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Cirrhosis symptoms

Hey all,  I am a 57 year old former nurse who contracted hep c at work.  I was also a moderate to heavy drinker for many years so I unwittingly hastened my poor liver's progression to cirrhosis.  According to biopsy I am grade 2-3 or B.  I have over the last couple of years experienced a drastic decline in my health. Profound fatigue, itching, plunging platelets, weight loss (65 pounds), depression, and multiple infections.  Flu,gastroenteritis,urinary tract.  Anybody else experience the same or similar?
I have not started treatment yet. Hepatologist is reluctant to treat because of side effects.  I have been unable to work for over a year.  Anybody know anything about whether or not I should file for disability?

Thanks in advance
Anne
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the response everyone. Most of my labs are are upper normal. Platelets are in the 70's.  Liver enzymes are elevated. Negative at this time for hcc.  My liver doc is at duke.  My meld score is 16. Not aware at this time of any varicies.
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At age 57 if you have not been able to work for a year, run and file for SSDI.  You have a very good chance of getting it.  
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So, if I'm understanding your post correctly RaCoulson, you have Cirrhosis.  I hope that your hepatologist is in a liver transplant center.  You need to be monitored closely by a hepatologist.  The symptoms that you describe are symptoms of your liver not working well causing you to become more and more ill.  Having a hepatologist in a liver transplant center means that as you become more ill, you will already be an established patient in the transplant center, and you will have the right team of people around you.
As Hector mentioned, it is important for you to know the exact state of the health of your liver.  What is your MELD score? Do you have varices? Do you have ascites? Do you have Hepatic Encephalopathy?
Does your hepatologist practice in a large medical center with a liver transplant clinic?
Advocate1955
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446474 tn?1446347682
Hi. I am so sorry you are in this position.

So your biopsy said you were stage 4? Meaning cirrhosis?
You are compensated? (No signs of ascites, bleeding varices, hepatic encephalopathy?)

"fatigue, itching, plunging platelets, weight loss (65 pounds), depression, and multiple infections.  Flu,gastroenteritis,urinary tract. "

What is your platelet count?
65 pounds is extreme! Have you been tested for liver cancer (HCC)?
Itching is from high bilirubin levels.
Yes, infection are common in cirrhosis and can be life-threatening.
What is your MELD score?

To answer your main question, yes, us with advanced (deconpensated) cirrhosis you may be eligible for disability..

I assumed you are listed for a liver transplant at a transplant center?

"I have been unable to work for over a year.  Anybody know anything about whether or not I should file for disability? "

If you are disabled and unable to work and can meet the requirements for liver disease disabled you can receive either SSI or SSDI. You will need notes from your doctors at the transplant center and medical tests to prove you have certain complications due to liver disease. In the vast majority of cases you need to have decompensated cirrhosis. Not early compensated cirrhosis.

To learn about Social Security disability -

http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm

You will find the requirement for Social Security under "section 5.05" in the SS Blue book. You will have to have some of the following complications of liver disease over a period of time.

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/5.00-Digestive-Adult.htm

5.05  Chronic liver disease

Hemorrhaging from esophageal, gastric, or ectopic varices or from portal hypertensive gastropathy

Ascites or hydrothorax

Hepatorenal syndrome

Hepatic encephalopathy

A MELD score of 22 or greater


Get the transplant center to help you apply.

A liver transplant can cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars you should apply for Medicaid if you will need a transplant within 2 years. Medicare takes 2 years to get after you are determined to be disabled.
I am very surprise your hepatologist has not told you this. ???

Good luck!
hector
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the response pipi47.
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Avatar universal
wow!!  , much courage , i was feeling many of those your symtomps beofore , but now i'm ok . i'm not a doctor , i don't realy know what i can say , but have faith and be couragious
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