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End Stage Cirrhosis with Hep C & Alcoholism

My domestic partner is in the ICU currently for the past week.  Came in spitting out units of blood which was diagnosed as esphogus varices bleeding.  Bleeding was stopped by doing endoscopy procedure.  She also has a 7.5 mass on ovary.  The main issue is her liver.  I was told she's end stage cirrhosis but no one really tells me what amount of time she could possible have on this.  She is currently on a ventilator that is doing the breathing for her.  Her cirrhosis is from alcoholism and Hep C with Ascites that has been drained 4 times now (removal of 1 liter, 4 liters, 5.160 liters and today 4.5 liters) . Since she is incubated and unable to breath on her own we are just trying to keep her comfortable at this point.  She had crashed once already right before they did the incubation and endoscopy.  What kind of life expectancy do you think we might have left at this point??  I was only told short term but no specific time line given.  Thank you
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89592 tn?1391274422
I just wanted to say you are both in my thoughts.  As Hector said..and he knows..Miracles Do Happen.  I'm glad she has you as support.  

Sending prayers and some good wishes..and also a Hug for both of you.

I'm not the best with words but just wanted you to know that you're not alone.  

Hugs..Paula/Ohio
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Avatar universal
Prayers and well wishes for healing and comfort for you and your partner.  First she will need to recover from her bleeding varices and may require some additional procedures to monitor and treat those, then she will need a good hepatologist to help manage the care of her liver disease and hopefully treat her Hep C, but she also needs quick treatment for the mass on her ovary to determine if it is ovarian cancer and whether or not it has metasticized.  She is very lucky to have you there to support her.  As Hector said, there is no timeline.  
Keep us posted.
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446474 tn?1446347682
COMMUNITY LEADER
I hope some of what I was trying to say came through. I find it difficult to put into words how much a small change of the way we view the world can make a world of difference in what is possible. Hope makes all things possible. Even things we once thought we impossible.

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops… at all.”  -Emily Dickinson

Howie
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Avatar universal
Thank you, Howie.  I needed that today...

Nan
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446474 tn?1446347682
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi. Welcome to the forum.

I am so sorry to hear of your partner's critical situation.

There is no time table. Each of us are individuals who have many different factors affecting our outcome. ICU is used to stabilize patients with advanced liver disease when complications become life-threatening. Your partners health status is constantly changing. The best thing you can do is to be there for her which you are already doing.

To learn more about her status please talk to her doctors when they make their rounds. They are there to answer your questions as well as check your partner's latest status. Write down your questions before seeing the doctor(s). This is so you don't forget them in the moment when you are talking to the doctor or doctors.

I can tell you from my own experience at my transplant hospital that liver patients can survive after being in the ICU incubated for many weeks and months. So don't give up hope. I understand that you may have never seen someone this ill before but the human body can bounce back from being very close to death. On of my best woman friends was hospitalized for 6 months and she was in and out of ICU many times during that time. Almost died countless times yet she overcame it all. She learned to talk again and walk again and now she is living a full healthy life and no one who ever sees her can ever imagine what she has gone through.

There is always room for hope no matter how difficult the situation and what the odds. "Miracles" do happen. I had inoperable liver cancer just over 2 months ago. The odds of me ever getting the only cure for liver cancer, a liver transplant were in the single digits if that, yet I did get a life saving transplant and am now here to write this.

Take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time. Whatever it takes. Try to stay hopeful during this horrible time. Know that it will not always be like this. Reach out to others to support yourself at this time. Stay strong and keep believing tomorrow will be a better day.

My best wishes to you and your partner.
Hector

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317787 tn?1473358451
Hi I am sincerely sorry for what you and your partner are going through.  It must be hell to see someone you love going through this.
No one knows how long she has, I am glad that they are making her comfortable.  I am sure she knows you are there.  Hold her hand, talk to her.  If you can, bring in a radio to play music that she like.  I know that is what I would want.

I am so very sorry...my heart breaks for you and for your partner.

Take care
D
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