We know that this is tough for our patients and their loved ones and we want to do everything we can to make the process seamless for our patients. How can I be the best partner to my medical team? But there are instances when the liver disease is too advanced and medical interventions cannot reverse the process and that's when we consider liver transplantation. There's evidence to suggest that getting rid of the hepatitis C can slow or maybe even help reverse some of the damage done. And cirrhosis from hepatitis C was a major reason patients required liver transplants, but we now have medications, antiviral drugs, that are very effective at curing it. Similarly, weight loss can help improve fatty liver disease. For example, if a patient has cirrhosis due to alcohol use, we know that completely abstaining from alcohol can improve the function of the liver. There are instances when damage to the liver can be slowed although complete reversal generally does not happen.
And patients with cirrhosis should also get the annual flu shot. We also recommend the pneumococcal vaccine, which is commonly referred to as the pneumonia vaccine, for all adult patients with cirrhosis. For patients with cirrhosis, we recommend vaccination against hepatitis A and B. Well, vaccinations are an important preventive measure in patients with cirrhosis because when the liver is scarred, patients are at higher risk of complications from certain infections.
Why are vaccines important with cirrhosis? So we recommend avoiding any and all herbal supplements. However, there is a chance of herbal supplements causing harm to the liver, sometimes to the point of liver failure requiring a liver transplant. Will taking supplements help my cirrhosis?Īlthough certain herbal supplements such as milk thistle have been tried in liver disease, there's no evidence to suggest that herbal supplements or any other alternative therapies can effectively treat cirrhosis. Limit the amount of salt in your diet to less than two grams of total intake a day. It's important to have protein intake, and that can be from lean sources of protein such as beans or lentils, and salt restriction is also very important.
#You make my liver quiver meaning full#
So it's important to eat an overall healthy diet that is balanced and full of fruits and vegetables. So that's four extra strength tablets within a 24-hour period. For pain relief in cirrhosis, we recommend taking acetaminophen up to two grams a day. Acetaminophen, on the other hand, is safe to take, but at smaller doses. Narcotics such as oxycodone are not a good idea either as they can be quite problematic with certain complications of cirrhosis. For instance, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, they should be avoided in patients with cirrhosis, because when the liver is scarred, there's a greater chance of hurting the kidneys with these types of medications. Well, some pain medications are safe to take in certain doses, and some are not. They should avoid all alcohol use.Īre pain medications safe to take with liver disease? No amount of alcohol is considered safe in patients with cirrhosis. Sumera Ilyas, a transplant hepatologist at Mayo Clinic, and I'm here to answer some of the important questions you may have about cirrhosis.Ĭan I still drink alcohol with liver disease? Ilyas, M.B.B.S., Transplant Hepatologist, Mayo Clinic Hi, I'm Dr.
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