Sudden Liver Chirrosis

This is life isn’t it.

I want to write to you my audience today instead of into my journal. It makes it feel more community and real.

This isn’t an art blog but I need to share my story with someone other than paying big $ to a Psychologist.

Yesterday we got the confirmation that my partner Chris will need a liver transplant. The Liver unit at the hospital were so amazing and compassionate I felt so encased by their giving of hope.

It has been a tumultuous time since earlier this year. In 2019 Chris was diagnosed with Primary Billary Colongitis and put on medication for the rest of his life. The specialist for that has been seeing him regularly and doing blood tests etc; but there was little or no talk about it turning to liver cirrhosis.

And around January Chris noticed his belly button popping out a bit but didn’t think much about it. A few months went by and within a period of 4 weeks Chris’s stomach expanded full of fluid and his legs too. He could barely see his knees. He is a very fit and healthy 64 year old who has surfed, played footy and other sports his whole life. So he has always seemed more like a 50 year old than his age.

For a few years I feel that I’ve noticed him going a little downhill. Just often tired and poor sleep habits. But I would put that down to his early starts and busy work days in his earth moving business.

Chris has never been a drinker other than 1-2 beers maximum on a weekend. I sort of wish it was alcohol related as I think it can then be cured by stopping the alcohol. His is an auto immune response they think. Blood tests a plenty were taken yesterday and they test for alcohol abuse in those too. And other things like Hepatitis A, B and C.

His resting weight is around 78kg’s and he is 173cm height. Over the Asceites (fluid retention) he went up to 86kg. After the previous Specialist put him on Diuretic tablets he has lost a lot of the fluid. Unfortunately he has also lost alot of weight and today weighs 71kg. He looks gaunt and fragile to me. He’s showing bones from the malnutrition as apparently the liver can’t produce protein anymore.

The Liver unit also got us to see the Dietitian yesterday and she was so positive and hopeful Chris can gain some weight back. She did say this is very hard for some patients as it’s a constant commitment to eat more protein, carbohydrates and calories in small but more meals a day.

Chris has also been exercising by walking each day and has setup his old weight station at his home . She said getting stronger will also help the liver.

They told us he will need a liver transplant as his liver is very sick. We go back to see them in a month and I pray he can gain a bit more weight and more strength for that visit.

Chris is still working each day and I wonder how this mentally strong man keeps going at it as I know at times he must feel so unwell. His mental strength has always been there and I’ve been his partner for the past 7 years.

This is all new to me and the unknown is scarey.

But I feel if anyone can navigate this Chris can.

Prayers and love in abundance always and thank you for letting me share this difficult time.

Please comment if you have anything to add to these unknown times ahead.

x