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HCV and Gallstones
My 51 yo husband has advanced cirrhosis from Hep C. He also has gallstones/bile duct issues. He's been getting gall bladder attacks and when he goes to the ER he is always admitted now so he hates to go at all. He suffered through his last attack 4 days ago but I noticed that his abdomen is swelling under the right ribs. He also has a small bump right above his navel. He will not call the doctor. He said he feels better and has no pain so why call the doctor. The last time he was admitted to the hospital they said the gall stones were large and needed to be removed but because of his liver issues they would not operate as it would be too risky with his blood clotting issues so they would only remove it when the risk of not removing it is greater than the risk of the surgery. I'm reading that this swelling could be quite dangerous so am I right in insisting he call the doctor or can he continue to ignore the swelling and hope it goes away? Any help would be appreciated. I wish there was a website for dealing with stubborn husbands...
My husband was still recovering from a major car accident (had over 7 surgeries) including abdominal surgery to stop internal bleeding. A few months later, started getting fevers and cold sweats at night. We went to his gastro (and we already knew he had hep c with possible cirrhosis due to ultrasounds) who I pressured to find out what was causing his pain, fever and chills. He sent him for ultrasound and the gall bladder was the culprit! So in two weeks they had him in for surgery (paperwork had to be done). They couldn't do a laparoscopy and had to do a full blown surgery to get to gall bladder. So I asked if they could do a liver biopsy at the same time, and they agreed. (Sometimes you have to ask many questions!) He had it done and thank goodness, it was on the verge of rupture! Now his early cirrhosis was also confirmed with the biopsy out of the way.
My husband has spent countless hours in the ER over the last three years.
It definitely resulted in his not wanting to return (or me, for that matter).
Unfortunately that is the first step in getting admitted to the hospital.
My husband used to be the stubborn type. He still has some stubborn traits, but almost dying helped change that. He does whatever is necessary now (albeit, grudgingly :-)
It's as if, if they don't go, they are not really that sick. Well, they are that sick.
I used to call his transplant coordinator and put him on the phone with him
and tell him he needed to go to the hospital. That usually worked.
Thank God, he changed and we don't have to do that anymore. Again it took almost death to change him. Apparently, he wants to live!
Nan
It definitely resulted in his not wanting to return (or me, for that matter).
Unfortunately that is the first step in getting admitted to the hospital.
My husband used to be the stubborn type. He still has some stubborn traits, but almost dying helped change that. He does whatever is necessary now (albeit, grudgingly :-)
It's as if, if they don't go, they are not really that sick. Well, they are that sick.
I used to call his transplant coordinator and put him on the phone with him
and tell him he needed to go to the hospital. That usually worked.
Thank God, he changed and we don't have to do that anymore. Again it took almost death to change him. Apparently, he wants to live!
Nan
How to deal with stubborn husbands.
______________________
You might try doing a web search with the above statement in search. I did...and found there is much written about stubborn husbands. Could be helpful. Appears there's lots of them : ).
Best to you
______________________
You might try doing a web search with the above statement in search. I did...and found there is much written about stubborn husbands. Could be helpful. Appears there's lots of them : ).
Best to you
Hey there! Hector has been very helpful as always
I have no answer but wanted say I also wish there was a website for stubborn husbands :) You are very nice to be looking for help for your hubby.
If I were your husband, and in pain, with some odd swelling I would go get help before its too late.
Hang in there
Dee
I have no answer but wanted say I also wish there was a website for stubborn husbands :) You are very nice to be looking for help for your hubby.
If I were your husband, and in pain, with some odd swelling I would go get help before its too late.
Hang in there
Dee
"I'm reading that this swelling could be quite dangerous so am I right in insisting he call the doctor or can he continue to ignore the swelling and hope it goes away? "
Hi.
Any physical change could be dangerous in a person with advanced liver cirrhosis. Ignoring something doesn't make it go away. If it did no one would be ill. With any illness it is always better to treat something early than later on after it has progressed.
Pain is no measure of how ill someone is. He probably had no pain or symptoms while his liver was being damaged over the last 20-40 years either. Unfortunately pain sometimes only occurs when something has gotten to a very serious state. Waiting until things get serious is not a good way to deal with any illness, particularly one that is potentially fatal.
His transplant center should be notified of any changes to his condition. Which he committed to doing in order to be put on the waiting-list. Patients that don't care about their health don't make good transplant patients and can be removed from the waiting-list for noncompliance. I hope he will realize what he is risking.
The small bump right above his navel is some likely an umbilical hernia.which is common in patients who have ascites (fluid retention). The small bowel (intestine) pushes through the abdominal wall.
No one goes to the hospital because they enjoy it. We go because we need to so we receive proper medical care. Especially for someone with a life-threatening illness. Unfortunately your husband like many people are fearful of the hospital.
We all bring our personalities with us when we are ill. So a stubborn person will be stubborn about their medical care. You might try to convey to him that while he might not care about his condition and the many complications that can arise as his liver fails more it doesn't only affect him but also you and the people that care for him. Hopefully he will get the help he needs if not for himself but for you and others.
I am sorry that you are trying to help him and he can see it is for his own good.
Hector
Hi.
Any physical change could be dangerous in a person with advanced liver cirrhosis. Ignoring something doesn't make it go away. If it did no one would be ill. With any illness it is always better to treat something early than later on after it has progressed.
Pain is no measure of how ill someone is. He probably had no pain or symptoms while his liver was being damaged over the last 20-40 years either. Unfortunately pain sometimes only occurs when something has gotten to a very serious state. Waiting until things get serious is not a good way to deal with any illness, particularly one that is potentially fatal.
His transplant center should be notified of any changes to his condition. Which he committed to doing in order to be put on the waiting-list. Patients that don't care about their health don't make good transplant patients and can be removed from the waiting-list for noncompliance. I hope he will realize what he is risking.
The small bump right above his navel is some likely an umbilical hernia.which is common in patients who have ascites (fluid retention). The small bowel (intestine) pushes through the abdominal wall.
No one goes to the hospital because they enjoy it. We go because we need to so we receive proper medical care. Especially for someone with a life-threatening illness. Unfortunately your husband like many people are fearful of the hospital.
We all bring our personalities with us when we are ill. So a stubborn person will be stubborn about their medical care. You might try to convey to him that while he might not care about his condition and the many complications that can arise as his liver fails more it doesn't only affect him but also you and the people that care for him. Hopefully he will get the help he needs if not for himself but for you and others.
I am sorry that you are trying to help him and he can see it is for his own good.
Hector
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