HE or not HE 🙄🤣

[cherrygirl13]

Hubby LT 2014 - now has F4/NASH ? Fibroscan 16kpa I think and can’t remember the other stuff !!!! Not eligible for transplant again - massive incisional hernia +10cm - diabetes (on 2 tabs and 3 Injectables) last hba1c was great (for him) 66 🙌. He has just done his back in again (had 2 protruding discs and op in June) so is currently in bed singing - yes !!! We’ve had some singing and some gobbledygook and I have gone back to being called ‘mum’ again 🤣🤦‍♀️ He has been prescribed oxynorm liquid and diazepam as well as Co-codamol 30/500 - he is totally off his trolley - even though I am still a RN (I am

Not working as we are just waiting for him to get worse and my mental health is not great !!!! 8 years of a poorly husband and it’s not going to have a nice happy ending - has taken its toll !!!! So I don’t remember or read as much as I did before about HE and liver stuffs - but surely if his liver is poorly - wouldn’t all this medication bring on HE ??? He’s been having little periods of confusion and disorientation !!! And has had reversed sleep pattern for months now - which has now gone to sleeping all day and all night more or less - is he just feeling happy from the Oxy or HE - how do I tell ???? He’s stopped singing and is talking to something - it’s all very familiar but someone with more up to date knowledge of HE might be able to help - does it only occur in decompensated liver/failure etc as I don’t think he’s at that stage yet ????? Thanks in advance

[Laura009]

Have you not spoken to the doc about this? It does sound like HE which needs immediate medical attention, it is a build up of toxins in the brain and he must drink plenty of water and be prescribed lactulose or refaximin urgently.

[AyrshireK]

A bit personal but is he moving his bowels? Co-codomol is notorious for causing constipation, if constipated then he won't be removing toxins and therefore could indeed be suffering the effects of Hepatic Encephalopathy. HE when it reaches the stage of causing prolonged sleep is a health emergency. He needs to see a doctor and if not on it already needs to start on Lactulose and Rifaximin. My hubby was put on lactulose immediately on diagnosis with cirrhosis, the Rifaximin was added by liver unit when they found out he was having confused spells and sleep disturbance - he has compensated cirrhosis just now!

The aim is for cirrhosis patients to move their bowels 3 to 4 times a day and lactulose helps remove the toxins from the body.

Look into it and get him checked out. The British Liver Trust has a great page on HE together with a HE passport document that can help to monitor the patients condition. britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Wish you both all the best,

Katie