Hi any advice welcome. My partner has had ascites for close to two weeks now. He's been on spironolactone a week now, and he's still peeing and pooing loads. He's had around 1 day where it eased off and he actually ate a meal. His GP was supposed to be contacting his consultant to expedite an appointment. Is there anything that could help while he's waiting to be seen??? I'm so worried about him, as we don't live together at the moment.
Thanks Claire
Hi it may help if he contacts the Consultants secretary and explain the need to be sooner rather than later as he may need to have it drained, it must be such a worry for you, x
Thankyou for your replying. I'll tell him, he's under a lot of stress aswell which isn't going to help.
Kind regards Claire
Good evening Catfan. I am sorry to read your post and the stress this must be causing you also. As previously stated, I would ask your "ex partner" to make urgent contact with either the Doctor or a member of his Liver Team to explain the situation he is in. His fluid does need to be drained without delay. All good wishes to you both for a good outcome. x
Thankyou for your reply, we are together but not living in the same area at the moment. I will message him and give him your advice. X
Sorry Catfan. I misunderstood the sitution with your partner. Apologies and take care.
Don't worry 😊 I've told him, me being my bossy self lol. We where just starting to make plans, and have already overcome so much, then this happened.I knew he had cirrhosis, but no symptoms until 2 weeks ago. Lifes cruel sometimes x
I agree entirely that life really does throw some hard punches at us all when we least expect it. Please stay strong and I sincerely trust life will improve for you both and your plans will come to fruition. x
Thankyou for that positive message xx
hiya, peeing loads is a side effect of the diuretic, my partner takes 2 different kinds. They do need to be monitored on it as diuretics can be hard on the kidneys and can also cause sodium levels to drop. Do keep pushing for that consultant referral. Also the diuretics don’t work over night, it can take some time to get the fluid off. The best way to tell is to weigh him without clothes at the same time of day a couple of times a week and see if it’s the same or less/more. If the diuretics are not working there are others they can try or depending on dose and his sodium they can increase. A consultant needs to look at the overall picture including bloods and decide. FYI unless his stomach is full and hard they are unlikely to want to do a drain
Hi, thankyou for replying, I will talk to him today as he's the other end of the country to me at the moment. He is also suffering from diahorrea is that from the diuretics?? He is hardly eating, any suggestions to help with this. He's still managing to carry on at work even though he feels awful
Thanks again
Claire x
He may need Paracentesis (draining fluid off) or a longer time on the diuretics. Also, make sure you talk to his Dr about limiting total sodium intake as well as fluids. I’m currently on the 2/2 schedule - no more than 2 liters of fluid and 2,000mg of sodium every 24 hours. His amounts may be different depending on his situation.
I'm sorry you to are having problems. Thankyou for taking the time to reply.
Claire x
Thank you. Tell your partner to hang in there. It can be managed.
How long have you had cirrhosis? When did your symptoms first start? I'm still learning about all of this. I'm assuming by your previous reply, your being monitored? My partner is so down, he's lost 8 stone since Jan. No longer on insulin just tablet controlled. Eats healthily, walks and boxes, can't do anything else. He just feels like what he's done has been for nothing. Especially now symptoms have appeared. He's so scared I know he is. I keep trying to be positive and offer lots of support x
I was diagnosed in august of 2018. I was admitted to the ER with complete liver failure and not expected to live. Later in the hospital I was given a 50/50 chance of leaving alive. But I eventually go out and began the long road of recovery.
I had to be drained regularly, and it was a rough time for quite awhile. But through regular dr visits, meeting with a nutritionist, limiting sodium and fluids and taking diuretics, I eventually got off the regular paracentesis schedule, and then later the diuretics. It’s now controlled through a low sodium, fluid restricted diet.
I’ve also dealt with 2 really bad esophageal bleeds due to portal hypertension and varices. So I’ve been going through a series of EGD’s and bandings.
Liver disease is an odd thing in that it can wear you down and make you feel discouraged, like your partner does. A lot of times it’s like one step up and two steps back. But if you stay the course, have regular Dr visits and labs done, you’d be surprised by how much you can help regulate your situation by sticking with a good diet and regular exercise. (And of course abstaining from alcohol or meds etc that are hard on your liver).
Progress isn’t a straight line going up, and having liver disease is like walking on a high wire - everything can be pretty good until the wind kicks up and starts blowing hard. It sounds like the wind has picked up a little in your partners case, and that’s just part of the disease.
You can get to a level you can maintain and live a fulfilling life, but even then there are many things that can kick that wind up again - not sticking to a strict diet, getting an infection, having an esophageal bleed etc
My recommendation is get a good primary care Dr, a good GI Dr, and fight. By fight I mean be an advocate for your health (or your partners in this case). Have regular visits with both Drs and get regular exams of his esophagus (EGD) to check for varices, scans of his liver, blood work etc and don’t take your foot off the break.
Cirrhosis isn’t really something you overcome. It’s something you learn to live with - but once you get stable, as long as you stay the course, you can live a pretty good life.
I’ve also found it better to focus on the gratitude I feel for still being here, instead of the setbacks and illness.
Wishing you guys all the best, and the strength to get you through.
~ J
Thankyou x
The idea of spironolactone is that is increases urination, so that is normal. Make sure he stays off foods that are potassium rich, such as bananas, avocados, pulses, nuts and salmon.
If he has trouble keeping food down or consuming it generally that ask also for a referral to a dietician, as they can prescribe Fortijuice and Fortisip (or equivalents) which can both be used to help with liver disease.
Many thanks for your advice Claire x
My pleasure, although I am definitely not Claire! 😂
Ascites & breathlessness Liver cirrhosis
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