Liver Failure/Diet

[Guest guest]

Hey Patti, I don't take offence about those kinds of comments. And it's

good to be positive. However....it's important to be a little realistic

in order to be prepared for what might happen. Because of all the things

that can happen or could happen as this disease progresses. As it will

in 90+ % of the cases.

When I was finally diagnosed in 1992, after having liver disease for 13

years, I was told I wouldn't need a tx for 25 or 30 years. Since I was

in my early 40's at the time, I figured I would live a 'normal' length

of life (65-70 years or so) and wouldn't ever want or need a tx. After

my ERCP which confirmed the diagnosis they also told me that they had

revised the prognosis to 12 to 15 years. They were wrong about that

because I bled from varices after another 6 years. So perhaps we can't

predict time aspects about this disease very well, but we can say what

the natural history or progression of this condition is and what the

usual outcome is going to be.

As far as diet is concerned, I think my Vegetarian diet prevented a lot

of problems for a long time for me. It wasn't easy but since my wife was

also a Vegetarian it was a little easier. As Peg mentioned, it makes

sense as far as the protein/encephalopathy problem is concerned. It made

my fatigue a bit better for many years. Peg, the advice about the shell

fish may be a preventative step to reduce the risk of Hepatitis A which,

while not a killer in healthy individual, may cause significant illness

in someone already compromised as far as their liver is concerned.

Aubrey