Can you help me understand what is happening to my friend's Dad?

[HonorMatopoeia]

I feel i could help her in a more constructive way if I understood it slightly more.
He's in hospital, things are quite bad I gather, he has something up with his liver and I can't even begin to spell it I'm afraid (ph - see-row-sis??). He's been a haevy drinker and smoker for all his adult life.
She is completely beside herself and apparently he can't get a scan until tomorrow due to BH etc. I don't want to be saying things like 'He'll be ok' if it's unlikely.
Was just wondering if anyone knew more about what this is (I know it means his liver is knackered but what will happen next?) .
Thank you mumsnetters who know

is this of any help?

I'm sorry, I don't, but cirrhosis is what it sounds like, if you want to google

digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cirrhosis/
This may be useful.

Thank you for the links ladies. Having scanned them, it doesn't look good. Apparently patients who have been diagnosed are lucky if they last 5 years .
How on earth do I help her through this? I remember when my Dad was in hospital, we felt useless and terrible

My BIL has psirrohis of the liver...basically the liver, which can renew itself if left alone, will break down entirely and you go into a coma.
You have to give up whatever cause dthe liver damage (drugs and alcohol in BIL case).
He was in hospital 3 months and lost 6 stone.
His mother took charge and my DH drove him to bugaboo nowhere land where mum lives and she kept him in the house (he could barely walk at this point) and he came off drink and drugs by default as he was unable to get them.
If he had continued drinking he would have died. when he was in hospital the consultant said, you have less than 2 years unless you give up drink and drugs.
Now he is off the toxic stuff BUT his liver is damaged beyond repair. Unless he has a liver transplant he will die within 2 years they reackon. they are amazed he is alive even now.
Lovely things that accompany liver collapse/cirrhosis: you go yellow with bile, your stomach swells with bile, bodily fluids build up and your legs swell and go black, the fluid can only be drained off using tubes in a hosptial. depending on teh doctor/hospital you might get this done each week or they may leave you to once a month. your body cannot put on weight and any antibiotics would also damage your liver so flu can kill you. you lose your appetite.
When someone is si hosptial like this there is very little to be done except help the person come off the toxic substances and hope they get a transplant.
If they don't give up the toxic stuff be prepared for regular dashes into hospital.

Miggsie, thank you for sharing your BIL's story. My friend is going to have a lot to cope with isn't she? The side effects sound really , at least knowing this I will have some idea of what she is going to go through.

DH's best mates Dad died of this 18 months ago. It was sad, not least because it was so drawn out- and every time he moved forwards (not drink related for him, they dont know what triggered it but are doing genetic tests) he'd suddenly take a step back, when he died it was suddenly.

best thing you can do is just be there. feed her if she's been in hospital, visit him if you know him, that sort of thing.

I think the drawn out thing has her more worried than anything else Peachy. She's currently at her parents house, her Mum is trying to persuade her to go back home (about 40 miles away) and go back to work. She feels she needs to be near to her family at the moment. I've told her to explain exactly how she feels to her mum.
Have texted her again and told her to ring or text if she needs company or a chat. She is a fiercely private person so it is tricky to know when to pester and when not too. Like the idea of feeding her, may offer to cook her tea next week. My 2 Dc's would certainly take her mind off of things for a while!

TBh i think its good to be close, friends dad died 80 miles away as that was nearest liver unit, they ahd no chance of getting there.