Cirrohsis broken hip, and DT's - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

Bini · 03-07-2008, 10:00 AM

I am new to the boards and am seeking some advice on my 52 year old husband. He has been diagnosed with cirrohsis since fall, 2007. He has COPD and emphysema as well. First really bad illness happened in August 2005 and since then has been a medical miracle....in and out of hospitals, etc..He was admitted on 2/13 for low blood count and low blood pressure. Was hospitalized for 5 days, got nutrients, blood, etc...then sent home. After being home for 3 days, he fell and broke his hip. He had surgery for that on 2/21, spent 4 days in ICU and then on the floor. They dismissed him to a nursing home/Rehab facilitly for therapy, but he could not stay in the bed because of extreme agitation, confusion, etc... from DT's. We are now back in the hopsital and it seems that the doctors don't know what to do. I know that he defies all the odds, but now he is so confused, has edema, ascites, and low albumin. I am amazed he is still here. He is ready to go and wants to be at peace...how much more are they going to do? He has been an alcoholic for 30 years, plus smokes 1 and 1/2 packs a day. He has all the advanced directives in place, but continues to hold on. Sorry this is so long..any advice would be appreciated...

iluvwv · 03-08-2008, 06:15 AM

wow, almost thought i was reading about my husband. what meds do they have him on?

Bini · 03-11-2008, 07:33 PM

They have him on ativan and haldol for the DT's and zosyn for pnemonia. He has been in the hospital like I said since Feb 13, had one beer at the nursing home on March 5 to see if that would calm him down...Nothing else..Would he still be going thru DT's? He just lays there and as the medication wears off, begins to get agitated again....Is this a cycle that won't end....
Thanks for the replies..

iluvwv · 03-12-2008, 01:28 PM

i am in no way an expert on any of this. all i know is what i have gone thru with my hubby.
ativan and haldol will both add to his confusion. i am surprised they have him on that. my husband didn't have dts... he quit in may 2007 with 1 slip up in june and 1 in july. he is just too sick to drink now. he has had 5 hip surgeries and they now have him on oxicodone. he is doing so much better with having less confusion since they switched his pain meds. the university said when his liver is not working then all the meds are staying in his system and he couldn't take ativan or valium. he was right and i see a big improvement.
have you asked what his ammonia level is? it may also be high and cause confusion. i would ask for a copy of his lab work. if you get it, let me know. the first thing they did for my hubby when he got confused was check his ammonia level and it was high. i can now always tell when his ammonia is getting high and i will up his doses of lactolose and miralax. they work great together.
but like i said, mine never had dts so treatment for that is new to me. but he did drink for 30 years and quit. after 6 months with no alcohol you can then get evaluated for a liver transplant. that's where we are now.
good luck.