Fairly newly diagnosed with cirrhosis.

I’ve drunk quite a bit through my life, but since a job loss 2 years ago took this to a new level. In March 2021 I was admitted as an emergency with pneumonia, sepsis and there they diagnosed, after a lot of tests, that I had cirrhosis. I was admitted and stayed in for a month. I was pretty sick. It convinced me to stop drinking and haven’t since March. 6 months now.

I have two grade 1 varices with no red flags of bleeding. (Checked again last week and still the same). All my LFTs are now normal, my INR and platelets all ok. Kidney function fine. I have anemia, which they are still figuring out. No GI bleeding, but have had some very heavy nosebleeds during the summer- now cauterised and resolved, no more nosebleeds. The check ups are now moving to six monthly. Provided I continue to stop drinking, what’s my life expectancy likely to be? I feel well, in fact am sleeping and eating much better.

[AyrshireK]

I wouldn't concern yourself with potential life expectancy (not even a doctor can predict that) just live life to the fullest and keep up with your amazing lifestyle changes and your liver will hopefully remain compensated and stable. My hubbies consultant has patients on his books who have had a diagnosis of cirrhosis for 20+ years and are still doing ok.My hubby himself was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis in April 2012 (in his case not due to alcohol but an auto immune condition). He was listed for transplant in 2014 but improved enough to come off the transplant list after 10 months and all these years later his liver is still pretty stable (ok he's not 100% fit but does ok, back doing some hill walking and makes the most of his good days).

It's important to fuel properly, make sure you maintain your health - need to watch you don't loose muscle mass and keep an eye on any potential 'red flag' symptoms.

Hopefully having knocked the booze on the head and doing so much better you can live a long and natural lifespan even with a damaged liver. Make sure you comply with all the medical regime and keep an eye out for anything that does need medical attention.

BLT page on cirrhosis is very useful together with the rest of the website which is full of loads of other useful information.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

All the best,

Katie

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks so much. It’s been a tough couple of months, but have remained focused on getting well. My partner decided to leave me when he heard the diagnosis, and so I’ve been battling a bit on all fronts. I’ve good family support and one of them recommended that I get onto this site as there is really good advice. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

Your replies are always uplifting to me!

[Tia2021]

Hi YewTree I am not dissimilar to yourself, well done for giving up the alcohol, I'm now 10 months alcohol free, I know how daunting it can all feel, I too have good family support this site has been so supportive and so many knowledgeable lovely people who do not sit in judgement, we are all here to support and help one another, xx😊

[Hidden]

Thanks so much for your kind words.

[Dogbot]

Well done YewTree123 to give up the booze a very difficult thing to do keep it going 👍. I’m now 18 years sober ok I’m now on the transplant list because the last two years I’ve had other problems but 18 years so far then when I get my new liver another 20 years I hope certainly worth giving up alcohol , so just enjoy the rest of your life try to get a bit of exercise in and a reasonable diet, good luck and enjoy 👍.Stay Safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈

[Hidden]

Thanks so much for getting in touch.

[Cb1963]

My, my ,you've definitely been through the wars,and I'm so glad you are on the road to recovery, and secondly, well done on keeping away from the alcohol, you'll find many members of this forum are at different stages of being free from drinking, myself nearly 10 years, and giving advice is trying to say what's your favourite pop singer, but here it goes, obviously don't go back drinking, eat a well balanced diet, a bit of gentle exercise, and my biggest one is don't let people stress you out, I think that can cause so many pressures upon us,and when recovering from alcohol we are still vulnerable individuals, and maybe your partner wasn't the right one for you,especially when you are now facing a new journey of recovery ahead of you,but thank goodness for your wonderful family 😀. I never really worried to much about what damage I was doing to my body while I was drinking, and boy did I drink!!! Ashamed to say,but I've done all the guilt trips, said my apologies, and I now take each day as it comes, and I don't worry about the future,so relax,and start looking forward to a new life ahead of you, best wishes.

[Hidden in reply to Cb1963]

Thanks so much for your advice.