Just diagnosed. Would love some inspiring/positive stories to keep me going.

[Latina_Sass]

Hi all,
29/Female here. My doctor just diagnosed me with cirrhosis today. I have mild confusion, some kinda burning sensation in my feet and tiredness/fatigue. And some annoying chest rashes that are just kinda a bit unsightly. Also some weird muscle spasms. Not sure how much of this is my liver, but meh. Not really sure what stage I am but last labs looked all normal.

I was stupid and a heavy drinker. I was also on meds for migraine disorder which I later read are harmful for the liver.
I went on a bender about two months ago for two weeks, and ended up in the ER with liver stuff off the charts and couldn't stop shaking. Bilirubin was 2.5. I always drank due to horrible anxiety and OCD - it shut my brain off for a while and kept me from overthinking everything.

Anyway i'm pretty bummed about all of this but I guess I brought it on myself. It feels like this is a death sentence. But I guess life is. I'm 2 months sober, and I'm hoping that at least with some kinda healthy diet and no drinking that some of my liver will at least bounce back a bit. I know this is high hopes but hope's all that's getting me through right now.

i'm waiting for a liver specialist at the city clinic. Just wondering if you guys have any tips or any inspiration because I could really use it now :/

Thanks, and glad to be part of this board.

[Latina_Sass]

Thanks. I am scared. Being tested for HE, I think I do have that. I have had an abdominal ultrasound which showed a 'mild coarseness' to my liver, but a contrast CT scan didn't find anything. My doc says that means no portal hypertension or varices, which I guess I can be thankful for. No ascites either. As of my most recent bloodwork I am at a MELD of 7.

Will wait for the specialist. My GP says he is hopeful for me, and says that while the scarred part is there for life with sobriety and good diet I can improve my liver a lot, and possibly even reverse it. Not sure of this, but it is hope. Hope is all I have now...

Thanks for the helpful post :0

[Dee1956]

I found a post from someone else who was just diagnosed, thought this might help you for now

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/JUST-GOT-DIAGNOSED-WITH-EARLY-CIRRHOSIS-NEED-SUGGESTIONS/show/2299459

[Dee1956]

Hello there! Welcome, I was just about to sign off for the night when I saw your post.
Congratulations for not drinking.  It is very admirable.
A good thing in your favor is that you are young, you have stopped drinking.
I believe you can improve your health.
Try to drink lots of water to help your liver work better.
Try to eat as healthy as you can.
Google "liver friendly diets"

I understand how you feel about the "death sentence" I felt the same way when I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and then the beginning of cirrhosis.
That was in 2008.  I was cured o Hep C two years ago so that it is no longer causing scar tissue in my liver.

I am better, I believe I continue to get better.  My blood work looks better than it has since the mid 80's

I will check back in tomorrow.  There are many kind helpful people here who will be more than willing to help you, provide information and support.

On the weekends it is a little slow  so I wanted to let you know that you are not alone, there are others that will help.

Hang in there, ((HUGS)) Dee