Anyone got any ideas for coping with sleep deprivation and burning sensation when swallowing? My partner had a 3 week hospital stay just over a week ago with alcoholic hepatitis and a severe bout of HE. He is very malnourished and they tried to tube feed him but he kept pulling the tube out because of the HE.
I am trying my hardest to coax him to eat regularly but only managing small amounts due to burning when eating. Is managing fortisips but is exhausted as cannot sleep at night. He is up and down 8 or 10 times a night and each time goes downstairs for 20 mins then comes back up as he doesn’t want to disturb me. I have tried to explain he would be better staying in bed and we could put a tv in the room he says no as this would disturb me, he doesn’t seem to understand that every time he goes down stairs I worry in case he falls as he is so weak severe muscle wastage. He has cirrohsis grade C and the doctors have told me that any slight infection could be extreme for him and likely result in a further hospital stay so I worry that as the weather changes he will get cold S he refuse to put the heat on when he gets up. I really want to do my best for him but I am starting to get a bit snappy due to lack of sleep and I’m still trying to hold down a full time job as we have a mortgage to pay. Any advice gratefully received
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The burning when eating needs looked into, did he have an endoscopy during hospital stay? It's possible he has varices, gastritis, portal hypertension causing stomach issues or just plain old Gerd (reflux). Whatever it is can be eased with medication. My hubby used to have horrendous indigestion symptoms which turned him green at times and this was prior to his subsequent diagnosis of cirrhosis with varices in his oesophagus (eventually having to have 42 bands) and also portal hypertensive gastropathy. He takes omeprazole daily and it has eased completely - no reflux, no indigestion and also watches the foods he knew were a trigger - acidic stuff, citrus etc.
Get that looked into first and it might ease his food intake at least and the acid feeling when lying down.
Hi, as Katie has said definitely go to doctor if he hasn’t had an endoscopy. Although strangely my husband had his endoscopy last week which showed grade 2 varices and gastritis neither of which have bothered him. He got diet advice what to avoid but he hasn’t had any heartburn etc. I am avoiding trigger foods just in case. If you find a cure for not sleeping let me know I can so empathise with the getting up and down being more disruptive no matter how silent they are it still disturbs.
I sleep with one of those large bean bags so that when I feel uncomfortable in my chest I can put it behind the pillows and then semi sit up. I usually sleep happily that way until I need to lie flat again, thus stopping me having to go downstairs. I also now sleep alone, it allows me to be as comfortable as possible and not worry that my partner isn't getting any sleep. Good luck.
No experience with HE.
However, when my husband's sleep is disrupted at night, it primarily appears to be due to an overactive bladder. He is not taking any diuretics.
The caffeine in some teas likely is not helping either. I'll need to find more that he might like that are decaffeinated.
At times, pain or discomfort will also wake him up.
My husband sometimes complains of a dry throat and swallowing (not so much since refraining from alcohol).
I bought some lozenges in case he decides to try them.
Insomnia goes along with liver disease. I have non alcoholic cirrhosis plus 2 other liver diseases, my sleep is depressing, I've learned to adjust up and down all night naps frequently. Have you tried sleep medicine? I take 100 mg trazodone, and still get maybe only 4 hours with that. It's frustrating. Good luck.
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