I was diagnosed with Hep c 2020, now cured but have cirrhosis. Had endoscopy 2 years ago, no varices.
my question is how long do they take to develop? Someone I know has tragically just passed away following a massive bleed and I can’t stop worrying now.
When did you last have a 6 monthly ultrasound scan? They usually comment on portal veinous flow direction and indicate whether you potentially have portal hypertension. If you have portal hypertension then you should potentially be on beta blockers to prevent varices from forming or having more regular endoscopies.
My hubby was having banding every 8 -12 weeks for two years following his initial massive bleed from varices.
Maybe check with your consultant as to when they next plan to give you an endoscopy.
Katie
Thank you for your reply. I had my last scan in November so should be around April/May. At the last check up they said all my bloods were normal and my liver was stable. The reason I was so worried is the person who died didn’t even know they had liver disease!
Yes, that's what happened to my hubby, he never knew he had anything wrong with his liver ........ wouldn't have even entered our mind with him being life long t-total, fit and active. Ok he had symptoms (tummy problems, nosebleeds, no libido, sleep disturbance) but his GP had said he had anxiety and stress through coping single handedly with a dad with dementia.
He vomitted blood twice one night and I got him to A&E where it was discovered he was having a massive variceal bleed (7 burst varices) he ended up in HDU on drips and then underwent all sorts of investigations which is when they discovered he had cirrhosis and portal hypertension. That led to all the banding over the next few years and once all those had gone he went onto an annual endoscopy plan - this past year has been the first he's missed (doctor said he was stable enough to go to 2 yearly). He no longer has p/h since his spleen died after he had an embolization operation for aneurysms in his splenic artery.
Your ultrasound should pick up portal veinous flow direction and likelihood of varices but it wouldn't harm to ask when they next plan to give you an endoscopy just to check.
My hubby is due his 6 monthly ultrasound this month and is due an endoscopy in June.
Katie
I had a massive bleed two years ago 999 ambulance call in hospital for 4 days been fine since. The worst that happened was we had to buy 2 new carpets for bedroom and hall that’s how big the bleed was . All the best
Hope you're OK now oap74.
That happened to me lol. Felt rough one weekend (before I was diagnosed with cirrhosis) and ended up vomiting a copious amount of blood all over my new lounge carpet.
After a total of 25 days in hospital across 3 almost back to back hospitalisations (due to bleeds) in 3 different hospitals, ending in 3 days on a ventilator in ICU and not expected to survive, the only things that upset me were missing my cats and having to pay to get the carpet professionally cleaned!
On the plus side, the rescue TIPSS has been the best thing ever for me, and I feel fit and healthy again after 21 months. Happy days 
yes I’m fine now had all the varices banded now only need to be checked every year. You were very lucky to get the blood out of your carpet our professional cleaner did his best but we could still see it very slightly so hey ho got a new one. Didn’t want to be reminded. I’m 75 now and enjoying life every day is a bonus. All the best another lucky one.
Glad to hear you're doing well now. You've got two decades on me, so I hope I'm as well as you at 75! My mother had a major stroke at 54, and I always felt something would happen to me at 54 as well. I thought I was just being silly, but sadly I was proved right. But I too feel every day is a bonus and am making the best I can of them.
Re the carpet, I was lucky I bought a very easily cleaned one because I had four cats. Little did I know it was going to be me to put it to its first real test with a replication of a scene from a horror film lol x
It’s been a pleasure talking to you my dad didn’t drink or smoke died at 62. The only advice I can offer to you is to retire as early as possible money isn’t everything. When I retired at 55 due to I’ll health not liver related that’s newish it was the least amount of money we’ve ever had but also the best of times, been together 57 years our son is 52 and downsizing and doing no stress job. All the best for the future and look after yourself.
It's been a pleasure talking to you too. I did actually look into early retirement, but I couldn't afford to live on it. I'm on my own with a mortgage, so will need to work until at least 65 when the mortgage is paid off.
I'm happy enough working though; just want to get out of my current dead-end job. But feeling well, I'm excited for this year and my aim is to get a new job in 2023. I do a lot of voluntary work so have been able to throw myself back into that, and am seeing some of my favourite bands in the next few months. Planning to take more courses, get back to drumming and buy a new car. Busy but fun, and am grateful to the NHS for saving my life and getting me well enough to get back to doing all the things that made me happy before I was sick.
You keep well and happy too, and I ❤️ the gull by the way
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