stage 4 cirrhosis

[lulatoo]

my husband has stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver decompensated. He is seeing a hepatologist. He says stage 4 means that he has cirrohosis of the liver. He also has hep c , which the dr. sayes we will try some medication for that starting in Oct. He is taking all his med. which the main ones being lactulose and xifaxan. I guess my question is some weeks he is his old self and then some weeks he will sleep always!!!!!!  I can't seem to get an answer form the dr. on this. We have no life with all of the ups and downs .  I would like to know what is going on, I know this is part of the symtoms. We are in our middle 50s and I am scared which I have also told the dr.One of his answers was that this could last a long time , years. It has already been 10 years form the first dignosis, he choose no liver transplant back then. But only now decided to try to treat the hep c.
I do work , and worry , I am tired . Is the answer going to be we could die tomorrow from crossing the street and getting hit by a car as one dr. told me when my mom had lung cancer. Yet another one of her dr.s gave her 6 months which was what happened .  If you have no answers for me then please don't bother and I will take life as it comes. Just know , that this is eating away at me.

[rpooo]

Milk thistle as jbourne mention is very helpful. There is no medical studies to support this but it is very commonly used amoungst cirrhotic patients. 10 years with stage 4 cirrhosis is amazing. Your husband is doing something right and its working very well for him.

Fatigue and sleep is also very common but there are a couple of things he can try. First keep in mind he his liver is constantly trying to repair itself. This takes alot of good nutrients and energy. Vitamin deficiency is very common amoungst cirrhotis patients and in most all cases a multivitamin is needed. There are other vitamins that can prove to be helpful as well such as B-comlex and vitamin C. Vitamin C is key for strengthening the walls of the blood vessels espeacially for patients with varicies. The B-complex has many great pourposes but mainly it helps with the process of cell regeneration To replace those damaged cells in the liver.

So aside from adding vitamins, exercise is also important as it will help his with the removal of toxins that build up in the muscles causing stiffness and muscle pain. Stretching really good a couple of time a day also helps. A treadmill or walking is great exercise. If he has a pool or the use of one the exercise and stretching he can do is pefect. This will also help with his energy level over a matter of time.  I hope you will find some of this helpful and most of all have your husband feeling better.

Randy

Please consult your physician before acting on any of the advice supplied in my reply.

[jbourne99]

I am no doctor, just let you know you might want to try some things. Hep C is difficult to treat.  You might want to look some herbs like olive leaf extract, milk thisle, Alpha lipoic acid, turmeric and liver friendly goods like ginger and garlic,and more look more into it if your doc can't do much I am sure he is doing as best he can with his knowledge and expertise.

best wishes