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Hepatitis C, "Brain Fog" & high ammonia in blood

My childrens father has been diagnosed with HepC years ago, Still over the years he drank constintley (alcoholic over 20yrs) he still used IV drugs  (meth) and ran a really hard life. He has stopped using drugs and drinking for the last 9mo. 5-6 months ago he began coughing up  blood, He finally saw a doctor, who told him he was going to have to eventually start Inferon treatments (for extreme liver damage) which he has put off up untill now. 2weeks ago he started having the"brainfog" symptoms,  the other nite he had a short "convulsion" episode and was ammitted to the hospital for four days doing tests, some of these tests said he has extremely high ammonia in his blood.This week we will hear the rest of the test results, Im very concerned what this all really means, Does this mean he is at the "last stages" and how long without seriously (because I know he will not follow thru 100%) doing treatment will he live. Please someone tell me bluntley what could happen,Im scared for him and I need to be prepared for my two children also.
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446474 tn?1446347682
I
The most important thing for him/you to do is to get him an appointment at a liver transplant center near where he lives ASAP! A transplant center and their doctors are the only ones that can help him now.

Of course if he should ever use alcohol or drugs again he will not be eligible to receive a transplant. In that case his prognosis is very poor.

Summary:
If you want to help get him an appointment at a transplant center ASAP. The sooner the better. He should NOT be under the care of any other doctor or doctors as only specialist doctors at transplant centers can manage someone with his degree of liver disease.

Very Good Liver Transplant Centers:
Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Los Angeles, CA
University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

Best of luck! I am sorry that you and the children have to deal with this.
If you have any questions just ask.

Hector
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
I'm afraid your children's father is experiencing complications of decompensated cirrhosis. Advanced liver disease. Meaning his liver can no longer perform all of its functions because it is so damaged.

He currently is experiencing hepatic encephalopathy (HE). It can cause convulsions, confusion. disorientation and many other neurological effects. It is caused by toxins from his digestive system that are usually filter out by a healthy liver effecting his brain. HE can be life threatening and can lead to coma and death.
Coughing up blood is called "bleeding varices". Another life-threatening complication of decompensated cirrhosis.
His liver is beginning to fail.

Unfortunately he may be to be too ill to treat his hepatitis C. His only option to stay alive will be a liver transplant.

"Does this mean he is at the "last stages"
Yes.
"how long without seriously (because I know he will not follow through 100%) doing treatment will he live."
Unless he is care for at a transplant center he will probably not live many more years, although no one has a crystal ball. He could die from either vomiting blood or HE coma. He probably has other life-threatening conditions as well.
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