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alcholic liver disease

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Posted 8/30/2009 10:39 AM (GMT 0)
My husband was rushed into hospital last week, they have not said he has end stage liver disease, but the more I read the more it is looking like it, he has swelling of the stomach, they removed 9.5 litres, he has had an endoscopy and they are saying that he does not need any treatment there, he has now developed a secondary inferction I really do not know what to expect, he is very yellow but is eating well, can some advise me what to ask or what they will do next
Posted 8/30/2009 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know what you should ask but they may do a endoscopy with a biopsy.
Posted 8/30/2009 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
mc13, hello and welcome to HealingWell. I am so sorry that you have to watch your husband go through this. It is so very hard to feel so helpless and unable to do anything for him I know. I am glad you are getting educated. It will help you as time goes on as to what to watch for. I do think that you need to make a list of questions to ask the doctor. First you need a definative diagnosis so ask him/her what it is. Ask what the treatment and prognosis is and the plan of care. Do they plan on doing a liver biopsy? That is a definative test and common teat done in suspected liver disease. You may have told his full story in another post but I didn't find it. Is he a drinker and still drinking? Have you read the educational thread? That may help you a little to understand what is happening. If not it is located under the topic section of this forum in the Resources section. You will find the members of this forum some of the most compassionate and educated posters on any other forum. Everyone here is either afflicted with liver disease or caring for someone that is. They will all be very supportive and helpful to you while you travel in this journey called "liver disease'. Keep us posted.
Posted 8/30/2009 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
thank you, yes he was a drinker but has been stopped for a while, due to the fact that he has been unwell, he is eating well, much better than before, he is still very yellow and still in pain, he has been up and around, I cannot believe this has happened it all seems so final. I have two young children my daughter is 11 tomorrow, I have not told the rest of the family, or his mum I just think that if I do not admit it it will all go away, and he will get better on his own. I want to know what is going to happen, then I read something and go to pieces, do not know if I am strong enough to deal with it. I will have to find the strength but I do not know where from I feel so alone.
Posted 8/30/2009 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
mc13, no one can tell you what to do or how to do it but I do think that discussing this with the immediate family could be really beneficial for you both. Why not talk about it with your husband and see what he thinks. I know that the family can be a tremendous help to you both as time goes on. Of course that also depends on if they are all close or not. Assuming that they are close then it is only fair that they know what is going on. In the long run they can help you to cope. It will give you and others that love him an opportunity to talk and cope together. It is always so tragic to get a diagnosis that may become fatal BUT that doesn't mean that it is fatal in his case. Keep communication open with your husband and tell him how you hinestly feel. The two of you need to talk openly. I've said many times in this forum..."Don't bring on a plague". In otherwords don't assume the worst. Keep hope alive and do everything you both can do to alter the course of this disease. Changing your diets, habits, and way of life, may be the defining difference. We are all here for you and will do everything we can to help you. Keep your spirits up (as much as possible) and research diet changes etc. to get you both started.
Posted 8/31/2009 3:34 AM (GMT 0)

I am really sorry that your husband has been diagnosed with liver disease.  As Shelly has noted, education is very important.  Please go to the Hepatitis Resources section on the Hepatitis main page, up at the top, and read about liver disease and what to expect.  Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) is due to elevated bilirubin.  A disease liver cannot process toxins well.  The best thing he could have done was to stop drinking.  It is the absolutely worse thing for a diseased liver.  The fact that he has ascites and has had to be drained indicates that he has end stage liver disease.  However, there is always hope.  With diet and medication (and continued alcohol abstinence), he may get better on his own.  Or he may qualify for a liver transplant.  I will tell you, though, that he will not even be evaluated for one until he has 6 months of documented alcohol counseling or AA attendance.  So the amount of time he has been sober may not be considered at all, if that is the root cause of his liver disease.

Meanwhile, take it one day at a time and do ask questions.  If you read the educational material, it should trigger some questions for you to ask the doctors.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 8/31/2009 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your help on this I will talk to my husband, hopefully we will have more news when he sees the consultant today, will keep in touch
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