Cirrhosis Support Group

I'm new here, and looking for support. I'm 33 married with 3 small children. I am an only child my parents divorced when I was 13 due to his alcoholism. They are still close but she has remarried. My father is in hospital now. He has end stage liver disease from cirrhosis due to drinking. He has ALWAYS BEEN A CLOSET DRINKER!!! He called ambulance on Mon. Said he was sick. When I got there he was crying saying he's tired of being sick. He was diagnosed with disease over 20 yrs ago. He his swollen jaundiced badly and little disoriented. Renal dr came in today and wants to start albumin and scan kidneys. Sodium was low hasn't bled yet. But has been in and out of hospital for bleeding. My heart is broke I'm looking for support. My biggest question is where do we go from here??? One dr. Said visiting nurses (he lives alone) another said assisted Living which he'll never go for... It all makes sense to me now how he slow all the time and repeats thing and forgets things... His ammonia was 50 today he's huge and yellow and lethargic but could be from Ativan. I need honest answers please! Where do we go when we get released and how long roughly does he have?? I know one thing if he goes home I'm hiding car keys and gonna have to check on him along with visiting nurse, and he more than likely will walk to store for booze since store isbeside the house.. I do NOT want to find him dead! Thank you for letting me share this...

Post edited by: Bucksfan1, at: 11/05/2011 07:32 PM

If he won't stop drinking for you, there's not a lot you can do about that. Swollen, jaundiced, disoriented, slow, lethargic; that all sounds like me about a year ago. We started having hospice come in until insurance company said couldn't have hospice AND be on the transplant list. That was an easy choice. We were starting to look at visiting nurses, but I wasn't able to participate much in that, so it never got done. I had a post last September-November time frame (maybe in my diary) where I listed the things I was sick of.

Ammonia of 50 will definitely put some people (like me) into that disoriented state. Others can handle it MUCH higher.

If you want to know ROUGHLY how long, find out his MELD score and ask them to explain what that number means in terms of mortality. But then remember that MELD goes down as well as up.

Can you get him one of those medical alert button thingys? That could give a little peace of mind.

Bucksfan1,

Mike gave you good advice. Until he stays sober the disease will continue to progress.

I use a visiting nurse on and off. They do a excellent job here and don't know what I would have done with out them. Here they are provided through Home Health. Palliative care and hospice also provide home nurses.

Thank you guys for the info! I need to talk to a social worker I'm clueless. Called the attorney and he is drawing up all the paperwork for power of attorney n such... I really don't know how to deal with hospice how often they will come to house??? Now sounds like the kidney need a kick start. Giving him scan mon. And starting albumin.

My hospice nurses came three times a week. It depends, they will discuss what is needed and appropriate.

I just wanted to post a short note to say you're not alone, and it's good to reach out - I'm glad you did.

I'm new here too, so I don't have any advice on the medical aspect of this disease...but I did lose my father to alcohol. I was about your age too.

Your dad has got his demons, and as much as you wish he could see what it's doing to you, he cannot. Unless of course he gets sober. My dad didn't and you have to accept that he may not.

I guess all I am here to say is that I pray for strength for you during this time. Keep coming back and let us know how you're holding up.

Sending positive thoughts and strength for you. It's not an easy road but hang in there.

Thank you all , unfortunately my sweet father passed away Sunday Nov. 20. I buried him the day before thanksgiving we made it home 1 day and he bled out pretty bad and we went into hospital under hospice care Friday and he died following sun.. My heart is broke but I god has and will continue to give me strength. It was just hard being only child.. I really really miss him so. Imy little ones and I are used to him coming up everyday. Now he's gone forever

I'm so sorry Bucksfan for your loss. Sending positive thoughts for strength to you and your little ones, cherish the memories.

Bucksfan1,

You Have my deepest sympathy.