de compensated

[lonmallin50]

i Had been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in jan 2021 it was de compensated been off the drink now for 7 months now oedema gone he gone just got a slight tinge of yellow some days on and off still on lactulose and water tablets my bilirubin level is still quite high does all this mean my liver is now compensated not seeing gastro doctor for another 2 weeks

[Ewife]

these are really encouraging signs....especially so early on since diagnosis! It will be for your consultant determine stuff like this, but congratulations, keep up the good work!

Atb

Ewife

[Richard-Allen]

Well done you. Your alcohol/liver journey should be used as both an opportunity and a warning to others.

There are a few people on here like myself, who are walking proof that the alcohol curse can be broken. This can offer encouragement to so many others, who can’t imagine an alcohol-free world.

I would also recommend to anyone who now has a liver condition, even if it’s decompensated, to try and learn more about the condition.

There is a wonderful online course available. This is called, “Liver Disease: “Looking after Your Liver”: futurelearn.com/courses/liv...

This is run by Futurelean and has been produced and overseen by the University of Birmingham. What’s more, it’s FREE. It’s run over three weeks and just needs 3-hours of your time a week. You’ll learn so much about the liver.

There is another course they do which might be of interest to others, this one is called, “Liver Transplant: the Ins and Outs”. Once again this course is FREE: futurelearn.com/courses/liv...

If you have the time, why not try and join a local alcohol support group as a volunteer? Here you can use your own experiences as a warning to others, and also as proof that alcohol abuse can be beaten.

Helping others has many rewards, it also increases your own resolve. Sharing your story can be used to aid in your own healing process. I'd love to be able to get out there and go into schools, but I'm too old. Children often see liver disease being something that old people get, so they wouldn't take much notice, but someone a lot younger might get the message through.

Good luck, and don’t forget the six-monthly CT/MRI scans.

Richard

[lonmallin50 in reply to Richard-Allen]

thanks richard if i can stop drinking with the right support any one can i was drinking from the age of 11 when i first started from collecting glasses in the local club then from having my first pub at the age of 21 years old made my living out of it then finished work at 47 so been round drink all my life one endless session in the end i was drinking and working about 18 hours per day one pint per hour at least soon adds up plus then wine with dinner when i finished work i would just go to the pub everyday all day thats when it took its toll on me could not relax without a drink interrupted sleep pacing the room at night it was terrible then HE kicked in collapsing only after 2 pints it shook me up what a wake up call that was thats when i gave up never looked back sleep good every night now no pacing the room at night a new life now still go to the pub everyday just drink squash still have a laugh even more than i did with drink so it can be done to any one out just a bit of support and reading other people stories

[Richard-Allen in reply to lonmallin50]

Once again, well done. At this point, there are many of us who get this wakeup call and acknowledge it. I suppose it's that survival instinct that kicks in and we have a reality check. For us lucky ones, it's the time when we decide if we want to live or not.

It certainly is a crossroads in our lives.

Sadly for some people, the addiction is too powerful and they just surrender, it's as if they just can't imaging a world without alcohol.

I was once told that alcohol is the hardest drug to try and give up and quit. This is a giant achievement, so well done.

(I forgot to mention, I was a baby of the 1950's I grew up on Gripe Water. (9% alcohol). this was used to try and get babies to sleep of a night). I suppose my alcohol journey started way back then).

[Dolly1001]

well done! - gives me hope! No alcohol since end of May this year, my Hepatologists have gone haywire, sent me lovely letters, booked in for regular scans and Fibroscan. I think they are hoping to follow to see what progress/regression can be made from F3 etc.

My greatest hope is, that others, not a lot, but others have been able to reverse the damage. So press on, lots of us walking with you!

[Cat-B]

I think you should discuss your questions with your doctor ( it’s only 2 weeks, just don’t get complacent and take your foot of the pedal) It generally takes a long time to de compensate a liver and you need to allow it twice as long to try to repair itself! I’m 8 years on and still concentrating on helping my liver ( there’s no magic wand or quick fix. Just keep going and eventually your liver will thank you.