Information on liver cirrhosis

[Rosxx08]

Hi everyone.

My brother has liver cirrhosis, and seems to have taken a turn for the worst. He is in hospital, and with the current climate we just don’t know what’s going to happen with him.

He is often out of breath, and his skin is so yellow and blotchy. He feels so tired all the time. They said they think his liver may be unrepairable??

Can anyone who has had liver cirrhosis, and been hospitalised with it please give me some positive news? 🥺

[AMDA26]

Hiya I’ve had cirrhosis since I was six and I’m now twenty one and still have it and the same liver, I’ve been hospitalised twice since having it that’s all, first time was serious due to the reasoning behind it as I also have an enlarged spleen and portal hypertension and was put on a transplant waiting list but soon enough my body recovered from the hospital stay, the bleeding was managed and new medication meant that I pretty much went back to how I was before. The second time again was due to the enlarged spleen as it can cause me to be aenemic sometimes. Other than that I’d say I’m pretty healthy and I can do everything anyone else my age can! Hope this helps and makes you feel better. A thing to remember is that the liver can put up with a lot compared to other organs and you can live a pretty normal live even with a damaged liver so it’s not all bad and everyone is different!

[Rosxx08 in reply to AMDA26]

Thank you for your response AMDA26, that’s very reassuring. It’s such a difficult time at the moment, I think we are going to ring the hospital to speak with a doctor, but quite scared to do so incase it’s bad news!

I appreciate your response xx

[AyrshireK]

The BLT has an information page about cirrhosis and symptoms/stages. I found it really useful when hubby was in hospital with decompensated cirrhosis in April 2012. Whilst cirrhosis is not fully reversible how he'll recover depends on whether medics and your brother can get to grips with his condition and whether the liver can become compensated again.

Decompensated is when the liver is really struggling even with essential jobs but compensated is when the liver is still coping with it's key jobs. The liver does 500 different jobs so when it goes wonky it can knock out lots of these jobs so even when the liver returns to a stable state some symptoms will often remain.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Katie

[Rosxx08 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you so much for your response Katie. The link is very helpful

[Hidden]

Hello. Welcome to this forum. I am sorry to hear your brother is so unwell at the moment. Katie has given you a link to one of our publications. We also have others which may be useful including the patient charter which gives guidance on what someone with liver disease should expect from their care.

We have a free telephone helpline which is open Mon-Fri 10:00 - 15:00 0800 652 7330 Liver specialist nurses are available for you to talk to on this number.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

kind regards to you and your brother

[alexpbower]

Hi Rosxx08, I have severe cirrhosis of the liver and the bile ducts which means the only treatment is a liver transplant. I have had this for around 12 years and been hospitalised three times (this has only happened in the last 12 months)

I will say aside from this and the common fatigue symptoms I have felt pretty well. However as the liver is so important there will be times when due to the scarring it will not function and this is where the issue becomes real.

My partner has been unbelievably supportive throughout but from experience keep doing the following things:

1. Attend all procedures and appointments with your hospital consultant (if it has reached beyond your doctor)

2. Research diet that will help with the fatigue as well as keeping as active as possible

3. Do not push it. I have found that I WANTED to do stuff but CANT.

4. There will be good days and bad days. Its a common thing with the liver

5. If he is unable to work look to DWP for monetary recompense. A PIP or ESA provide financial support for those who cannot work or who are unable to move around. Speak to your local citizens advice for this

6. Stay positive. Whilst liver diseases are serious todays medicine and hepatologists are incredibly knowledgeable and patient.

Hope this helps