Hi, my name is Samantha. I have 2 daughters ages 5, & 3. My mom was diagnosed with Hepatitis C since before I was born (I believe) & struggled with a drug & drinking problem before as well. She eventually stopped the drug abuse, but continued her drinking til sometime between Jan 2012-Aug 2012 regardless of how much I b__ched at her. Recently she was diagnosed with Cirrhosis (I'm not sure exactly when, because I was kept in the dark by everyone) & within the past couple of months she has went downhill..in & out the hospital. & just feeling horrible. As of yesterday she had surgery to get a shunt put in (the TIPS procedure) & I talked to her today, & she was speaking without gasping for air. She sounded like my mom. But than she told me that she only has 90 days of living (or something like that. I don't know. I could barely listen, without making it to where she wouldn't hear me cry) I just want to know what I should expect, & what I can do to help her be more comfortable. Please. If you have ANY advice, it is appreciated. Thank you.
My mother has cirrhosis of the liver and has been given 90 days, I just want to know what to expect?
Question posted by SamanthaJae on 10 Feb 2013
Last updated on 12 April 2014
7 Answers
Hi Samantha
I lost my mom Feb 17 to cirrhosis at age 58. We had only first discussed death with doctors 3 days earlier. It was very sudden and i was not prepared... not sure if you ever are however. My prayers are with you
Thank you. I am sorry for your loss..& NO no one is ever prepared for the loss of a loved one. Let alone a a parent. My prayers are with you & your family.
My husband had Hep C and cirrhosis. He was diagnosed in 2001 and died in 2013. His doctors always said that the only reason he was still alive as long as he was because of me. I am an RN and I would jump on it everytime he appeared to be getting septic from spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. He had a TIPS placed in Jan 2012 which completely alleviated the constant tapping of 2 liters of ascites about every other week. However TIPS itself only holds people for a max of about 18 months. The underlying liver disease continues to progress. In Sept 2013 he began sleeping alot. Then on 11/12/13 he got admitted with what turned out to be unrecognized sepsis. He had massive rectal bleeding and the GI MD said it was an anal fissure. Well, it wasnt. They warehoused him for 2 days and he went into respiratory arrest and died in ICU 7 hours later. On autopsy, he was found to have a raging MRSA infection in his belly. Moral of story is that cirrhotics are very prone to infections.
Do not assume that your local Hospital is free of MRSA. Insist people wash their hands when they enter your loved ones room and insist that overbed tables and siderails are wiped clean with bleach. Make a pest of yourself.
My aunt makes sure of it. & we all wear masks when we visit her, so she won't catch a bug or anything for that matter. I am sorry for your loss. & will have you & your family in my prayers. Thank you for responding.
hi everyone my name is sam my mom has been a drinker for fourty years now and has copd in the severe stage but over the past few months she has been having stomache cramping two weeks ago she called me and asked if I could go over to her house as she was in a lot of pain when I got there she was totally knocked off her feet rolling around in very bad pain she has lost her appitite also had brown wee then she decided to tell me that her tummy swole during the pain like she was eight months pregnant she is a very stuborrn lady who refused for me to call out a docter its driving me mad as I think she has cirrhosis but she wont go to the docter to comferm it and is still drinking four cans of cider every night of the week has anyone got any info for me as im going out my mind with worry thank you
Hi Sam. Your best bet, would be to MAKE her go to the doctor. From what I've read, it seems to be..but you never know. From my experiences with my mom, a swollen belly was fluid on the lungs..& as well as that is what caused the pain. I hope & pray she got help. & that my response finds you both in good graces. I will have you guys in my prayers.
Dear Samantha, I'm so sorry you & you're family will be going thru this. My mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-alcoholic cirrhosis almost 2 years ago & about a week ago, her Dr told us she has maybe 6 months to a year, so we have her home on hospice now... (I agree with the person who previously made the comment that no Dr should give such a time frame) A couple of months before my mom was diagnosed I helped my best friend with her father in his final 2 months of life, he had the alcohol related cirrhosis. It is going to be tough. I know that people don't have exactly the same symptoms but I will share a few similarities in my 2 personal experiences.
Ascites: fluid that builds up in the abdomen... if draining is an option this can alleviate discomfort with breathing &/or mobility, however it can increase confusion/loopiness.
Ammonia levels: if ammonia levels are high there can be ALOT of loopiness/confusion/agitation (pulling on sheets, undressing, sometimes even becoming child like, angry, bitter) *TRY NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING TO HEART WHEN SHE'S LIKE THIS* She probably won't remember her actions or anything she says when her ammonia levels get too high. My mom takes Xifaxan (a pill) & lactlose (a syrup that your mom will probably NOT be happy to take) to help with her ammonia & confusion. The lactlose will hopefully cause ALOT of bowel movements - this is how ammonia is released out of the body. Try to avoid high protein foods (red meat, peanut butter... ) these can cause the ammonia levels to go up.
Varices: ruptured blood vessels in intestines or esophagus. Some Dr's offer to band the vessels to help prevent future episodes. If your mom vomits blood or has blood in her stool this is an indication of possible varices.
Loss of appetite/dehydration: no matter if it use to be her most favorite of all favorites of food or drink, it may now make her nauseous at even the mention if it.
This is a horrible, ugly & depressing disease, regardless if it's alcohol or non-alcohol related. Just try to comfort her & enjoy the more lucid moments you have left with her.
Prayers & best wishes to you, your mom & your family!
Thank you for your response. She has experienced ALL of what you listed, & is on Xifaxan as well as the syrup. She recently started a research drug, that has cured her of Hep C. (Amazing) I hope that my response finds you in good graces, & health. As well as your mom. My prayers are with you & your family. Sorry it took so long to respond.
Dearest Samantha, I wish I had the words to help comfort your hurting heart. In
regards to what to expect-I say expect the unexpected. As far as I know, we are not born into this world with a toe tag or expiration date. Your Mom's condition may change very dramatically from day to day. Some patients have their best days just before they pass and others seem to hang on relentlessly-in a state of limbo- without much connection to the loved ones who surround them. For me, I think sometimes people hang on for awhile because somewhere deep inside of them they have "unfinished business". I am going to share with you a Mother's point a view and I hope you feel it comes from a place of love and respect. My son could very well be you right now at my bedside angry, scared, and hurt.
I love my family and my son more than anything in this world but my own personal addictions to drugs and alcohol would lead you to believe otherwise. I am clean now and I consider my son a survivor of me. I do not know your mother and I do not know what your relationship is like with her but I can tell you what I would want from my child if he were in your shoes. Most of the addicts I know are generally okay with harming themselves with drugs and alcohol. Rarely do I see an addict quit until something big happens to force them to rethink. Sometimes it seems we are too late. Your Mom knows this but she may not say it. You may be angry with her bc she did not listen and she destroyed herself and her body-she is just as angry at herself for the same thing. Although you may not see it she is punishing herself deeper than anyone who loves her could. Your Mom may struggle with forgiving herself and the fear that you never will. You may be struggling with the same thoughts as well. Think about what you might want from your children if you were dying. Would you want to hear their laugh, feel their kiss on your cheek or hear the sound of their voices... just a little longer.. just one more time? No matter how bad or how good we have been; I believe we all have the right to be surrounded with love and forgiveness when its our time to cross over. I don't know if you feel your Mom deserves that or not-if you don't that is okay too. Look inside of yourself and let yourself be still enough for awhile. You may have to do that every day..but the answers you need will come.
You gave me wonderful insight. I want you to know, that I read this when you posted..just haven't made time to nor had time to respond. So here it is over a year later..& I am. In part of you, my mom & myself are in a way better place. I have forgiven her, & have established a relationship with her. I never thought in a million years we'd be able to hold a conversation, let alone sit in the same room with one another. We all want a mother..our mother, regardless of all the hardships they put us through we want that love. & I am glad I gave her a chance. I hope, & pray that you & your son can become closer..& move on with happiness as well as love for one another. He not only owes it to himself, but to you as well. I've realized giving someone a chance isn't always a bad thing. My blessings are with you & your family. Thank you for comment, it really helped (even if it took me a year to respond. Lol. Sorry)
Hi SamanthaJae, I'm so sorry for your troubles! I agree with Ezydys, just make sure she's comfortable and let her know that she's loved.
I don't know if you can prepare yourself for this. No matter how ill your loved ones are and you know they will be better off, it's never the right time.
Maybe her status will change, sometimes strange things happen.
My thoughts and prayers are with you! May God bless you and your family!
Thank you so very much! As both of you have said, I have done (: & YES she has made a complete turn around. God is GOOD.
Wow Samantha . I'm sry to hear this . First off my experience with hep I've been fighting it for 15 yrs . You need to prepare your self first . Then get a quick education from her Dr bout her status . Sounds like she's at end stages. Make her as comfortable as possible . Is bout only thing I can suggest. I've been in your shoes 3 different times . With a couple close friends and my father in law . I gotta say it's hard and not a pretty site be strong. A lil prayer never hurts god Samantha . I wish I could say more comfort
That's what I plan on doing as soon as I make it to Dallas. Because neither my mom nor aunt tell me EVERYTHING. Just what they think I need to know. & I'm thinking she's at ending stages as well, especially from what I've read online. & thank you, what you said was comforting enough (: & I wish you the best!
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biliary cirrhosis, cirrhosis, hepatitis c, liver cirrhosis
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