42 lbs edema!

[Anne K.]

My 59 year old dad has a history of alcohol abuse -- 3 1/2 years ago he decided to quit drinking -- went through DT's. stopped breathing. was vented, given Last Rites and expected to die.  He pulled through, pulmonologist told him to never take another drink...that his liver was in bad shape.  Within 5 months he was drinking in moderation again.  Fast forward to now.  He is retaining fluid in abdomen, feet and legs and cannot sleep at night because he cannot breathe -- says it's his asthma.  He finally goes to the dr. (family practitioner)on Monday and he has gained 42 lbs since mid-September, that the dr. says is water retention in his legs, abdomen and lungs.  I talked to him (dad) on the phone and he says it's something to do with his portal and his liver but his dr. said it's not alcohol related and he can still drink in moderation.  Ha! As a nursing student I am aware of the portal veins function and find it difficult to believe that the dr. is allowing him to drink!  I know alcoholics are notorious liars.  The dr. put him on lasix, and my mom and dad boarded a plane the next morning for a 3 hour flight for a vacation.  I'm VERY surprised the dr. let him fly.  I doubt my dad told him about it.  



My gut feeling is that my dad's liver is in very bad shape.  He denies everything...I don't know if it's because of his alcoholism or to protect us "kids" -- all in our 30's.  He does have a history of polycethemia...could the edema be caused by this?  My guess would be that the liver condition causes the polycythemia, not the other way around.  Thanks for any comments.

[karizmaflip]

MY FATHER IS ALSO AN ACHOLHOLIC. HE IS 52 AND WHEIGHS ABOUT 260 POUNDS. HE COMPLAINS OF BACK PAINS( AROUND THE KIDNEYS) AND CHEST PAINS. HE REFUSES TO GO TO A DOCTOR AND HE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DOCTOR IN ABOUT 30 YEARS! I AM JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS A SIGN OF A DISEASE OR JUST ACHES AND PAINS? HE IS ALSO A 30 YEAR SMOKER.

[imkindly]

Anne, if your father has already been told that his liver is in bad shape, and to never take another drink......

and now he has edema and ascites (ascites = edema in the abdomen), there is no doctor that would tell him it's ok to even have a drop of alcohol.



Ascites is serious.

Ascites is usually treated at first with Lasix,,,, and as it gets worse, Lasix & Aldactone,,,, and as it gets even worse (causing breathing problems along with lots of other troubles) then they do paracentesis, or install a shunt, (along with lots of diuretics.)



Ascites is caused by portal hypertension (pressure in the portal vein) and usually low albumin.



I know you mentioned that you're a nursing student so you may know that portal hypertension also causes varices.



You need to get him to a gastroenterologist.