My Mom is 70

My Mom is 70 years old; she has been an alcoholic for at least 25 years, and has been a heavy smoker for 35 years.  She has been diagnosed with cirrhosis; there is less than 5% liver function.

My Mom was put in the hospital, they wewe going to drain the fluit off of her stomach, but they havr decided not to.  They are going to put her in a nursing home or send her home with 24hr care and said we could get hospice.  

Why didn't they drain her stomach?  Her stomach is the size of a woman pregnant with 9lb twins.  Would'nt she feel better and be better if they did drain it?

How long does a person in this condition have to live on average?  She has been vomiting blood, but other tests have showen she does not have varicose veins in her esophagus.


LM

[liverhealth]

Well i am sorry to hear about your mother.

   I believe the condition of your mother appearing 9 months pregnant is called ascites and from what i have studied and read it can actually be more dangerous to drain the liquid in some more advanced cases maybe this is why they decided against draining.

   Has she been put on lactulose which may be able to lower the ammonia levels in her blood ?

   Good luck and God Bless You