Caregivers Sharing Thread #16

We use this thread to discuss the trials and tribulations a caregiver and family members face when helping their loved one face liver disease. There are many ups and downs for the patient AND for the caregiver and family.

You can look back through the old Caregivers Sharing Threads by clicking on SEARCH on the blue bar just above the posts...it is between CHAT and MEMBERS... and typing "Caregivers Sharing Thread."

Thanks to all of you who have been supportive to each other as we move forward after losing Connie.

Hugs,

Carol

Why are you feeling guilty? You did nothing to deserve what Mark has done to you and himself. He stole your pain meds and is still drinking. He will only drag you down if keep him around. Make sure he stays away until he gets straight for at least a couple of months. Even then, be careful in case he slips.

Maybe you just did him a favor. Who knows how this will work out. Either way you will be okay. Only he is responsible for his own journey. Stay strong.

Hugs,

Sadtimes, I've bumped your last post up so others can know what your dealing with.



Ziff

@ Sad Times,

Liver disease isn't easy. And it is not at all unusual for those with liver disease to be confused, grumpy, argumentative, even hostile or paranoid. It seems that a poorly functioning liver an cause hepatic encephalopathy...we call it HE...where toxins not properly cleared by the liver stay in the blood and can cause changes in the brain.

My partner, before his transplant had such episodes and it was quite upsetting. He made me cry until I figured out a name for it, shared some stories here, went to a counselor and calmed down. He would accuse me to taking or moving his things when he couldn't recall where they were. He would scream at me where a simple asking might suffice.

HE can become quite serious. You might want to go to the SEARCH button on the blue line about the posts, between Chat and Members. Put in the key word Hepatic Encephalopathy and it will bring up only threads on that topic...lots of good information, and "war stories" of other caregivers. We had one member whose hubby took the horse for a walk on the highway because their field was "too bumpy." Oh my.

They can do a blood test for ammonia in the blood at a hospital lab to see if that is the problem. There are medications that many liver patients take over time that help the toxins pass through the stool. It is called lactulose. There is a pill they sometimes prescribe called Xifaxan, that they offer if the Lactulose isn't enough. You can look both of those up also. Without those meds I don't think I could have stood those difficult times.

Best,

I know alcoholics crave sugar when they stop drinking. Not sure why but it seems to be the norm.


Ziff

For what it's worth, this from The Fix:

The PET and CAT scans of food addicts look almost identical to that of alcoholics and drug addicts, showing that sugar creates a physical addiction. In addition, sugar addicts carry the same D2 dopamine receptor, the gene that identifies addiction, as alcoholics and addicts. In those ways, biochemically, food addiction is just like addiction to drugs and alcohol. When we talk to recovering alcoholics and addicts who are finding their way to Overeaters Anonymous, we find a very common refrain: I started using sugar or food just like I was using alcohol.”

Makes sense to me.

bump