Hi everyone,
I’m new here. My partner is being treated for decompressed liver disease.
Recently diagnosed, he has quit the alcohol ( very early days I’m aware) But I am wondering how is best for me to support him?
He is struggling with eating but is trying. He’s not a big meal eater. Any ideas of how I best support and small meal idea would be helpful.
Once he stops drinking , the hunger for food will return with a vengeance
Thank you so much for reply. Even though I wrote the put terminology meaning “Decompensated” ( I am a newbie) So good to hear that his appetite should come back. We are only 3 weeks without alcohol so very early days.
As everyone is an individual it's early days and he and you will find things change almost daily. I know my hubby had no appertite at first and even hid food in hospital when he was there for 10 weeks it was heartbreaking and frustrating but he was the same with medications too some people are much more 'can do' and you say he is trying which is all you can ask great to hear, some foods just don't taste the same and of course given a low salt diet this takes a while to adjust I am following the same diet so that we are doing it together and there are some very good cook books (available on amazon) for Cirrhosis diet meals etc if he is open to discussing diet with a nutritionalist they will be able to help massively (mine refused to read any of the advice so it's been doubly hard but he is finding foods that he will eat and now does eat more and better), he was prescribed a high protein/high kal drink not a meal sub but additional 'snack' during the day and he likes the flavour and has 3 of these so that's a major improvement. The advice the nutritionalist gave was high protein, low salt, more white meat than red and lots of veg and fruit plus things like quinoa or brown rice etc she said yoghurts etc were ok and cheese but not high salt or unpasturised.
It's a long journey and just try and celebrate the little wins and put the bad days behind you but as you will see from many of the wonderful real life experience of this group there are lots of very positive and heartwarming hopeful stories on here so there is always hope and even some incredible wins too.
Just know you are never alone with the help and support of the others in this group someone will always hear you and respond and it is always good to know you are not alone.
Best Wishes x
. Really helpful to read. You have coma a long way. I will look up the cook books. They sound really interesting. Thank you so much for your reply.
Hello and welcome. Have you asked about a dietician? They would give you meal ideas/help especially if he has other health problems. There are also some suggestions on the liver trust web site. But the main thing is little and often with regards to food and a snack before bed. High protein as the liver will be eating up his muscles to fight back and he'll feel weak and tired. Avoid salt and processed foods, ready meals etc. Try full fat yoghurts (easy to digest), humus, unsalted nuts (walnuts and almonds with some dried dates were one of my hubbies nibbles with a few chocolate buttons in a bowl by his chair) he also loved a bowl of icecream and custard and full fat milk to drink. Things that are easy to eat will help. Without salt some foods can be bland and it takes a few weeks for you to get used to it but this time of year there are a lot of fresh herbs to flavour things. A Mediterranean diet, fish, chicken and pork (the juries out on pork... is it red or white meat?) But we were told pork was ok. I changed my diet with him (easier to cook one meal than two) whole grain pasta, unsalted pnut butter on brown toast. I'm sure others will suggest things. You will start to read pack and tins for salt... it gets a bit obsessive! If you can a bit of exercise, even a short walk. He will be tired and his sleep paterns will be all over the place too. Mine napped for england at first. But most of all stay off the drink, it will be a bumpy ride for both of you, I've been there and so have many others here. You're not alone xx
That is so reassuring to read. I was worried about the day time sleeping as he sleeps a lot at the moment.Thank you so much.
The dietitian has spoken with us and given us leaflets about the diet which have been useful.
I have gained some useful feedback from the replies I have received on here which is amazing.
My hubby is also not a big eater but loves salty, processed food. Initially I nagged him to eat and cut out salt. I tried to do the same until I realised I was following the diet and he wasn't!! Now I am just grateful he eats anything and give an internal cheer if it is something nutritious. Just watch the sugar as there is a lot in alcohol and mine replaced that with cake as that was on the diet list as a snack. This didn't help his feet pain as he is diabetic so he's cut that out. I think we just have to accept that everyone is different and it is a difficult diet for some people. The main thing is giving up the alcohol and supporting our loved ones in that. I have also found that keeping him upbeat by doing something nice together every day seems to encourage eating. All the best.
Thank you. I too am thrilled at the little and often eating he is doing. The alcohol has stopped . ( Everything crossed that this continues)
Thanks so much for replying. All the replies have made me feel so much better and not so alone on this journey.
When I stopped drinking my appetite as a previous commenter said did indeed return with a vengeance.
It's well known that heavy drinkers dont feel the need to eat. I was like that.
Dear Semiskimmed10
Here are the links to information about cirrhosis on our website, which you may find useful
britishlivertrust.org.uk/in... (including a suite of publications towards the bottom that are downloadable or can be posted)
britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...
If you 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
Thank you for the link and contact number.
Well done to him for stopping drinking. Our specialist nurse gave us a list of high protein foods and I concentrated on making little snack plates for us. If I asked my husband what he wanted to eat, the answer was always “Nothing” but just putting something in front of him encouraged him to eat a little. The dietician prescribed protein supplements - like milkshakes. Some days he would only drink those but at least it provided protein and calories.
I haven’t made us a full meal for nearly a year now. I keep a good stock of items that can prepared quickly when his appetite increases. Ready cooked chicken portions with a few spoonfuls of apple sauce. Scrambled egg on toast. Beans on toast. Full fat Greek yogurt with fresh fruit.
There are plenty of days when I am grateful he eats anything at all - and then the diet advice goes completely out of the window! Bacon sandwiches, those little steak and kidney puddings or sausages.
I suppose we all adjust in the end and settle into a new routine - your head will be full of all kinds of information and anxieties at the moment. I have been helped a lot by the information on the British Liver Trust website and by their helpline.
I wish you all the best for the future.
Thank you so much for you reply. Absolutely understand the days of “Nothing” when asked what he would like. Like you I am grateful of anything he eats and he too is having protein drinks. I didn’t know Bacon sandwich was ok to have? He adores these.
Thankyou
In a perfect world, bacon sandwiches wouldn’t feature because of the salt. But we’re in a real world, with a body that needs calories, lots of them. We broadly try to stick to the high protein / no salt regime but even the dietician says any food is better than none. I’m not saying bacon sandwiches should be a daily item by the way - but if it is the difference between eating or starving some days, then I can’t see a huge problem.
Reassurance and common sense. Thank you. I have managed to get “Reduced Salt” Bacon as a treat for him. As I have to be savvy with the pennies I will split the back and freeze for other times.
Hi! Newbie needs help!!
nutritional drinks???
Newbie here - supporting my dad through Cirrhosis
Exhausted all the time! 
Not sure where we go from here 
