First timer

Hi everyone, I have visited the forum and read posts several times in last few months looking for answers.  I am so touched by what everyone is going through and my thoughts and prayers are with you.  My 74 year old Dad was hospitalized in November with pain in stomach and ascites.  We knew from surgery he had 4 years ago to repair damage from car accident that he had cirrhosis.  After recovering from accident (8 months) he went right back to his old habits and here we are today with more advanced cirrhosis.  He is not drinking and has not since October.  Besides being told to eat low salt diet he has been treated with diuretics and antibiotics for the toxins which just seem to cause new problems.  At this point he has stopped both meds.  He has a lot of stomach pain and is not eating.  He is skin and bones with this really big belly.  He is being seen by a liver specialist but no one else.  Can anyone give me some insight/suggestions into the stomach pain and eating problem?  Is there another kind of Doctor I should take him to?  We are going back to the liver doctor tomorrow, so maybe we can find out more then.  Thanks for any responses.     

Hello Div, welcome to Livingwell. I am so sorry to hear about your father. My husband has cirrhosis also, compounded by liver cancer. He gets stomach pains also. He has 2 different diuretics that he takes that keeps his ascites down. He has only has a little bit of fluid in the stomach and a little swelling around the ankles as he is very good about taking his meds. Your father really does need to take his meds. Cirrhosis also can cause some to have gallstones which can be very painful. But if the liver is very damaged I believe it can cause pain as well. You mentioned a liver specialist. Is he a Gastro Doctor or is he a Hepotologist. The Hepo is more knowlegable about liver diseases, at least with my husband's doctors. Cirrhosis can also cause liver cancer.
My husband was diagnosed with cirrhosis about 7 years ago. He developed gallstones about 3 years ago. (They can't do surgery for them as he may bleed to death.) about 14 months ago he was diagnosed with liver cancer. They did a chemoembulazation last May which has stopped the cancer from growing so far. He is on a lot of medications which do have some horrible side affects but they are keeping him alive and hopefully healthy enough to get a liver transplant. He goes for a 2nd evalution next month to try and get on the transplant list. I hope some of this information has helped you. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your dad. Pink Grandma

Hi all, thanks so much for your responses. The Dr. is a gastroenterologist specializing in transplant hepatology. My Dad has had several AFP tests with very high numbers however his MRI did not show any cancer. The Dr. feels that with the obvious condition of my Dad (extremely weak, no appetite, age, cirrhosis, hep C, high AFP #'s) he most likely has liver cancer. HOWEVER, we did get him some medicine to hopefully increase his appetite and will be trying to help him gain some strength back. One month ago he was given Ribofaxan (please excuse spelling) which gave him diarrehea and sent his condition down really quick. The Dr. also told me that the reason the MRI did not show anything could mean the cancer has spead all over. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks so much.

Div, when your dad had the MRI, was it done with a contrast material by IV called Gadolinium? I also have liver cancer, though not cirrhosis. I have had this test a couple of times and was told that if there is cancer anywhere, it "will light up like a Christmas tree." You might ask the ordering doctor about this. I had a very large tumor, which showed up on sonogram, but they wanted a better look at it, so did more testing. I also had chemoembolization, which worked beautifully for me, killing most of the tumor. I also took part in a drug study for Therasphere (microscopic beads filled with radiation), which is inserted into the tumor. Almost all of my cancer was killed, but there were some cancer cells remaining. The next step was to surgically remove the right lobe of my liver. However, I took a 4-month break to have a critical hip reconstruction. I went in for blood work and CT scans with contrast on Wed. Was supposed to go back early today for results and plan, but had to reschedule to next Fri. due to inability to get to sleep until very late last night. I have hep C, which caused the liver cancer, but I do not have cirrhosis. I have only had some liver pain after the chemoembolization, whiich I was told was the tumor dying. The only symptoms I have are terrible constant fatigue and a distended belly.

I am not a candidate for transplant, as my liver function has remained quite good, with no really high numbers.

I hope something can be done for your dad to make him feel better.

Hugs,
Connie

In my own experience, it is impossible to know what treatments to have, if any, if I do not know exactly what is going on. If the doctor indicated there is another test they can do with dye, I would go for it. It should tell what your dad is facing, and whether the cancer has metastasized. If it has, then there is really nothing to be done but make him comfortable. Sometimes, treatments directed at a main tumor, such as mine, will shrink not only the tumor but any metastasis, as well. Miraculously, this is what happened for me. I really believe that prayer played a part, but also the excellent skills of the oncology radiologist at Mayo who treated me.

Hugs,
Connie

Dlv, so sorry that your dad isn't doing better. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. Pink Grandma

magaroo, you need to call your dr and ask about ANY medicines you might take during your treatment,and make sure what you can and cant take. I assume you are talking about pegintron or interferon? the sweats are very normal for the first few times,my husband had them for about 2 mths, or 8 shots. He didnt have a problems with not sleeping,,,,,,,he slept too much,but had broken sleep so was always tired. also many medicines affect your liver,,,,,are you seeing a hepatologist? you should have been informed about your meds, take care and welcome to healingwell:)