Yay!!! I'm so glad to hear he's doing better!.... Wait a minute. Did I just read the last sentence correctly? If so, this improvement will be short lived. I sounds like I was probably worse than your husband considering I had a major GI bleed in addition to the ascites, BUT I am doing FANTASTIC now. This was Jan. 2008 when I was diagnosed and was prepared for the transplant, etc., but my numbers just keep getting better. So, I am a really good example of how one can turn things around... BUT I had no problem whatsoever stopping alcohol, so you seriously need to warn him that something dangerous will happen (and it *will*) and they may or may not be able to save his life once he's had a GI bleed. This early is his 'game', the cirrhosis will rear its ugly head and he better get his sh*t in gear because he's being a complete a**hole right now (for doing this to you and himself) if he thinks he can still drink. My GI bleed came almost 4 months after the initial diagnosis, so watch out. Sorry I'm being harsh, but he has such a good chance of really returning to a pretty normal and so much happier life if he can let go of his 'mistress'. Let me know!! I want updates! ;-)
Nicole
How did you know you were having a GI bleed?
I was throwing up copious amounts (and I mean buckets) of blood. I was such a tard that I didn't even go to ER until many hours later because I didn't know what it meant. Way too close of a call. Scary. Before I started throwing up the blood, I just remember feeling nauseated and loopy tired.
A black or very very dark stool can also be a sign of internal bleeding so, watch out for that. Throwing up blood is hard not to notice - I threw up 4 units on 2 occasions from esophageal varices. Those are distended vessels inside the esophagus but varices can also develop in the stomach and intestines.
He absolutely must not drink any alcohol. We all die but, liver failure is not an easy way to go.
Impress upon him the urgent need for him to stop drinking!
Mike