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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/ Cirrhosis Support Group

New to here, and scared - Cirrhosis

paddlepop
paddlepop
My story so far...

Beginning of October 2014 noticed my left leg and foot swelling.

Mid-October, leg and foot really swollen, and looked like a giant red lobster. Went to the hospital and had an ultrasound. Told I had cirrhosis. Referred to see a hepatologist.

End of November saw my hepatologist.

Early February 2015 had a gastroscopy from my hepatologist. Told I had three esophageal varices. Given prescription for Nadolol.

Mid-March had another ultrasound. Told I had some ascites.

Mid-April next appointment with hepatologist.

Also in mid-March, I saw my family doctor and was told I had an inguinal hernia.

This all came so fast to me after 53 years. I'm thinking I'm in a death sentence, without hope.
MLTTexas
MLTTexas
paddlepop, welcome to our group. Let us know how your mid April appointment goes. Of course, we know nothing about your circumstances, so if by chance you are drinking alcohol, stop. My cirrhosis was caused by many hears of Hepatitis C, not alcohol. Please don't jump to any conclusions until you see your hepatologist again. You are not necessarily dying, as you stated. This site has been slow, but I'm hoping it picks up. I'm sending you a friends request. I'll be praying for you. Chin up. Marilyn
gkringler
gkringler
Hep C stage 4, my legs swelled up like crazy and bright red also, elevating them and wrapping with ace bandages helped bring the swelling down. Now I wear compression socks all day everyday and they rarely swell up. If I notice a little swelling I break out the ace bandages again and within a day or 2 the are back to normal, which for me is slightly discolored and very little swelling. Had a biopsy yet? Good or bad it's nice to know where you are at. Check into getting liver ultra sounds, cirrhosis makes liver cancer more of an issue. I get scanned every 6 months so if it shows up it can be dealt with quickly. When you first get the news it does feel like a death sentence. But it's NOT. It's a severe warning to pay attention learn as much as possible and be ACTIVE IN YOUR TREATMENT. If your Dr isn't treating you right or you feel they should be doing more SPEAK UP it's your life, demand satisfaction. Take an active role in you treatment plans and options and that helpless feeling starts to go away.

Good luck
Trissa01
Trissa01
Paddle, that is a lot all at once. Cirrhosis can sneak up on some people.
Now you know, and doing all the right things, getting to your appointments and handling it all very well.
We just do whatever we need to do next.
Living each day in a liver friendly way, we try to take good care of ourselves.
A person can live many many years after diagnosis of cirrhosis.