Varices

[puddy68]

Hi Everyone. I cannot thank all of you enough for being such a supportive forum. Sometimes I need to read your positive posts to get through the day. I am going in next Friday for a gastroscopy. My specialist said it was urgent, and is already assuming that I will need banding. I just wanted to ask is this normal, or will the doctor performing the scope make the decision when he sees the state of my varices? I also have another question[s] [sorry] - I have not had a drink for three and a half weeks, I'm trying to eat as cleanly as possible, and I've joined the gym. If I continue to do the good stuff [and I fully intend to], can my portal hypertension decrease, any varices improve, and is there the possibility of returning to compensated cirrhosis from decompensated? Thank you so much.

[RugbyMama]

Hi Puddy

I think it likely varies person to person and depending on where you live (it doesn't look like you're in the UK) but there are lots of posts on here from people who have had the banding done at the same time as the gastroscopy.

In terms of decompensated to compensated, yes this is absolutely possible but it's not a quick fix, and can take months. It's also possible to go from compensated back to decompensated. The changes you make should be sustainable, and if you're going to the gym, you will need to take things steadily and build up slowly, especially if you are at risk of a variceal bleed.

The critical thing is that you've stopped drinking. I know how hard that is but staying off alcohol will help your liver more than anything else.

Keep us posted on how the gasteoacopy goes.

[puddy68 in reply to RugbyMama]

Thank you so much, RugbyMama. Yes, I'm not in the UK, I'm from Australia. Thank you also for saying that decompensated can go back to compensated, if you're willing to put in the hard slog. Which I FULLY intend to do. God Bless.

[tracyliz in reply to RugbyMama]

Hi Puddy ,I agree completely with Rugby mama but I think you should forget the gym until after your endoscopy, that is not impotent right now. The most important thing is not drinking and it's got t o be forever,which is, hopefully, a long time. I had burst varices 11 years ago, plus ascites and very nearly died. My consultant told me just don't drink ever again and build up strength slowly. My question to him was,but will I be able to go in holiday again,, fly? He said yes but don't go to India ( he is an Indian) I'm sitting on the balcony now in Zante,Greece and have been on lots of holidays over the past 11 years,even long haul flights as my sister & brother live in NZ. It's still difficult, even now when I see everyone drinking and " enjoying' themselves , being part of the crowd but the thing that stopped me grabbing that bottle of wine,in the little supermarket last night, was the memory of my two daughters,sitting sobbing,by my bedside in hospital, when they thought I was going to die.You can concentrate on fitness and strength in your body later, concentrate on your mental strength for now. Take care .😎

[puddy68 in reply to tracyliz]

Hi Tracyliz - thanks so much for replying, especially as you're on holiday! It gives me such hope to hear from people like you. Yes, you're right, I think I'm trying to do it all at once, and my mental health/strength needs to be up to scratch so I can focus on everything else. Thank you so much once again.

[Inthegame]

Hi buddyDefinitely agree with rugbymama, my partner overdid the gym trying to be the best he could be and had a varices bleed, gym is great but definitely pace yourself 😀

[puddy68 in reply to Inthegame]

Thanks Inthegame, will definitely rethink gym until after my procedure. Thank you!

[AnxiousPete]

Definitely don't do vigorous exercise or weights in a gym until the gastroscopy and after consultants advice. Having varices in itself isn't decompensation. Are you on any medication for the portal hypertension? I have grade 1 / 2 varices and am on Carvedilol 625mg / day. 2 weeks ago my consultant said I would not need any further routine gastroscopies and is happy that the Beta blocker is all I need. Take care and good luck.

[puddy68 in reply to AnxiousPete]

Thanks Anxious Pete. Will definitely take your advice about the exercise. I'm not on any medication as yet regarding my portal hypertension - I'm planning to see my gastroenterologist after the gastroscopy, and I will definitely follow this up with him then. Thanks so much once again. God Bless.

[Rawai]

Hi,Ive only had banding when a bleed accurs,and that means scopy asap!

As your is a booking assume your Doc wants a look first.

Gym, well that depends on several factors, were you going before??

Light exercise i would suggest. Walking good.

Ive been fit all my life and was a gym studio cycling part time instructor, however patience, i walk, lift some light weights at home.

Always ask you Doctor for advice, this group is excellent, keep off google total rubbish most of it.

Balanced diet, not just rabbit food, eat regularly and in my experience be patient, rome wasnt built in a day.

Dave

[puddy68 in reply to Rawai]

Thanks so much, Dave. I agree, patience is the key........and as for google, it scared the living daylights out of me. I was virtually planning my funeral [seriously]. Thanks so much again. God Bless.

[Rawai]

I thought the same!

[Harriet-sarah]

Hi all i can tell u is my experience, i had a Decompensated Liver through drinking, i have not touched a drop for 2 years now. At the time they said i needed a transplant, but they said i was too ill to have one as ill end up dying on the tabke i had been given only 2 weeks to live, so i told them to put an Ng feed in me, i had that for 3 months as well as eating and drinking loads of protien shakes, i had terrible varicex as well so they banded me and now on propanalol for portal hypertension, and i havent bleed since (i appreciate everyone is different) and also i can not get my swelling under control, so have to take spirolactond, then they said ive done so well i now dont need a transplant. Have you asked about the TIPPs proceedure (a stent put in liver) as this can help with your portal hypertension and fluid build up. Iasked if i could have it but he said it was too risky on me as i had HE and the procedure could trigger it again, also i had a lot of infections when i was really ill. But live goes on and we do tbe best we can through the fatigue (my worst sympton). You sound that yoyr doing alright, keep up with the no alcohol thing, believe me i no its hard, but worth it. X

[puddy68 in reply to Harriet-sarah]

I really appreciate your reply, Harriet - sarah. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with me. You have been through so much, yet seem so strong. Thank you so much once again. God Bless.

[Harriet-sarah]

oh and now my liver is compensated now!

[puddy68 in reply to Harriet-sarah]

That is FANTASTIC, Harriet - sarah. You give me great hope.