Ascites or weight gain

[Moux1]

My husband is very thin and been advised on a high calorie diet .He was admitted a few weeks ago with his first bout of ascites. A drip was put up and he was discharged 5 days later. We had a GP appt who took him iff the water tabs that he was prescribed as his legs etc were fine. We had our first liver specialist appt on Thursday who said there is significant damage with a little ascites left in his abdomen but it wasn’t a concern. Endoscopy had shown know cancer or varices. He went in to say that if we thought the ascites was flaring up again to start back on the water tabs . However last night he started with a rash in his groin area and I have measured him . ( I keep a record of measurements) . His ankles measured the same but his calves and tummy were and inch bigger. Should he start back on the water meds and if so how long for, or could this be weight gain due to me feeding him up. Once we are up and about I will get him to weigh himself . He is on a very low salt/ sodium diet but high calorie as advised . Sorry for the long post but I do tend to get really anxious and worry a lot

[Aotea2012]

This is a difficult one. Being on a high calorie diet does help rebuild the body. Equally ascities can rapidly increase weight. The water tablets are not without their risks as they can cause kidney damage which is why the GP will have taken him off them. Personally, and I’m not a clinician, I’d try to avoid the tablets for as long as possible and monitor the weight gain. It will start to become obvious if things are going backwards with the ascities as his weight will rapidly increase and he’ll start to feel more unwell. I remember stopping taking water tablets and getting a bit obsessed about weight gain and girth growth. I was on a high calorie diet and my weight gain was definitely down to that. I even went to my GP and was examined and told I was getting healthier and that I’d start to become breathless and less mobile if it was ascities. If you are worried then ring the GP and ask for advice.

[Moux1 in reply to Aotea2012]

Thank you , he didn’t have breathlessness or feel unwell when he had it although his legs really swelled and had rashes with his skin splitting . It eventually went to his tummy but that wasn’t that noticeable

[Aotea2012 in reply to Moux1]

Ok. The thing I’ve learnt about liver disease is that we all experience it slightly differently. If for him it’s more leg swelling then if it’s obviously coming back go back to the water tablets. It doesn’t sound as if it’s too dramatic at the moment and not obvious.

[Moux1 in reply to Aotea2012]

Thank you for replying , I’ll keep an eye on it

[Readlots]

Hi Moux, My mum was on and off water tablets for a while. Best to check with the GP if in doubt.