end stage alcoholic liver disease

[dizzyju]

Hello,my dad has been in hospital for 6weeks now,we have been told he is in end stage liver disease,being an alcoholic he is not eligible for a transplant and we know his days are numbered.The hard thing is not knowing how long he has left because some days are better than others.He is jaundiced,his sleep pattern is reversed and he goes into deep sleeps often,his kidney function lapsed but has improved,he has asophagial varices,encephalopathy,his ascites has resolved,is faecally and urine incontinent,is being fed via nasogastric tube (a high protien jevity feed due to malnutriction.He is tachycardic at times,,with all these complications we know its bad but need a timescale.Please help we dont know how much longer we can watch him fade away.  

[opaw503]

i have a end stage liver disease but i dont have money to buy the medications, now im still working even its very hard for me i live in a country that liver transplantation is very expensive.now im waiting for my time looking to the stars maybe some of them will help me but i know its not gonna happen..maybe even miracles cant save me now..im thinking to make the suffering much less i dont really know what to do..well im young and life is good for me this past years and thats all i can remember thank you for the experience all i can say.

[brendab180]

So what diet did you follow and what or do you follow the same now.  I know I have problems but have to put off seeing someone until I get my insurance worked out. Do you take any medication?  I see you have really turned things around for yourself so glad for you.  I am trying to do the same thing. I know from reading up without even seeing a doctor yet that it is cirrhosis and I would say from where things are there is probably some portal tension involved.  Any input is greatly appreciated.  Thanks

[KjFlicka]

I don't want to give you false hope because certainly I don't know the extent of the damage to his liver, but I was in a very similar situation in early 2008 with the varices, ascites, jaundice, encephalopathy and all and I was able to turn it around almost all the way. The only good thing about alcoholic cirrhosis is that it can improve significantly if you just take out the alcohol and follow a simple diet. I don't even *need* a transplant because I'm doing so well. I am by no means the exception to the rule either. I'm so sorry for your situation as it would be horrible to watch. If there's a glimmer of hope, though, you never know... Everyone told me I had 'end stage' and I needed a transplant ASAP to live even in the very near future, but here I am doing better than ever. Best of luck to you and my prayers are with you.