End stage Liver failure

[vigaz66]

Its horrible watching someone you love going through this. My mum was diagnosed with cirrhosis 6 years ago and didnt tell us. She carried on drinking and started to become ill over the last 6 months though we had no idea why. On 2nd Jan 07 she was taken into hospital which was the only reason my brother, sister and I were aware of the situation.

Her symptoms are swelling of the legs and stomach and most recently her hands. Mums skin is very yellow and she is very sleepy most of the time with the odd lucid spell. She briuses very easily and has many nosebleeds. Just recently we have noticed slight tremors in her hands also.

The doctors were not very forthcoming in the information they were giving us but now we know that she is in end stage liver failure. All they can do is make her comfortable as nothing else seems to be working. They have tried steroids, she is on diuretics but they are not working well. Now they have her on albumen to help keep water in her blood instead of leaking into her body tissues. She is taking Lactulose to help with the ammonia levels.

I cant see her lasting long in this current state and its heartbreaking to see her suffer like this.

Does anyone know of a person coming back from this stage or is the end imminent?

[MJWEST68]

Hi.  My father is in hospital at the moment and he is extremely swollen he can barely walk and his trousers no longer fit him. He has quite a lot of fluid in his abdomen which is causing him some distress and also affecting his breathing. His kidneys are now not functioning due to the diuretics so the only option left is to drain the fluid but we were told that to do so at this moment is too risky. It's terrible watching knowing there is nothing you can do physically but just being there I'm sure is a comfort.

[15beliver]

Amen! I know that my God is a Healer.  Thank you for that testimony! I have a sister who is going through and I am praying for her healing. You just encouraged me to look to the hills from which come our help and we know that our help is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!

[hrsepwrguy]

Indigent Health Care
Mission
Our mission is to protect and preserve the health and well-being of all indigent and medically uninsured adults in the multicultural community of Merced County who do not have medical coverage or access to any other payer source for medical services by providing emergent and medically-necessary services.

Contact
Administration & Claims
260 E. 15th St.
Merced, CA 95341

Medical Assistance Program (MAP) Eligibility
260 E. 15th St.
Merced, CA 95341

Ph: [phone]
Fx: [phone]

Administration & Claims Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

MAP Eligibility Hours
Monday - Friday
(Except Wednesday)
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
12:30 pm - 5:00 pm

https://www.co.merced.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=603 .

[bberendt]

My husband is going through the same thing. I know what is it like to watch someone die. He does not have insurance so he can not get the medical treatment and medication that he needs to prolong his life for a little while.

[Little_Lulu]

Why is it so hard to state what to expect when one is dying from Liver Failure?
My sister (57) is in bad shape between emphezema and Hep A, B,C,,D,E (what do I know??)
My sister is a "drama queen", so I hesitate to believe her when she says she is in liver failure.  SHe was in the hospital the other night as her Dr wanted her to have another blood test but she went home within 5 hours.  Today she sounds fine like nothing happened.  I am assuming (make an *** of me) that the Dr wanted to check levels of ?? in her blood whicdh would tell him ???? and that would allow my sister to know what to excpect????  
I need to know what to expect.  I cannot run to the hospital every time she cries "wolf", yet I would like to be on hand when the event happens to keep her kids in line (all seven of them)
Please advise

Little Lulu

[spanishlink78]

My father is currently in the hospital. He has been in and out of the hospital for the pass 10 yrs or so. He never listened to the Dr. when they told him to stop drinking. He finally gave up drinking and is now getting sicker by the minute. I feel like my life is over. He is currently at the hospital with low blood pressure and looks very ill from what I was told. I don't want to see him like that I live in another town then he does. I feel that if I see him like that, it will haunt me for the rest of my life. I rather wait and see what the outcome is. He was taken med's of all kind, he just got out the hospital last week and received 7 pints of blood and today 7 days later he is low on blood again. I pray so much for him and I know god has given him so many chances. I am afraid that it is too late for him, but I do have faith that god will keep him around for a bit longer. God is what you need in these situations!!

[Texas_girl42]

Ok..so my father is being told that he is in the end stages of liver disese.....he has been diagnosed with pancreactic failure, cirrhosis and so now they r telling him he is at the end parts.....but here is my question, they wont drain him??? he went in and wanted to be drained and they change his mind saying it was to dangerous to do to him, that it may cause him more harm than good?? is this true??? See in my mind I just atleast want him comfortable if we cant take this away form him and i feel like as big as he is getting, that cant be a good outcome either??? Please explain??? Thank You Jenn

[HuskerG]

On November 7 2005 I was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with liver failure. Within 3 days of admittance my kidneys also failed completely and I was put on Dialysis. At the time, I was 41 years old. My stomach was the size of a beach ball, my eyes were the color of the sun and I remember seeing the pastor in my room with my family talking to me. My ammonia levels were so high that I could barely speak and the doctors gave me 3 months. Over weeks they tried everything and I was circleling the drain so to speak. My LFT's were about as bad as a human being can get, my BUN was terrible. I had a WBC count that made absolutely no sense and I was in so much pain I can't even describe it. My kidneys were completely shot my liver was a well done cheeseburger and I was told that I would die. Not so fast I said! 21 days later I was showing signs of stability and I was ok to leave the hospital, but basically sent home to continue dialysis and die. It's now August 13, 2008 and I'm 44. I'm not on dialysis, I did not have a kidney transplant, I did not have a liver transplant and I plan on being here in 2018, 2028, 2038, 2048 and 2058. I slowly got better and had to fight to get off of dialysis. They refused to believe me that I was actually getting better. They are not keen on miracles in the dialysis business, especially when I was in kidney failure AND liver failure. The odds of coming back from that combination and not exactIy betting odds. I lied and started not showing up for dialysis just so they would have to start doing tests again to see that my kidneys were in fact working. My nephrologist is still stunned to this day, my hepatologist is in denial and my PCP still has his mouth open. I am not saying that this will happen to everyone, I'm just saying that it has happened before and I am walking, talking living proof!

True story, there is a God, keep the faith!

[D232anne]

Praise be to God Almighty!!!

[hoosier7777]

My sister is 43 years old and is in the end stages of cirrhosis and hep c. She has had all the things going on with her that you have all sid and just this week started with the nosebleeds. Does this mean that she is even closer than what we think? My oldest sister is in the process of putting her in a nursing home so that she has round the clock care. What can we expect at this point? She is getting drained once a week now. How much time are we looking at? Her doctor said maybe 3 months and if she is lucky 6 months.  Can anyone tell me? Thank you.........

[doter4ever]

My mom has hep c and is in the end stage of liver disease.  Her stomach seems to be growing on a daily basis, she has water type blisters on her cheeks, her feet tremor, constantly cold, feet look like blocks and just recently has been in unbearable pain.  Her face is becoming unusually swollen and disfigured.  always sleeping....she can't hardly hold down crackers.  She also has a blood tumor on her liver..  I really don't know what to expect?  How long do I have with her... I don't want to see her suffer.  I am meeting with hospice tomorrow and am hoping for some kind of  information as to how long she may have..Her liver Dr. told her a week ago maybe 2-3 months, but she seems to be going downhill fast.....    

[dadsbabygirl]

IN MARCH 2007 MY DAD BECAME ILL AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH END STAGE LIVER DISEASE.  PRIOR TO THAT TIME HE WAS HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND FULL OF LIFE.  HE IS 83 BUT ACTED LIKE 63!!  HE LIVED ALONE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS SINCE MOM PASSED AND WAS VERY INDEPENDENT.  THE PAST SIX MONTHS HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE I AM WATCHING THIS VIBRANT MAN BECOME FRAIL AND VERY ILL.  THIS PAST WEEK WE ASKED FOR HOSPICE CARE FOR HIM.  HIS SYMPTOMS INCLUDED FLUID RETETION IN HIS STOMACH AND LATER IN HIS CHEST CAVITY.  HIS AMMONIA LEVELS WERE ALWAYS FINE--THANK GOD NO CONFUSION!  HE IS HAVING BODY TREMORS HOWEVER AND THESE ARE REALLY MAKING HIM UNCOMFORTABLE.  IT IS TERRIBLE TO SEE HIS WHOLE BODY SHAKE .
I AM JUST WATCHING HIM PREPARE FOR HEAVEN.  IT IS VERY VERY DIFFICULT SINCE I HAVE A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.  I AM TRYING TO BE STRONG AND I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT WHEN WE ARE BORN WE ALL HAVE A JOB TO DO ON EARTH.  WHEN OUR WORK IS DONE IT IS TIME FOR US TO RETURN HOME TO HEAVEN.  I SAID THAT HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AS FATHER, HUSBAND, BROTHER, UNCLE, FRIEND ETC. AND NOW IT IS HIS TIME FOR REWARD.  I ASSURED HIM THAT WHEN MY WORK HERE IS DONE I WILL BE WAITING TO TAKE MY PLACE BESIDE HIM AND MY MOM.   PLEASE EVERYONE WHO IS GOING THROUGH THIS AWFUL EXPERIENCE OF END STAGE LIVER DISEASE WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE JUST TRY TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE AND AS PEACEFUL AS POSSIBLE.  DO NOT FORCE THEM TO EAT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.  JUST BE WITH THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM.
FOR WHATEVER REASON ALL OF US HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS TERRIBLE PAIN BUT IT IS DEFINENTLY A WAY FOR US TO GROW STRONGER AND TRUST IN GOD.  THIS IS HIS PLAN AND IF YOU SEEK HIS HELP YOU WILL FIND COMFORT.  GOD BLESS AND KEEP THE FAITH.

[cozycarter]

Oh my god,my husband was told 4 days ago,he is in end stage liver failure and could maybe live another 6 months,he is a drinker,even to this day,he has the spider veins on his swollen belly,fuild in his stomach,and getting yellow eyes.and skin,though Im trying not to see it.Ive read everything there is on liver failure,I know hes gonna die,and soon,he already is so sick,Im so scared.He told me last night hes more scared for me than for himself,he told me to take my time and think about what and how to live my life after hes gone.yet Im still so sad.

[Cuurious Girl]

I want to start off by saying I am really sorry about your mother. I know exactly what you are going through. My father had cirrosis, and hep c, and passed away in July 2004. I am sorry to inform, but these are the last stages. My father went through the same things. Exact same things. He was also on lactulose, and many other medications. Although while on medications, they don't process well, since the liver isn't working right. He also blew up and at the end, he was so big, he couldn't fit into anything, not even shoes. Four months before he passed, he was diagnosed with liver cancer and from then on, it was downhill. I know what you feel like, helpless and frustrated at times. There was so much I wish I could have done. With your mother still here, just try to make her comfortable, and be around her to enjoy the time with her. I hope you stay strong, and know that I am praying for you and her. If you have any other questions about what is happening, please contact me, ***@****, I will help. I was only 18 when my Dad passed and I was looking everywhere for help. I wish there was someone to talk to then. So please don't hesitate. God Bless!

[Cuurious Girl]

I was also thinking...Has your Mom ever looked into a liver transplant? I know in the last stages of liver cirrocis, they offered my father a liver transplant. Even by a live donor. I also talked to my mother and she mentioned an uncle who has been diagnosed and on lactulose for some time. She also told me to mention to you, to look out for blood in vomit and what looks like coffee grounds. When this happened to him they had to go in and band the veins in his esophogus. Again i'm sorry you are going through this. I'm here for help!

[LIZZIE LOU]

I AM SO SORRY YOU ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS.  MY FATHER PASSED AWAY EIGHT MONTHS AGO FROM COMPLICATIONS AFTER WHAT IS NOW A PRETTY ROUTINE SURGERY.  HIS HEALTH STEADILY DECLINED OVER A FIVE WEEK PERIOD, UNTIL HIS DEATH.
THE COMFORT I RECEIVE IS THE FACT THAT I WAS THERE WITH HIM UNTIL THE END.  HE WAS A WONDERFUL FATHER AND I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO HIM JUST SOME OF WHAT HE GAVE TO ME.  I KNOW THAT WHEN HE DIED, HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW MUCH I LOVED AND APPRECIATED HIM.
IF THE TIME IS NEAR FOR YOUR MOM...JUST HOLD HER AND TELL HER HOW MUCH YOU LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL THE SACRIFICES SHE MADE FOR YOU.  LET HER PASS WITH LOVE IN HER HEART.
GOD BLESS AND BE WITH YOU...

[Jaybay]

{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}  I'm so sorry you have to go through the pain of watching a loved-one's failing health and life.  I suspect you need to prepare yourself for the worst.  How very sad.  :-(