Hello Everyone

[ChristinaMH]

Hi I'm Christina. I thought I'd say hi and introduce myself. I live in Kent UK 🇬🇧. I was diagnosed with cirrhosis, enlarged spleen and gallstones six months ago. As well as the obvious effects of shielding, I find the isolation and loneliness of having this disease quite difficult at times. Friends and family really don't have a clue what's involved (to be fair, neither did I until I needed to look into it), so are unable to offer their support. X

[Peter_Plymouth]

Welcome Christina - we are generally a friendly bunch on here and happy to chat both publicly or PM.

I’ve been on and off the site for the last couple of years and now 2 year post transplant, living a relatively normal life. Hopefully for you it will be some years before you would need to consider a TP. Hopefully you are under the care of your local hepatology department at the hospital rather than your GP.

Like you, I have been shielding for over a year now - I was kicked out of my office to work from home at the very beginning of the outbreak. Living on my own I do find the isolation sometimes a challange but I’m also very aware of how necessary it is.

If you have any specific questions or just want to chat privately feel free to PM me.

I hope you are feeling ok and looking after yourself - be kind to yourself, eat well and if possible avoid drinking. The liver is an amazing organ and if you are kind to it will partially or fully recover from extensive damage.

All the very best - Peter

[ChristinaMH in reply to Peter_Plymouth]

Hi Peter thank you for your lovely reply. Yes, I am under a Consultant. I've been trying to concentrate on liver healthy eating and drinking (I've never really drunk alcohol, I just never got a taste for it). I've managed to lose weight too, nearly 2 stone. Even so I still don't feel good 😕. Perhaps one day you'll tell me your story. Take care and thank you again x

[Peter_Plymouth in reply to ChristinaMH]

Hi Christina,

Happy to share my story but not the whole 9 yards in public - PM me and I’ll happily share as much of my journey as you are interested in. It’s certainly been a tumultuous few years now.

I hope your feeling better now your have found some fellow souls on similar journeys - Peter xx

[Hidden]

Welcome to our friendly forum Christina,

Please do also have a look at our website and sign up for our e newsletter if you wish. We also have a nurse led helpline open 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday.

Best wishes.

[ChristinaMH in reply to Hidden]

Thank you x

[jazzjam]

I am sorry about your diagnosis, it certainly is a shock if you weren’t expecting it. It has been a terrible year for anyone isolating on their own but especially with an illness, it is hard for family, friends or carers to understand how you are feeling. The day when you have has a good day, how have you felt, what did you do different? I have found keeping a diary that it showed me some specific routines I had got myself in to and showed me what i needed to change. It also helped me on my bad days to read back on any of those days. I think you will find improvements, possibly food intake or time spent not even thinking about it, energy levelsetc...

[ChristinaMH in reply to jazzjam]

Hi, thank you for your thoughtful reply. I've been trying to concentrate on liver healthy eating and drinking (I've never really drunk alcohol, I just never got a taste for it). I've managed to lose weight too, nearly 2 stone. Even so I still don't feel good, I seem to have a lot of discomfort on my right side. I like the sound of your suggestion and think I need some distraction. Take care and thank you again x

[Craigleigh123]

I find this site very supportive and I have taken all advice on board, I have a list of questions ready for our next appointment, he also has an abdomen scan on the 21 April, I think this is for his follow up appointment.

[Roots57]

Hello Christina, I am also relatively new to this site and was diagnosed with NASH in January last year and transplanted in November past. I live in Belfast and have received much needed support and reassurance from this site. Best wishes for your recovery. I had the same diagnosis as yourself and my journey to health has been relatively straightforward thanks to RVH in Belfast and Kings College Hospital in London. The best thing you can do is adhere to the advice from Hepatology. X

[ChristinaMH in reply to Roots57]

Hi thank you for your kind reply. I've been trying to concentrate on liver healthy eating and drinking (I've never really drunk alcohol, I just never got a taste for it). I've managed to lose weight too, nearly 2 stone. Even so I still don't feel good 😕, I have a lot of discomforton my rightside too. I'm interested in your journey. Perhaps one day you'll tell me your story. Take care and thank you again x

[hun64_D0chIk]

Hi Christina, you will feel tired, fatigued and it is symptom of liver cirrhosis. As jazzjam suggested a note in your mobile phone so you can track and tell the Consultant how you were feeling, degrees and type of pain, i.e. sharp, pulsating or dull.

Well done on losing two stone in weight! Great achievement Christina.

Hundochick