Questions

[Guest guest]

Hello to all. I have questions I can't find answers to by reading about

cirrhosis on the Internet. My active, self-employed 72 yr old husband was

diagnosed just over a year ago, but was not told to come back for regular

checkups, etc. Neither the primary doctor or the gastroenterogist seemed willing

to give us the time to ask. We have an appointment with a liver specialist on

Aug 22, but I am concerned my husband will get worse before then, if I don't get

answers to something I may need to know before then.

He has appeared to have no symptoms, until recently when I noticed he seemed to

pay more attention to something in the room than his dinner plate. He started

tiring easily, and his nights of insomnia suddenly went from 1 every 3 months to

2-3 per week. The part that started my worrying me was his feet started swelling

about a month ago, then I realized his stomach had been gradually swelling for

longer than that, and we just thought he was gaining weight. Now, he has no

naval indention, and he looks like he is 9 months pregnant. Two weeks ago, he

started walking and talking as if in slow motion, and he has a different look in

his eyes. He has trouble focusing even with his glasses, but the look in his

eyes is one I can't describe, it is as if he is drugged. He had not changed or

added medication up to this point.

Is any of this familar? Is it normal?

That far-a-way look in his eyes concerns me that I should consider not waiting

until the 22nd, but seek medical attention by taking him to an ER if he gets

worse. The primary doctor did not give his eyes any attention when I pointed

this out to him this past Monday. He was seeing the doctor for what was

diagnosed as bursitis of the elbow, it was drained, and had no infection. He had

not injured his elbow, so could it be related to the other swellings?

Thank you for any advice, we have basically lived a normal life in the year

since he was diagnosed, and were not prepared for this sudden turn of events.

Fran