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Stage Four Cirrhosis - Mortality

Hello!  I am a 58 year old female that was just diagnosed with stage four cirrhosis after a liver biopsy, numerous tests, being sick since having pneumonia in September, 2014, and being in and out of the hospital several times, the last time two weeks of sheer hell, kidney and liver failure.  Long time wine drinker.  Mainly they tell me what I don't have, but confirmed ITP platelet disorder and stage four cirrhosis I do have.  My liver specialist and hematologist visits after leaving the hospital were bleak.  This will continue to occur and I will die.  I have completely changed my lifestyle, eat a natural diet and lean protein, no alcohol, counseling and PT for strength and endurance.  Because of my platelet disorder, I am on 20 mg of prednisone, lowering slowly to be off in one to two months. I am also on Lasix, 80 AM, 40 PM.  I am having weekly labs and my labs, other than my platelets, have all been in the normal range the past four weeks.  Liver and kidney functions, AST and ALT billiruben, creatine, albumin, etc., all normal.  I feel great.  Never did have any pain.  I have lost 70 pounds.  My PCP is very encouraging and my cheerleader.  My question, can I get better or stop the progress of this if I continue my current lifestyle?  How can all my readings be normal if  I am at end stage liver disease?  My liver specialist said I have an idiopathic problem, when I get an infection, either my extreme sensitivity to antibiotics or the infection itself causes my organs to shut down.  This hasn't happened since I quit drinking completely, so I think alcohol intake may have been a cause.  Any guidance anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.  I want to hope, but want to be honest with myself too.  Thank you.
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Avatar universal
hi

Great that your labs are holding!

You will need to get the scope, the last thing you need is a bleed out that could have been avoided with a scope and banding.  you may have none at all, some dont.
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Avatar universal
hi Aubrey40

the scarred liver causes blood flow problems, veins start to swell up and if they swell enough they burst. sometimes its a small vein and you might notice black stools and not much else. sometimes its a large vein and heavy bleeding occurs and fills the stomach and then its vomited up,people can be bleeding heavily from both ends.  if heavy bleeding occurs its a medical emergency for sure, because usually a poor liver leads to thinner than normal blood and veins don't stop bleeding easily if burst.

The banding is literally placing bands around the veins, after a while they drop off I think.

Im not sure if you are from the UK, but a well known Politian called Charles Kennedy died recently because of such a bleed.  He never stopped drinking, keep in mind the people who keep on drinking and don't see their doctors regularly are at a big risk from these sort of events.  If you stick with your new life style and keep on top of things you should be fine for years yet.  Stay on top of it.
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Avatar universal
Thanks Ralph.  It helps me to have knowledge.  I live in Nebraska, the center of the country, USA.  I have a question about vitamin supplements also.  In the literature my liver doc gave me, it mentioned adding supplements of vitamins A, D, K and Thiamine.  I bought Centram Silver and also Vitamin D and K as the Centram didn't have 100% of the daily allowance.

I have now read some posts saying extra vitamins are bad for a cirrhotic liver.   Who is right? Ni have six more weeks of labs once a week, so will let the clinic know I have started supplements.  I think I will post this question as a new question on this forum also.
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Avatar universal
You need to get the scope, as many said its not pleasant but it can be life saving. My husband has cirrhosis stage 4 caused from hep c from a blood transfusion back in the late 80s.

We had no idea or really any signs of any complications. We found out about it all when he went in for a minor umbilical hernia surgery. My husband has always been healthy looking and feeling, when u look at him u wouldn't be able to tell his liver is that bad aside from mild acites in the abdomen.

My point is he didn't feel bad or look bad either but had the scope done and had 8 bands put on. They were so enlarged they were oozing blood just a little if they had burst I've heard its a 50/50 survival chance. We have to go every 3 weeks right now until dr has most banded and then or will be every 6 months.
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Avatar universal
Wow, so sorry to hear about your husband.   That is scary.  Do they do the banding at the same time as the endoscopy?  What exactly is banding?  What does it entail?  I just tend to prepare for the worst and work myself up into a full blown anxiety attack....    :(.   Thanks so much for your response.
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683231 tn?1467323017
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/endoscopic-treatment-for-variceal-bleeding-caused-by-cirrhosis-topic

Endoscopic variceal banding (or ligation)

During variceal banding, a doctor uses an endoscope to place an elastic ring that looks like a rubber band around an enlarged vein. Banding the vein in this manner will cut off blood flow through the vein. It may be difficult to use this procedure while someone is actively bleeding, because the device used to place the bands obscures the doctor's vision.

Variceal banding is often done several times to control the varices and prevent bleeding. For example, banding might be repeated every 2 to 4 weeks for 3 to 4 sessions. Your doctor will monitor (check) the varices every 3 to 12 months after that for the rest of your life.


I had banding done I had an upper EGD once a month for 4 months to eradicate all the varicies.

I was checked again at 6 months and now every year so far no reoccurance since 2012

Good luck
Lynn
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Avatar universal
Lynn that's so good to hear you've been able to manage your varicies. Gives me hope that my husband can do the same. Do you remember an average number they banded each time?  My husband has had as many as 8 at one time but usually it's 6-7
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