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...
Hi all :)
I am new here and hope to get some support/answers.. My dad was a heavy drinker for as long as I can remember. He was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis a year ago (he was warned for many years prior but chose to ignore the Dr's). He stopped drinking 7 months ago after they did the TIPS procedure as a last resort to try and help him. He had portal hypertension, varisces (non bleeding) and ascetis.
He improved slightly (nowhere close to functioning semi-normally) but the ascetis keeps on building up. He usually goes for monthly draining of the excess fluid. We visited them in December (we live in another country) and the day we arrived his umbilical hernia burst and he had emergency surgery. He went from bad to worse and was hospitalised for nearly a month. He got Hepatic encephalopathy whilst in hopsital but recovered. His kidneys also took major strain. He improved slightly and went home (pure willpower and the refusal to go to a step-down fascility). He went for another paracetesis 12 days ago and was hospitalised again this week to do extra tests as his feet is swollen to the point of the skin bursting. His abdomen is huge (normally he can go 5-6 weeks without needing another paracentesis). His feet is burning, he is shaking, he is constantly cold, he is waifer thin, he is VERY moody, he is in pain, he sleeps all the time, is very weak. The list goes on. They are discharging him today (did 2 paracentesis) said his liver shunt is still working, his kidneys looks a bit better (probably after the Albumin) and they will do a heart sonar next week to see if that is the cause for the sudden fluid buildup..
How long can someone survive like this? The Dr's infuse him with Albumin every month or so, drains the ascetis and gives him some Antibiotics to ward off any infections. It feels like it's a never ending nightmare and I don't know how anyone can endure such suffering..
What does the end look like?
My dad sounds like he went through almost exactly what your dad is going through:(
A month sober before passing. He had his last hospital stay because his ammonia levels were so high 308.. they didn't really don much to be honest a few of the test, u know the norm... then they told me he had less than 3 months left And best thing to do is hospice. My dad obviosly wasnt happy but I finally got him to come home with me under hospice care, so he didn't die alone.
So that month was a roller coaster for sure he took all his pills ate right, for the first week then her got better in terms of confusion got about 3 days then it was a complete 360 he was in pain tummy swollen again very angry mood swings... not eating and per hospice stopped talking all meds and only was on morphine for pain and a few other things too keep him comfortable.
So any way we did that a few weeks a nd that last week i knew it was it...
First thing i noticed was he stopped popping then stopped urinating... then difficulty swallowing even the tiniest bits of water... he was choke terribly...it got to a point where i couldnt even swan his mouth to moisten it... after he stopped using washroom he fell into a sleep about 2 days after, never woke up just looked to be sleeping peacefully... his breathing longed strained her would take these long scary pauses but would start breathing again... finally on the 4th day i seen him breathing fast for like 3 minutes? And he just stopped breathing.
The dress scared me with what the end would look like... but it was peaceful for my dad I was by him the whole time... Thank god
WD - if he is not a candidate for transplant, all I can suggest is continue what you are doing. Be there, comfort measures, call the doctor for help & suggestions, get some in home help so you don't become 100% swallowed up.
At some point the kidneys shut down & that causes toxin build up.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this, but you are wonderful & loving to be willing to give him support in his time of need. You'll be able to live with yourself knowing you did everything you could.
Keep posting, let us know how you are doing, and if any improvement in his condition.
I just hate knowing he is suffering so, and it seems there is not end to all of it :(