43 year old with alcohol related cirrhosis

[MikeisIll]

What do I expect as his caregiver.

[flyinlynn]

“ Life expectancy by stage

There are two stages in cirrhosis: compensated and decompensated.

Compensated cirrhosis: People with compensated cirrhosis do not show symptoms, while life expectancy is around 9–12 years. A person can remain asymptomatic for years, although 5–7% of those with the condition will develop symptoms every year.

Decompensated cirrhosis: People with decompensated cirrhosis already experience symptoms and complications. Their life expectancy is greatly reduced than those with compensated cirrhosis, while experts recommend referral for a possible liver transplant in these cases.”

[flyinlynn]

Here is a link to an article about cirrhosis from the VA

https://www.hepatitis.va.gov/cirrhosis/background/stages.asp

[flyinlynn]

If this person is able to quit drinking it is possible there could be some reversal of liver damage. If they are not able to abstain or have already developed symptoms of advanced liver disease their prognosis is less optimistic.

Depending on if they have developed symptoms of liver failure it can take many years IFR a person to succumb to the ravages of liver disease and liver failure.

Does this person have any symptoms like ascities, esophageal varicies? Have they experienced a varicial bleeding episode? Do they have hepatic encephalopathy?  

I was diagnosed with cirrhosis back in January 2008. My cirrhosis was caused by having a hepatitis c infection for many years which was finally cured in 2015. I still have cirrhosis but because the cause of my liver disease is gone I hopefully be able to live with my liver disease for many more years and pass away some days from something other than my liver.

[BlueEyedAl]

I started drinking when I was 9 years old, by 13 years of age I could drink a pint of Vodka bottoms up. I could out drink 4 men. I quit cold turkey about 5 years ago as I had bleeding in the stomach. Then I was told that I might live 5 years.. I felt like I was  110 years old. According to Western Medicine, I should be dead. I started using natural medicine prescribed and sent to me by a nature practitioner and now that I am 80, I feel like I'm 45. The last time I seen my Digestive Disease Specialist he said whatever I'm doing, keep doing it. Yes, I still believe in Western Medicine and Natural  Medicine. Thousands upon thousands of people die each year from Pharmaceutical medicine. Pharmaceutical medicine are not designed to cure anything, they are designed to make you buy them for the rest of your life.