38 year old brother with varices

[Brian686]

Hi there. My brother is 38 and has stage 4 liver chirossis. I have just found out he has esophgeal varices following his Ascites and he’s already vomited blood. From what I am reading his life expectancy when this happens is very short? The doctors have yet to tell me this though. My heart is broken with this thought. I was wondering if anyone of a similar age had been through this and if there is any hope for him now? Thank you

[AyrshireK]

Is your brother fully compliant with all medical treatment and following doctors orders?Stopping/treating whatever has caused his cirrhosis will hopefully help it to re-stabilize.

It is possible for a liver this badly damaged to recompensate and stabilize BUT the patient HAS to do all they can to get well.

If the liver doesn't start to show signs of improvement then transplant may become an option or necessary but again this involves full compliance with all medical treatment..

*My hubby had a massive variceal bleed in 2012 which led us to finding out he had cirrhosis. 10 years later and after 42 varices banded he's stable. *

Katie

[Brian686 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie

Thank you very much for your reply. He’s still in the hospital at the moneybags and yes he is being fully compliant with the doctors, including the obviously most important thing of no alcohol (the cause of this).

They are waiting for him restabalise over the weekend and then possibly discharge. He looks absolutely awful still though so I can’t see how that’s going to be possible.

Do you know if they would consider a transplant even with his history of alcohol addiction?

Glad to your hubby is stable even after the variceal bleed. Gives me a glimour of hope if he can kick the booze and start a healthy lifestyle

[AyrshireK in reply to Brian686]

Hopefully they can stabilize him and get him home BUT his only chance of recovery and potential progression to liver transplant is 100% abstinence from now on and commitment to an alcohol free future. They used to demand a 6 month proven period of abstinence before a person could be assessed for t/p but guidance changed in 2021 in recognition that time frame may be too long for some. Alcohol related liver disease has previously been the leading cause of need for liver t/p in the UK and we have a great many forum members who have been through it or who are currently waiting.

New criteria at:- basl.org.uk/uploads/LAG%20A...

I never said anything about booze in my first reply as I know only too well that booze plays no role in some folks ill health. (my hubby is life long t-total).

Hope your brother can kick this and get well.

Katie

[Brian686 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks very much for the link Katie And the advice.

Much appreciated

[LemonMeringue15]

I lost my ex to this in June. He was 44. He had never been able to stop drinking. If your brother is in this position through drinking then I hope he has been able to stop. That's the only way for him to improve unfortunately.

[Brian686 in reply to LemonMeringue15]

I’m so sorry to hear about your ex. I have told my brother this is his last chance in hope of survival. Thank you for responding to my message

[pushthrough]

Hey Brian, I’m sorry to hear about this. I have cirrhosis and had esophical varices I just turned 40 not long ago but by some miracle they went away.

They say mine was from alcohol so I quit completely nearly 2 years ago when they first told me I damaged my liver. At the time I didn’t know it was advanced but quit anyway.

He has to stop drinking completely and forever. I’m so careful I don’t even use mouth wash with alcohol in it. People have overcome some pretty crazy things on this forum including Katie’s husband. The liver is very resilient.

G.

[Lils2019]

Hi there,

I am sorry to hear of your brother, he needs to completely stop the alcohol if he has any chance of recovery. I know that for some people this is very difficult.

I too lost my husband in October to decompensated cirrhosis, he did quit the booze after his 1st admission in 2020, and was medically detoxed in hospital. His consultant waited for 12 months before referring to the QEB as he wanted to see after 12 months alcohol free what shape his liver was in. He was assessed for transplant however declined on other underlying health issues, and sadly his liver was so badly damaged from the alcohol he had no chance of recovery.

Sending you best wishes and I hope he can give up the alcohol.

Take care x

[Scrags64]

58 years old female. Diagnosed stage 4 just over 4 years ago after horrendous varicile bleeds despite being a non alcoholic!! 22 gastroscopies, over 70 variciles banded, 2 ops to stem bleeding in stomach but I am here to tell the tale. Completely changed my diet to eliminate almost all salt, fat and sugar and after 25+ years of diabetes I am now lower than the pre diabetes range. It has been and continues to be a struggle every day, but I have too much to live for. Hope your brother gets the help he needs. I have an amazing team behind me who I know I can contact at any time if I have any worries.

[Chez2706]

The doctor will tell your brother everything he needs to know. Like him, I was vomiting large amounts of blood last year due to varices and had many blood transfusions as a result. Things looked very bleak at one point, but one TIPSS and one year on, if it wasn't for having to take medication daily, I could easily forget I even have cirrhosis. At my last scan, there was no sign of varices!

Your brother is in the best place and will be getting the right care. As long as he does what the doctor tells him to, there's no reason to give up hope. It really is possible to get back to a near normal life, despite how bad things look now.

I wish you, your brother and his wife all the very best.

[Brian686]

Got told my brother is being moved to palliative care today. He got sent to Kings college hospital and has been there for the last month. They’ve battled so hard with so many procedures in attempt to save him but unfortunately the options have now ended. I just wanted to say how amazing the nhs have been. He just needs to be at peace now. Im sorry if this isn’t appropriate to post this so please remove if it is. Just had to write something down. I hope everyone can get the care they need and the outcome is more positive. Kind Regards. Brian

[DD75 in reply to Brian686]

Brian,

I'm so sorry I just penned a reply about TIPS procedure, banding etc and then saw this.

I'm so so sorry.

Thinking of you and your brother and family xx