severe oesophageal varices.

[Ksvlm]

Hello everyone, haven’t been here for ages but I would like to know if anyone could talk to me about oesophageal varices. I’ve been diagnosed with this as I have severe cirrhosis.im so scared but I need to know more for my outcome so as I can deal with situation better.Is this the stage when I become towards end stage liver cirrhosis.Please if anybody could talk to me I would be so grateful.

[AyrshireK]

Cirrhosis is termed end stage liver disease as it is the final stage of the fibrosis progression (F0-F4). It in no way implies end of life or anything like that.

Having cirrhosis means your liver is very fibrotic leading to issues like portal hypertension which is where the huge quantity of blood that would usually flow quite happily through a healthy liver can no longer do so due to blockages caused by the scar tissue (think of a road with a blockage due to an accident or roadworks).

Because the blood (traffic) can no longer flow it starts to seek out alternative routes around the body (blockage) and backs up. This sends the blood (traffic) into smaller blood vessels (roads) which were never designed to carry this increased volume and the vessel walls start to swell leading to varices which are bulges in the vessel wall.

Treatment usually involves putting a ring around the bulge which ties off the weakened bit of vessel wall which then sloughs off and the main blood vessel scars at that point so that more varices can't form in the same place.

Varices can be seen even when a person has compensated cirrhosis.

My hubby had 42 varices banded over the space of two years leading to his varices becoming eradicated and no more formed. He had an initial bleed from varices - you need to keep an eye out for signs of bleeding - fresh blood in stools or black, tarry, sticky stools. Blood from the mouth - particularly vomiting of fresh blood or vomit that contains coffee granule like clumps of blood. In either case this is not to be ignored and is a medical emergency. His last banding was in 2014 and it was only last year (2024) that he progressed to be transplant needy so having varices isn't the 'end'.

Katie

[lanamc in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you, Katie, for your very clear and well-informed explanation. I too have a couple of varicose and have just done banding. (couldn't take carvedilol). Your experience - with your husband's - helps me stay optimistic about things going forward, Lana

[Dexter786]

They most likely will also prescribe medication such as carvidilol which is like a blood pressure treatment to minimise the risk of Varicies. That said regular endoscopy and banding is the sure way to remove them.

[DaveQ67]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with varices 19 months ago on initial diagnosis.

The best and easiest tip is follow a strict sensible diet all the stuff you would have been told. Don’t smoke or drink obviously. Exercise, I was told I would not get another endoscopy to check again as health has improved and likely varix has gone. I take Carvedilol which is no hassle tbh.

As mentioned, be aware of red flags.