Think someone wrote some where on here about doctor appointments. I do see a hematologist and a liver specialist and MRi every 6 months and blood work every 3 months, Ultra sound every 6 months. My AST and ASL where high and now there in the normal range, but did not impress the doctors. Now it doesn't bother me, don't really know if it is because of that or just the natural progression same as the pain that would go all the way thru to the back has gotten a lot less. A doctor friend of mine told me about milk thistle, which I started back in Nov 2012 before that I was having itching so bad I would scratch until I bleed. He could not remember what it was that they gave him but he is going to see if he can find out it was experimental. Hi yes a friend of mine had it pretty bad too and he said they gave him a triangle pill for 6 months and according to him it is on hold even got a little better. If you are seeing a hepatologist and he can't explain the cause of your Cirrhosis, find another hepatologist. If your liver specialist is not a hepatologist, find a hepatologist. I know more about Hepatitis C than I do about other causes of Cirrhosis, so I can't help too much in the other areas. Again, the bottom line question is for your hepatologist to find out what is causing your Cirrhosis so that hopefully that can be treated in order to stop or slow down the progression of the Cirrhosis. Your hepatologist should be able to help you manage this symptom of Cirrhosis with diet and medication. It sounds like you have ascites (fluid build up due to portal hypertension). All of this is done in an attempt to figure out what is causing the inflammation and scarring to the liver. Usually he/she will also order lots of blood work to look for changes in the liver enzymes, bilirubin, etc. Also, generally speaking, a hepatologist will order a colonoscopy and an endoscopy to look at the health of other parts of the digestive tract to make sure there aren't other problems. Generally speaking, when it is discovered that one has Cirrhosis, a hepatologist will order an ultrasound of the liver and perhaps a CT scan to be able to see the structure of the liver and determine how much the Cirrhosis has changed it. You should not be seeing your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist for your care. A hepatologist is the only type of doctor who is qualified to care for you given that you have Cirrhosis. When you say you are seeing a liver specialist, I hope you mean a hepatologist. The most important thing is now that you know that you have Cirrhosis, trying to find out, if you can, the cause of the Cirrhosis, so that you can treat whatever is causing it and hopefully stop or slow down the progression of the Cirrhosis. Everyone on this forum either has Cirrhosis or has a loved one who does.

There are many different causes of Cirrhosis: fatty liver, viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and many others. Not being a drinker is a good thing, when it comes to Cirrhosis. I don't think you need to worry about offending anyone with your statement about not being a drinker. ( But the doctor said they would not even do that one as a transplant ) Thank You from ND My brother has offered 1/2 of his for a transplant, don't feel comfortable because if anything happened to him would kill me too. Have read about stem cell research, does anyone know about that too. I have heard so many things about dying from this and it is not the way I think anyone should die like. The liver specialist said all that will be said is that people have lived 3 months all the way to 10 years.

Have so many questions, and just don't seem to get any. It was then that they told me I have Portal Vein Thrombosis the blockage is 100% and been on blood thinners for over a year now and water pills daily. I was hospitalized twice last year and, one time they removed 7 pints of fluid. I am not a drinker so I keep asking how did I get this since no one in my family has had it that we know about. Anyone know how long a person has with MELD 13 and CPT 7? I was told by my doctor that the transplant is out of the question due to other medical problems, heart and lungs.

Meld score 20