 2 years. Its horrible to live with livet disease lots of ups and downs. Hope this helps. Karen

[elle-boop]

Hi, I have auto immune related cirrhosis. Spiro is strong and usually very effective if used in conjunction with sodium reduction and fluid management and absence of any alcohol consumption. Unfortunately the disease is progressive and eventually this treatment combination won’t work well enough. Regular fluid drainage will be required at this stage and a review of his transplant status. This pre transplant stage is very difficult for everyone involved. I’m so sorry your going through this and I understand your level of worry.

The only thing you can do is monitor him, weigh him daily. Stick to the regimen the dr’s are suggesting and wait. E xx

[andy-g]

HI, Fluid retention is always a problem as spiro can affect kidneys, as you have found out. I was taken off spiro after acute kidney failure and ended up draining up to 14 litres every week to ten days for a year until my transplant. Diuretics are a double edged sword, but I am still here and fluid free. Is your husband a transplant candidate, this is a symtom of faily advanced cirrhosis. I wish you all the best.

[Hidden in reply to andy-g]

Hi, he's only recently been diagnosed so hasn't been assessed yet. It's all very new and very scary.

[andy-g]

I know how scary this is but knowledge is strength so once you know the situation you will find ways to deal with it. I lost 60 kgs and was taken off all medication .The draining was to make it more comfortable for me. But there is always hope and whatever the diagnosis is you will find the strength to deal with it. Your husband will need your support.The best advice I can give is do everything the doctors tell you to do, to the letter. They saved me and I refused to believe I would not survive. I hope things will go well with you but remember all any of us has is today and we have to make it the best day we can.I wish you all the best , stay strong.

[Kimlescam]

Hi

Same as the others my husband was on same dose and ascites was always a big problem. He was told he wasn't drinking enough and then due to kidney problems they changed the medication which helped a little.

Luckily he then had his transplant which has made a massive difference.

Good luck with your husband.

Kim