Nephew's liver (compensated cirrhosis)

[Lewys156]

Hi all, I've posted a thread previously expressing my concerns for my nephew who has struggled with his mental health for many years. He is only 25 (a mere baby when compared to my 66) but has been diagnosed with a condition called compensated cirrhosis, which has been explained to me as an earlier form of liver failure which initially presents no symptoms as the functions of the liver are mainly working at present. However, what has alarmed me is when looking at information regarding this on health sites online it gives the average life expectancy as only 9-12 years, which is a shock. He began drinking more last year having only drunk semi-regularly before. Surely that's such a short period of time for something like this to happen. After all he's been through the world feels very unfair!

I'm sorry your family is going through this. Is he being honest in regards to how much he's been drinking? Sadly similar to my cousin he was diagnosed with this at 29 and passed away 7yrs later, he just kept drinking and never fully acknowledged it. I hope you can all get some good support.

Thank you so much for your kind reply. I've been wondering exactly the same but feel so helpless, it's so sad to see. I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin, so so young 😫

Fingers crossed he stops drinking now

The British Liver Trust have a nurse led helpline who can give general info and advice. I found them very helpful in a similar situation

The important thing is that your nephew stops drinking and starts eating a healthy, liver friendly diet. Those two things will help more than anything else. Compensated cirrhosis is obviously very serious but the liver can still function and when drinking stops there is more chance of improving. Once you get to the point of decompensated cirrhosis (where the liver loses its ability to carry out the majority of its functions), that is when a number of issues can become life threatening
I hope your nephew is receiving appropriate care and is able to address his drinking, because if he can't, things have no chance of improving.

Thank you, he's been referred for help and counselling now so let's hope for as good an outcome as can get. He's very much loved so we all want him to be with us as long as possible obviously. I will have a look at that helpline. Thank you