cirrhotic liver

[worrywart627]

Dear Doctor, my mother is 68 years of age and I recently discovered that she has cirrhosis as a result of hep. c that she contracted from a blood transfusion 36 years ago. In addition to varices she has high blood pressure wich in spite of several blood pressure meds. can not be brought under control. I must know what to expect when a patient dies of cirrhosis. Will she experience much pain and discomfort? what can one expect as their liver continues to degrade? and lastly what can the medical community do to comfort her? Please be forthcoming with all info.  God bless and thank you Dr.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

i agree with the above.  She is not too old to have a transplant.  she must be regularly screened for the development of liver cancer.

[gilmane]

There is a good discussion on cirrhosis, which includes an in depth section on the complications from cirrhosis at:  http://www.medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/article.htm. The article also discusses the various treatments available for these inevitable complications.  Having suffered from cirrhosis myself, this requires immediate and continuing medical treatment as the disease progresses. I was fortunate enough to qualify for a liver transplant, which in the end stage of cirrhosis is the only solution.