I'm planning a story where a character finds out he has cirrhosis, and it's in the final stages. How long is someone typically given to live if they are in the latter stages of this disease, and what symptoms might they experience?
A patient could develop fluid in the abdominal area.
This fluid is known as Ascites. it is caused because
the liver can no longer make a protein, known as
Albumin, efficiently. The fluid can keep building
up inside the patient and cause pressure to
develop against other organs and up against
the diaphragm, making it difficult for them to breathe
and feel like eatting. The doctor can remove this
fluid by a procedure known as paracentesis.
This is where they insert a needle connected to
a tube that leads to a vacuum bottle or bag. The
vacuum inside cause the fluid to be gently pulled
from the abdomen into this bottle. it is sent to
the lab to be tested then.
A person can develop fluid in other areas of the
body, also. This fluid is known as edema.
Mostly, this is seen in the legs and the feet.
It is caused because people who have Cirrhosis
of the liver tend to hold onto too much sodium in
their bodes. Most patients are told to elevate
their legs (do not massage them). they are
placed on diuretic and a "lower" sodium diet.
The patient will start to become easily confused
and disoriented. This condition is known as
Encephalopathy. it happens because certain
toxins, like ammonia, is able to pass the blood
brain barrier and go into the brain. The liver
used to take the ammonia…which is a byproduct
of the proteins we use…and convert it into urea
for the body to dispose of. The liver cells can
no longer do this efficiently…therefore the
ammonia stays in the blood.
People who have this problem are usually
placed on medications like Lactulose.
It is important they take the medication…because
they may end up in a coma, if this isn't done.
This conditions also causes them to have
sleep pattern changes and trembling in the
hands making it difficult for them to write.
Portal hypertension: As the liver cells die
off and form scar tissue inside the liver….
this blocks the flow of blood through the liver
on its way back to the heart. with Cirrhosis,
the liver is actually dying inside the patient.
The once soft, smooth organ has turned
into a enlarged spongy one with the development
of inflammation. with cirrhosis, it starts to
shrink and become hard textured.
The blood isn't able to go through the liver
and it backs up into the portal vein and into
other smaller vessels (varies)…not used to handling
this amount of blood and they can have weak spots
that can break open and bleed. These are
usually found in the esophagus, rectal area,
and belly button area. any blood seen in the
vomit, sputum, or in the rectal area is an
emergency. The doctor can go in and "band"
these varies to stop the bleeding.
The pressure inside the portal vein is known
as Portal hypertenstion.
Patients with cirrhosis tend to bruise and bleed
very easily. The liver is no longer able to make
the clotting factors that helps the blood to clot.
Patients are also extremely tired since the
body is trying to heal and also, other organs
are trying to compensate for what the liver
no longer can do. The liver does over 500
functions to keep the body well.
To learn more about the disease, here is a link
that may be of help to you:
medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/art…
unos.org/SharedContentDocumen…
The doctors are the only one to determine how long
a patient may survive once diagnosed. they usually
do a liver biopsy. they then take blood tests to
see how far advanced the disease may be.
Patient are placed on the transplant list according to
how much time the doctor decides the patient may
have left to live if they do not receive a transplant.
Once on the transplant list and the doctor observes
the blood work, they are given a MELD score.
The MELD score runs from 6 to 40. if a patient is
closer to a 6, they are the healthiest on the list and
may even be taken off the list…if they continue to
get better. As the patient goes up the ladder closer
to the 40 mark: they are sicker, have more signs
and symptoms, and are more in need of a transplant
sooner. if they reach the 40 mark: they have a very
short time to live and may die if an organ doesn't
become available for them.
Hope this information is of some help to you.
Best wishes