Cirrhosis Questions

[treetop515]

I need someone on this forum to give me some info.  My brother, who has Alcoholic Cirrhosis, was discharged from hospital today from swelling of legs.  Up to now he has only had swelling of ankles which he has been taking fluid pills for.  Naturally he has still been drinking.  My question is for anyone out there is how long does he have?  Doctors don't really know or aren't saying.  He is rail thin, and I mean rail thin.  He is wearing a diaper now because of loss of control.  He has sores on his arms that won't heal.  He really looks horrible.  On top of this, he is mentally challenged so I don't know if he understands when I tell him he will continue to swell, regardless of whether he drinks or not.  I told him that will be based on whether he continues to drink or not.  Our mother is 89 and not much help to me either.  Anyone out there with knowledge of someone in this situation?  Thanks.

[ladybug52]

I lost a brother to liver failure in '98. He was 45 years old. He was in liver failure for about 2 1/2 years. I live in Texas and he lived in Missouri. When I first got the call he was in a coma for a week and they didn't expect him to live. I wouldn't let them disconnect his vent until I could see him. By the time I got to the hospital he was sitting up in bed. He was really hallucinating and out of it but got steadily better medically.  The doctor's had no idea how long his liver would last because if they could predict the future they wouldn't be doctors,just mediums! I had to check him into a nursing home because he needed 24 hour care, the brain damage made him unable to take his meds and his legs and stomach were so swollen he could hardly walk. His waist was 52 inches because of the ascites. In the nursing home he would call a taxi to take him out to get beer. When I went to visit or take him out he would do just about anything to get alcohol including steal our mouthwash. I know he sounds crazy and his story goes on and on but I loved him very much.  He eventually got kicked out of the nursing home, had numerous hospitilizations moved in with another drinker, and died alone.  He too had lost bowel and bladder control and bled to death from his rectum. He would not let me put him on hospice. I still feel guilty that I couldn't save him. We were 15 months apart and I always thought we would grow old together. Thanks for letting me share.

[Penelope1911]

I am so sorry to hear about your brother, my brother past away June 14 of cirrhosis due to alcohol, and he was only a month over 46 years old. We seen him getting real thin and he came over to ask us what the red blotches were on his skin a week before he died. He said he didn't want anyone to come over in case it was contagious but we knew it wasn't. My mother and I decided to go over there to get him to go to the hospital and possibly go get a court order if needed. When we got to his apt. there was no answer, so we had the lanlord key in for us and my mother and I found him. I guess you just cant tell how long someone has. We were one day too late and I still hurt and cry all the time. And from the looks of my brothers apt. and clothing, he had lost control over his bowels (black and like tar)and blood in his urine for around a week before his death. I miss Jeff so much. I will be praying for your brother...what has the Dr said? And why on earth did they send him back home like that? Don't forget that you CAN get a commital, and it is better than losing a brother like I did. And also, do whatever you can to stop him from drinking that alcohol, his liver cannot filter it and it will poison him easily.

[Mimi4141]

We will keep your brother in our prayers!  I can tell you from experience that no one can tell you how long someone will live.  I worked for a Hospice for 8 years, and I have seen miracles and tragedies all in the same day.   The doctor's told my husband that he had about 5 years to live, and less than that if, he did not stop drinking.   My husband has stage (4) liver cirrhosis, and one of the worst strains of Hepatitis C.  He quit drinking, started treatment for the hepatitis C and began fighting for his life.  After his 24 weeks of treatment, he had his 2nd ultrasound.  They say his liver is improving, that they are able to visualize all the vessels and the liver is beginning to become smooth again.  His skin was red and blotchy, his eyes were always red, and his face was swollen.  Today, only 24 weeks into treatment, 1