Hepatitis C Support Group

Dilly You are stage 2 fibrosis, not cirrhotic.

bump

Thanks you guys for all the advice and the "bump" Dill =)

@Dalis, I think you are absoltely right about it. He's jaunticed, and my son said that he told him that he told him that he has hernias, which explained the stomach aches, but I'm thinking it's edema too, and I guess it could maybe be hernias as well.
He stayed with my son last summer (court appointed my son his gaurdian until his probabtion was finished) and helped him work on his house remodel some. I think he wormed his way back into his house by saying he got hernias from helping him out! Made my son feel bad....funny thing is, my son would have taken him in anyway, He has a HUGE heart.
So, I guess my question to you is, now that you're on treatment, are you feeling better as far as liver related stuff? The edema gone pretty much? I know it's probably hard for you to tell cause you're sick from the tx.
Like Louie mentioned, maybe, just maybe, if he gives his liver a break, he might get lucky. Last my son said that he told him was that they were going to do surgery and didn't know if there was going to be enough left of his liver to sustain him. I think that's BS, but again no one has gone with him to the doc at this point so he can make up whatever he wants.
Oh I forgot to mention....he's a true blue Sociopath. A Charles Manson walking around among us....

Thanks for listening guys.
Love,
Kelly

I certainly feel your concern for your son’s situation. My oldest son chose to live with his active alcoholic dad from 17-21. It was difficult to see him slip into care-taking (sometimes enabling) a very sick individual. Today he will tell you he was affected by this experience.

Your statement "wormed his way back in" is very telling. His current illness caused "from helping him (your son) out”. It is my opinion - the alcoholic knows they need help (guilt is common tool) and they want someone to take care of them. They know they are in trouble - they may even want to want to change their current behavior. But they don’t WANT to stop. Even trapped in a serious illness such as Cirrhosis they might not stop. Someone told me – “Telling an alcoholic to stop drinking is like telling a man who just jumped off a 20 story building to stop falling.” And I identified with this

The responsibility loved ones take on is seemingly noble, after all there is no other way.... they reason, what are they (the alcoholic) going to do. They (the alcoholic) can’t sleep in the street, they (the alcoholic) are sick; this is my father, mother, spouse, etc. And most important, “I can help them”. The good reasons are too numerous to list. The sacrifice of our self and even loss of self cannot only be devastating and can permanently affect us in some way. This was my experience. I did find a good Ala-non program and have been very active for quite a few years. As a program, it helps the non-alcoholic keep their “self” while being around the alcoholic. Boundaries can lovingly be set. Guilt tricks no longer work. Knowing the alcoholic is being given every opportunity to get better and realizing it is the alcoholic’s choice to accept or decline this opportunity can spell personal freedom. This helps to remove the innocent noble loved one from the guilt of responsibility when helplessly watching slips, slides and failures. (This is so much easier said than done) All us big hearted people seem to make fixing them a personal mission. After all, he’s already had court appointed guardianship.

Questions and check list – Determine if he is has hernias and/or if he is Chirrotic. He may have both. Knowing what's what will help keep your son informed and not be prey to guilt and "white lie" stories. Just as we had to do, knowing the buzzwords and what they mean is helpful. What are the signs and symptoms he should look for to know when it is time for his dad to seek medical attention? Is there any special diet? Discuss alcohol intake. And after all of this general stuff is confirmed – It is up to his dad to follow through. Not your son. One good reason for your son to know these things is to be fully aware what choices his dad is making. Your son might make suggestions like, “The doctor said you shouldn’t eat that” or “Your doctor explained the importance of not drinking”. "the doctor said it is important to take your medicine on time. Then let it go.

Questions I suggest your son might ask himself – What is the boundary he will not move? What is the deal breaker? What if his father drinks? Can he ask for him to enter a drug detox and rehab facility in order to continue living there? Is there an expected reasonable progression of health for dad leaving or is it acceptable for him to live there for years? What are your sons expectations? If I was asked these questions before Alanon, my answer would have been, “I don’t know”, “We’ll have to see how it goes”. Very open ended because I never knew how care about myself.

I’m sorry this is so long – I really do empathize with your situation. And I wish your son the best.

Ascites looks different then belly fat or hernia. Belly fat can be pinched like a roll, a hernia is very taught and firm. Ascities is kind of like a water bed when lying down it is very fluid like to the touch. An ultrasound will give a differential diagnosis

HI liver could still compensate if he stops overloading it with drugs and booze. He could still live a long time if he stops all the bad behaviour but perhaps he has just given up and wants to move through to death.

Thanks so much kcasey for that. I printed it off and will show it to my son.
Problem is......have you ever known anyone with a truly "black heart"? This man truly has one and I have to say that I have actually hated the man for years. He's the ONLY person in my whole life that I can say I have ever hated. Not because of what he has done to me, but for what he has done to my boys.
So consequently, I had to give up that hatred (and I'm glad I did!) in order to help my son deal with this situation, and find out what I need to do. I don't know enough about the true current state of his health, I haven't even seen the man face to face in years, so I guess that's the place to start.

Louie, thanks for the description of the Ascites. Now I have some kind of idea what to even look for. As far as giving up....don't think that's what's going on IF he is really and truly seeing a doctor. Again no one knows for sure because no on has gone with him yet. He just says he goes and reports what the doc says. Some of which is so bizarre that I question that he's even going!
Thanks again guys for your help!
Love,
Kelly