Cirrhosis & Black stools

[Pirateladyarrr]

My brother was diagnosed with cirrhosis about a year ago. He's tried rehab twice but it hasn't worked, he's been back to drinking vodka the last three months that I know of. He's told me he's has black stools for about 5 days now and a few days ago vomited some blood. The outlook isn't good is it? I feel like I'm kidding myself that he's going to be fine. My Aunty said very insensitivly that it's just about waiting for him to die now. He's my older brother and only 33. He's been a drinker since 15/16 years old.

Does anyone have any experience with this? How long does someone last with cirrhosis that doesn't quit drinking and carries on drinking the hard stuff like vodka and whisky

[Iwanttogotobed]

I am sorry to hear about your brother. I have just registered to reply as what you put is very worrying. I used to work on a liver unit- people with cirrhosis can get large dilated veins in the gullet that can bleed heavily. Black stools (melaena) can suggest a lot of blood loss from the upper gut- the blood becomes black after it passes through the digestive tract. I would strongly suggest he is seen as soon as possible in hospital. Hope he can get seen and sorted ASAP.

[AnyFucker]

Your brother is in danger of a massive life threatening bleed from oesophageal varices, I am afraid.

Can you persusde him to get medical assistance sooner rather than later ?

[Techway]

Does he live alone? I would be concerned that he could not be able to call for help.

He is very poorly and at high risk unless he get urgent help.

[HappyHarlot]

He needs medical help as soon as possible. Bleeding out from ruptured oesophageal varices is not the way I would want to die or witness someone else dying by. Sorry OP.

[Pirateladyarrr]

Yes he lives alone, I phone him once sometimes twice a day and try and see him as often as I can. He wants to wait till Friday to go hospital which is probably a bad idea then

[chocolatespiders]

Why Friday?
He needs to go asap, this is not going to get any better.
Has he had anything like this before?

[AnyFucker]

He wants to get some drinking in before Friday ?

He must be seen ASAP. But love, you cannot force him. This is not on you.

[chocolatespiders]

How are things going op? Hope your brother is getting some help.

[Pirateladyarrr]

Went to hospital with him, doctor says its internal bleeding caused by the liver cirrhosis. He needs to stay in hospital so they can further investigate where bleed is coming from with a camera down the throat. Thanks to everyone replying, he had a small rupture of his spleen a few months back so not sure if bleed is coming from that perhaps

[Whathewhatnow]

Apols: a strange nonsensical sentence in there ...

[Ilovepinot]

Hopefully this is the scare he needs to stop drinking. Hospital is the best place for him at the moment. Look after yourself too.