cirrhosis

  hello- my mom has cirrhosis of  the liver we wre told she has maybe 6 months that was in  10/2006 and now we have new problems today she had a heart attack, blood pressure is very low, platlets are low, and she needed 4 pints/units of blood and always getting UTI ?. She's been in the hospital for about 2 1/2 weeks. they were sch to do liver bio for the mass to dangerous, stents and balloon for the heart she might bleed  to dangerous, her legs are retaing water on lasix, on lactose to keep her am levels down there at 65/70 ok, also she is diabetic hard to control with lactose sugar base. but she needs it. I will check on her MELD Score later. She was going to be seen for Liver Transplant with all this taking place i think she has no chance? She only 67 years young. her mind so sharp

any infor what we can do

thanks

 

Thanks

Hi Blue and I too send my preayers and thoughts your way.

I am sorry your Mom is having such a time of it and facing the loss of our parents is never an easy thing no matter how old they or we are.

It looks as though your Mom is having mulitple system problems and in most cases when so many things can and will go wrong it will disqualify you from the transplant list, I know this sounds extremely cold but with so few organs available for transplant they have to consider how all of these problems are going to effect the acceptance of the new liver and whether it will be productive for anyone to use it including your Mom sweety.

It sounds as if she has fought a very courageous battle with this disease but may be losing thru other means. You have been given some very good advice from the others here and I agree,spend as much time as you can with her now and make each moment count for her. Advocate for her at this point as so much as making sure whatever time she has left is spent her way and in comfort above all. Assure she gets the best care she can have and use whatever means needed to relieve the symptoms of all these problems occuring.

Take care of yourself as well.

Use the forum for a shoulder to lean on when the burden gets too heavy to go alone and surround yourself with family and friends and "talk" to your Moms Docs,dont be afraid to ask questions no matter how trivial they may seem. Be assured by them that they as well as you are doing everything possible to make your Moms medical choices the best that they can be for all.

Good luck to you and to your Mom.

Blue it sounds as if your already doing all the right things you can do for your Mom.

I like her lost a child so in knowing that realize she has laready carried the most diffcult burden one can in this life. I truly believe there is no greater pain,that experinece has certainly made everything that came after more reasonable.

I know in my mind that fater my daughter passed away dying took on a new meaning to me and I had to believe there was something other then this life. I couldnt imagine the thought of never seeing my child again making death a not so scary thing for me.

Dont want to delve too much into any religious thing here but wanted to just let you know that your Mom most likely feels the same way.

I wouldnt have wanted to leave my other kids but as age gained on me and they got older I actually didnt grow horrified thinking of my own mortality.

I hope she wins to fight another day but I also know if she doesnt? That it wont be such a major ordeal for her as it will be for those of you left loving and missing her.

Much luck to you both.

All of which sounds like good news!

Stay on top of the long term care. Good to have her close to you,visit often and make sure they know to expect you daily or as often as possible.

They are often short handed in these facilities and dont get to "see" the patients as much as they should during the ocurse of the day. Make sure you enlighten them if you visit and see changes you dont like in her,be persistant but not to the point they will ignore you as being a (PIA)

Take her favorite foods and make sure she has access to things you bring her as the food is not so great to most that have been cooking for themselves. Most places have a patient fridge where you can leave lableled things such as fresh fruit,favorite soft drinks,etc for her so she has them when she wants.

Also make sure if she is on pain meds that she gets them,ask what their policy is concerning whether they are scheduled or if she has to request them and make sure seh understands to do just that if it is the case, LT places are not so prioriticed when it comes to giving pain meds sadly as the majority of them do NOT use Nurses to distribute meds but use med tecks or medication aides so the Nurses have to rely on them to for info on a pateint requiring pain meds. Some states allow the tech to distribute narcotic pain meds,some dont.

Not saying they are all bad just really short handed for the number of patients in their care,like everything else there are good ones and there are bad ones,have some say,take a tour if possible prior to moving her there,look for patients that are clean and nicely dressed,no food on their clothes,no socks or shoes,do they look as if they have been sitting up for days? Does the place smell bad when you walk in? And remember they cant get all the odors out with so many flaoting around but you will know when bad is bad.

This is your Mom and she deserves the best that can be offered her and you have the right to see she gets it.

Good luck and I hope things continue to go well for her,good sign that it took only one dose of lasix to see results.