Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Thanks Maureen. I want to share this with you. http://robertwalkingeagle.googlepages.com/home She was /is my best friend of 11 years. I was her primary caretaker in the last 2 years of her life. Her story can be viewed here, at my google page homepage. Keep in mind, this is a sad story, but will lend much insight to many details, and has helped a lot of folks understand this disease. Plus, every time someone reads it, I heal more knowing that we are not alone. Also , she chose to drink. The big difference with me and others here is that most people have chosen the path of sobriety and liver transplant. Ardis chose something else. Re: to Maureen, questions about end stage liver disease Hi Bobby, Thank You for taking the time to give me the info. My husband is 56. I went on this sight because lately I see things that worrry me. Bobby I'm sorry that also have this terrible disease. Please keep me posted on how your doing. Maureen Bob Aragon <robwalkingeagle@ yahoo.com> wrote: Hi, Maureen.My name is Bobby, and I have cirrhosis.I am so sorry to hear about your husband. You didn't mention how old he is. Cirrhosis is the end stage of liver disease. There is no known cure. The only treatment that can save the life of someone who has decompensated cirrhosis is a liver transplant. Decompensation is when certain major complications have developed. These are usually the signs that the diseased liver is beginning to fail. A person can not live without a liver. Even a small amount of function can keep a person alive for a while, but a failing liver is a bad sign. A swollen belly, swollen feet,legs,bleeding from the esophagus, (a medical emergency that results in a 50% mortality rate from the first bleed) Yellow eyes, profound mental changes.(Subtle changes can be a sign of liver encephalopathy too, but if the changes are severe, then it is almost certain toxins are crossing from the blood into the brain. The effect is a lot like alcohol. Slurred speech, flapping hands, anger,memory loss, talking complete nonsense, a foul fruity smelling breath, these are some signs of more advanced encephalopathy. A lot of us in this group are being treated for this condition, with a medication that is an osmotic laxitive. For a person with end stage liver disease, the colon is rife with toxins that can travel from the portal vein in the bloodstream to the brain. The liver is full of scar tissue, and cannot circulate blood in a normal fashion. So, blood finds ways around the liver. Certain vessels swell up. In the esophagus, rectum, belly,lungs. Nitric oxide builds up in the body,causes the spleen to enlarge. This can cause back pain. Here are some links for you. This link is very scientific sounding, because it isn't for us, it's for doctors, but I allways go here to refresh my mind. If you have any questions about certain words, just post them. There are many folks here who know a hell of a lot more than a lot of doctors. They can answer your questions for sure, and if they can't they will look it up for you. http://www.aafp. org/afp/20060901 /767.html This one has signs and symptoms in table 2. It is the best I have ever found to answer some of these questions http://www.merck. com/mmpe/ sec03/ch026/ ch026c.html# sec03-ch026- ch026c-362 Good luck to you, Maureen. ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools. search.yahoo. com/newsearch/ category. php?category= shopping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.