Good days and bad.

Is it usual for someone to have one good day followed by one bad one? This seems to be happening to my husband. Yesterday, he went out for a walk ( only short!) and today, feels his legs are really weak and he doesn't feel like doing anything.

[Hidden]

Hi Catcher, yes this is quite normal. It's sometimes like having a battle of two minds. Apart from the physical, the mental attitude is also having to go through a lot. Like you say, sometimes you can feel so assertive and have that good old buzz factor, and the next day you have that, "I can't be bothered attitude".

He may well have over done it with the walk, and used muscles that he's not used in a while. Coupled with this his liver is still poorly so this will knock the stuffing out of him too. Normally there is more iron in a damaged liver than there is in a healthy one, so I shouldn't be iron deficiency. Although it maybe tempting to reach for a tonic or multivitamins, please avoid this as his liver has enough on it's plate at the moment, and besides, this could end up doing more harm then good.

I would just wait and allow him to rest, but there'd be no harm in putting on the marigolds and helping out in the kitchen from time to time.

Good luck to you both.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

The doctor has put him on iron tablets as he is a bit anemic, is this ok?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Just a little strange. I guess its very much a case of horse for courses. Iron deficient can happen in some case of liver disease, and then you can have a case like mine, when there can become too much iron in the liver if it becomes damaged.

The British Liver Trust have an excellent article about this, and it's well worth reading. I hope this helps: britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

[AyrshireK in reply to Hidden]

My hubby is the same up and down with regards energy levels and what he can do on a daily / hourly basis. He was put on iron tablets for a short while due to iron deficient anaemia though I can't say I noticed any difference in his iron levels with the tablets. Eventually this stabilised and he was taken off them. Energy levels continue to be hubbies major symptom. Some days not so bad others just a write off.

He still pushes himself to wash up and help a bit round the house and we try and do a 20 or so minute walk every day around the village or a fair bit more on those good days.

Make sure hubby fuels when he is doing his walks, even a short one will need some extra calories and carbs/protein. My hubby soon runs out of steam if he does too much without fuel and he often carries jelly babies or flap jack with him.

All the best to you both, Katie x

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie, thank you for your response, you're always very quick to reply and obviously extremely knowledgeable. I'd be genuinely interested to hear a bit more about you and your husband's story, but will completely understand if you prefer to keep your privacy.

Best wishes, Dee

[AyrshireK in reply to Hidden]

Send you a PM.

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

Sorry about this, but how do I access it?

[AyrshireK in reply to Hidden]

Only just finished it, you should have a couple of speech bubbles at top of screen with chat and it should highlight when you have a message. It'll be in there. Get a cup of tea and be prepared for an epic. LOL.

All the best, Katie x

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

Got your message and replied, but not sure it actually went to you, did you get it?

Dee

[AyrshireK in reply to Hidden]

Yes I did thanks.

[Garyvh]

Hi,

Yes, most definitely!

I have good days, where I can feel quite sprightly, even normal (ish).

I tend to overdo it a bit on days like that, almost forgetting that I'm ill, for a while at least.

Then it hits me afterwards and I'll have no energy left, even for mundane tasks etc.

It can knock me out for two or three days, til I start to perk up a bit again.

It's like the mind is willing but the body says no!

Have you heard of Spoon Theory?

It's worth looking up as it describes the fatigue that comes with chronic illness, in a very easy to understand way.

G

[jules45]

Hi, I'm julie, i have cirhossis and other complications. I have days when my legs feel hollow anď can no longer walk unaided but I do also have a spine disease. I find if I excerpt myself, especially driving or walking with my crutches I nap all of the following day. The fatigue is a well known side effect of liver problems. There's not in my experience any cure other than rest, then the following day should be better. Useless information probably but thought it may help best wishes, Julie x

[Loveliver]

Is your husband post or pre transplant, I was lucky enough to be transplanted in January this year so have lots of advice on both stages if that would help ?

[Hidden in reply to Loveliver]

Hi there, my husband hasn't had assessment yet, got first appt. in 2 weeks. It's really hard watching him struggling to eat and getting weaker. Any advice would be welcome.

[Loveliver]

Hi I was in extactly the same position myself this time last year and yes it’s extremely tough I was unbearable to live with and very nearly cost us our relationship but there is light at the end of the tunnel, I used pray that somebody would just turn it on ! I totally lost my appetite and all of my energy too, have you tried fortisip high protein they’re great and taste ok (3 a day) it’s also massively important to eat before bed anything protein based (yoghurts, welsh cakes, cereal) he won’t want to do eat but I can assure you it’s so important, post transplant my weight had fallen to 58kg and I’m 5’10 . I’m now healthy and back to my normal weight of 75kg. Please ask if I can offer any other help or advice. Good luck.

[Hidden]

Hi, he has Ensure on prescription, but only manages 1 as he says it fills him up! Will try Fortisip, anything is worth a go.

[Loveliver]

Hi yeah I wasn’t a huge fan of that brand the fortisip high protein I think contains 14g and 3 flavours the good thing is they are small a couple of ‘gulps’ is all it takes, I really know how difficult it can be as you always feel so full, they are available on prescription.