Alcoholic cirrhosis

[Nojoda]

Hi all,
   Let me start by saying this forum has been great help to me. My mother is currently 46 and was diagnosed at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami,Fl with Alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis A, She is anemic but at a minimal level, and she has stones in her gal bladder. I am 23 years old and very concerned as my mother is a widow and I am the only child. My mom has been suffering from this disease at a very serious level. In the past, she has had hallucinations, been very angry and confused to the point of not recognizing me. I have searched on the net many things and am concerned of two problems I'm having.
1. Loss of appetite- It is a mission to get my mother to eat, in the past I enforce proteins but now to my knowledge at the level she is at proteins can be harmful as her liver might not break down proteins causing her to be confused and have hallucinations. It is very hard for me to see my mother go through this as she is very young and in a medical profession (RPT). I am wondering if anyone can consider a special diet for my mother?
Symptoms
-loss of weight
-swelling of legs and abdomen because of water retention in her legs.
-Yellowing of skin and eyes (extreme).
-loss of appetite
-hallucinations
-confusion
-weakness

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

ensure or carnation instant breakfast can be used or diabetic resource or glucerna if diabetes is present.  Although one should be careful about sodium, in the presence of malnutrition I remove all dietary limitations in my patients so they can get the calories.  Frequent small meals should be taken throughout the day, including at bedtime.  protein remains very important.

[Nojoda]

thanks for the response Dr. Schiano. What nutrition suppliments can I buy over the counter for a cirrhosis patient?

vitamin K ?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

when patients have cirrhosis from any cause they have poor appetite, get full easily and lose a lot of weight.  One should not limit their protein unless the encephalopathy is very severe.  patients must eat several small meals throughout the day and aggressively use nutritional supplements.

[Nojoda]

MY MOTHER HAS BEEN ALCOHOL FREE SINCE MARCH AFTER THEY DIAGNOSED HER ILLNESS'S.
I will never consume alcohol after seeing my mother go through this, nor will I allow alcohol in my house.
TRANSPLANT- 1st of all my mother has no medical insurance and is currently in the process of getting medicaid and a disability. My mother was discharged today from Jackson Memorial and the doctors prescribed lactose and laysics (correct me on the spelling). They have prescribed this before and this isn't the first time my mother has been in the hospital. She was in the hospital a total of 3 times now. 2 or 3 years ago she was in the hospital and had esophagitis. Then she was diagnosed with cirrhosis and hepatitis A in march. And this time she was found with high NH3 levels and high NA levels as well as low bilirubin and hemoglobin levels.
What steps shall I take to cure my mother?
I have an appointment on august 20th with the hepatologist but am very concerned of my mothers health as its going to be very tragic till that date. Is my mother a good candidate for a transplant? as she is 46 years old, Female, Alcohol free since march, and so on? What steps shall I take to atleast put her in the program and have her on the list just in case its necesarry?
I am yet to turn in the results from the biopsy, endoscopy, and cat scans taken at Memorial Miramar West to the hepatologist as I haven't seen him and wont see him till the 20th of this month. I want to be prepared. I am very concerned if my mother is a candidate for a transplant. she is O positive as well.
I was a pre-med student so I understand Her situation is very serious. ( currently enrolled as a computer science because of the drop of study time available since I have to be ontop of my mother 24/7)
I need your Help! Please post anything, any thoughts, advice, and any info you may know or have that might help me!