Saw one of my consultants doctors last week who felt on examination that ascities was gone. I asked him does that mean I’m compensated and he said I could be. He sent me for an ultrasound and the results were good apart from the usual cirrhosis scarring and gallstones. Trace fluid also which he said is to be expected.
Still on 180 mg dueretics though. 100 spironolactone and 80 furosemide. Their plan now is to reduce that dose slowly. I’m still on 2x 3.125 carvedilol a day also plus lactalose every other day.
This is not compensated is it? I thought all meds would have to be gone before I could say that. Am I correct? I don’t want to be getting too excited.
Thanks for reading 😁💫
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Chick_atee
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Hi get a little excited😊 some say no drugs and your compensated but our consultant said, compensated is when your liver has repaired itself and can do most of the important jobs (even with a little help) and is nolonger deteriorating. Hubbie managed to reduce his spironolactone to 25 (took about a year to do it) and still on statins, iron and thyroxine but consultant said hes compensated even with a little fluid when he over does things. Liver badly scarred and gall bladder polyps but stable. Sounds like you're heading in the right direction x
Hi oldbits, just a quick question, did your consultant say how your liver looked re scarring. Here in ireland, when I ask ANYBODY in the medical section , how scarred is my liver, they try to avoid answering the question. One doc says I'm compensated, another says oh you swelling in legs is still bad, which I know. I'm on 200mg aldactone and 40mg furosemide.But when I ask how much scarring, they won't answer the question.
Thanks in advance. Apologies for hogging the question 🙁
Hi, it's my hubbie with the liver problems, I attend all his appointments with him. They can only tell about the surface of the liver with a US scan when they check him every 6 months, as Roy1955 said you cant see inside it. It's how or if the liver is functioning with the scarring thats important. But as his liver is coping at the moment (with a little help) we are happy about that. He too has occasional swelling in his legs but as his bloods are almost normal they have classed him as compensated. It does seem to differ from hospital to hospital though 🤔 perhaps they just dont know how to answer the question? Or they use the scan results with other test results to give the whole picture. As you say maybe Ireland or your hospital does things differently. Take care
Hi chick. Just to say,my consultant classes myself as compensated, BUT, I still have varices, and take carvedilol to help control that....and some were banded back in May.
Should be another endoscopy in November to look again.
I haven't got ascites anymore,but I've oedema in my lower legs and ankles....which at moment are wrapped up in compression bandages, to bring fluid further up my body,to urinate out....
It doesn't appear to be working at moment 🙄😌.
Im waiting for bloods to be taken again,as my liver nurse won't increase my diuretics until bloods are done,as to not damage kidneys.
Its good that the ascites has gone,thats a promising sign.
Chris, that’s awful for you. You’re really going through it. I hope the legs clear up for you. It’s hard to believe they consider that compensated isn’t it. Seems to be a difference of opinion across the board here in decomp/compensated!
Thanks for your reply Chris and we will stay positive anyway and hope for best outcomes for us all 😊🤞
Some weeks or days indeed are harder than other there’s no doubt about that with the disease and you know I always think it’s important to say that you’re not feeling great and share it here or with someone. There’s healing in that alone and can lift the spirits a bit.
Since I joined back in 2022 I’ve noticed you’ve always had really kind and positive nice things to say to people here and that helps so very much.
Compensated is essentially asymptomatic to the main complications of liver disease. So no bleeding varices (although you can still have them), no ascites, no hepatic encephalopathy or jaundice. You can still have symptoms…like fatigue or poor appetite and still take medication.
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Update on hubby Nov 2022
Symptom free with compensated cirrhosis for 20 years? 
Cirrhosis question 
Compensated liver - cirrhosis symptoms 15 months post diagnosis
Compensated Cirrhosis
