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What Is The Life Expectancy Of Someone With End Stage Liver Disease?
Question: My husband has XXXXXXX and has been told he has end stage liver disease. His liver is described as small and hard. His tremors are getting steadily worse. What life expectancy am I looking at? What can I do to help him?
Brief Answer:
Life expectancy depends on level of compensation
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist.
I can understand your concerns.
Life expectancy depends on what level of "compensation" one has and what you actually mean by "end stage". There are people with compensated cirrhosis who live for many years. Their liver is scarred, but they don't have all the manifestations of chronic liver disease (like ascites, jaundice, weight loss, fatigue, lack of appetite, confusion etc. etc.)
On the other hand, if you mean to say end stage or decompensated in other words has a lot of fluid in the belly, distended veins in the esophagus which are prone to bleeding or has already bled, is confused that is hepatic encephalopathy, is yellow (Jaundice) etc. etc. etc. This scenario is different. This is the group of people who actually have"end-stage" liver disease. Often these people have few months to live.
As he is having tremors suggest that he is in hepatic encephalopathy (HE). For which I will suggest you to see for any precipitating factor for HE like infection, electrolyte imbalance, intake of any sedation or constipation. If any of the above is present remove it. So get test for complete haemogram, serum sodium and potassium and correct if abnormal.
ENSURE HE MAY PASS TWO TO THREE STOOLS PER DAY BY TITRATING THE DOSE OF LACTULOSE.
Keep his intake and output strictly so that if there is any fall or any fever in output take him to Doctor for evaluation
Basically a good care and alertness is any required, if anything you see wrong, you may visit your doctor immediately
Also you may add L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate which comes in XXXXXXX or tablet or syrup form which will help in improving the tremors which he is having. You should discuss with your doctor regarding this.
I hope I have answered your query and this will help you . Wish you a good health
Life expectancy depends on level of compensation
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist.
I can understand your concerns.
Life expectancy depends on what level of "compensation" one has and what you actually mean by "end stage". There are people with compensated cirrhosis who live for many years. Their liver is scarred, but they don't have all the manifestations of chronic liver disease (like ascites, jaundice, weight loss, fatigue, lack of appetite, confusion etc. etc.)
On the other hand, if you mean to say end stage or decompensated in other words has a lot of fluid in the belly, distended veins in the esophagus which are prone to bleeding or has already bled, is confused that is hepatic encephalopathy, is yellow (Jaundice) etc. etc. etc. This scenario is different. This is the group of people who actually have"end-stage" liver disease. Often these people have few months to live.
As he is having tremors suggest that he is in hepatic encephalopathy (HE). For which I will suggest you to see for any precipitating factor for HE like infection, electrolyte imbalance, intake of any sedation or constipation. If any of the above is present remove it. So get test for complete haemogram, serum sodium and potassium and correct if abnormal.
ENSURE HE MAY PASS TWO TO THREE STOOLS PER DAY BY TITRATING THE DOSE OF LACTULOSE.
Keep his intake and output strictly so that if there is any fall or any fever in output take him to Doctor for evaluation
Basically a good care and alertness is any required, if anything you see wrong, you may visit your doctor immediately
Also you may add L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate which comes in XXXXXXX or tablet or syrup form which will help in improving the tremors which he is having. You should discuss with your doctor regarding this.
I hope I have answered your query and this will help you . Wish you a good health
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
He does have weight loss (has lost 85 pounds),fatigue, lack of appetite and confusion as well as the tremors. Where can I find the LOmithine-L-Asparate from?
What about using Milk Thistle?
What about using Milk Thistle?
Brief Answer:
give him vitamin supplements and high protein diet
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Give him some vitamin supplements and high protein diet
L ornithine l aspartate is prescription medicine you can get it after prescription from your doctor.
Wish him a good health and may he get wellsoon
give him vitamin supplements and high protein diet
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Give him some vitamin supplements and high protein diet
L ornithine l aspartate is prescription medicine you can get it after prescription from your doctor.
Wish him a good health and may he get wellsoon
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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