Fao Sqad - Urgent

[NoMercy]

Hi Sqad. I would appreciate your thoughts, despite not being able to give too much info at present.

My mother's twin sister became acutely unwell this morning and she is now in intensive care. She was vomiting blood and Doctors say she has a tear / bleed going on somewhere. Her liver is badly inflamed and her kidneys aren't working.

She had an emergency endoscopy this afternoon and we are awaiting the results but prior to the procedure, the Doctor doing the rounds said he would give her a 30/70% chance of survival and stated that the next couple of days are "crucial"

She's a chronic alcoholic. In recent weeks shes been experiencing back pain and shooting pains in all 4 limbs but has refused to seek medical attention.

I know what my thoughts are but would appreciate your thoughts here.

[murraymints]

varices ?

[ummmm]

When you say chronic alcoholic how much are we talking about?

[campbellking]

Like Murray says, oesophageal varices are very common with people with alcohol dependency, and if the liver is affected, clotting factors are likely to be deranged, which can make it more diffcult to stop the bleeding. A sad situation.

[EDDIE51]

Sounds like cirrhosis of the liver to me. A serious problem.

[NoMercy]

Ummmm, probably around 150 units per week.

[murraymints]

ouch ! does not bode well nom.. :0(

[ummmm]

Gosh...what was she drinking and for how long?

[jennyjoan]

I don't think NoMercy wants to be answering just nosey questions. Just a reply from Sqad.

[NoMercy]

A couple of litres of Gin, a couple of bottles of wine and a couple of bottles of vermouth, roughly every 5 to 6 days, over several years. Shes a tortured soul on a mission to self destruct.

[Islay]

That’s about 6 bottles nom, mother was on 6-8. Sorry that your going through this it’s hard.

[Peter Pedant]

Oh dear I am sorry to hear this
sqad is clearly down the saturday gin palace

and basically the doctors in charge seem to have got it right
yes there is a damaged liver
yes it is significant to this episode
yes it could be a tear but is more likely to be varices
liver disease and ITU is a bad combination

and good luck to her - I think you are right she is determined to go on a downward arc -

sorry to hear this

[NoMercy]

My mum is in bits. They've been together all their lives

[murraymints]

so very sad..

[Mamyalynne]

Your Mother will be rightly distraught, sounds like her Sister has given up on life.

[Peter Pedant]

You are used to technical article NoM
here is the latest from the BMJ
http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/815/treatment/step-by-step.html

The treatment in the short term is (still) medical
and it sounds as tho they are doing their stuff
There are a variety of therapies to be discussed - altho if she has given up, .....

[pastafreak]

Alcoholism may start as self inflicted...after all its fun and feels good. But when it's got a grip, it becomes less easy and very difficult...even dangerous...to release oneself from its grip.
I'm very sorry to hear this Nom...

[Peter Pedant]

// they may be denying a bed to an innocent victim of an affliction. // someone

Luckily - NoM drs are specifically taught NOT to take a judgmental view of their patients -

Take as a fr'instance - HIV - very bad disease to have - point fingers at bad adults - oops it was from a blood transfusion! - stop pointing at the patient and start pointing at the blood transfusion doctors.... And we havent even got onto innocent HIV children who have got it from ( bad) parents or from (bad) haemophilia doctors, but are innocent themselves

Doctors dont make value judgements on their patients and it is easy to see why ( doesnt lead to improved care or outcomes)

[ummmm]

Doctors do make judgements based on a patients lifestyle. Is not like Holby City or Casualty!

NoM -- I think you'll just have to find out the extent of the damage and see what, if any, treatment is offered.