Where To Begin (Again)?

DH was diagnosed with ESLD (alcoholic) in September of last year. We have been through a whirlwind of detox, rehab, repeat since then. His health has "popped" back (MELD 19-23, back under 10) each time. I'm positive "playing with fire" has started a flame. Mike has been sober, on his own (at home) for 10 days. I know what's going on, but am positive he doesn't. He won't go to a doc, will not go to AA. Jaundice has not gone away this time. It isn't just his eyes. His entire body seems to glow. Energy was up for a few days (after detox), and now is worse than when he was drinking...He has talked to me enough to know his bilirubin is down compared to a week ago (pee color), but is refusing to see a doc until next month. How in the world do you deal with this?

I dealt with it for many years. He was sick from cirrhosis from 2003 until 2010..worse and worse. Hep C AND alcholic liver disease. All the symptoms...edema, grinding fatigue, root beer urine, itching, nausea, psych changes from hepatic encephalopathy and he would not get sober.

When we got a referral to transplant he had to be sober 6 months to get a liver tp and he had a MELD of 26. The doc gave him 90 days to live as a drinking man

That got through...by Christmas hed be gone. I cried a river but he joined AA, went to meetings, never took another drop and it will be 5 years Sept 27th...not that I keep track, but it is day you remember.

There are success stories.

I hope you decide to be one of them.

Hugs, Mama Lama

INR 2.17, Billirubin 33.2, they canceled creatinine. With a "high" end worked into the equation, MELD is 29.

Just got home, Mike is settled in for the next 4-5 days at the VA. Though I didn't get a full copy of blood work, snagged some numbers.

WBC: 25.66
INR: 2.17
Bilirubin: 33.2
AST: 159
PT (don't know what this is, but was high enough to write down): 24.0
Alkaline Phosphatase (sp?): 286

His blood is so "thin", that they have him on vitamin k. Say they won't do a biopsy on his liver spots until it thickens up. Are afraid of a bleed out. They also are doing further imaging tomorrow. His liver is so enlarged they aren't getting a decent picture of the organs behind it to see if there are any other areas of concern.

Doc is taking my word and documenting his days of sobriety...Says those days may not matter (as the man patted my arm). I wasn't surprised today, unfortunately...I'm feeling numb, and in "business mode" about the whole thing. I'll have a breaking point, just not today. Knowledge is power, and we need to be powerful to fight this evil, evil thing...

Post Edited (Martijean1) : 8/17/2015 7:49:13 PM (GMT-6)

Numbers are about the same today. Did a tap and ruled out cancer. Thank GOD! On the other hand, kidneys are barely functional. With an actual creatinine score, Meld is at 36. If he ends up on dialysis, a few points higher (that is a possibility). They're still giving a 50/50 3 month survival rate at current blood test results...Thanks for answers, Folks...