Acute on Chronic Steroids

[DQ33]

brother has had cirrhosis for last 3 years. Still drinking. Admitted to hospital Friday jaundice. Confusion HE I believe! Now on steroids. Has anyone any experience of this. Know that they are only given to certain people! Do you think this is now certain decline?

Consultant said too early to tell on Saturday also know steroids can raise chances of infection.

I am thinking that even if he pulls through and even if he stops drinking ( which is uncertain) is his time now severely limited.

[BritishLiverTrust8 Moderator British Liver Trust]

Dear DQ33

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

[juneblue]

Hi DQ33. I have been through that. With multiple death threatening symptoms. All of which were caused by drinking alcohol with undiagnosed cirrhosis. Any time you go to the hospital due to liver being unable to function properly it is a decline. I almost died do to extremely high concentration of ammonia in my system which is caused by the livers inability to process the alcohol. I had two staff physicians and eventually my gastroenterologist tell me that drinking anymore alcohol would cause death in the very near future. I would have died that night if a neighbor hadn’t called the sheriffs office and an ambulance.

All that being said, it’s been 9 months since I’ve drink alcohol. Most of my symptoms have subsided, except for moderate ascites. If I drink again the whole scenario would repeat, However might not make it. The alcohol will eventually kill your brother, harsh but true.

I pray he pulls through and follows his doctors advice. Sorry your having to go through this. I’ll pray for both of you.

[Dogbot]

Hi DQ33 sorry to hear your brother is suffering but as you know already it’s all down to the alcohol, and as you being the person who is looking on from the outside it must be torture. I now know what I put my wife through as I’m an alcoholic, haven’t drunk for 20 years and I now have a new liver. It’s a very frustrating feeling trying to get through to the loved one that’s drinking but he will have to make his own mind up, you see the person involved has to change the way they think to give up alcohol like any other addiction. I was very lucky to have a specialised nurse that sat down and said the right thing to me and got my head in the right place. I can only wish you the best of luck and hope your brother makes the best decision of his life 🤞👍.

The wife and I wish you all the best 💕💕

Dogbot 🐶🌈Dave