I have a liver disease and I recently read that...?

I will try to explain about liver disease:

There are over 30 causes of the liver cells becoming damaged.

When the liver cells become damaged, the immune system of

the body will respond to this and cause inflammation to develop

inside the liver. This will cause the liver to enlarge in size.

If the cause can be found and "if it can be" stopped, the problem

should reverse and the liver cells can heal.

However, if this doesn't take place, the inflammation will

continue on and cause the liver cells to start to die off and

form scar tissue inside the liver. The scar tissue will

eventually block the flow of blood through the liver

on its way back to the heart and to the other functioning

liver cells and they will continue to die off. This is then

a diagnosis of Cirrhosis of the liver. It is an

irreversible, progressive disease.

Those who have what is known as a Fatty liver disease

from: obesity, fast weight loss, gaining weight, diabetes,

certain kinds of medications, high cholesterol or triglyceride

levels, alcohol consumption and others....may be placed on

a diet to help remove fats from the body. If there is Fat

infiltration inside the liver...the fat can cause damage to the

liver cells because it causes added pressure inside the liver...

it is then diagnosed as Steatohepatitis. STeato means

fat, hepat means liver, and itis means inflammation.

The liver makes bile. Bile flows from the inside of the liver,

through tube like structures (known as ducts) to the gallbladder

to be stored and concentrated. When we eat and the food

moves from the stomach to the first part of the intestines...

hormones signal the gallbladder to contract and this pushes

this bile into the common bile duct to flow down to the

intestines to help emulsify the fats, so they can be digested

and absorbed into the body. Sometimes, the bile ducts

become blocked by a stone or growth, malformation of the

ducts, or even an infection. If the bile doesn't reach the intestines,

certain fat soluble vitamins will not be absorbed and neither will

the fats...they will stay in the intestines and go out in the

bowel movements. The stools will become lighter in color and

may even float on top of the water and appear greasy.

People who have liver disease, have muscle wasting

and tend to become very thin inspite of anything they may

eat.

You stated that you are placed on a "lower" sodium diet

and diuretics. That is because Cirrhosis patients tend to

hold onto sodium in their bodies, which holds onto fluid.

This can cause swelling of the legs and feet and other areas.

The doctor usually informs the patient of how much sodium and,

also, how much fluid they are allowed to have in a days time period.

Ascites, is the build up of fluid in the abdominal area because

of the liver not being able to make a protein, known as

Albumin, efficiently anymore. This protein is what holds fluids

inside our vessels and now it leaks out and collects there.

The doctor can remove this fluid by a procedure known as

paracentesis.

It depends on the cause of your liver disease, what your diet

should be. If necessary, the doctor may refer you to a

dietitian that will take into account all your medical conditions

and make up a diet that is specific to your personal body's

needs. The best oils to use are olive oil and canola oil.

However, baking...broiling...boiling foods are much better

for you than frying them.

Most liver patients who have liver disease not from alcohol

or a fatty liver condition, should eat a well balanced diet and

this includes some oils/fats.

If you have difficulty eatting, you can ask the doctor to be

placed on supplements. There are drinks that can replace

the food you eat. However, he may take you off the extra

vitamins if he does this...as these supplements tend to

cover alot of them.

I hope this information has been of help to you. Best wishes

Your uncle is an alcoholic which often leads to cirrhosis. This happens due to healthy tissue being replaced with scar tissue in the liver. Alcohol causes inflammation to the liver and it is not good to inflame your liver for 30+ years like your uncle has done. His doctor probably did some blood work on him for liver function and it's showing possible liver failure. If his liver enzymes are elevated, his platelets low, his biliruben high, and his blood clotting time is abnormal, this all points to liver failure. Cirrhosis is permanent damage that does not go away. He must stop drinking because this disease will be fatal if his liver is failing and he continues to drink. Everything depends on how much damage is done. If the damage is severe enough, he will need a transplant to stay alive. It's very difficult for an alcoholic to get a transplant. The first thing they require is at least 6 months of proven sobriety before they will even begin to consider you. After that, then you must go through an evaluation process to determine whether or not you are a good candidate to receive a transplant. Many alcoholics either will not or cannot stop drinking or do not have 6 months left to live since many wait until it is too late to receive help. I'm sorry to say that if your uncle continues to drink and has liver failure, this will be his fate too. Your next question will be how long? That all depends on how much damage he already has, so his doctor will be the only one that could answer that question.

Hi Crazy Horse,

Sorry to hear about your Liver, first of all you did the right thing, you took the first step, you no longer drink!!

you can try "milk thistle" ask your doctor first , it's known to clean out the iver and help heal it.

I do not know too much on the subject, I wish you lots of luck, work on the smoking, try and quit.

eat healthy foods.. and excersize that is all you can do for now. I hope everything turns around for you.

Again Goodluck.