Compensated cirrhosis.

[Ksvlm]

Im type 2 diabetic with compensated cirrhosis (non alchoholic). I am getting some symptoms of itchy skin,pain in liver,and in my tummy. But my consultant tell me i shouldnt get any symptoms with compensated cirrhrosis,can anyone explain this please?

[Daystrom]

Hi there! Now i am no expert but i have read a fair bit the last year or so and you can have those symptoms and have compensated cirrhosis. In fact, some times (not often) people have pain with just vanilla NAFLD. The pruritus (itching) just means that your bile ducts are not operating fully and pruritogens are being released in your blood. This can occur because of a physical obstruction like a stone, or it can be metabolic (intrahepatic scarring of the duct walls). In either case, it can occur in compensated cirrhosis. Compensated cirrhosis means that most of the basic functions of your liver are still doing their job, just not at full efficiency, whereas decompensated cirrhosis means that some of those basic functions are no longer being done.

If I were you, I would request to speak to your GI/Hepatologist about these symptoms. There are treatments for the pruritus and it's important to get ahead of it if possible. Remember, you are your own best advocate for your health care and if and when your doctor is coming up short, push back or go around them.

I wish you well! Good luck!

Ray

[BritishLiverTrust1 Partner British Liver Trust]

Dear Ksvlm

This is a question that your own doctor or health care professional is best-placed to answer, and we suggest talking it through with them in the first instance.

If you are in the UK and would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)

Best wishes

British Liver Trust