Letter from Consultant

[Echo67]

Hi , not messaged for a while now. Got letter that hope someone can help explain. From my consultant to be given to benifts agency ,," has chronic liver disease, with episodes of upper GI bleeding, chronic abdominal pain and vomiting, question about whether he has episodic confusion due to encephalopathy, his liver disease is otherwise compensated. I don't know what is meant by 'compensated '. I have at last stopped drinkinking, nearly 3months, and still feel poorly and energyless, goin to see my GP Monday. Hope someone can shed a little light on what compensated means.

best regards echo

[Roy1955]

It means your probably not sick enough to stay on benifits!

Compensated means your sick livers still working fine and doing what it's designed to do.

"question about whether he has episodic confusion due to encephalopathy" That's saying you might have it or might not but it's enough to cause the loss of your driving licence.

Unless the benefits agency have asked for a consultants letter it might not be in your best interest to show that to them.

[AyrshireK]

When you have cirrhosis it is normally classed as either compensated where it is managing to carry out the majority of it's important functions or decompensated when it truly is struggling and failing to even manage its most important jobs - in this case you'd normally be very poorly indeed.

Your doctor is saying your liver is compensated but is still highlighting the issues you are having with episodic HE symptoms, pain, upper gastrointestinal bleeds.

It doesn't necessarily mean you'll be knocked back for benefits at all. My hubby is in the same boat. Compensated / stable cirrhosis, mild Hepatic Encephalopathy with previous intensive banding regime and an earlier upper GI bleed. He receives both enhanced rate daily living for Personal Independence Payment and basic rate mobility. Also, receives Employment and Support Allowance in the Support Group. He currently has none of the major symptoms of liver disease but does have chronic fatigue issues, sleep deprivation, difficulty concentrating and comprehending information etc.

Have a little read at the British Liver Trust page on cirrhosis and aquaint yourself with some of the terms used to describe the condition. I found it a gold mine of information when my hubby was first diagnosed way back in 2012. britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

All the best for your benefits application.

Katie

[Garyvh in reply to AyrshireK]

Has he had a review whilst in his current condition?