Shortness of breath and insomnia - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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Shortness of breath and insomnia

mumof3girls profile image
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Hubby's list of symptoms are getting worse. He is an alcoholic, has Cirrhosis, Peripheral Neuropathy, Osteopenia, Hiatus Hernia and possible Hemochromatosis (still awaiting blood test results).

Over the past few weeks he is becoming more and more short of breath, i.e. getting dressed, walking up or down the stairs or just sitting on the sofa? The CT scan in November showed some small lymph nodes in his lungs. Following recent blood tests 5/1/2021, his doctor surgery sent him for another CT scan 18/1/2021, as the doctor said he is really worried about hubby's lungs now as well. I am guessing its a combination of all of the above that is causing him to be so short of breath?

Hubby is also struggling to sleep and is awake and up and down like a yoyo during the hours of 1am and 4am. He has also now taken to laying in bed until lunchtime and tells me, 'well there is nothing to get up for'. He then gets up potters around doing the washing and the dishwasher, as it makes him feel useful. By about 2pm he is sat on the sofa in the lounge with the log burner roaring, as hubby is also always cold. He stays watching tv for the rest of the day and evening, but may go and get more logs from the garden. He may also fall asleep on the sofa during the day, where he is so tired. He comes to bed about 1am ish and then tosses, turns, gets up, sits on the edge of the bed, chats nonsense for the next few hours?

He barely eats so the dietician has put him on meal replacement type drinks twice a day. He is continuing to drink his cans of cider.

He says that if the Liver Specialists tell him to give up when he has his first face to face appt with them 28/1/2021, then he will have to. However the doctors have been telling him for years to stop or slow down his drinking and he hasn't managed it yet.

Last night he apologised for keeping me awake and then told me that he did not feel right, but he did not want an ambulance. When I asked him what he wanted me to do, he said nothing. He then said "just in case I dont wake up in the morning, you know that I love you loads and loads dont you".

This is so hard to watch and I don't see it getting any easier at the moment. people thought 2020 was tough, however I think that 2021 might be a tougher year for me and my family x Lisa

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12 Replies

Hi mumof3girls, it sounds like you are going through a tough time right now. Please remember that you can contact the helpline, or email if that is easier, if you would like to chat further. I'll post a link to our contact details.britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

mumof3girls profile image
mumof3girls in reply to

thank you

Laura009 profile image
Laura009

Hi Mum he is definately deteriorating I'm afraid but while he is STILL drinking there is very little that can be done. The breathlessness is typical of liver disease but in my hubbies case it could well have been the start of his pneumonia. I wonder if you could email your doctor with the details you have stated here to see what they suggest, be it hospital or further meds? Such pressure on you all the time !Love

Laura

mumof3girls profile image
mumof3girls in reply to Laura009

thanks Laura. I am hoping that his his will be in touch, as I left a message for her last week. I believe she returned from annual leave yesterday.

Laura009 profile image
Laura009 in reply to mumof3girls

🤞xx

mumof3girls profile image
mumof3girls in reply to Laura009

A letter has arrived in the post today from Hubbys Dr. She says she has his ct scan results and wants him to book a tel appt with her to discuss the results. That's pretty quick, as he had the scan Monday at 16:30 and his dr wrote to him Tuesday. I have to call at 8am tmrw, to try and get hubby an appt Friday. So hopefully we will know more then

Laura009 profile image
Laura009 in reply to mumof3girls

Wonderful to have such a rapid response. All the best to you both and do keep us posted 🤗

mumof3girls profile image
mumof3girls in reply to Laura009

Hubby's health update - we had a phone call from his dr earlier today, in response to the message I sent her while she was on holiday. Hubby's CT scan has showed that his liver is worse and that he might have the start of a build up of fluid around his liver (ascities). The lymph nodes in his lungs look about the same. She said the shortness of breath will be to do with his liver and build up of fluid. She asked him about his drinking, he told her like he normally does that he is cutting down. She told him that she was going to be brutally honest with him and that cutting down will not help him now and he has to give up drinking. She has told him to get in touch with Inclusion as he will need help to stop drinking. She has told him that the liver specialists will tell him exactly the same next week.

So now the ball is in hubby's court. Not sure what he will decide, but I will keep you all posted xx

Thank you for you continued support, Lisa

Laura009 profile image
Laura009 in reply to mumof3girls

I to 1 councelling worked for my hubby. He finally addmitted to him he was alcohol dependant in order to get this kind of help. He was dry for the last 3 months of his life. It was just too late for him though he was seriously ill by then.Sincerely hope he can see the light.

Laura xx

Liverpoo profile image
Liverpoo

Wishing you all the very best , please take care of yourself.

mumof3girls profile image
mumof3girls

Following on from hubby's A&E visit last week, he has today been informed via the NHS My Medical Record log in, that he has a new tel appt 2/2/2021. The A&E dr referred him due to his blackouts last week. He has been referred to the Elderly Care Dept and a Specialist who deals with blackouts, fainting, trips and falls? Hubby is 58, however he thinks he is old and is forever telling us 'don't get old', as he thinks his illnesses are to do with getting old and not his lifestyle choices. I definitely cannot fault the NHS, as they are checking out all of hubby's symptoms.

Laura009 profile image
Laura009

His thinking is so similar to my hubbies was. He was trying to convince me that he was yellow because of all the drugs he had been given .... he wasn't an alcoholic so alcohol can't have caused it and there wasn't much wrong with him ! Bearing in mind he was also seeing monkies swinging through trees, music coming from the extractor fan and the firing squad were lined up at the bottom of his bed ! Oh the joys !Bless our NHS 💙💙💙

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