Posted 11/14/2012 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Roux-Maker, welcome to the forum. I copied your post and put it here so more people will see it. The abdominal fluid will be checked for infection. If he is clear, then I see no reason you can't be around him. However, it does sound like he has Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) and that it is end-stage. People have come back from the brink with this, but only if they stop drinking immediately and forever more. ESLD is a very difficult disease, with many problems (ascites, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy (ammonia goes to brain and affects ability to think and perform tasks, confusion, personality changes. This is very hard on the caregiver, as well as the patient. I suggest you take a peek in the Caregivers thread on this forum. Also, read the info in the folder at the top of the page entitled Hepatitis Resources, for lots of information.
Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. It doesn't have to be viral. Has he been tested for hep A, B, and C? All of these can be treated. Hep C is the most common one these days, but is blood-borne...with blood to blood infection. Not that easy to contract. Hep B is a little easier to contract as it can be passed on through bodily fluids. Hep A is from contaminated food and runs its course. With this said, I believe your brother's illness is from his alcoholism.
Hugs,
Connie