[mykdsmomy]

This is a very long and complicated story so I'll spare you the long version. Bottom line. MIL has Cirrhosis. (The cause is unknown. No Hepatitis, she wasn't a drinker, they suspect her weight and poss. the radiation from her cervical cancer several years ago were contributors).
She just had GB surgery yesterday. They put it off for a year (she was in the ER several times with attacks). They didn't want to do it because they didn't think she'd make it through. She has hypertension, diabetes, 40% kidney function and a really honked up GI system due to the radiation damage.

Sooooo the Dr. told her that her liver is "really bad". He didn't say end stage and he told her when it gets that bad they will talk about her going on a donor list.
Ok, well at this point she doesn't want me talking to her Dr. (I have always been her medical advocate but she's scared of hearing the truth so she doesn't want me talking to him). Fine. However, she is not a reliable source of info. She is mentally unstable but well enough to sound coherent and competent to her Dr.

Does anyone have any experience with Cirrhosis? How do we know when it is in end stage? She is already having memory loss (some), edema in her legs for a few years now, she's had a few blood transfusions in the last year due to low platelets. Oh, here's the kicker, she hasn't been referred to a GI yet. She is being treated by her GP. They have KNOWN about her Cirhossis for a few years and have really done nothing about it. Her insurance stinks, the medical center she's at doesn't know their bum from a hole in the ground and now we (her family) have to play detective and Dr. to figure this all out

Sorry, it's just been such a frustrating road for all of us. Any input or advice is welcomed

 

[angelcollector1]

You said you've been her medical advocate, so does the doctor have a release from your MIL stating he can discuss her medical condition with you or does she have a durable POA giving you the option of making healthcare decisions about her should she be unable to? If the answer to either of these is yes, then I would contact the doctor and ask him for information, you don't have to share what you find out with MIL if she doesn't want to know but at least then you'll have the information to make informed decisions and know what will need to be done and when.

Sorry, I don't have any other information regarding cirrhosis, but the edema she's having is due to her kidneys not working correctly, and it sounds like she's got serious medical issues due to that and her BP meds, etc. I would think that those issues could spell big trouble with needing dialysis and that if her liver fails due to other issues they won't be able to consider putting her on a transplant list due to the severity of her health.

 

[mykdsmomy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelcollector1 You said you've been her medical advocate, so does the doctor have a release from your MIL stating he can discuss her medical condition with you or does she have a durable POA giving you the option of making healthcare decisions about her should she be unable to? If the answer to either of these is yes, then I would contact the doctor and ask him for information, you don't have to share what you find out with MIL if she doesn't want to know but at least then you'll have the information to make informed decisions and know what will need to be done and when. Sorry, I don't have any other information regarding cirrhosis, but the edema she's having is due to her kidneys not working correctly, and it sounds like she's got serious medical issues due to that and her BP meds, etc. I would think that those issues could spell big trouble with needing dialysis and that if her liver fails due to other issues they won't be able to consider putting her on a transplant list due to the severity of her health.

Thank you so much for responding

I use the term "medical advocate" loosely. She had put permission for me to talk to the Dr. and get info but nothing "legal". Plus she has a lot of emotional/mental issues so depending on the day, she doesn't always want me talking to the Dr's.
I talked to her tonight and she is supposedly going to sit down with her close friend and the daughter of her close friend (who is a nurse) and put together a list of questions.
The one thing that just infuriates me is that I TOLD my MIL I wanted to talk to the surgeon before they proceeded. I knew he didn't have all the info. But she was mad at me for some reason and ignored my request....but tonight when I talked to her she said she was so scared because she knew the surgeon didn't know the full story but he wouldn't listen to her. I told her that's why I wanted to talk to him.

:
Seriously....they had waited a year to do the surgery because of the risks and even after the surgery, the surgeon told her if he knew the whole story, he wouldn't have proceeded

: malpractice anyone?

My SIL (mil's daughter) and my DH want me to be the person communicating with the Dr. because MIL is unreliable and not always truthful but MIL doesn't agree so our hands are tied. It's so frustrating because as an example....she'd been going to the ER every week for the last month. (Due to gallstones). She KNEW that she needed to watch what she ate to avoid a very painful attack followed by one of us driving her to the ER....and yet she ate a big ol burger last weekend when my dd was at her house. I know we can't control her but what bothers us is that she ignores Dr's orders, she refuses to take control of her own health but then we all have to jump through hoops when she needs to run to the ER for something that could have been avoided if she would just take care of herself. Sorry for the vent

 

[FrannieP]

Wow, it sounds like you've really got your hands full with this!
Hang in there. Your MIL is fortunate to have you as her advocate.

Milk Thistle Extract is a traditional remedy for liver health - it is also sometimes used for gall bladder issues. Another thing I like about it is it helps the body detoxify all the prescription meds. It may be worth looking into.

Good luck.
fp