Sounds like you are doing everything right. My MELD score went from a 14 to an 8 in 4 months.
I do everything the Dr. recommends. They say I have a very good chance of getting through this. I know life will never be the same again. I will always have to follow the low sodium diet, as well as going to all the appointments, have labs done and abdominal ultrasounds to check for any changes.
But I plan on doing everything I can to be here with my wonderful family.
I wish the same for.

So your doing the same. Following the doctor's orders religiously. May I ask. How long ago was you diagnosed? How often do you get blood work done now? I went from weekly to now every 3 to 4 months.

That is awesome

what is a MELD score?

^^^ Culled from the net: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) system was implemented February 27, 2002 to prioritize patients waiting for a liver transplant. MELD is a numerical scale used for adult liver transplant candidates. The range is from 6 (less ill) to 40 (gravely ill).

Basically is it the score used to see where you are at when liver transplantation is considered. It usually does not improve but it seems that for some of us who are serious about trying to improve ourselves, albeit a bit lat maybe, there is a slight glimmer of hope. I'm currently at an 11 and when this all started about 2-years ago I was told there was no hope with a score upwards of 30.

Yes, mine did drop. It can fluctuate. Sometimes - depending on the cause 0f your cirrhosis - it can decline & get back to normal because the liver adapts to a smaller segment to function with.

Hi everyone
I see people that their MELD are getting lower. That's great news.
I to have done what all my Drs have asked of me.
My MELD count is at 29.
I am asking y'all what does this really mean and no one will give me a straight answer.

Thanks

As far as what aspect?

Tamidgray, keep moving forward, doing everything they say.

I too have been able to decrease my MELD score from 27 felt awful, two years later I'm at 10.
My protein level is normal for the last year. This is a huge area needed to build muscle and maintain organs health. I'm in my late 60's transplant possibly is not likely due to my age. I follow my Doctor's orders for meds and foods to eat. Life threatening Complications can and still happen had two happen one just a month ago.. But, so far so good. I'm still here. I hope your all doing well.

If you find food is not appealing try juicing whole fruit and veggies it's easier on your digestive system. Jucing is what I did at first I was moderately malnourished, Was 99 pounds now 119. Saw a dietitians too that was a huge help. . Listen to your body eat small meals with high protein be it protein powder mixed in milk or yogurt. Eat. when ever your hungry. That helped me. I feel stronger have more energy.

Agree with Moondancer - there is no magic cure but there are ways to lessen the impacts of cirhossis and what they suggest is spot on. Low salt, high protein diet; mild exercise, regular checks for warning signs. And don't forgot to live - this disease is part of your life but not the whole of it.; your mental state makes a huge difference.

I think of my disease as a car with a drive and brake function but no reverse - there is no going back so we need to focus on staying off the accelerator and keeping our foot on the brake to slow things down!
Good luck!

Was diagnosed in Dec 2020 while in the hospital for a debridement surgery on my leg . Turned out that I required 11 surgeries to get rid of the infection . While in the hospital for the most part of 5 mths and after the 1st two surgeries a gastroenterologist walks in my room and matter of factly states “ during your blood tests and scans you have been found to have decompensated Cirrhosis of the liver “. I had only ever heard Cirrhosis alcohol related stories but I apparently have NON alcoholic Cirrhosis . She said it must have crept up on me over the years , never had the 1st symptom , well except being told I had type 2 diabetes about 2 years earlier . The medication was so expensive I couldn’t afford $3000 a month for insulin so I did the best I could , a friend who is retired military gave me a year + supply of insulin so I used this on and off after that but never really checked my levels . She told me mine ( decompensated) is the worst and that I have anywhere from 3mths to 2 maybe 3 years tops to live and left the room . After crying my eyes out for 3 hours ( I have a 15 year old daughter I want to walk down the isle one day ) I began to research looking for any glimmer of hope . I kept being told “ there’s nothing you can do you will need a liver transplant but won’t qualify”. I found a few stories where people had turned around END stage Cirrhosis and they claim diet change was the solution . They were told to prepare to die and are still here 7 and 9 years later . They credit everything to changing to a Plant based diet . Two months ago I decided to do the same and cut out all Diary , Meats etc if it walks , swims or flys I don’t touch it . I take Liver MD and do a liver cleanse drink of Celery, Beets , Carrots , spinach , lemon daily and today I got my dreaded blood test results back . My A1C is now a 4 and was a 11. My Hemoglobin count is at 12.6 but I was sent home 5 weeks ago at 7.1 , lastly my Liver Enzymes are at 88 but were 681 5 weeks ago . I’m not sure exactly how enzymes work or if they have any relationship with Cirrhosis improving ? I have also lost 90 pounds and feel fantastic . My biggest issue is the 3.5 foot wound down my leg that required 11 surgeries and hundreds of stitches , the healing process is taking forever so my mobility isn’t the best BUT i’ve gone from a walker to crutches to a cane in 5 weeks and am almost ready to ditch that too . The nurse that called me with these results was blown away and told me to keep doing what I’m doing I haven’t heard directly from my NEW gastro about the blood tests (fired the B from the hospital ) but during our last conversation he told me it’s too soon to talk transplant that it may not come to that etc etc . He may have been trying to make me feel better but ??? I believe my positive attitude , my friends lifting me and inspiring me daily and my belief that God can do anything are giving me hope . I’m hoping that I was misdiagnosed or that I’m really making a difference and this Liver can heal . I have NO pain , no bleeding and have very few tell tale signs that check the boxes, no jaundice no loss of energy just more every day , no spider veins , etc . I only ever had fluid build up after surgery #9 I gained 50 pounds in 2-3 weeks and had to have a parasynthesis and they drained that much off me in 3 days including lasix . I take 40 ml lasix every day and 100 ml spironilactate and am steadily losing a pound or so per day . I’m not building up any fluids to require another drain right now . I believe all the trauma my body was put through the last 5 mths sped up my liver damage not to mention 5 straight months of daily hardcore antibiotics ( still on those ) but all the rest of my organs are good , they say . I don’t believe the doctors most could Care less so if you find a good one hold on to them . I’m curious what your thoughts are about my story so far , any good advice is appreciated , thank you .

Some people here mentioned MELD score here, where do I find the score? The doctor just said to my husband that he is not far away from liver transplant, was that based on a score?

Thank you Pooey! We are seeing the GI doctor again in September for regular check up, and in December for EGD follow up. I am nervous and confused.

My husband was admitted in hospital in early May due to internal bleeding and large volume of fluid at his abdomen. he was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, at the same time he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer. Cancer doctor said his cancer has nothing to do with his liver condition.

Cancer treatment was taking the priority but the hospital GI doctor referred us to see the GI Specialist ASAP. We saw the doctor at GI Specialist in late May, he read the report from the hospital and said my husband has end stage liver cirrhosis and not far away from liver transplant. He arranged an EGD with Banding surgery for my husband in June. He came out from the operation room and said to me he did not see anything to band, if my husband has stopped drinking? I said yes he has stopped dinking since early April. My husband said when he woke up in the operation room the doctor said to him he will be fine. What was that meant?

Here is the EGD diagnosis report:
F1 esophageal varices
Portal hypertension gastropathy without gastric varices
PEG bumper seen in stomach (that is the feeding tube for his cancer treatment)
Duodenum normal

The GI doctor has put him on Spironolactone, Furosemide, Pantoprazole for 3 months since June, and Nadolol for 12 months. We haven't taken the Nadolol since July as his blood pressure is below 120.

One thing to mention, my husband was on various medications for his high blood pressure, hip pain, bronchitis and upper respiratory infection (that was how we found out he actually got tonsil cancer).

We are still fighting cancer now, and did not have much time to think about all these, and every time when I looked back I got confused.