how can people live with cirrohis - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

roach · 08-25-2003, 08:44 PM

Hi, I want to know how it is that people can live with cirrohsis so long.
I dont understand; i hear of people have bleeds then going to the hospital and getting a transfusion or a banding and then they are fine.
The reason I ask is because my dad died of cirrohsis in january. He got cirrohsis from hep c from a blood transfusion 10 yrs ago. He wasnt a drinker. He never drank a drop..

Anyways he was diagnosed with cirrohsis in sept 2002 and he died in jan. 2003. 4 months!

We took him to the hospital and he got worse while he was in there. He came home for 5 days and he couldnt do anything, he was a mess. The doctors never told us anyhing like he was going to die. We thought he'd get better.
The night he died blood gushed out of his mouth and nose and then he was dead minutes later.

Does this sound normal? I'm still not over what i saw that night and i really dont think the hospital or doctors did enough to help my dad when he was in there..........is this common with cirrohsis patients to die so fast and sudden?

Thanks

projapoti · 08-26-2003, 12:28 AM

I am very sorry to hear about your father.

The thing with cirrhosis is that it can progress at different rates in different people depending on the cause of it. Even if two people both have Hepatitis C, the way the virus affects one's liver can vary from patient to patient. One of the risk associated with cirrhosis is a massive upper GI bleed from one of the veins in the esophagus. The problem is, if they are not banded in time, you can have a catastrophic bleed which can result in death...also, it can happen at any time without warning. I guess they could have kept him in the hospital for extended periods of time, but then what life would he have lived?

athiena35 · 09-02-2003, 05:27 PM

Hey Roach remember me my Dad went to the hospital with same symptoms as your dad also in sept. 2002 couldn't walk was incoherent for weeks. But he got better and is still doing good he drinks beer everyday he is on no meds and under no doctors care he's not full of liquid his eyes aren't even yellow but Im just afraid any day he will have a bleed after hearing about your Dad. Im sorry your about your Dad
Take care

bojelet · 11-07-2003, 07:19 PM

My question is about stage 4 cirrohsis. My dad had a liver biopsy, the nurse called and said stage 4, only 5 stages and the doctor will see you on the 17th. What can I expect? He's not a drinker, doesn't have any swelling, or jaundice, seems ok overall. He went to the doctor because he was exhausted/weak. Thanks...