Liver failure

[Lisad52]

hello my daughter is in hospital with liver failure she’s been in 6 days her liver function has halved but her bilirubin has double to 420 is this a good sign that the liver function has halved

[AyrshireK]

This would be something you'd need to discuss with your daughters doctors if she'll permit you to be included in discussions. If some results have become more normal that might be a good sign but with bilirubin that high it shows she is very poorly.

Doctors will do all they can to stabilize her and hopefully she will recover - at least to some degree.

Katie

[Lisad52 in reply to AyrshireK]

okay thank you I’m praying she will be okay

[Smegmer]

No. Bilirubin rising is bad! Its the Liver is struggling to clear it from the blood, more in the bloods means a worse performing Liver.

[Lisad52 in reply to Smegmer]

oh right not good then do you know what they can do to bring it down or just it just go down on it’s own hers is through alcohol

[Smegmer in reply to Lisad52]

What are the AST, ALT, and GGT showing? Those are the inflammation markers; they show how swollen the Liver is. A swollen Liver can't function properly, and that will cause Bilirubin to rise. For context, the normal range for Bilirubin is 0–21 umol/L

With a high reading like she has (assuming you've heard the correct number), she could have Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis, Cirrhosis, or even both at the same time. If she is lucky, it's only Hepatitis, which people can fully recover from if they stop drinking, but it depends on how bad it is; they can also die from it. So, you want to see AST, GGT, and ALT dropping, which would mean Hepatitis is subsiding and then Bilirubin starting to drop as the Liver starts to work better.

In the case of Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis, they will likely give her steroids and perhaps Liberium to manage withdrawals. But it's known as a "self-limiting"; in other words, it will do what it will do; you just have to see where the chips land, unfortunately. If she has Cirrhosis then she is at an advanced stage, but again vast improvements can be made by not drinking and functions can return to normal, but the scarring remains.

[Lisad52 in reply to Smegmer]

Thanks you so much I’m not sure on the other blood I’ll ask tomorrow they have started her on steroids to reduce the liver inflammation because she’s struggling to breath so hopefully that will work

[lonmallin50]

When l was in hospital my bilirubin was 500 after a few months it had come down to 120 but never went below that l had to have transplant in the end

[G0newiththealc0hol in reply to lonmallin50]

Hi mine is about 230 and they are looking into a transplant for me. I haven't spoken to anybody who has had a transplant. How did you find the process and how are you doing now? Any tips appreciated. Thanks, Hazel

[lonmallin50 in reply to G0newiththealc0hol]

I had transplant 3 years after going yellow l passed the assessment they said no at first but had to convince them I would not drink again it’s been 15 months now and l feel amazing like I just been born again what a difference it made physically and mentally l never had long left l don’t miss the drink at all now after drinking for 35 years and after having my own pub life is really good now in my early retirement

[lonmallin50 in reply to G0newiththealc0hol]

The process went really smooth I was out of hospital in a week every went fine

[J4ck1369]

in was admitted to hospital in May 2022 with severe alcoholic hepatitis. I was very sick and basically my family were told it was likely I would die. My bilirubin was 825 at one point (not a typo). I didn’t realise at the time (I was too poorly) but have since requested my medical records. Anyway, I was in hospital for 6 weeks and in a very poorly state). To cut a long story short, since that time I have not touched alcohol and my fibroscan result was F0-F1. I try to lead a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise but most importantly NO ALCOHOL! The only medication I am on is one tab a day for mild portal hypertension which was picked up on my last endoscopy a few weeks ago. My point is, it is possible for your daughter to make a good recovery like me but she must give up alcohol. Hopefully the whole experience of being so ill will put her off the stuff forever like it did me. Good luck xx

[Lisad52 in reply to J4ck1369]

Wow that’s amazing that gives me hope thank you x

[Tonisha123-mm]

Hi Lisa , first of all sorry to hear that your daughter is poorly and I would imagine she has a yellow colour to her eyes and skin ? Has she got non alcohol liver disease or alcohol ? I was in liver failure sweetheart In 2020 my bilurbian was sky high my albumin was really suffering very low and I also had severe malnutrion and had to be tube fed , my pottasuim was low also and my kidneys were being affected that was in June 2020 but in April 2020 I also was placed in a coma due to sepsis.They can bring down the bilurbian with some great medication through a drip and other things that my liver needed at the time I was completely bed bound and at 48 years of age I thought my life was either going to end or that would be me for the rest of my natural life , I was so weak I couldn't walk or even lift a face cloth to my face and had to be bed bathed in hospital and wear adult nappies and bed pans , each day has the medication they gave me slowly got me better and it wasn't until a month and a half later I would be home .

The liver can repair itself and regenerate also back to it's medical normal liver function , I also ended up with a brain toxin build up from the liver and it's called heptic encalapathy now I'm hoping fingers crossed that it hasn't come to that stage for your daughter has you do become so confused and agitated and forget who people are and your surroundings and this can be very mild but also very dangerous but being in hospital is the best place to be but this happens in some cases of liver failure , liver disease and my heptic encalapathy came from the end stage non alcoholic liver failure and all this was due to having weight loss surgery gastric bypass and all the years of gallstones I had before they would remove my gall bladder , sweetie I'm praying that she does get better and can get better because it can happen and I'm living proof and if you want to private message me feel free to do so and I will speak to you more about it hunny , but praying and sending healing to your daughter c