Liver Cirrhosis

[popupstands]

My Wife as just been diagnosed with Cirrhosis at 56 years of age and I am trying to understand which natural diet would best help her, she used to drink quite a lot but said she will never drink again which is positive, I am doing a lot of research and does anyone know if stem cell therapy would be worth trying ? I am also try to understand blood results so could any one explain in detail, she also as ascites and as just started to take spironolactone and furosemide (is this a good idea), I attach her blood readings

Thanks

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I've be told by every doctor to eat a Mediterranean diet all the way. That's what I follow. I would recommend anyone with cirrhosis talk to a dietician as well just to see if there are any particular modifications to the diet an individual should make. Typically in compensated cirrhosis all one needs to do is eat as a normal healthy person would eat. Usually restrictions only come into play with decompensated cirrhosis.

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We are encouraged to not post lab results on this site. Nothing personal just a site policy, though some of us are quite robust in our knowledge we at the end of the day are not doctors.

There is no effective treatment for alcoholic cirrhosis itself. The only treatments are to address the things that are secondary to the disease, like ascites, varices, etc. In my experience the lab tests she has are quite typical for a person with cirrhosis. I'm assuming she stopped drinking recently? If so, and the only cause is infact alcohol, those labs will likely improve with continued abstinence. Abstinence is VITAL! There are some labs there that seem a bit out of keeping with alcoholic cirrhosis and warrant some further investigation as it seems your doctor has already made note of on the top right hand of the page. Having a lowered albumin, raised ALP (alkaline phosphotase), as well as raised ALT (alanine trans.), and raise billirubin are all common of someone with alcoholic liver disease who has been recently a heavy drinker.

Any and all causes of liver disease should be ruled out regardless of a history of heavy alcohol use. Any good doctor will make sure to rule any other cause out. But you have to sometimes be your own advocate as some doctors WILL see liver disease with alcohol history and look no further. Dont allow this to happen. It would not be the first time a doctor has made that mistake and subsequently it costs the patient unnecessary and potentially preventative further liver damage. The really high serum ferritin stands out to me. While you can expect to see elevated levels in people who are obese, have active inflamattion and/or high alcohol intake.. it's also a marker for people with hemochromatosis. So I'd ask about that if it were me.

I hope this helps a bit

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Hi popupstands,

We appreciate this is a very difficult time and you want to do your best to support your wife. however, we ask that followers do not post test results for what could appear to be a request for medical advice.

This forum is here to share experiences and provide support to each other and we would advise against posting any test results or asking for specific medical advice. This is not a medical forum and should not be used to try and make diagnoses or replace advice from your own medical practitioners who have a much wider view of your health and test results.

The British Liver Trust asks that users do NOT post any test results or ask for specific comment on such. Test results vary according to both the individual’s whole health and the laboratory analysing the results and should therefore always be interpreted by the user’s own doctors.

There is a link below to the British Liver Trust website with specific information about cirrhosis and diet. The website also contains a large body of information about liver disease in general and links to other reputable resources.

For personal support, you are able to call the British Liver Trust Helpline and speak to an experienced registered nurse. Call 0800 652 7330 between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday (not bank holidays). You can also email the helpline - [e-mail] (emails can be sent at any time and are answered during helpline hours).

Many thanks for your ongoing support and understanding.

Volunteer moderator

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

[jak547]

I saw the labs from earlier,she needs her Ferritin down ASAP, what are they doing for the Ferritin? you need to ask them about it, she needs a hematologist to work out her iron along with her hepatologist

[Owlie]

Hi, I can only offer my experience with the diet I’m afraid. Eat as healthily as you can. I don’t follow a diet as such although I probably fit in a category for one. I don’t eat anything processed or fried, no red meat or white carbs. I do eat grilled fish, chicken or turkey, salad and vegetables and drink loads of water. I don’t drink alcohol. I don’t count calories as what I eat is healthy and I tend to go with my protein being the size of my fist and then fill the plate with vegetable. I have lost just over 3 stone doing this and my liver health has improved. I hope this helps.

[Garyvh]

As far as diet goes, the usual advice is low salt, high protein.

Try to get a referral to a clinical dietician though as certain issues like poor kidney function mean that might not be applicable.

I would say though, try not to make life too difficult with diet, just a normal balanced healthy diet should be OK, nothing extreme, no cutting out entire food groups, no 'liver detox' diets or supplements. Just keep an eye on the salt, if you are a home cook this is easy enough to do.

Watch out for high salt content in convenience foods in tins, packets, ready meals etc.

Personally I avoid organic food too. Contrary to popular belief they are still sprayed with pesticides, often ones that haven't been as rigouresly tested for safety as their artificial counterparts.

Gary

[Marydel63]

Eating healthy and try to exercise, but also AGREE that her doctors need to rule out other causes of the Cirrhosis.

[mncold]

Hi popupstands,

Wishing you and your wife the very best.

Mary