Conquering Cirrhosis

You feel weak and tired much of the time. Sometimes you feel nauseous. You had a drinking problem in the past. You might be suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.

Cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver that results when toxins like alcohol or hepatitis viruses B and C kill the liver cells and exhaust the organ’s usual capacity to regenerate itself. The scarring blocks blood flow and the liver’s ability to function properly, leading to symptoms that can’t be reversed. An immune attack on the liver and the bile ducts also produces cirrhosis.

Some symptoms of cirrhosis are: jaundice with severe itching; nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; swelling (edema) in your legs, feet and ankles; fluid buildup in your belly/abdomen; brownish or orange color to your urine; light colored stools; confusion, difficulty thinking, memory loss, personality changes; blood in your stool, redness in the palms of your hands; and spider-like blood vessels that surround small, red spots on your skin (telangiectasias).

It is estimated that one in 400 adults in the United States suffers from cirrhosis. The disease is more common in men than women and occurs more frequently after age 50.

You are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver if you:

§  Use alcohol for many years.

§  Have viral hepatitis.

§  Have diabetes.

§  Have obesity.

§  Inject drugs using shared needles.

§  Have a history of liver disease.

§  Have unprotected sex.

Cirrhosis of the liver isn’t the same as liver cancer, though many people with liver cancer have cirrhosis. The disease isn’t inherited (passed on through parent to child). Cirrhosis can’t be reversed but the progression can be halted.

Having a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver isn’t necessarily fatal but as the disease progresses you will experience liver failure and you may need a liver transplant.

Many people with cirrhosis report abdominal pain. Pain in the liver itself can feel like a dull, aching pain and stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under the ribs. General pain in the abdomen and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.

Pain can come both from the diseases that lead to cirrhosis or cirrhosis can make the pain from the existing diseases worse. For instance, if you have non-alcohol related fatty liver disease and have obesity, you may also have osteoarthritis and cirrhosis which make your bone and joint pain worse.

To diagnose cirrhosis, your provider will need to perform a physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests, and a biopsy.

In addition, experts have classified cirrhosis into categories. Compensated cirrhosis is when you have cirrhosis but no discernible symptoms. Decompensated cirrhosis means the condition has worsened to the point where symptoms are noticeable.

With compensated cirrhosis, the only confirmation of your diagnosis might be your liver biopsy. The median survival rate for patients in this category is nine to 12 years.

For decompensated cirrhosis, your health provider bases your condition on physical, lab findings and history. You have at least one complication. You are admitted to the hospital for care. The median survival rate is two years.

There is no cure for cirrhosis. But there are steps you can take to prevent it from worsening. These steps include stop drinking alcohol, treat chronic hepatitis if you have it, avoid medications that stress the liver and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Many of the causes and complications that lead up to cirrhosis are manageable and treatable. There is always hope. If you have questions about cirrhosis, please consult your health care provider.