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Liver Failure - w Hep C and Cirr

I am 31, and my father is 52.  My father was diagnosed with Hep C many years ago.  Has been a drug user for most of his life.  He had a heart attack two weeks ago, due to lack of oxygen to his heart and excessive gi bleeding, he has been in ICU for a week, with black tarry stools, bleeding from some form weak veins his body has made for itself due to the blocked entrance into his liver from severe cirrhosis.  He was released a few days ago, then had a rough night breathing due to the nearly 40lbs of fluid weight he put on while in the hospital.  The ICU did CT scans and ultrasounds, finding tons of clotted arteries and masses in his liver.  
He is back in the hospital now, and he's pretty confused which I believe is from the toxins that his liver cannot filter.  They are also doing chest x rays to see if there is fluid in his lungs or on his heart.  They told him he is not a candidate for the tips procedure because he is a bleed risk - as well as having clotted arteries.  So now he sits in the hospital, he is still eating, and they have drained 37lbs of fluids out of his body, but he still has edema, fluid is actually seeping from his arms - his abdomen is huge too.  He is now also fully diabetic, in need of insulin.  

I live three hours away from him, and don't want him to die alone.  I also have 3 small children and a husband, I cannot leave for too many days at a time.  I noticed another person saying there father who was not emotional in the past was now weeping often, that is happening now as well.  

Unfortunately doctors aren't telling me much.  Is it wrong to want them to just tell me the truth? If he is going to die from this, I need to know so I can be there, but cannot leave to sit by his side at this point, for too long at one time.  he is in stage 4-5 of hep c, and severe cirrohsis - low bp, shallow breaths - anyone have any advice?

I appreciate your time...
3 Responses
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517301 tn?1229797785
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
unfortunstely it sounds like he may have a portal vein thrombosis (vessel leading into the liver that could cause the varices (veins)) and the fluid build-up.  This could happen from cirrhosis alone but could also be from cancer in the liver.  If the latter is the case then unfortunately there are not many treatment options; if it is not the case then conceivably he could still be a liver transplant candidate.
Helpful - 1
517301 tn?1229797785
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
i think that interferon therapy is contraindicated because he is too sick.  ther docs need to definitively tell you if the thrombosis is related to liver cancer.  If it is, then unfortunately there is not much that can be offered aside from symptomatic treatment.  Transplant is the only real option otherwise.  he should have an opinion at a liver transplant center without question.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your response.  It is my first time writing in a forum, and was pleasantly surprised a doctor reads them!

You are exactly right, re the portal vein.  The doctors treating him in Weaverville, CA (which is like a hillbilly mayberry) haven't told us much more info regarding the masses in his liver, so not sure if it is cancer or not, just know the liver itself is pretty ugly.  

They have gotten most of the water off of him, were removing the cathedar today, have prescribed him insulin pills, water pills, and some form of pill that helps with the amount of toxic ammonia (?) which goes to the brain and causing the confusion in his thinking.  

He is supposed to be released in his own care tomorrow, if he is still stable.  Still sounds as if his liver is failing, and not sure what the treatment will be from this point.  Can you tell me when the interferon treatment is no longer available?  Is it common to receive this kind of treatment before becoming a liver transplant candidate?

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