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Cirrhosis Tell me I'm not imagining things...

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Posted 8/29/2012 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
My husband age 60 heavy drinker all his life has the following signs and symptoms:
Petechiae (red dots on legs)
Swelling ankles feet fingers
Nosebleeds
Impotence no sex drive
Gynocomastia/ man boobs
Trembling hands/ flapping
Dark skin
Jaundice (dark /yellow red skin under eyes and neck)
Spider angiomas on back of neck
Bleeding rectorally
Dry skin
Itching
Looks like pointed  mango bulging from right rib when lies down
Sighs out loud,exhausted

When not drinking/drunk:  is alert,eats good,exercises, works, plays golf...and certain symptoms like jaundice swelling and bleeding subside.

Currently he is not drinking because I insisted. However he will sneak it while traveling on business. He just returned from week trip and ankles feet swollen terribly!! Face looks jaundiced belly swell,diarrhea...

He hasn't been hospitalized but i fear it is coming. Someone tell me I'm not crazy, not a hypochondriac like he says I am. I worry all the time and his denial is most frightening of all.

Just needing support i guess. Thx!!

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 8/29/2012 11:04:32 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/29/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Bevome, and welcome to the forum. (I have taken the liberty of correcting some of your medical words. There is a list of them at the end of Hepatitis Resources...a great thread for info at the top of the page.) No, you are not crazy. However, we are not doctors and therefore are unable to tell if he has cirrhosis. However, he seems to be heading there.

It's good that he has stopped drinking, at least around you. He does need to be seen by a hepatologist. While some of the symptoms you list could be alcoholic liver disease (ALD), he would need an ultrasound at the very least (and preferably a liver biopsy) to determine the extent of his disease, as well as extensive blood work. Even if he just sees his primary care doc, if that doc is sharp, he will make that referral.

The "mango" you describe under the rt. ribs could be a hernia. And could be one way to get him to a doctor for assessment. You go with him or he will just come back (if he even goes) with a fairy tale about being in good shape.

The rectal bleeding indicates bleeding internally, either from ulcers, bleeding polyps, or bleeding varices. It could also be from hemorrhoids, though I think that's not as likely. Trembling hands and flapping are two different things. The trembling could be because he's needing a drink and flapping (asterixeris) is when the arms and hands are straight in front of him and his hands go up and down. Sometimes they do it from the sides.

I recommend you read all the info in the folder I mentioned previously, Hepatitis Resources. Inflammation of the liver is hepatitis--not necessarily viral. I'm sure it will answer some of your questions.

The bottom line is that to stay stopped from drinking alcohol it will have to come from him. He might be able to stop for a few days to get you off his back, but he will not stay stopped unless he really wants to, and is willing to get help.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 8/29/2012 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bevome,

My husband is 63. He was dx with cirrhosis almost 2 years ago. He too has been a heavy drinker all of his adult life.

Symptoms he had before dx-sleep disturbances...waking up at night, not able to go back to sleep, nose bleeds...frequent and slow to stop, gagging in the morning...which started to come also at different times of day, man boobs, one spider between the eyebrows, sometimes orangish color urine, sometimes entire days of complete exhaustion, yellow eyes. It was the yellow eyes and failing an insurance exam that finally got him to the doctor.

He then went to a chemical dependency program at our healthcare provider. Used meds to get through the first 2 weeks of no booze. Sleeping most of that time. The nose bleeds, sleep issues and gagging all went away from the first day of no drinking. But then he had other things, wobbly walk, cold all the time, dull mental status...over time these things went away too. In the last 2 years he has had esophogeal varices banded about 4 times. No bleeds---very thankful for that.

His GI doc says the best thing he can do for his health is NO ALCOHOL.

Over the last two years he has done pretty well. He had a slip at 50 weeks and got kicked out of his group program. He has not gone back or found a substitute program, like AA. This worries me quite a bit, as he has had a drink now and then. I wish he wouldn't, but that's another story.

When he was first sick, I was mentally planning his funereal, since I didn't know if he would keep getting sicker or what. I am so thankful that he stopped drinking (mostly) and he is pretty much back to normal. Actually better than he was before.

Welcome to the Forum. Read the information that Connie told you about. Read through posts. Lots of folks have been in your shoes.

Keep coming back and post often.

Emma
Posted 8/29/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Bev,

Yes, you need support.

Because your hubby is killing himself every day he continues drinking. And even if he quits now, I suspect he has done a lot of damage.

The question becomes, how long can he keep up the denial? Most spouses and patients who participate in our forum find that at some point the mental part of this disease causes havoc . It becomes less and less possible to keep up the job, travel, and physical stresses of a "normal" life.

When the liver isn't working well (decompensates) it cannot do the 600+ jobs it has very well. It can't make the building blocks that keep our muscles strong. It cannot process wastes so that the poisons are excreted in urine and stool. Etc. Those wastes can accumulate in the blood into the brain. A blood test for ammonia will confirm that diagnosis, but most with "hepatic encephalopathy" become less sharp mentally, are forgetful, grumpy or down right nasty, and confused. If their work requires strength or dexterity, that may be a problem as well.

Mike used to do PC support for a major insurance company. When he was at his worst, he couldn't work his PC. Once he threatened to toss his cell phone out of the car because he couldn't make it work. I wouldn't drive with him because he was driving crazy...and this is SOBER. His doc put him on NO DRIVING for a year.

If your guy wants to live, he needs to know that he has damage to his liver, and he need to quit drinking. Some who stop can buy time, even quality time, and keep working. Some...

But many are changed forever, may even need transplantation, or worse, face an early death.

This isn't funny. If he had cancer, would he NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR?

It is doctor time.

Go to a major medical center, see a hepatologist, get a work up, and decide on a plan.

Or you could wait til he needs an ambulance and is bleeding from the mouth all over the living room....

When we finally got Mike to a doc, they told him he had, at best, 90 days left to put his affairs in order. If he didn't quit drinking. He has been sober 23 months now, got a new liver a year ago and is doing pretty well. Not perfect, but he is sober and alive.

Good luck. Some of the stories have happy endings. Maybe he'll stop in time. Some do, some do not.

We will be glad to take this trip with you, but prepare youself, this could be a bumpy ride.

Best,

Mama Lama
Posted 1/2/2013 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Happy new year! My alcoholic spouse is drinking round the clock. In the last couple of months he has more symptoms appear like gout, dupuytrens contracture, trouble walking painful heels, shortness of breath and growing fatigue. Edema worse and some mental agitation and grumpiness. He smells musty as well. I feel he's fading fast and still in denial. Just needing some support. Thank you!! Bevome
Posted 1/2/2013 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Bevone! Good to hear from you. Not so good that hubby continues to drink and be in denial, I'm guessing he has not yet seen a doctor. I'm sorry that you are having to watch him die a little each day. I think that hospitalization is coming soon.

Remember to take care of yourself.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 1/2/2013 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Bevome,
Your initial post sounded like a description of someone with cirrhosis, though much of what you said can't be verified without a biopsy. It has been 4 months since you first came here. I'll assume that your husband won't go to a doctor. Listen to the advice Connie and Mama Lama gave you. I can't add anything more, except that time is running out. Get him to a hepatologist, ASAP. Good luck.
Posted 1/2/2013 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bevome,

Welcome back and Happy New Years to you too.

And....read my long post over again, 3 times.

Best,

Carol

Posted 1/2/2013 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys for loving advice. He does have blood work and doc appt March 20. hoping he will get that wake-up call soon.
Posted 1/3/2013 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bevome,
Happy New Year.
I am sorry that your husband continues to drink. Read my post over too. Hubby made huge improvements with the stopping of drinking. Your husband can improve his health too, if he will stop. Any chance he can get to the doctor before March 20th? That is almost 3 months from now...too long to wait.
Please read other posts, have your husband read them too.
Please post back and let us know how you are doing.
Emma
Posted 1/3/2013 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Bevome,
Welcome back to this forum. So sorry things have not changed much for you. Glad to hear there is an upcoming appt for your spouse. Not to be a downer, but be sure all things are in order for you. You have to be sure to look out for, and take care of...yourself.
It is easy to put so much focus on the other guy's problems...and they sound big...that you don't look out for yourself. Many of us caregivers wish we could make the decisions for our loved ones, but sometimes we can just encourage, support and try to get them to do the right thing. Hopefully, they will. But be prepared for the other, too.
Thinking of you and sending you strength. It is a really tough journey. Come here often to share or just vent. We are not judgmental.. We have been through it and heard it all.
Angie1953
Posted 1/3/2013 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Bevome, be sure to check out the Caregivers Sharing thread, too, for lots of support and info.

Hugs,
Connie
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