r/Cirrhosis Mar 09 '22

Post of the MonthšŸ“ So You Just Got Diagnosed With Cirrhosis...Now What?

459 Upvotes

The below is not medical advice. It's a primer of information. A blueprint of knowledge to be added to. What to expect during those first few terrifying days and weeks after we're told we have an incurable liver disease we never thought we'd have. There are types of medicines or procedures that one may encounter. As new ones are discovered or the community realizes I missed something (guaranteed), I hope you'll add to the general knowledge here. (No medical or dietary advice, though. Keep it to general information, please).

This is an encapsulation of what I've found helpful from this community and addresses, in a general way, those questions we rightly see regularly asked. If you want to ask them anyway, please do so. This is a comfort tool to let you know you're not alone. If we're on here, we or someone we love are dealing with the same issues you are. Maybe not the exact same ones to the same degree, but you are in the right place.

So strap in. And Welcome to...

Your Cirrhotic Liver and You

Why Write a Primer?

I really valued developing a broad but basic understanding of what was going on with me and this disease, so I would understand why certain numbers matter and how seemingly random symptoms all tie into one another. I took strength from better understanding the science and mechanisms of cirrhosis.

Please keep in mind your healthcare team will direct you as to what you should be doing. They know what is best, how to manage symptoms, what to eat, all of it. Listen to them. Each case is individual, and no advice works for everyone.

So, having said that, here are the basics of your new roommate, The Cirrhotic Liver:

PORTAL HYPERTENSION

Portal Hypertension is a buildup of pressure in your abdomen. As your liver no longer works as well as it should, it doesn’t allow blood to flow easily through it on the return trip to the heart…so this can create extra pressure in the Portal Vein…this is called Portal Hypertension (same as regular hypertension, just specific to the giant Portal Vein in your abdomen). So, if the liver doesn’t let the blood pass as easily as it should, then blood can back up into the spleen, enlarging it. You’ll see many of us mention large spleens. That’s why. It’s capturing the backflow of that slower moving portal blood.

FIBROSIS

Why is it not moving at speed through the Liver? Like the villain in Lion King, it’s that Damn Scar. The blood flow through the liver is slowed by a process called Fibrosis (this is scarring of the liver, and includes nodules and other abnormalities cause by:

*Disease/Infection (eg, Hepatitis) or

*The liver trying to process too much of a difficult thing (eg, Alcohol), or

*Bad genetics, (eg, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency) or

*A host of other unfortunate things (eg, fatty liver)

This scarring is the basis of Cirrhosis. It is the permanently scarred part that doesn't heal in an organ that LOVES to heal. So much, in fact, that new cells will continuously and repeatedly try to regrow so much that it increases our odds of liver cancer…so we get regular MRIs and screening for that.

VARICES

The excess pressure of blood trying to get through the scarred liver creates a need for your body to create alternate blood flow routes, in the form of new veins, around the liver to make sure the blood still gets back to the heart…where it needs to go. These new veins are called Esophageal Varices or just Varices for short (you'll see these mentioned a lot).

A fun fact is that more blood comes together at once and is moved through the portal vein than anywhere else in the body…even the heart. (Hence why the body finds a way to reroute the bloodflow around the liver in the form of these esophageal varices.

Dangers of Esophageal Varices: With lowered platelets and/or high portal pressure (among other reasons), the varices that form can leak or burst, causing the bleeding you’ll see mentioned (usually in the form of black feces or vomit.
Don't let the name fool you...it seems like they might be up around the top of the esophogus but are actually at the bottom of the esophagus, around the stomach.

Other Potential Issues:

With Cirrhosis, a whole host of internal mechanisms can have difficulty working correctly and/or together as they should. This can mean lower platelet counts (clotting issues) and lower albumin (the stuff that keeps water in cells). Albumin in eggs is the egg white...doing the same thing to the yolk as our cells. Because of this, you'll see a lot of focus on Protein. Albumin and Creatinine are closely related to protein intake and absorption. We watch those numbers and make sure we get a bunch of protein so the albumin levels stay high and our water stays in the cell structure, not leaking out of it. Cirrhosis is also a wasting disease. Literally. You can lose muscle mass (called lean mass sometimes), so eating a lot of protein and getting exercise is important. Especially legs. Even just walking. When albumin and creatinine get low, and the liquid leaks from the cells into your body cavities, this is Ascites or Edema, depending on location.

Dangers of Ascites

Ascites can get infected. It can also increase portal hypertension by creating extra inter-abdominal pressure if it causes your abdomen to swell. It can also cause uncomfortable breathing as it exerts fluid pressure against your lungs. It can also cause umbilical hernias.

Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE)

Cirrhosis makes it more difficult to process naturally occurring ammonia from the blood stream. If it climbs too high, it causes confusion and a whole host of mental symptoms.

Well…that’s all a load of dire information relating to being the owner of a newly diagnosed diseased liver.

Now let’s get to the good news!

Cirrhosis may be progressive and different for everyone, but its symptoms have some great, proven management options. Some are simple, but require discipline. Some are complicated and require surgery. Some are medicinal and require tethering yourself to a toilet for periods of time.

You’re newly diagnosed. The first thing to do is breathe. Because everyone on here can tell you it’s fucking disorienting and terrifying to hear and to wrap your brain around something like this diagnosis. But, like everything that we fear, familiarity will dampen that effect. So will knowledge.

You’re going to be in the diagnosis and testing phase for a while. Once you’re done drinking and have a better diet for a while, your liver will begin to settle from the immediate inflammation from constant irritants. This isn’t healing so much as it is allowing it to reach a new equilibrium that the Hepatologists and GI doctors can use to create a plan of action and assessment for your health and future. Your FUTURE…remember that. You most likely have a changed life, not some immediate death sentence. If you choose it.

So, let’s look at The Tools of the Liver Trade.

(These aren’t bits of medical advice. These are tools you and your doctors will use to navigate your path to normalized living, at your healthcare team’s discretion.)

TIME TO HIT PAUSE:

The less your liver has to work now, the better. Period. It’s damaged. It will remain damaged. Give it as little to handle as possible from now on and you stand the best chance to avoid or minimize side effects of this disease. All those things above are intertwined symptoms and results of a diseased liver. The less extra it works, the more it helps avoid them. Let it just focus its basic processes (of which there are over 500!). Your doctor will give you specifics to your case on how to do this.

DIET:

Get ready to track everything. Measure everything. Be disciplined and focused.

And then it becomes second nature to do and that above intro is way less intense.

Sugars and Fats

The liver helps process sugars and fats, among anything that goes into your mouth. It all goes through the liver. But sugars and fats are special. The wrong ones can really turn your liver into a punching bag. Which Sugars? Alcohol, sucralose, a good deal of man-made stuff, and even too much natural. Same for fats…some are harder on it that others. Tran fats, too much saturated fats. But you’ll need fats..olive oil, seed oils, stuff like that. There are so many great options out there!

Protein

Buckle up. You’re going to need a lot of lean protein (lean to avoid that surplus of fat). Your docs will tell you how much. Your kidney health factors into this, so don’t go off listening to me, the internet, or anyone on how much. Ask your doctors.

Carbohydrates

Whole grains and fiber. You’re going to want to poop regular and healthily to keep your bilirubin and ammonia down and your protein and vitamins absorbing. If you get stopped up, there are meds they’ll give you to help the train leave the station. It’s often a bullet train, so you’ll want a handle in the bathroom to hold on to…but it will get those numbers down.

Water and Liquids

You’ll probably have some restrictions here, but not definitely. It’s to help keep the ascites risk minimized. Coffee, water, non-caloric drinks of all kinds! Some are less than 2L per day, some 1.5L, some not at all. Again, your doctors will tell you as they get a handle on your ascites risk. Water is also nature’s laxative, so it’ll help keep you regular. There are also great meds that help with this like Spironolactone and other diuretics if you tend to retain too much water.

Salt

Nope. Keep it down. If it’s in a can, premade, or from a takeout joint it’s likely going to overshoot your daily limit in anywhere from one serving to just looking at the label too long. There are amazing alternatives in great spices, as well as salting a meal at the right moment in preparing it so it has big effect for a little use. Beware sauces and condiments. They vary wildly. Salt control is critical for keeping ascites at bay by not retaining water and maintaining your sodium levels in general.

PROCEDURES:

Things that can help you manage your symptoms besides medications are:

TIPS:

A procedure that allows for alternative blood flow in cases of Portal Hypertension to decease it by allowing for flow around the liver (similar to varices do but controlled).

Banding:

Putting rubber bands around varices to allow them to close/die off permanently and drive the blood flow back to the portal vein. This stops them from being a danger in regards to bleeding.

Imaging/Radiology:

Fibroscans, MRIs, Ultrasounds…so many diagnostic tools to gauge your liver and you for risk, updates, etc. All part of diagnosing and maintaining your new lifestyle as healthily as possible.

Colonoscopy:

Alien probe to check for issues related to your condition. The procedure is slept through…the prep is notorious. But it really just involves a lot of drinking laxatives and not wandering far from the toilet and then racing to the procedure room wondering how quickly you can have food and water afterwards…and if you’re going to have to pay for a new car seat if you hit one more red light.

Paracentesis:

A manual draining of Ascites using a hollow needle to remove the fluid from your abdomen.

There are more medicine and procedures and diet tips than above, but hopefully that gives you (and others) and overview of Cirrhosis and what to expect, to a degree.

The big Takeways:

Breathe, and be as patient as you can while doctors get you diagnosed and figure out the damage. You’ll likely have to let the current state of your liver subside a bit, and this could take months. Your healthcare team will help you along.

Get a Hepatologist, a GI doctor, a great PCP, and be your own advocate and a great communicator who does everything they ask of you. They want a win for you. They need it. So, so many of their patients continue to drink or not follow diet advice. It’s the number one complaint among Liver doctors, and it’s demoralizing. But if you show them you’re out to work hard, be a joy to help, listen, and follow through, you’ll be stunned at the support, great communications, last-minute appointments, and just wonderful care they will provide.

You're not alone. Over time, the fear and shock will subside. And you will find a new normal and maybe even a new appreciation for life.

And Above All, Be Kind to Yourself.


r/Cirrhosis Jun 16 '23

A reminder to be kind

76 Upvotes

This sub is here for those who have been diagnosed with cirrhosis and people who are supporting those who have been diagnosed. We want to remind everyone that one of our rules is to be kind to each other.

Every single person’s lived experience with this disease is different and that gives us different filters and perspectives to look at the world through. There is no one right way to think about it all. We can only speak from our own point of view. That said, this space exists as a place of support which may come in the form of people venting, being distressed or sad or angry, losing hope, gaining hope, dealing with difficult family members or friends. There are lot of challenges that we all go through.

Please remember in your comments to be kind and supportive to each other. Take time to think how your response may land with someone who is just looking for some kind words. Please try and see the people behind the posts and comments as multi faceted human beings rather than words on a screen.

When we spend more time trying to tell people to be kind and respectful and less time supporting each other then the tone and purpose of the sub loses some of its safety. No one here is an expert on anyone else’s experiences, we only have our own. Experiences are not facts either. Let’s respect that, and respect each other. You can always contact any of us mods if you have any worries or feedback to give us.


r/Cirrhosis 6h ago

Swollen stomach and legs / feet but no paracentesis

6 Upvotes

Hi,

My mom (46 y/o) was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis following a hospitalization for a GI bleed. During the hospitalization, she developed pretty bad stomach and leg/feet swelling which I was imagining was ascites. They put her on a diuretic after the hospital stay and just recently increased it to 50 mg spiro and 20 mg lasix. While they don’t visibly have seemed to help, she hasn’t gained any weight over the last week and has been losing small amounts (0.5lb ish) each day.

They also scheduled for her to get a paracentesis today to help relieve some of the stomach swelling. Howvwer, upon ultrasound of the stomach they said she didn’t have enough fluid in the abdominal cavity and that it was mostly sitting in her skin tissue instead, so they couldn’t do a paracentesis. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you manage getting the fluid out without paracentesis? I want to trust that the diuretic is working since we haven’t seen reverse progress but I’m also worried that maybe she’s losing weight from muscle loss too since she can barely get around with all her swelling. She is still eating fine and is getting a lot of protein but she gets full easily from the swelling.

Any tips on how to get this managed are so appreciated!


r/Cirrhosis 6h ago

Recent Corrhosis Diagnosis

5 Upvotes

Looking for experiences with possible cirrhosis diagnosis

I’m looking for input from anyone who has had a similar situation.

My recent labs showed:

* ALP: 299 (high)
* GGT: 204 (high)
* Total bilirubin: 1.7 (slightly high)
* AST: 32 (normal)
* ALT: 28 (normal)
* Albumin: 4.6 (normal)
* Creatinine: 0.78 (normal)

My platelets have also gradually decreased:
217 (May 2024) → 178 (Mar 2025) → 123 (Sep 2025) → 129 (Apr 2026).

An abdominal ultrasound recently reported:
ā€œHepatic cirrhosisā€ and a small amount of ascites. It also showed gallbladder wall thickening, but no gallstones and no bile-duct dilation (CBD 3 mm). The portal vein is patent with normal flow.

I also have prominent veins on my chest/upper abdomen, but I have a known left subclavian/innominate vein stenosis caused by my 3-lead ICD, with extensive collateral veins documented on venograms in 2025.

My AST, ALT and albumin are normal, and the main persistent abnormality is the GGT/ALP pattern.

I’m being referred to a liver specialist.

Has anyone had an ultrasound suggest cirrhosis despite relatively normal AST/ALT and albumin, and later found that they did NOT have significant fibrosis? Or has anyone had a similar GGT/ALP elevation with a normal-looking liver function profile?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you!


r/Cirrhosis 2h ago

How are you guys tonight?

2 Upvotes

Hey all, Its currently 11:07 pm here, how is everyone doing ? Anything positive to share? I also have a question, have you guys experienced an enlarged spleen with compensated cirrhosis? I was diagnosed in June and one thing I found interesting is I have no enlarged spleen?


r/Cirrhosis 7h ago

Dual Heart/Liver Transplant

3 Upvotes

Hey all,

So in the next year or so, I will be undergoing a dual heart and liver transplant. I was born with HLHS and developed FALD over time, and now having cirrhosis etc, Ive deteriorated enough that it’s time for a parts swap. I’m 31M fyi.

I’ve only recently decided this with my doctor, so I have some questions (will be talking to them as well obvi). I’ve read that being as fit as possible before transplant is good for both the procedure and recovery afterwards, have people found that to be the case? What other things can I do to prepare?

What does recovery look like? How long? All in the hospital or? Just curious about how everything works and how I can best train and prepare for the most optimal outcome and such. Any information would be amazing. Thank you!


r/Cirrhosis 1h ago

Insomnia?!?!

• Upvotes

In the beginning of diagnosis ... plus im 35 days completely sober ...is it normal to have trouble sleeping ?? I mean I just am so awake ..like a night owl.. I dont want to take anything to sleep medicinal wise ... how do yall deal,?? How long did it take to finally sleep normally? I mean I can crash at 3 a.m wake up at 5.am and do it all over again every day for the last 5 days... I know sleeping is healing but maybe its my mind racing over everything I have been thrown at all at once ... please someone sedate me !!! šŸ˜† 🤣


r/Cirrhosis 1d ago

Diagnosis is NOT a death sentence.

67 Upvotes

I've hit the six year mark. MELD steady at 12 and holding. Low platelets/high bilirubin, but otherwise good. Ultrasound unchanged. No portal hypertension. Very mild ascites.

If you didn't know I had cirrhosis, you'd have no way of knowing ( not by looking, anyway).

If you are recently diagnosed and scared: I know exactly how you feel. I was scared, too.

Still, I quit drinking, changed my diet, and exercise daily (or try to, at least). Those three steps took a bit of getting used to, but guess what? I'm still here. Maybe not as strong or healthy as I'd be had I never started drinking, but still alive. And thriving.

Don't give up. Don't lie to yourself that it's too late to make a change in the right direction. It's never too late while you dwell above ground. Be strong. Be fearless. Be ready to keep living.

Because a cirrhosis diagnosis is not a death sentence. It's a wake-up call.


r/Cirrhosis 1d ago

One year transformation

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208 Upvotes

I’m Dave and I was admitted to the hospital 8/30/25 with liver failure and a meld score of 37. I was 27 at the time. They placed me in the icu and decided to not give me an immediate transplant, but they kept me for a month. I was listed as a transplant recipient. My official diagnosis was cirrhosis and end stage liver disease.

I am no longer listed for a transplant and my labs have been looking awesome for quite some time now. Doctors still think I will need a transplant at some point, but for now I’m kicking the can down the road.

It took a lot of big life changes but I have managed to stay sober and I owe it all to my friends and family who stuck with me.

The biggest change I have made is my diet. At first I had to be on a huge sodium restriction, it got me in the habit of paying attention to the food I eat. That has spiraled into me now tracking my macros and eating clean 90% of the time. I also started to workout just for some movement at first like some biking and walking. I wasn’t working so I had all this time and it was winter in the upper Midwest. Now I’m back to working full time plus overtime with my same employer and I lift on a PPL UL split My doctor said no to squats and deadlifts specifically and advised against me doing overhead free weight work. I am 6’2 and I have dropped about 50 pounds from 215 to 170-175 depending on the day.

It’s amazing what a difference just a year can make. My life has done a complete 180. It is going to suck more nights than not for a long time after you stop drinking and it still does a year a later. It’s not easy and I’m nowhere near out of the woods, but I have faith in myself to maintain my sobriety. It’s not up to anyone but me.

Thank you,
I just wanted to share my story.


r/Cirrhosis 1d ago

Pretty proud

23 Upvotes

Today I went to the carnival sobre for the 1st time since I was a child. I didn't stay too long because of anxiety but it was a good amount of time. Small steps n all that but I am very proud of myself. I hope everyone is having a good day šŸ’“


r/Cirrhosis 1d ago

TIPS tips?

4 Upvotes

Tomorrow I go in for a consult with an interventional radiologist regarding having a TIPS procedure. I expect we are going down that road, though it may be late September, early October, before I actually get it done. I would love to hear anyone’s experiences with TIPS—good or bad. I was evaluated for TIPS 2 years ago, but it was decided I was not yet sick enough to justify the risks that go with the procedure. Now I am. The difference is I’ve developed pleural effusion around my lung—a dangerous condition called hepatic hydrothorax. You know that Maroon 5 song lyric ā€œIt’s getting harder and harder to breatheā€ ? That’s me. Literally. So it looks like this is going to happen. The good side, as I understand it, is that my portal hypertension will basically go away. The biggest downside is increased risk of HE. So, I’m excited about the prospects of feeling better, anxious about the HE risk. Any words of wisdom?


r/Cirrhosis 1d ago

Consistent pain in SKIN with cirrhosis.

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0 Upvotes

He's also saying, " I just don't feel well "! He has a new, fairly large mark on his liver. However, thus far, the doctor doesn't seem sure if it might be malignant or not. I am aware he needs more testing, I'm just looking for some personal experiences


r/Cirrhosis 1d ago

Quality of Life with Liver Cirrhosis

10 Upvotes

My 74-year-old wife stopped drinking alcoholic beverages, mainly beer, a year ago. She was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis via an MRI scan and a liver biopsy, along with very abnormal blood values. Her cirrhosis class is CHILD PUGH C10, MELD 14.

She was admitted to the hospital with a very swollen abdomen, from which at least 8 liters of ascites fluid were drained.
It is a mystery to me why the GP did not notice the ascites in her abdomen sooner. She has lost a lot of weight since then and appears malnourished, with thin arms and sunken cheeks. She hardly dares to leave the house anymore because she is ashamed.
She weighs herself every day, but her weight always fluctuates around 60 kg, which is quite okay. The medication she takes is Spirolactone, Lasix, and Kredex, and in the morning also Lactulose for constipation and ammonia production in the intestines. Her ascites is now almost completely under control. However, the major problem is that hardly a day goes by without her feeling very nauseous and uncomfortable. She also suffers constantly from constipation, ranging from mild to painful blockages of the rectum, which then have to be cleared by injecting a tube of Microlax; that helps.
Tomorrow she has to have another MRI and a blood test (every 6 months); we will wait and see what the results are. But I can only say that her quality of life has been severely diminished by this constant nausea. Zofran has not yet been prescribed for this, and I do not know if it will help or if the doctor is even willing to prescribe it.
The hepatologist had advised her to stop taking Spirolactone for a while, and with the warm weather she was allowed to stop taking Lasix as well, but then the ascites suddenly returned in her legs and feet; it would make anyone feel discouraged.


r/Cirrhosis 1d ago

Feeling inferior around drinkers

5 Upvotes

How do people handle the stigma of cirrhosis and the difficulty around family and friends who drink? Does anyone successfully manage light alcoholic beverages or does everyone completely abstain? I went to a family gathering yesterday and it's hard watching my brothers and cousins drink beer knowing I'm unable to.

Music festivals, sporting events, weddings, parties... I am a twin and I have to sit and watch my brother enjoy alcohol..

I feel angry at the world for ending up in this situation and feel different and inferior to everyone else.

Any positive thoughts or suggestions?

Thank you.


r/Cirrhosis 2d ago

Random hand cramping

7 Upvotes

My fingers keep cramping up. I've had issues in the past from arthritis but this is different can't extend or move my fingers happens out of no where very randomly.

Also have some nerve pain in my feet/toes

Is this normal?


r/Cirrhosis 2d ago

Question about after getting drained

5 Upvotes

I was drained on my upper right quadrant in the hospital a few days .. now the drain site is healing perfectly.....nothing is seeping..it isnt red or inflamed ... I noticed today the same color fluid that came out is accumulating in the same side hip area..no pain ... no fever ..chills ..... I was wondering if this is normal?? If I love around and keep from tight clothes around it will my body absorb it and dispose of it ..or is it trapped and I have to go back to the dang ER where they did the procedure.. I was hospitalized for 8 days..so im wondering if it just hasnt been absorbed or got stuck due to not walking around much after they drained it. I know dont go to then internet for medical advice ...im not. I have messaged my G.I AND HEP doc sent pictures but of course its the weekend ..I was just wondering if anyone has experienced the same and what do you do??

Much love ā¤ļø appreciate the insight ..im learning


r/Cirrhosis 2d ago

Medicaid and cirrhosis.

2 Upvotes

Has anyone ever dealt with the insurance aspect of cirrhosis? We’ve hit a brick wall with my brother while he’s been dealing with multiple organ failure. He went from the ICU-LTAC-NSF. We’ve been advocating to get him a transplant evaluation but keep hitting a financial roadblock. His Indiana Medicaid only covers so much. We heard from Indianapolis transplant center but have yet to receive a call back. He lives in Indiana but grew up in the city of Chicago. It’s been a struggle to get him home because of his coverage.


r/Cirrhosis 2d ago

HCC question?

3 Upvotes

Does anyone know how likely you are to get hcc with compensated cirrhosis? Next mri is tomorrow so I’m deep in my head right now.


r/Cirrhosis 3d ago

Cirrhosis & Edibles?

6 Upvotes

My husband has cirrhosis and had a TIPS procedure back in September of 2024. I ordered him 6mg THC gummies for his pain & insomnia, REALLY hoping it will help him because he struggles immensely with both… but after just Googling it, it’s saying THC isn’t safe for those with cirrhosis and a TIPS. Do any of you have experience with it after having a TIPS procedure, and if so, has it caused you any negative or worsening side effects with your cirrhosis? Please help, I just want him to start feeling and sleeping better!


r/Cirrhosis 3d ago

Need guidance/suggestions for my father's liver disease treatment

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1 Upvotes

r/Cirrhosis 3d ago

Cirrhosis Pain Management

5 Upvotes

My mom (71 yo) has autoimmune hepatitis, cirrhosis and portal vein hypertension. To complicate matters, as her symptoms worsened a year ago, she discovered (early on) that she had Cholangiocarcinoma aka bile duct cancer.

Thankfully she responded to chemo and recently finished radiation. We are waiting to until September 21 for scans to see if the cancer is clear so we can move towards transplantation at Houston Methodist. Her current MELD score is 15.

Mom is very thin and cannot eat due to ā€œfeeling full.ā€ Every waking moment of the day she is in severe pain due to her stomach feeling ā€œtight.ā€ The pain is so bad she rarely sleeps all night which seems to compound problems. Her ascites has been okay and on average they’re draining a few liters every couple of weeks.

Has anyone else had parents or loved ones in a similar situation? I’m really looking to see if anyone has ideas as to how we can get her more comfort and alleviate the severe ā€œtightnessā€ feeling that’s is destroying any of quality of life she might have. Her physicians at UT Southwestern are giving us some hope that a liver transplant might still be an option but at this point I don’t seeing her suffering through the pain while on the waitlist. Any help or insight is welcomed!


r/Cirrhosis 3d ago

Colonoscopy alternatives - lower GI bleed

1 Upvotes

My uncle was diagnosed with cirrhosis in 2025 due to alcoholism. He continued drinking up until almost 2 months ago when he started vomiting blood. He spent a month in the hospital and then was sent home. Recently, he started having dark blood in his stools. He went to the hospital again, they did an endoscopy and said that there were a few small esophageal varices but nothing to worry about. They scheduled his colonoscopy on Monday because they said that he must drink 3L of a prep liquid beforehand. Although he received a lot of IVs, including blood transfusions, he now started to bleed from his rectum (not only when pooping) and his mental state went down really fast. He had issues with HE before, but nothing really alarming, but now he is almost unresponsive and doesn't understand what we say to him. The doctors excluded a stroke being the cause. Although he is bleeding and unresponsive, his BP is good as well as his heart rate.

I am very concerned by the fact that he is still bleeding a lot, and his mental state is really bad. Considering his current situation isn't there anything else that can be done outside colonoscopy to find out where he is bleeding from and to stop the bleeding? Has any of you been in a similar situation? Are there other things that we should ask/propose to the doc?

Sorry for the potential mistakes but I am really concerned and dont know what to do next.

Many thanks

LATER EDIT: He currently is hospitalised. (sorry for not being clear enough)


r/Cirrhosis 4d ago

Just need to vent.

15 Upvotes

I have posted on this sub many times since being diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. A little bit about me, I am 23 female who has drank steadily for 5 years. Just this past year my liver apparently took a shit because last January on ct scan of kidneys my liver had ā€œmild fatty streakingā€. I honestly have no symptoms other than fatigue and my nose was bleeding a lot when I was drinking but I pick at it constantly. I very rarely get a nose bleed now. but I do have esophageal varcies they found one column of 4 and I’ve had multiple banding for the same ones. I go again on the 4th of September. I go see a hepatologist Oct 5. So for now being managed by GI. I was diagnosed through ct scan and a biopsy. However my fibrosure blood test had a fibroscore of 0.70 (F3) so not sure why it’s conflicting. I am mad, I am upset and feel this is so unfair. I am grieving so hard. I just needed to let someone know.


r/Cirrhosis 3d ago

Vaccination??

0 Upvotes

Curious as to if anyone with cirrhosis has taken vaccines for flu...pneumonia and etc? This is NOT a political talk ...this is me asking the benefits or the reasons why or not anyone has or hasnt in medical terms. As someone that stays away from them ..I was a military brat and ex-wife so I had my multiple fair shares of them.. (but its been years since I gotten ANY) but I heard it may be more important given what my situation is. Any thoughts??


r/Cirrhosis 4d ago

Am I an enabler?

13 Upvotes

My Queen was diagnosed in February. She made it clear right away, this will not define her life choices.

First couple months I was pretty annoying, not on purpose, and I learned to chill out.

Over the last three months she has told me she isn’t drinking, and I knew it was a lie, because for whatever reason I’ve always been able to tell even if she had one sip. Before the diagnosis that was something she found flattering.

After the diagnosis it became an accusation. Since I love her, and true love isn’t controlling, my reaction was to convince myself I am wrong when I thought she was drinking, and believe her for her word. That’s being a good partner.

She knows lying of any fashion is the one thing I don’t like. According to her, I’m a freak for never lying, apparently everyone lies all the time. I don’t like fake.

Today she told me she hasn’t stopped drinking and won’t. She has cut way back and might not do it for two days or so.

I told her thank you for opening up, thank you for allowing me to see I wasn’t crazy all those nights thinking you had, and asked if she understood how she most likely will die if she continues to drink.

She said she does know, she’d rather that than be controlled.

Am I an enabler for not demanding her to do what’s best for her liver right now? I can’t be comfortable watching her have a drink, but I can’t do it without causing a scene because I’d rather have moments near her than not.

She kept saying she wants to drink responsibly like one at a dinner date. I told her I have one stipulation, and that’s that you own it, you admit there is no responsible amount with cirrhosis. It took me saying it four times and she reluctantly agreed.

I hope I’m making the right choice.

Thank you for the safe space to vent and any feedback anyone shares.