Cirrhosis Support Group

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease, most commonly caused by alcoholism and hepatitis C. Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis and is associated with a poor quality of life, increased risk of infections, and a poor long term outcome. Liver damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay further progression and...

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Kimbosaby 12/26/2017

Hi all I'm from the uk and am 36. My mother is 57 and has been a heavy drinker for 22 yrs+. She's been in and out of hospital for the past 8 yrs. She's been in now for 10 days with not much improvement. When she was admitted her heart rate was 180, sodium was 120, she hadn't eaten for 2 weeks, couldn't walk, was vomiting, not peeing, she was jaundiced and basically looked like death. Her heart is still high but lower, her sodium and potassium has only just improved. She has acites that they cannot treat yet due to her heart rate which is making her breathless. She's eating a bit more but still dehydrated and it's having an effect on her kidneys. She has swollen varices but no bleeding yet. She has muscle wasting and losing her hair. She now has sickness and diareah again which did stop. She just don't seem to be getting better this time. She definitely has cirrhosis probably has for yrs. In September she had fluid drained. It's now December and she's back in again. Can she get better from this or is this the end? I kno it doesn't sound good.

avmom 12/27/2017

I hate to say it but she sounds like her body is shutting down. She sounds like my husband, he was hospitalized for two weeks and then sent home for two weeks before he passed. Once they stop eating on their own it is very hard for them to start. I suggest you speak with your mothers doctor. They can’t tell you how long she has to live but you can ask her far along is she in the disease. They are usually very honest.

Kimbosaby 12/27/2017

Thanks for your reply. Yes I'm aware everything was shutting down. I'm waiting to see her doc again ( the one who tells me straight )she seemed very talkative yesterday and looked better, but today we couldn't understand what she was saying and she's been hiding food that she's supposed to be eating. She is eating little bits now but not much. I don't kno if I mentioned her meld score on admission was 26 which I kno isn't good

Trissa01 12/28/2017

Heartbreaking situation for you. I do believe, that as long as we are breathing, there is hope. If she has a strong will to live & pulls through this, and halts all alcohol & follows doctor direction, she may be able to recover. Our bodies, our livers, are amazing. Not trying to offer false hope. You can prepare for the worst, without giving up.
I have seen people in hospice who have walked out & never looked back!

luv2chat 12/28/2017

I also had swollen varices they put bands on them twice and last check they were back to normal ....i lost my hair like crazy for months & it stopped had all the things you said your mom has and i followed the specialists instructions completely and feel really good 8 months later so yes there is hope for your mom as long as she doesnt drink at all best wishes to you and dont give up hope ❤️

Kimbosaby 12/29/2017

Thanks all. She seemed better on the 26th when I seen her, she was still very breathless and the acites is in her legs now too. But she talked a lot to me that day. She was even swearing which is when I kno she's getting back to herself lol. But my aunt seen her the two days after that and couldn't make out what she was saying, she's also been hiding food under her bedsheets.
They are on about sending her home in the next few days but she's still really sick. I think they have done all they can now and are sending her home to die. I'm seeing the doctor later so I will find out more then. I kno she was on two meds for her heart rate, they have been giving her fluids regular, I think she's on diaretics now for the acites. Does this sound right? I mean she can't even sit herself up in bed let alone walk unaided. She's so weak

luv2chat 12/29/2017

I had acites and it went to my legs they restricted my fluid intake but no diaretics ....I would imagine shes being taken care of by a liver specialist is that right?

Kimbosaby 12/29/2017

Yes she has a liver doc. They was giving her extra fluids because she's dehydrated and malnourished. She's on diuretics now but it will only prevent further acites not get rid of what's there. It was as I thought though. They can't do anymore for her as the damage is too bad. She will be coming home next week with the meds she's on to keep her stable. How long for I don't know. The doc said it's probably all down hill from here.

Kimbosaby 12/29/2017

luv2chat 12/29/2017

So sorry to hear that.....tough news to hear hugs! Take care.

Kimbosaby 12/30/2017

Thank you. The thing is she's been having these complications of cirrhosis for around 8 years. She was told then to stop drinking and she did for about 6 months. She's been in so many times since then. It was only September she went in and had her stomach drained. She said no one has ever told her she has cirrhosis! The sad part is is that I think this time she really would stop drinking. She seems sad and she knows how much damage she has done now.
We haven't had much of a relationship since I was a teenager. She was always so abusive towards me and called me names. We have even had physical fights where she thought it was ok to punch me.
My brother can't forgive her but I can't let her go with her thinking I didn't care. She's still my mother and she used to be a good one when we were small.
I lost my dad 7 yrs ago to cancer when i was 33 weeks pregnant. Now I'm 18 weeks pregnant and about to lose my mother

luv2chat 12/30/2017

Good morning geez you have had a rough time

luv2chat 12/30/2017

Half my message isnt there hmmmm new to this anyone know why that would happen?

luv2chat 12/30/2017

It is good you stood by your mom you tried.....very hard to go thru take care of you prayers to you for strength ❤️

Trissa01 12/30/2017

You can't believe no one ever told her she has cirrhosis. The alcoholic brain decides what it wants to hear & what it chooses to deny. Also there is brain deterioration with alcoholism adding to the forgetter.
Your brother is entitled to his resentment, but I think you are doing better by trying to put the hurtful past behind & recall the good while your mom is still alive.
You'll know you did your best, you tried your hardest. We can't surmise what your brother can or cannot live with. It is ok for us to choose our own audience. It would be nice if you & brother can someday share those better memories of your mom together, but try not t expect it, respect his wishes.
Best wishes for you You are doing all the right things from a kind heart.

Kimbosaby 01/01/2018

Hia all. So things are just getting worse family wise. My mums brother has been in hospital 3 days and is dying of copd. I think they will be turning the machines off sometime today. They are in the same hospital so my mum is being taken down to see him. They were very close but fell out a while ago when they were both drunk. He's also an alcoholic and has had all the same problems as my mother recently. It's crazy to think it's lung disease taking him not the drink. I'm concerned how my mother will be after she's seen him. This may make her fight harder or make her give up sooner.
Nothing new to report with my mum tho. She's coming home soon not much better than 16 days ago when she went in

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