My partner was diagnosed with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis in October 2017 after having been rushed to A&E, vomiting blood and not being able to breathe due to severe ascites. The emergency doctor was so concerned about his prognosis that she asked that I contact his daughters to come to the hospital urgently. He survived that initial admission and was discharged, still very weak and poorly.
He gave up drinking immediately, but was still suffering from ascites and severe muscle wastage, with no appetite due to the ascites, so it has been a very long road to try and build his strength up. He was not allowed to take Spironolactone, as his blood sodium was low, and had to return to hospital for drains every 4 weeks for several months, and developed an umbilical hernia from the fluid build-up. He had a follow-up with his liver consultant in February 2018, who was pleased with his progress, and pronounced that his liver was compensated again.
Cut to the end of March 2018 - the umbilical hernia became incarcerated and he needed emergency surgery, which, although successful, caused the liver to become decompensated again, and left him with a low-grade infection in the fluid in his belly.
After a final drain, things settled down again, with antibiotics to combat the infection, and slowly, his strength returned. At the beginning of 2018, he needed a wheelchair to get to his hospital appointments, and now he can walk miles.
He saw his consultant again last Monday, and in her words he is "in excellent health" and his liver has "complete recompensation". In the future, he will have 6-monthly ultrasounds and be seen annually in a nurse-led clinic.
I hope this gives a glimmer of hope to any of you who are just starting down the road of returning to better health after a grim diagnosis.
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kyia
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That's fantastic news Kyia. The journey must have been long and stressful for both of you but what a fabulous outcome! Your story will give comfort and hope to so many people. Thank you for posting. May life just get better and better for you both. Alf
Congrats to you both kyia! As for Alfred being an inspiration all I can say is that they dont call him the great one for nothing! He'll be up and about guitar in hand in no time!
Hi Kiya, it's brilliant that your partner has fought and come back from such a dire situation. It's so inspiring and uplifting to hear such a positive story. Well done you too, I'm sure you've been central to his recovery and in supporting him through the worse of times.Thankyou for sharing. Wishing you the very best in the future.
So pleased for you both that he's in such good health now. It must have been terrifying to see him go through such a nightmare. Enjoy your life together. Deb
That’s a bit like my journey except the doctors are to scared to operate on my umbilical hernia as they fear that if I go back to decompensated, I might not recover enough to get compensated again.
Truly grateful that you were able to tell us how it really is possible to recover from even the most dire circumstances.
As it happens, in the morning, I will show your post to someone who is exactly in the place your partner found himself in October 2017. Apart from a few differences, the last five weeks has been remarkably similar. Perfect timing
I've shown this to my partner, who wanted me to post his story, and he so pleased that he may have helped someone. Thank you so much for letting us know, Jim.
Aw, Lisa, thanks for your help and optimism. He just wants to get more upper body strength now, and short of weight-lifting, not sure what he could do!
Wow It is this is a post that will give hooe to many. My partner has been through all (except the hernia) in the last 12 months. Intensive care in Sept and his liver has been decompensated since but last 2 weeks since discharge 1st Feb I have seen changes that we dared not hope for.
We were/are looking at the possibility of a transplant once he gets a bit better.
Can I ask is this something your partner does not need due to his great recovery?
Mine has gone from being in bed most of the time to now being out in the garden and pottering about we dare even hioe he may get back to work on the future as he has been off 7 months this time.
His consultant had a wait and see approach to his treatment, and said most improvement happens in the first year after being diagnosed. As far as I know, a possible transplant assessment was never mentioned, as they wanted to see how well he'd recover.
I really feel for what you're going through right now, and I hope your partner continues to improve. It's wonderful when they take those first baby steps towards recovering from being so ill.
Thank you so much for sharing this positive post kyia - I am sure this will be very inspirational to forum members in a similiar situation.
Yes the wife and I have talked a lot in the last 15 years about how tough it was on both of us, but I can’t forget my family especially my daughter for all support She gave that’s why I always say I’m a lucky man and I wish the same success for you both and everyone else’s that’s trying 👍😀
Hi kyla,
My husband went through something similar in Nov 2015 and except for the walking miles due to a bad ankle is doing well and has been on the 6 month follow-up appointments since then.
I read your post about your son and didn't have a chance to respond yesterday. I'm so glad you found this and yes, there is hope. It's a long road, but there can be a normal life after getting such a scary diagnosis. I hope things improve for your son and I'm happy to answer any specific questions you may have xx
I hope to god he recovers. I cant imagine my life, without him!! Consultants didn't expect him to survive his admission and nearly 3 weeks later he is discharged to out care. I know hes far from being out of the woods, couldn't bare to lose him, especially after hes been discharged but we know it's a very rocky road, ahead. X
We're in the UK. He did have jaundice but not that I'd really noticed. He was in bed most of the day and up all night and I hadn't seen him in daylight for a while. He is doing quite well. We're very lucky.
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