No answers here, unfortunately. my son was just diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver related to alcohol dependence about a month ago. he has been sober since the day he was diagnosed, and he is so full of fluid. he cant breath with any exertion. he also has hepatic portal hypertension. he is miserable, and going through hell. I thought the doctor would prescribe a "water pill" to help remove the fluid. he is going to the doctor today, and he's afraid they will do the parecentesis. I am so sorry to hear what you are gong through and it scares me what my son is enduring and still has to endure. I hope your liver doctor has some answers for your. many blessings to you.

RNSheila - how old is your son?
ALS - you were diagnosed around age 45. Were you having pains? Was it just through routine lab work?
My husband is an alcoholic and I pray daily for Cirrhosis/pancreatitis/stroke/heart attack.... SOMETHING to make him figure out HE NEEDS TO QUIT drinking. I made him get a physical last year and they of course did a liver panel. His AST was 34 (15-38 scale) and ALT 71 (12-78 scale) He was within range, but barely - so the Doctor saw no red flags. His kidney function test were barely within range as well. My dad was diagnosed with fatty liver last year and had tests done again this last month. His AST shot up from 30 to 49 and ALT 90 to 136 in one year. AND my dad doesn't even drink!!!
My husband is actually quite proud of his drinking and sees nothing wrong with it - even though it has completely destroyed our family, but he chooses beer over me and the kids. But - I am wondering, because he doesn't take care of himself, do you think his levels shot up as much as my dads in a years time?
I am wondering how you and RNSheilas son was diagnosed. I have encouraged my dad to get a liver panel done through the local GP - otherwise he was going to the VA and I don't trust them. I thought the only way to know if it cirrhosis for certain is with a biopsy.
Thanks

ALS, I hate to hear this. Unfortunately I dont have any advice to offer. I have not experienced this. Have you started any new medications or herbal supplements? Just grasping for straws but I am curious what has set this off. Let us know how your doctors appt. goes.

ALS, what is probably different, is the disease has progressed, nothing you did. but you need DR management to get it under control again.
OK you you had paracentesis, but they didn't order anything to control fluid build up?
Please let us know outcome of your DR visit?

ALS, we have not heard anything from you. I hope you are doing ok. How did your doctors appointment go?

just signed on to this support group, my name is Joe, please keep in touch , close to where u are in this now I believe. let me know what the liver doctor says. , thanks and good luck

Hello all! I appreciate the thoughts. I have just been trying to research my butt off about everything.
I went to my appt with the new doctor. By Friday, I was back in for another paricentisis, 2 liters this time. He also did a MRI, he seemed quite concerned about cancer. Result are NO cancer thank God!
But early this week here came the ascites again. He took 5 liters yesterday.
He is very interested in TIPS procedure. I am not sure. He has not once said a word about how malnutritioned I am. Believe me, it is quite obvious I am wasting away.
Sorry, I know I am rambling. I go to see him for a follow up appt tomorrow morning so I have been researching even more than usual all day.

I came across a couple of articles/studies about how increased protein intake can help and possibly stop ascites. Any thoughts on this? I know the doctors go back and forth all the time, but from what I have read it seems logical. Could it be that increasing my protein intake could stop the ascites and help me gain weight in the process. I would definitely like the answer to be yes, I am not quite on board with the TIPS thing, and I know he is going to push it tomorrow.

If anyone has ANY info or experience with TIPS or the higher protein intake, good or bad, I would LOVE to hear it. Thank you guys so much for listening to me :-)

ALS, good to hear from you. Sorry you are having all these problems again. Did your doctor have any idea why things have changed so much recently? I am also curious to know if your doctor prescribed any diuretics for you. I have not had the TIPS procedure but there are some on here that have. Sometimes (like now) when this board is slow, I go back through all the older post just for info. Keep us updated and I hope you get answers soon!

RN he needs the fluid drained and he will feel much better and be able to breath.. you don't want the fluid building up and going into the lungs. well, I went on the 7th of Sept and they drained 15.1 Liters from me, today Im not that bad but I feel I need another Drain before things get worse again, so Im going on oct 1st for another treatment.

I hate if it gets to full cause then my back hurts and I get really a lot of nasua .

I go to a liver specialist and all he says is my liver is failing and I need to get a transplant, he has me on the two main diaretics recommended for this condition.

ALS, so far as protein intake, may I urge you to consult with doctor for nutritional recommendations? I 'm surprised he did not offer information.
When the liver is malfunctioning, it does a poor job of picking up nutrients through our diet & delivering them to the needed area. I believe we do not absorb the nutrients.
I'm so sorry the ascites is plaguing you! Hope you are making progress for possible transplant if this is not improving.
TIPS has worked & provided some relief to many.

ALS,

I realize that you wrote this last year....I hope that you are doing better by now...I have a couple of questions...

Are you seeing a liver specialist, either a hepatologist or a gastroenterologist with a liver speciality? If no, I would highly recommend that you get an appointment with one as internists, family practice md''s, general practicioners generally do not know how to manage cirrhosis as well as a liver specialist.

Are you on diuretics to control your ascites? If not ask about diuretics..

It is possible to control the amount of ascites formation by decreasing your fluid and sodium intake if it is ok with your doctor...

It is also possible to have refractory ascites where you require a large volume paracentesis often.....I had this problem and had to have a paracentesis every 10-14 days where 16-23 liters of acitic fluid was removed each time for two years before my liver transplant.

Are you getting Albumin when you have a paracentesis? If not, ask your doctor about it.....it protects the kidneys as a paracentesis is hard on the kidneys, it also keeps your blood pressure stable.....a paracentesis can cause a drop in blood pressure due to the fluid shift, decreased blood pressures can cause problems with the kidneys...

How did your appointment with the liver consultant go ?

Take care of yourself..

Vivian

Hello everyone!
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here. Things seem to be looking up after the crazines between June ad December last year.

Things got pretty bad those last months with varices and internal bleeding, parencetisis once every two weeks, etc. My liver doctor schedules me for the TIPSS for Dec 8th, but my body just couldn't wait. On November, I was admitted again with bleeding and that was it...TIPSS procedure was done the next morning.

II was in the hospital for 2 days (evaluation of placement) everything was good. By the time I was home for a day, I was up and cleaning the house feeling 100% better! I have had check-ups and sonogram and blood levels are finally all in normal range Thank the Lord. Same with liver enzymes except for Alkaline Phosphate, which had gone to 218 and last check it was down to 165, so that is good.

I am hoping for the best, but now know things can change at the drop of a hat for no reason. At the time my Liver dr told me I would need a living donor transplant within the year, now he is saying maybe 7 years. I have gained 20 lbs and am feeling good, except for some fatigue here and there.

I want to thank everyone for their replies and support. And to answer a few ?'s I saw. I have been on Sprionlactone & Lasix since my diagnosis. And yes, I was getting 50 ml of Albumin everytime I had a parencentisis. It looks like my liver has become decompensated, still can't figure out the reason :-(

God bless to all of you & again, thank you for the support