Re: My son

[Guest guest]

hi denise, welcome to our group.i do not think you are over reacting.but your

son can not drink anymore alcohol.did he see a hepatolgist when he was in the

hosp.?if he did they shoul have beenm able to tell you about his liver.alot of

his symptoms sound like alot of it is from the detox from dranking.but i am not

a dr. check with the drs.i have been sober 3 yrs in oct.godd luck just keep

asking questions.my prayers are with you nd your son.

 

god bless

bev,tx

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 11:25 PM

Subject: My son

 

Hi all....this is my first post...I don't know what I need from it really...I

guess just to share with those who have some understanding. My son is 25, he has

been an alcoholic since he was 17..he also has mental health problems....he had

been jaundiced since last Christmas but refused to go to the hospital until he

was so ill in July he had to. He has spent 2 months in hospital...his kidneys

weren't functioning properly and he got pneumonia. The Dr's have not done a

biopsy yet as they want to wait until he is stronger, they say they will have to

do it through his neck. He was given steroid treatment in hospital and was told

he would not be allowed home until his bilirubin levels were below 100...on

admittance to hospital they were 280 and increased to 480 when he was in the

intensive care unit. His levels dropped to 150 and he was told the steroids had

done as much as they could do so they allowed him home. He has been at home for

about 10 days and is

very ill or seems to be to me...he has trouble walking, he seems to veer to the

left, sometimes falling...he is very jaundiced...he has pain and bad

headaches...the skin itching is really bad, not much appetite,he seems not

really with it at all...is sleeping quite a lot..really tired when he is

awake...he says he feels different now to how he has before...he feels his blood

is bad. Has he got cirrhosis? the drs don't say...everything I have read

suggests he does...I am scared that he is dying...am I overreacting? thank you

for reading. in the UK

[Guest guest]

First of all, my heart bleeds for you!!  A son that has already become an

alcoholic at 25!!  But, to drink that much in 8 yrs that it has caused

cirrhosis, would be a real feat.  However, one of the hepatitis's could be a

factor as well.  That is absolutely one thing that your son better get checked

for asap.

Another thing to find out.  Has he picked up mononucleosis by any chance?  My

son did and this is a coincidence; but, he was 25 at that time.  I know that

one of the liver enzymes was very high (400+).  I've never seen a person get

that yellow in my life.  It puzzled the Drs; but, they certainly sent his blood

to be analyzed for any of the Heps.  It takes a couple of weeks for those to

come back; but, they showed he didn't have any hepatitis.  The Internal

Specialist says do them again!!!  This time when they got back, the mono was

there.  The computer said that in a few rare cases, the patient can become

jaundiced with mono.  My kid has never had any of the usual viruses that kids

do.  No his were always something that most of us hadn't heard before.  My

favorite was " scarlatina " .  Thank heavens Scarlet Fever seems to have been put

to bed; but, my son gets the rash of it.  Now, getting over mono takes quite

awhile.  It's suggested that it

could be up or over a year for recovery.  So, my boy had to drop a course at

the college and absolutely he slept a lot for awhile.  Not that he was

complaining.

Now, you say that your son has mental health problems?  Will he agree that you

be present for any visits to Drs?  I know that here in Canada, he has to give

that right to you.  Then, get ready to ask and not just hope that the Dr. will

say something.  Everyone here has unfortunately had to become their own best

advocates when it comes to our health issues.  I don't guess that it would be

much different in the UK than Canada, where I live.

Hmm, I would have no idea about your son; but, I think I walk with a slant.  I

certainly know that I fall a lot, because my body tells me.  Mine seems to

happen just as dusk is settling in or the lights are dim.  One night, I

actually knocked myself out, I just don't know for how long.  The other night,

as I was coming down from the bed, I fell and hit the vacuum cleaner and got a

bruised chin.  The one that is most embarrassing?  I stagger like a

drunk!!   I haven't had a drink for over 25 yrs and don't think I staggered

back then even.

The itchy skin does sound like the liver; but, remember - I'm no Dr. and there

are probably a whole lot of illnesses that make the skin itchy.

You are absolutely not overreacting!!!!  Lord, if that was my son - the Drs

etc. wouldn't hear the end of it from me.  In fact, that is exactly what I did

when he was young and had so many ear infections.   I think the first ear

specialist he had, had very little hearing.  But, do tell him that his blood

isn't bad!!  It's trying to renew itself after the years of alcoholism!

Gloria

________________________________

Hi all....this is my first post...I don't know what I need from it really...I

guess just to share with those who have some understanding. My son is 25, he has

been an alcoholic since he was 17..he also has mental health problems....he had

been jaundiced since last Christmas but refused to go to the hospital until he

was so ill in July he had to. He has spent 2 months in hospital...his kidneys

weren't functioning properly and he got pneumonia. The Dr's have not done a

biopsy yet as they want to wait until he is stronger, they say they will have to

do it through his neck. He was given steroid treatment in hospital and was told

he would not be allowed home until his bilirubin levels were below 100...on

admittance to hospital they were 280 and increased to 480 when he was in the

intensive care unit. His levels dropped to 150 and he was told the steroids had

done as much as they could do so they allowed him home. He has been at home for

about 10 days and is

very ill or seems to be to me...he has trouble walking, he seems to veer to the

left, sometimes falling...he is very jaundiced...he has pain and bad

headaches...the skin itching is really bad, not much appetite,he seems not

really with it at all...is sleeping quite a lot..really tired when he is

awake...he says he feels different now to how he has before...he feels his blood

is bad. Has he got cirrhosis? the drs don't say...everything I have read

suggests he does...I am scared that he is dying...am I overreacting? thank you

for reading. in the UK