What is Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue as well as regenerative nodules, leading to progressive los...
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SYMPTOMS: Skin tears, weight loss, nausea, spider
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Hi, I am new and don't know where to begin, but here goes.... I left my ex over 5 years ago, but we are still not legally divorced. I took our sons, our personal belongings and moved out ending our 16 year marriage. Through everything we've remained friends. His drinking progressed quite a bit over the previous 5 years since we left (he's been drinking 30+ yrs overall). I have not raked him over the coals, actually I lent him money for a business, but his partners eventually forced him out. This was after losing 2 jobs. I'm guessing it was all somehow related to drinking.
Over the past 5 years I have noticed many changes which initially I attributed to depression. He began taking depression meds, but never really saw any significant changes that lasted. Present day symptoms I have noticed: *Terrible skin tears... Like the skin of an 80 year old man, Bill is 48 yrs old. The torn skin takes forever to heal! His skin also looks very dry and he is itchy. *He has had significant weight loss (30+lbs. or more) and he was already relativly thin. He has NO muscle tone anymore. *Broken capillaries and swelling on his ankles and top of both feet. *He is sleeping roughly 12-14 hours daily. *He is barely eating, my oldest son (19 yrs. old) moved back in with him about a year ago said he doesn't eat the equalivant of even one small meal in a day. *He has always been prone to sebatious cysts, but he is literally covered in them now! He has also had several ear infections and bouts of vomiting (I don't know how often or how long). My son says he has seen nosebleeds, but I personally never have witnessed that. *This sounds weird, but because he is so thin it stands out. He has man boobs! Sorry, but could think of no better way to describe it. His doctor put him on Zyprexa for bi-polar disorder 4-5 months ago, but never ran a blood panel on him. It was news to me that he was bi-polar, never shown manic signs since Ive knpwn him. The side effects of the meds are WEIGHT GAIN, INSOMNIA, ETC... The complete opposite of what he is experiencing!!! My son and I are so worried and made him an appt to see his dr. He cancelled it the day before. I'm in the midst of moving out of state and his family is in TOTAL DENIAL that there's a problem, most of them drink like he does, and his sister sadly isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. However Im sure he lied to her when she spoke to him after getting my message because I'm so worried. Please Help Us! I STRONGLY SUSPECT he has virtuosos, he still drinks daily Posted on 08/01/09, 12:08 pm |
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You are still married if I understand you correctly. He is very, very ill and many of him symptoms are that of liver disease but, of course, there are many other things out there. You may need to have him made a ward of the state or something along those lines to force him to get medical treatment.
Meantime, place non-stick (teflon type) pads over the tears and DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES allow anyone to put any tape on his skin, even to hold an iv in place. There is a stretchie mesh type stuff that comes like a long tube that can be cut to the size needed to slip over the bandage or iv line to hold it in place. Jim has had some awful skin tears from tape--the last one left a gaping hole almost 2-1/2" square. Unfortunately, he sounds like he doesn't want help so you have an uphill battle. My thoughts and prayers will be all of your family as you struggle through. Karen 
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Hello
I agree with klga...you need to find a way to make him see a doctor. Another thing, if his doc put him on meds for bi-polar and he may have issues with his liver, his doctor really needs to run a blood panel. Many of those drugs are not safe for people with bipolar and depression (I know this because I am bipolar and currently do not take meds). this could be making any liver problems he may be having worse. Good luck to you and God bless you.
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Not all of this opinion will be welcome.
Meaning no offense to Klga, but I believe that no-one has the right have another person committed for health problems that threaten no others. Nore is there a right to force someone to obtain medical treatment. That is what Living Wills are about Torn skin - I don't know that one. *He has had significant weight loss (30+lbs. or more) and he was already relatively thin. This could be the booze or something much more serious than cirrhosis. He has NO muscle tone anymore. High protein diets part art of the early perscription; Lost protein and muscle mass are indicitive of the disease. *Broken capillaries are called spider angiaomas and are indicative of the disease, The swelling on his ankles and top of both feet is edema caused by a deficiency in albumin production. It is easily treated with diuretics. However, it he develops ascites (big belly) it is potentially life threatening because of spontaneous systemic infection. *He is sleeping roughly 12-14 hours daily. The fatigue is quite common. So are sleep disturbances. *He is barely eating -- I don't know much about this symptom. *He has always been prone to sebaceous cysts, but he is literally covered in them now! If they are sebaceous cysts they are probably benign. He has also had several ear infections and bouts of vomiting (I don't know how often or how long). That s a question for the hepatologist. I don't think nosebleeds are indicative like varaceal bleeding. Again, the doc. The dry itchy skin sounds familiar. He can take something for the itching. Seveal of the meds, especially spironolactone, cause us macho guys to grow boobies - much to our dismay. On the more positve side, it sounds like the guy has developed cyrosis. He needs to see a hepatologist and not just any doctor. They can do a lot for his quality of life and even reccomend the definituve treatment - transplant. I Hope this will help you decide what to do.
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Does his skin look yellow at all? I know that when my husband was jaundiced his skin was dry and itchy. Also I have seen three people close to me develop pedal edema(swollen feet and ankles) and all of these people drank alot of alcohol although I do know that there are other causes. As far as getting him help goes...perhaps ask him how he's feeling lately, engage him in conversation, never bully him. He may be scared and actually want to talk and you might be just the person he needs. My best to you him and your children as I know it must be hard to watch them all suffer with worry for their father. He must see this worry as well and that might be the reason he decides to go get help.
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I will give my 2 cents worth of opinion,and I will do it as kindly as possible. Your husband is very ill,it is his choice to get medical treatment. No one can make him go to the doctor unless he is not mentally capable of making decisions of any kind for himself. This is the first step into seeing what can be done for him. That is a medical and legal issue. Doctor first,lawyer second. If he is still capable of making choices for himself,then he and he alone decides what treatment if any he desires to take. It will be a hard,hard road for any family that will be with him during this,if not you,then someone else will have a rough journey with him. I am sorry for this is a sad fact.
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This man needs to get some serious help NOW. Booze has got to stop and he needs to get medical attention. I do agree with the comments that he cannot be forced to go. This has to be his decision or sooner or later he will return to his same pattern. But if continues on the path he's on now, he will be getting worse progressively.
Earlier this year I developed ascites where my belly swelled, I looked 8 months pregnant and was in alot of pain and discomfort. He doesn't want to get to that point. I stopped drinking right there after I had my stomach drained the first time. Maybe that's what it will take for him. To be as stupid as me and see himself looking like a basketball with arms and legs. I hate to admit my own stupidity but some of us have to learn the hard way.
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