Hello! Help understanding my results please?

[jb7445]

Hi,

I've had my ultrasound, bloods and fibrosis scan and they have come back (according to the letter from my consultant to my GP) as - Child-Pugh A6, Meld Score 7.

I have tried to understand from my consultant (and Google!) what this actually means - in terms of prognosis, life expectancy etc. Sorry to be dark but it's obviously a concern. He seems very evasive and vague and just says 'keep doing what you're doing (abstinence) and we'll see', 'some people have long and happy lives' etc.

I'm very practically minded so just want the reality laid out in front of me. Sorry if these kinds of questions aren't allowed here!

[Roy1955]

Well compensated cirrhosis, if you keep it that way it's not going to kill you.

[kensimmons]

The best numbers you can have. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst you have a 3 or very possibly less. If you turn your habits around you will very possibly not die of liver disease. But improve your diet, stop drinking....and you should be fine. Relax. Many liver doctors have patients on their books for 20 years or more.

Please not I am not a doctor so take it for what it is worth.

[Staffi99]

Hi. I known it all sounds very confusing. I was the same. Its the consultant writing to the doctor and copying you in. I would get the same but I used to call here and the nurse would explain it. If you can't do that speak to your doctor. They can help you understand what's going on. Good luck. Julie.

[jb7445]

Thanks everyone. I have just been confused as my previous consultant said that I was 'stage 4/end stage' and 'of course' decompensated which sent me into a bit of a tailspin. I wish people could just be clear and say how it is!

[AyrshireK in reply to jb7445]

The confusion arises with the intermingling of the terms fibrosis and cirrhosis - cirrhosis is stage 4 of fibrosis and can be labelled F4 on the Metavir scale of classification. As cirrhosis is the last stage of fibrosis it IS termed 'end stage' liver disease BUT this in no way means end of life it merely means it is the last/end stage of fibrosis.

As regards compensated / decompensated it is determined based on symptoms present so any ascites and/or bleeding from varices would put the patient in the decompensated bracket. On top of the 4 stages of fibrosis, there are four levels of cirrhosis - stage 1 and stage 2 are compensated where the liver is doing ok.

Stage 1 cirrhosis - no varices, no ascites (compensated)

Stage 2 cirrhosis - varices, no ascites (compensated)

Stage 3 cirrhosis - ascites, +/- varices (decompensated)

Stage 4 cirrhosis - bleeding, +/- ascites (decompensated)

Various scoring systems give doctors guidance on severity of disease and Child Pugh A is the best end of the scale to be at. Absolutely NO ONE can determine your life expectancy, my hubbies consultant has patients on his books who are 20+ years into their journey and no where near deaths door nor transplant needy. My hubby is now 11 years into his journey having initially been diagnosed at stage 4 cirrhosis now sitting at stage 1 (2 at the most) and very much compensated.

Live your best life possible, don't fret life expectancies and such like, we are all going to go sometime so fill every day with the best life you can.

Katie

[BritishLiverTrust3 Administrator British Liver Trust]

Dear jb7445,

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 9am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)

Best wishes

British Liver Trust

[jb7445 in reply to BritishLiverTrust3]

Thank you, I will x

[jb7445]

Thank you everyone. I don't have varices but have had terrible bleeding - from picking at a tiny scab on my scalp I have woken up basically looking like I'm in a crime scene, blood everywhere. I've had to have a blood transfusion from bleeding so much from tiny wounds. I have had ascities as well. Aargh it's so hard to gauge how bad it is!

[Roy1955 in reply to jb7445]

Bleeding from skin wounds is not what we mean by "bleeding".

Bleeding is either passing blood in your stools, black tar like stools or vomiting blood.

[Hidden]

Hi I have some experience of cirrhosis. My Grandfather was diagnosed with it when I was around two. He didn’t drink again and although he died at age 74 which was 15 years later it wasn’t anything to do with the liver disease . He had bowel cancer. Also my good family friend was diagnosed with it in his late twenties over ten years ago and he is still leading a full life. He hasn’t given up alcohol completely but has cut down which I do not condone. Anyway I think listen to your doctor do as your told and you will lead a good life .