Just found out 4 days ago. All her dr will say is stay away from salt and have her labs checked once a month. And that there is no cure. At least that's what mom says. I wasn't able to attend her doctor visit. My family thinks she needs to be taken to a major hospital like U of M for treatment, immediately, but they live out of state and are wanting me to carry out all of their wishes. I told them that I will do the best I can, but I am a single mom, and i work full time. I cannot take time off from work or I could lose my job. I have a mortgage to pay and a daughter to support. I live 5 miles from my mother. Her husband is clueless so he can't even really be considered, as far as my mother's care is concerned. I am not my mother's MPOA. Nobody has been appointed that, yet. I guess my question is if anyone has dealt with someone with cirrhosis and does she need to be taken to U of M Hospital for care? or is what her doctor told her all that can be done? I should add that she also is battling with diverticulitis and is in need of a hip replacement, but can't get it because of the infection. Thanks in advance for your replies.
After about 6 months of this, as his medical POA, I made the decision to discontinue these procedures and called hospice. Paracentesis is very hard on the body and my dad was filling up almost as fast as they could drain him. Within days it was determined that the toxic fluid was affecting his brain (hepatic encephalopathy). He died less than a week later.
It might comfort you to know that at no time during my dad's cirrhosis was he in any pain. Even when the fluid built up all he felt was bloated. He got very sick very fast. We only had hospice for 6 days before he died, that's how fast he went downhill.
The one thing your mom is going to have to be mindful of is new medication. Any time she sees a Dr. or goes to the hospital she's going to have to inform them that she has cirrhosis because many meds are metabolized in the liver and since your mom has liver disease she'll have to take meds that don't metabolize in the liver.
Good luck to you and your mom.