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life expectancy of cirrhosis and hep C while to continue drinking
My common law won't go to doctor. He was diagnosed with hep C, 2001 and was told to quit drinking. He slowed down for a bit, but is now drinking 12 strong beers a day, and sometimes liquor. He is vomiting blood and had blood in stool and is getting nose bleeds. He has edema bad, and feet turn red/ purple, pain in abdomen, and around to the back. His abdomen is a little swollen, his chest is very full, he can't lie down. He usually sleeps all day and only for a few hours at night, and he is very moody, and angry, and depressed. He is also impotent and is having severe pain in his left shoulder. He says if he goes to the doctor, they would put him in hospital and take away his booze and smokes, so he won't go.
I just want to know how bad he really is, so I can prepare myself, and be able to help him as much.
I just want to know how bad he really is, so I can prepare myself, and be able to help him as much.
I'm no DR but tons of research and now undergoing treatment for Hep C genotype 3 in 3 rd month.
Per all my readings etc.
HEP C + booze of any kind is FATAL.
I am in my 60's and have lost at least 8 friends in the last 5 years who thought they could maintain the same lifestyle of drinking and then died.
Per all my readings etc.
HEP C + booze of any kind is FATAL.
I am in my 60's and have lost at least 8 friends in the last 5 years who thought they could maintain the same lifestyle of drinking and then died.
If I were you I would call 911 when he is sleeping. And when the EMT's see what his state of condition is they will immediately take him to the ER. Wishing you the best!
I am so sorry to read what you are going through. You said that you will keep him comfortable until it is no longer his choice to go to the hospital. As pooh55811 said earlier, he may be suffering from Hepatic Encephalopathy, which would mean he is mentally incapacitated. I'm not sure what state you live in, but in many states, law enforcement can force someone into the hospital if they are incapacitated and deemed to be a danger to themselves. Your common law may have reached that point. I am not a legal expert of any kind, but you may want to check with your local police or the hospital and get their advice.
Thanks for the info. We are still battling on.
He has slowed his drinking right down now, and his smoking. How ever the reason for this is he is sleeping 22 to 23 hours a day right now. And when he is awake, he slurs his words. He had a spat a couple weeks ago with a head ache for 3 days, and since then has lost feeling in part of his chin. He can only eat a pudding cup a day, maybe some days he has a glass of chocolate milk with it. He still vomits everyday, but he hasn't had blood for 2 weeks now. He has ascites right now, and he can't wear socks or shoes some days because his feet are so swollen. His toe nails are poking into his skin and making him bleed. And he has been having more nosebleeds than he use to.
I think the biggest worry for me is how much he is sleeping. I was off work sick that's why I noticed. He is very congested in the chest also. He's coughing a lot.
He is in a lot more pain than before, and keep asking him to go to the doctors, but he says there is no hope, and to just let him die.
I feel useless. All I can do is keep him comfortable, until it is no longer his choice on going to the hospital.
Thanks for all the advise and stories
Please keep them coming
He has slowed his drinking right down now, and his smoking. How ever the reason for this is he is sleeping 22 to 23 hours a day right now. And when he is awake, he slurs his words. He had a spat a couple weeks ago with a head ache for 3 days, and since then has lost feeling in part of his chin. He can only eat a pudding cup a day, maybe some days he has a glass of chocolate milk with it. He still vomits everyday, but he hasn't had blood for 2 weeks now. He has ascites right now, and he can't wear socks or shoes some days because his feet are so swollen. His toe nails are poking into his skin and making him bleed. And he has been having more nosebleeds than he use to.
I think the biggest worry for me is how much he is sleeping. I was off work sick that's why I noticed. He is very congested in the chest also. He's coughing a lot.
He is in a lot more pain than before, and keep asking him to go to the doctors, but he says there is no hope, and to just let him die.
I feel useless. All I can do is keep him comfortable, until it is no longer his choice on going to the hospital.
Thanks for all the advise and stories
Please keep them coming
PS - my brother really seemed to become confused the last month or two and stopped making good sense. He said things that weren't like him and stopped remembering things that we'd recently discussed. Not sure if this is always a "sign" that things are progressing towards a very end stage situation but in his case that's when it happened. good luck.
I am new to the community. I lost my brother to alcoholic liver disease a little over a year ago. He is not the one in my family who has Hep C but I remember making a post so much like the OP in this thread when I found out my brother had ascites and edema, and I was so desperate for replies that I decided I Would reply here. A disclaimer - I'm not a doctor, and I certainly do not claim to know anything other than what I lived through in regards to my brother. This is just my own story/my own relative's timeline in this situation.
The time between when my brother was told his swollen stomach was ascites from cirrhosis and the time he died from it was several months/under a year. He chose to continue drinking daily and tended to not eat (all by choice - he spoke sometimes of his wish to have the right to choose to die in fact, and refused to see the doctor/take meds/go to the hospital, because they would make him stop drinking). Shortly after his esophogus started to bleed out was when death became imminent and it occurred a short time later. Days/weeks.
I hope this is not at all the experience the OP goes through and I wish everyone the best of luck. I expect to be more active around here as my family member with Hep C begins treatment soon hopefully, so nice to meet you all but sorry for the circumstances.
The time between when my brother was told his swollen stomach was ascites from cirrhosis and the time he died from it was several months/under a year. He chose to continue drinking daily and tended to not eat (all by choice - he spoke sometimes of his wish to have the right to choose to die in fact, and refused to see the doctor/take meds/go to the hospital, because they would make him stop drinking). Shortly after his esophogus started to bleed out was when death became imminent and it occurred a short time later. Days/weeks.
I hope this is not at all the experience the OP goes through and I wish everyone the best of luck. I expect to be more active around here as my family member with Hep C begins treatment soon hopefully, so nice to meet you all but sorry for the circumstances.
Thank you for the advice. He has stated that he will not go to a doctor until he is dead. He has thought about quitting drinking in January, only because he is on disability and won't have any money after Christmas binging. I really hope he would quit, but once February comes, he will have money again. I can't force him to see anyone. The only thing I feel that I can do is let him know that I don't want to watch him die like this, and give him the choice. He has already said he doesn't want to live anymore, but he won't commit suicide. He wants to drink himself to death just like his dad did. He has started drinking heavier liquor now, and slowed down on beer. I know I can call 911 when he is bleeding, but I am usually at work when it is the worst.
I guess I will have to wait till January and see what happens.
I guess I will have to wait till January and see what happens.
Everyone above gave you excellent advice My only addition would be, if he is vomiting blood call 911. Don't ask him just call. Vomiting blood could kill him. He needs help now. With the HE he is not in his right mind, the more the ammonia builds up the more chance he has of going in to a coma. The hospital could get his thinking straight so he could realize without their help he will die.
I hope you have the strength to call for help
Take Care
Dee
I hope you have the strength to call for help
Take Care
Dee
That's a shame!! I lost one of my brothers to alcoholism and no matter what happened to him he wouldn't stop drinking. He was only 61 when he died and probably only weighed 85 pounds, at 5'9" that's super frail. So sad. Unfortunately most alcoholics won't stop drinking because they can't and most don't want to anyways. Sorry but that's the ugly truth about alcoholism, at least that's been my experience. At the end of my brother's life, it was like talking to a brick wall. I feel for you, hopefully you can think of a way to get him to a doctor. I wouldn't wait to connect with a hepatologist. At this point any doctor is better than no doctor at all. good luck!!
You may also want to ask your question in th eCirrhosis community they may have more information there but yes so sorry to say but from what yo udescribe he is in end stage liver disease and the only way to save his life may be a liver transplant which they will not give him if he is drinking. Fron what I have read he will have to be free from alcohol for at least 6 months to qualify for a liver transplant.
Here it th elink
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/show/1390
good luck
Lynn
Here it th elink
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/show/1390
good luck
Lynn
I agree with those who said your partner needs to be seen by a Hepatologist ASAP.
In fact, he should go to the emergency room immediately.
He has symptoms of advanced liver disease (Decompensated Cirrhosis).
While no one knows how long he may live, he will definitely hasten his death by not seeking help immediately. He may linger a while and die from liver failure over a period of time. Or, he may die suddenly/rapidly from a rupture esophageal varice (blood vessel in the esophagus), bleeding ulcer, or other problems.
"He is vomiting blood and had blood in stool and is getting nose bleeds."
Vomiting blood is from gastrointestinal bleeding, probably from the esophageal varices or from a bleeding gastrointestinal ulcer. Either of these can rupture or perforate, causing rapid loss of blood and rapid death. Because he has Cirrhosis, his platelets are probably very low so his blood is not clotting well. That is why he is getting nose bleeds.
"He has edema bad, and feet turn red/ purple, pain in abdomen, and around to the back. His abdomen is a little swollen,"
He has liver failure which is causing the extra fluid in his feet and abdomen. The abdominal pain may be from several causes ..... ulcers, pressure, irritation, pancreatitis, etc.
"his chest is very full, he can't lie down.:
The fluid in his abdomen is causing him to have less space in his chest cavity to breath. In addition, he may have other processes going on in the chest and lungs which is making it hard for him to breath. Some fluid may be backing up into his lungs. He may have pneumonia.
"He usually sleeps all day and only for a few hours at night, and he is very
moody, and angry, and depressed."
The mental symptoms are from Hepatic Encephalopathy. It is from a build up of ammonia int the blood stream because the liver can no longer get rid of the ammonia. The ammonia is poisoning his brain.
"He is also impotent and is having severe pain in his left shoulder. "
His impotence is due to the advanced liver disease. The pain in his left shoulder may be from abdominal problems (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastric irritation, abdominal wall irritation), cardiac problems, pneumonia, gallstones, etc.
His situation is dire. He need help immediately.
I hope you can convince him to seek help before it is too late.
I wish you the best.
In fact, he should go to the emergency room immediately.
He has symptoms of advanced liver disease (Decompensated Cirrhosis).
While no one knows how long he may live, he will definitely hasten his death by not seeking help immediately. He may linger a while and die from liver failure over a period of time. Or, he may die suddenly/rapidly from a rupture esophageal varice (blood vessel in the esophagus), bleeding ulcer, or other problems.
"He is vomiting blood and had blood in stool and is getting nose bleeds."
Vomiting blood is from gastrointestinal bleeding, probably from the esophageal varices or from a bleeding gastrointestinal ulcer. Either of these can rupture or perforate, causing rapid loss of blood and rapid death. Because he has Cirrhosis, his platelets are probably very low so his blood is not clotting well. That is why he is getting nose bleeds.
"He has edema bad, and feet turn red/ purple, pain in abdomen, and around to the back. His abdomen is a little swollen,"
He has liver failure which is causing the extra fluid in his feet and abdomen. The abdominal pain may be from several causes ..... ulcers, pressure, irritation, pancreatitis, etc.
"his chest is very full, he can't lie down.:
The fluid in his abdomen is causing him to have less space in his chest cavity to breath. In addition, he may have other processes going on in the chest and lungs which is making it hard for him to breath. Some fluid may be backing up into his lungs. He may have pneumonia.
"He usually sleeps all day and only for a few hours at night, and he is very
moody, and angry, and depressed."
The mental symptoms are from Hepatic Encephalopathy. It is from a build up of ammonia int the blood stream because the liver can no longer get rid of the ammonia. The ammonia is poisoning his brain.
"He is also impotent and is having severe pain in his left shoulder. "
His impotence is due to the advanced liver disease. The pain in his left shoulder may be from abdominal problems (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastric irritation, abdominal wall irritation), cardiac problems, pneumonia, gallstones, etc.
His situation is dire. He need help immediately.
I hope you can convince him to seek help before it is too late.
I wish you the best.
A physician, preferably a hepatologist, will be the person who can answer your question. Going to see a doctor, regardless of the outcome of the visit, should be his main priority given the severe symptoms he's having. They will do some non-invasive testing to determine the severity of his hepatitis and offer treatment options.
In terms of taking away his 'booze and smokes,' consuming alcohol with hepatitis C is like throwing gasoline on an open fire. Continuing on that path, your common law's condition will significantly worsen over time. If the guy is that miserable and depressed, you'd think he'd want to do everything he could to help himself. But if he does not want help, there is nothing you can do...you cannot save people from themselves.
You may want to do some research into cure rates of today's treatment options with medications such as Gilead's Harvoni and present your findings to him.
Good luck...sounds like you're going to need it.
In terms of taking away his 'booze and smokes,' consuming alcohol with hepatitis C is like throwing gasoline on an open fire. Continuing on that path, your common law's condition will significantly worsen over time. If the guy is that miserable and depressed, you'd think he'd want to do everything he could to help himself. But if he does not want help, there is nothing you can do...you cannot save people from themselves.
You may want to do some research into cure rates of today's treatment options with medications such as Gilead's Harvoni and present your findings to him.
Good luck...sounds like you're going to need it.
No one can tell you how long he will last but he needs to be seen by a hepatologist ASAP, he is going to head down hill fast if he doesn't stop drinking.
He is starting to show signs of advanced cirrhosis (edema, ascites) that is why I suggest seeing a hepa doc ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!
Ask him if he would rather drink or live, because that is what it comes down to and dying from liver failure is a pretty gruesome way to go, in the miserable end he won't be able to drink anymore anyway.
Sorry to be so blunt, I hope you can convince him that he needs to quit drinking and see a doc.
Have a great day
He is starting to show signs of advanced cirrhosis (edema, ascites) that is why I suggest seeing a hepa doc ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!
Ask him if he would rather drink or live, because that is what it comes down to and dying from liver failure is a pretty gruesome way to go, in the miserable end he won't be able to drink anymore anyway.
Sorry to be so blunt, I hope you can convince him that he needs to quit drinking and see a doc.
Have a great day
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