Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Can cirhossis cause a infection on spine?

My Uncle whom me and my Husband are very close to told us a year ago that he had about a year to live. He has cirhossis and hep c and the doctors told him he was going to die. About 5 months ago he started having ascites and decided to finally stop drinking, and about 3 months ago turned into refractory ascites. Everytime he goes to get drained its 10 liters of fluid (about every 2 weeks) and at the point he goes he can hardly move. He woke up today and couldnt walk he was taken by ambulance and just called and told me they are transferring him to a different hospital because he has an infection on his vertibrae. Does that have to do with his Cirhossis? Im so worried but everytime we try to get info he just says “he is fine”. He can hardly move, we do all of his cleaning and housework I do his laundry and noticed he has lost bowel control as well. Does this mean the end is near?
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
683231 tn?1467323017
There is really no way to predict how much time he has if he has very advanced liver disease his prognosis is about 1 to 2 years could be more couldbe less.  If he has one of the life-threatening complications of cirrhosis like a vericial bleed or  spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SPB) he could die very suddenly. He could develop severe hepatic encephalopathy and slip into a coma. If none of these conditions develop he could hang on for several years.

There is just no way to predict the course of his disease progression.

With stopping alcohol he has greatly improved his chances of longer term survival.
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
Allí can say is I have had cirrhosis for 10.5 years now which was caused by having had hep c for 37 years before I was cured. I have a low platelet count and did have esophageal varicies that were enlarged enough that I needed banding done to prevent a life threatening bleeding event.
I have a small amount of ascities. If the liver  is no longer being injured by alcohol or hep c liver enzymes will become normal. There is no relationship between liver enzymes and amount of liver damage.  

Elevated liver enzymes only indicate something is currently injuring the liver but not how much liver damage may have occurred over time.

Do you know his MELD score?  This is how patients are ranked for liver transplant.  You can look up MELD score calculator and using some of his test results be able to calculate his MELD.

If he stops drinking and cures his hep c there is a chance he can improve with time or at less stop getting any worse.  

But if he does get worse not knowing everything about his medical situation and inly being a patient he maybe in the situation that his only chance of survival would be a liver transplant.

He is not too old for a transplant but his other health problems could be an issue especially his heart. They want hisgeneral health to be good enough he would be expected to survive the procedure. Most transplant centers  do require a minimum of six months sobriety. But his hep c could be easily treated post transplant.

Let me know if you have anymore questions I will try my best to help
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
Is he not eligible for a liver transplant?
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
I dont beleive so. He stopped drinking end of february and his liver enzymes may have improved. But he is 66, has heart problems, kidney problems, his liver, the refractory ascites, umbilical hernia, on blood thinners, now the infection in his spine. I know the doctor told him he had to be clean for 6 months to do the hep c medicine and then could go on transplant list but he did say he may not have that time or qualify. Since the ascites started he has quit drinking but then he didnt respond to the diuretics and is getting drained about once a week 10-12 liters. Rightnow he is in the hospital for the infection and they dont want to do surgery for that because of his condition the plan is a picc line for 6 weeks to 3 months. He can barely walk, has breathing issues from the ascites, and like i mentioned has lost bowel control for some reason. He is a noncompliant patient pretty much, only does what he has to when HE thinks its neccesary.
He also has 2 masses under his nipple they said they are going to look into and he coughs up blood and will notice blood in his bowel movement. They have done scopes and said they cant find a bleed so basically gave us no reasoning for that either. When the doctor told him a year it was last July. But he has stopped drinking, but with all these other issues its hard to have hope. We are his only family and are trying not to be negative and start planning for after his passing but also I would like to be as prepared as possible. It seems that there is no clear timeline to know, but I know them saying his liver enzymes have improved is giving him hope (which I think is a positive thing) but I fear it may still be too late. We have no one in our family that has ever suffered through cirhossis so we have very little information from people who have actually lived through it or through the process of a loved one.
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Cirrhosis of the Liver Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Avatar universal
Ro, Romania
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.