Is Hepatic Encephalopathy returning?

[SRE3]

Hi can anyone tell me if I should be worried or am I over reacting? Last August my husband had a massive oesophageal bleed he was in hospital for a month as suffered HE. The confusion eventually seemed to disappear. However his drinking has gradually increased to now 8 cans a day! He gets confused as to what day it is. The other day he went for a blood test but went to the wrong clinic and sat waiting for the dietician. His liver was decompensated but he was told in April it was back compensated but his drinking is going up. He tells me he is only drinking. A couple of cans but I see the empties daily. Is the HE coming back? What should I be looking for does it show on blood tests? He had some last week and is due a routine endoscopy next week. Any advice greatly appreciated thanks c

[AyrshireK]

A build up of ammonia in the blood which then goes to the brain is the cause of Hepatic Encephalopathy so it probably will show up in bloods. There are other conditions linked with alcohol that can also cause confusion issues.

What is happening with his alcohol consumption? He really needs to be addressing this and getting help to get sober or sadly his liver won't hold out forever having already gotten to the decompensated cirrhotic stage. He won't be eligible for transplant assessment plus there eventually becomes a point where medics hardly give folks the time of day if they have no commitment to improving their own health.

Hope you look after yourself in all this because it potentially isn't going to be pleasant unless he can get the drinking under control and get to a point of total abstinence.

Katie

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Hi,

Do you want to give us a call on the helpline and we can have a chat about matters? It is open today until 14.45 on 0800 652 7330

Best wishes

Trust1

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Hi SRE3,

I guess I would be concerned that he is having episodes of HE.

My husband and I were told he needed to quit drinking altogether.

I hope you can speak with the helpline that Trust1 suggested and get some helpful information.

Best wishes,

Mary

[Roy1955]

If he continues drinking he will probably die within 12 months.

He might even die today.

No check ups are going to "cure" him.

They might patch up some damage if its seen during the scope and send him on his way.

What he is doing is committing a slow but certain suicide.

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Um no your not overreacting. Apologies for saying but your more underreacting. Hes had variceal bleeding before, has HE and was decompensated. He cant drink at all. Like not ever again. Even a couple a day he will die from that. Just plain amd simple.