end stage liver disese(disease)

My father was diagnosed with cirrhosis about 5 years ago.Over the past couple months he has been in and out of the hospital,the first time was for a TIPS procedure which took him 10 days in the hospital to recover.A couple weeks after that he was admitted in the hospital which turned out to be e-coli that developed in his asites fluid and sepsis.He was in the hospital for about 10 days before being strong enough to go home. Two weeks ago he was brought back to the hospital and was diagnosed with Pnomonia and fluid that needed to be drained from his stomach also,there was a abcess (abscess) of fluid that developed around his liver that needed to be drained. Since returning home from the hospital last week all he does is sleep. He'll wake up, eat a little and go back to bed. He hardly has enough stregth to walk. My question is, what does this all mean? Is time very limited at this stage of the disese (disease)? What is the typical corse of cirhosis? The doctors say take it day-by-day...Do people ever recover at this point. Any answers would help!

[DeeDee051]

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this with your father.

I am afraid, to be blunt, unless you are able to get a transplant for your father, you do not recover from end stage liver failure.

If he has a virus, then he may recover for a while and stabilise, but you do not say how old he is.

I am border line cirrosis (cirrhosis) myself through a non alcoholic disease so do know a bit about this through research.

Do not be afraid to ask questions from the consultant or the nurses.  You are obviously next of kin and should be able to recieve a direct answer.  You need to know best how to care and cater for his needs.  It is quite a big window from the biginning of end stage liver falure to the end but you do need to know the facts.

Good luck

[Jody515]

My heart goes out to you regarding this issue. Find out the best way you can to help him & make him comfortable if a transplant is not an option

I lost a brother last year to a liver disease, non alcholic type, and end stage is not pleasant & I truly hate to tell you but there is not a lot you can do to make him comfortable.

I also am a step removed from cirrosis (cirrhosis) myself, non alcholic, but hopefully all will turn out well for me as mine was caught prior to cirrosis (cirrhosis).

There truly is no way to answer how long his time is here on earth, only God knows that one.

I am sorry & if you ever care to come & share your thoughts, feeling, we are here.

Best wishes to you & your family