Advice about decomp liver cirrhosis, alpha 1, pancreatic cyst?

[Pixielashes]

Hi!

My Dad was diagnosed just a month ago with liver cirrhosis. He also has a 4cm pancreatic cyst (not malignant at present) sitting at the head of his pancreas, which causes regular bouts of pancreatitis (chronic).

He has ascites, and has already had 10 litres drained, although this wasn’t all of it as his blood pressure was dropping so they stopped. He also had oedema pre drain, which has started to creep back as the ascites also grows. He also has oesophageal varices.

My dad isn’t a drinker at all, and was a fit and healthy man. We have discovered his cirrhosis is caused by Alpha-1 Anti Trypsin deficiency. My siblings and I are currently being screened now also.

His pancreas is currently not making the enzyme needed to digest food so they have prescribed an artificial enzyme to replace it.

We have basically been told that until we can manage his symptoms, raise his energy levels, and he can eat enough that he is not malnourished and his muscle wastage is improved, that he would not survive any kind of surgery.

The pancreatic cyst requires an entire pancreatic resection, which even if his health improves, is too large an operation for his liver. But they have also said that even if his health improves, the risk of his pancreatic cyst becoming ‘sinister’ means a liver transplant and the immunosuppressants he would need may not be an option.

So it’s looking like a case of we can’t fix the liver because of the pancreas, and we can’t fix the pancreas because of the liver.  

The water tablets seems to be working, as do the enzymes and the pain management pills too.

I don’t have a specific question, but any advice at all, and whether anyone can provide good at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, I know it’s different for every person, but I don’t have an idea of whether I’m looking at months, a year, a few years. I suppose I’m looking for any input from people who understand more than I do!
Thank you in advance