Liver Cirrhosis

[ButteredJorts]

Have you ever known someone to survive if they followed all advice and treatment??

Yes, the liver is the one organ that can recover, but it's important to know what's causing the cirrhosis (scarring), it can be a virus (treatment for hep c used to be very difficult, but a much easier treatment is available now) , or substance like alcohol.

The saddest cases were where people just assumed it was alcohol or obeisity due to their lifestyle, but it was something very treatable and they just ignored their symptoms until it got unmanageable.

My mum died from Liver Cirrhosis in January, about 6 months after diagnosis. She kept getting hepatic encephalopathy and the last time she just didn't wake up again. We were told that the whilst there is no cure there are ways to manage symptoms. I think most people survive a lot long than my mum though. You have all my sympathy for dealing with this.

I've personally known people who've lived 20+ years with stage 4 cirrhosis. Neither received a transplant, and they led very healthy lifestyles. Both were recovering alcoholics, one also had (and was treated for) hepatitis C.

Regarding treatment plans, doctors often say the goal is to die WITH cirrhosis, not OF it. It's dependent on so many outcomes, a huge one being the ability to remove whatever it is that's harming the liver.

Even with cirrhosis, parts of the liver with lesser scarring can heal to an extent if the cause is removed. The British Liver Trust is an excellent source of information, and they have HealthUnlocked forum with some very knowledgeable people with a lot of lived experience of cirrhosis. It's well worth a look OP.

Yes but only with liver transplant. And now drinking again, so I suppose we'll see...