Alcohol caused issues

JOAN was honest enough to admit that her cirrhosis had been caused by her drinking.

Joan said: “I am an alcoholic however I haven’t had a drink since last October when my condition was diagnosed.”

Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, is a condition in which the liver does not function properly due to long-term damage.

This damage is characterised by the replacement of normal liver tissue by scar tissue.

Typically, the disease develops slowly over months or years.

There are many causes of cirrhosis including chemicals (such as alcohol, fat, and certain medications), viruses, toxic metals (such as iron and copper that accumulate in the liver as a result of genetic diseases), and autoimmune liver disease in which t h e b o d y ’s immune system attacks the liver.

In Joan’s case, the problems were caused by her alcohol consumption.

Recovery depends on the type of cirrhosis you have and if you stop drinking.

Only 50% of people with severe alcoholic cirrhosis survive two years, and only 35% survive five years.

Treatment may include medicines, surgery, or other options, depending on the cause of your cirrhosis and what problems it is causing.

Experts say it i s important to get treated for cirrhosis as soon as possible and while treatment cannot cure the condition it can sometimes prevent or delay further liver damage.

Symptoms associated with cirrhosis include weight loss and swelling f rom fluid buildup i n the legs and the abdomen.

Joan has also suffered from sepsis and recently she had to have 14 litres of fluid drained from her stomach.