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My Mother + Cirrhosis of the Liver

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Posted 10/8/2012 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
My mother is 60-years-old and is dying from Cirrhosis of the Liver. I say dying because I have this deep down feeling that she truly is.

If I can share her symptoms, I would greatly appreciate feedback.

She's been an alcoholic for as long as I can remember and really started drinking extra heavy 9 years ago after my dad passed away. Her drink of choice is beer.

She was diagnosed with Cirrhosis many, many years ago and takes the right meds, but has never stopped drinking. Last May she landed in the ICU for electrolyte issues, mainly sodium at 123. Since then it's been a rollercoaster ride. This February she fell and broke her pelvis in 3 places. She just fell again last month, but didn't break anything. She's about 90lbs, has no muscle mass, can't walk, has handwriting like a 90-year-old, slurred speech, looks gray and gets confused. She's very crabby...but has always been that way.

Every day I keep wondering if my phone will ring that she's in the ICU again and won't be able to come out... Any similar situations?? Ideas of how much longer she has since she's not going to stop drinking? I realize that nobody knows this for sure, but this rollercoaster is terrible.

Thanks for any help or advice.

PS - My mother and I have a terrible relationship and I don't get much medical info from her. I do have access to her doctors, but they just tell me that if she doesn't change, her outlook is not good.

Posted 10/8/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning, Aborg...welcome to the forum.

We are a group of patients and caregivers/loved ones of those with many kinds of liver disease.

Advanced liver disease is a fatal diagnosis bar transplant. If a person without other underlying medical problems were to get sober for a long time, the liver can regenerate...if it is not too far gone.

If the liver is fully decompensated there is no treatment bar transplantation, which is never an option for the actively drinking.

We have members who have passed from Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD), members who have had successful transplants, and some who have gotten sober and live on...hoping to hold off the inevitable for as long as possible.

The symptoms you describe are quite typical...both for alcohlism and for ALD. Falling can be from both!

Some with advanced liver disease become confused with hepatic encephalopathy...and there are meds to mitigate that...helping wastes clear from the blood when the liver can no long do that job.

There are meds for blood pressure and fluid retention.

It is unfortunate that you and your mother are not close, and sad, as she has some real medical challenges coming her way. And she will indeed pass at some point if she does not change her ways.

There is good information about liver disease at the Informational Folder at the top of this forum.

Welcome aboard..the ride will be bumpy.

Best to you,
Mama Lama
Posted 10/8/2012 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Aborg, I just wanted to welcome you to the forum. ML gave you solid information and I can't really add to that No medicine in the world will cure cirrhosis. And every time she takes a drink, she is throwing fuel on the fire. There are some who quit drinking and manage to survive. But generally, transplant is the only answer. As ML stated, she would not be a candidate for that while still drinking. Each person is so different that it's impossible to answer the question about dying. But it certainly does sound as though she's heading in that direction.

You might want to check out the Caregivers thread on here for info and support.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 10/8/2012 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
How do I get to the caregivers thread?
Posted 10/8/2012 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I will bump it up for you, but it's on the main page.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 10/26/2012 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I just want to thank you and all others for sharing your story. It is like a secret society at the hospital, no enlightenment or references...It is very confusing, scary and frustrating. I find the bittersweet truth in many of these posts and it is beyond helpful.

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 10/26/2012 2:41:20 PM (GMT-6)

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