About partner

[LILY1s]

My partner has been diagnosed with cirrhosis and ascites oedema. He was in hospital for 2 weeks. Since his discharge he seems to be sleeping alot and feeling cold. Is this normal or should we contact his consultant before his appointment. He is also not eating very much.

[Kristian]

Being fatigued and feeling cold is not that unusual at the stage of cirrhosis your partner has. It certainly wasn't in my experience anyway. However, with anything new like this it is always worth consulting with your gp or his hospital team just to be on the safe side. They'll be happy to take another look at him or even provide some additional reassurance.

I always used to make my first call to my gp, who would tend to get in touch with the hospital anyway just to get some additional advice if they thought it was an issue related to my liver. So maybe thats a good first point if call for you also. Either way, dont be afraid to raise the issue. They won't mind you doing so, honest.

Good luck.

[Sanblass]

My hubby was diagnosed late April this year. He now is classed as compensated which we are really pleased with. His specialist nurse advised feeling cold is very common with this condition. Got central heating on low most evenings. He's due gastroscopy 3 Aug 21 and we are hoping all might be clear as we want to fly to Tenerife early October for a well deserved holiday.

Hope your partner persevered to try and eat a healthy diet and for this to be a little and often. My hubby found this hard initially on dis charge home. Thankfully his appetite and stamina are both getting better. He now occasionally has a cat nap when he has over exerted himself,, which isn't often now. I'm really proud of him as abstaining from alcohol has not been an issue for him. It appears he had a drinking habit and not an addiction.

I hope this helps and I hope your partner starts to feel more their 'normal ' self soon

[LILY1s in reply to Sanblass]

Thank you for this . It's making me feel more positive. I will keep offering him small meals and hopefully he will rally.

[PoppyPiper in reply to LILY1s]

Before my transplant I was always cold, it was mid summer and I was hugging a electric oil heater on at full or I was in bed with electric blanket on.

You maybe interested in the new publication from British Liver Trust on diet and nutrition, it is in this month's BLT email update.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

There was another on Treating NAFLD with a healthy diet and physical activity - however I cant find that on their website to download. If you subscribe to their Monthly Updates you should get the email.

PPx

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome,

You may find our information on 'Cirrhosis of the liver'; useful to read;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Any new symptom or concern really should be discussed with your husbands doctor for assessment.

Best wishes.

[bradgrobler]

Hi, I had the same diagnosis, and went through the same just over a year ago (March2020). I was also in Hospital initially for 2 weeks with these symptoms.

I was very tired, slept a lot, and always cold, even in the hot Summer last year. Also crazy itchy in the legs. I had a heater next to my bed. I found a good hot shower 3 or 4 times a day helped, also small walks building up to longer walks would help me in my personal situation. Also keeping my legs raised above my heart when lying down (big cushion). I was so swollen I could not wear shoes, even bending over was a problem when dressing.

So from my experience this is normal.

As Kristian said, do stay in touch with your GP, this is also good for 'piece of mind'.

All the best wishes, and fast recovery.

[LILY1s in reply to bradgrobler]

Thank you for the advice. I will pass this on to him . Hope you keep

[Whip_pet]

All sounds typical but please ask if you are concerned about anything. My husband is a little further down the line curre the being an inpatient for transplant assessment but it's still early days. Feel free to reach out to me if I can help in any way. I know how scared you are feeling and am here if you need me x

[LILY1s in reply to Whip_pet]

Thank you so much. We have only been together just over a year. I previously lost my husband to lung cancer so praying that he will pull through.

[Rockefeller20]

Hi lilyIve been where your husband is and diet is crucial and in particular protein, speak to a dietitian about this but I drastically cut salt out of my diet and scratch made everything which I did and still do anyway

The liver i believe has over two hundred functions and not called a ‘Liver’ for nothing and one is that it regulates your blood supply, keeps you warm and as he has been diagnosed with cirrosis it’s struggling with storing energy so hence the fatigue

The first thing I felt as soon as I came round from my 14 hour liver transplant was this warmth I could feel, it felt amazing and especially after literally living on this little oil heated radiator for years

And always rapped in blankets

So I wish you both well and remember if you’re ever feeling down people on here will always pick you back up, as it’s just as hard on you as your other half

My partner lived the nightmare with me and how she put up with me I’ll never know, however she’s still here with me. ( just lol)

Xx

[steckles]

Sounds familiar Lily, when my husband came home from hospital with a cirrhosis diagnosis, he was weak, tired and felt very cold. It was difficult to interest him in food especially when ascites were building and he was extremely uncomfortable. However, keeping him warm and offering food little and often helped him gradually improve.

Wishing you both well and do use this forum. Reading other people’s experiences helped me learn and made me feel less alone xx

[LILY1s in reply to steckles]

Thanks for your reply. It's good to know others have had the same problem. I will definitely be staying on here.

[Lils2019]

Hi Lily,My husband is experiencing the same symptoms, he was also diagnosed late April this year. He’s borderline for assessment for transplant.

His diet is all over the place, but he’s eating and I’m just making what he will eat at this point, but he will eat lots of fruit, and yogurt, along with what I all junk, he goes quite low, similar to what I call a sugar crash, and then he will top up on chocolate, cake, he keeps complaining about a nasty taste in his mouth also.

He has chronic fatigue and sleeps a lot, he also complains of been cold, even on really warm days.

[LILY1s in reply to Lils2019]

I've started making meals from scratch over the last couple of days and it seems to be tempting him to eat a bit more. He says the aromas are helping his appetite.