Liver & kidney failure - How much longer will she live?
 

Subject is a 47 year old female, 30lbs overweight with a long history of alcohol consumption. She is jaundiced throughout her body, has edema, and ascites (swollen stomach - around the 9month mark)

Her liver and kidneys are in failure mode.

How much longer can she be expected to live?

Thanks - Larry

btw, I have come to understand that the liver is way more important than most people might have guessed - maybe that is why it is so large, because it is so damned important. Once it goes, everything else apparently follows.

Today would be her third day.

What is this thread about? Are we taking bets or is this some kind of masked genuine concern?

And yes the liver is more important than most people realize and a bellweather of impending problems. Our american lifestyle takes its toll on the liver and the common killers take over.

Is this person getting dialysis?

If you read about the relation between the liver and the kidneys it is really fascinating. This is a large part of the waste system and recycling system in the body.

Regulation of acid/base and saline levels in the body are related and a great read also.

Liver and kidneys are awsome stuff.

Sounds like she may in in heart failure also or close to it.

I remember looking at this book and thinking that is was long overdue. Don't remember how much it may be applicable to this situation.

http://www.liverdoctor.com/

Dialisis will help with the kidney issue but the bad thing is the liver.....thats what primarily did my father in when his cancer spread to it.....and that was not long after liver failure set in 6 months after the first lumps were detected there as well as everywhere else when Chemo therapy wasn't enough to do more than slow it down a little.

Kidney take care of uriac acid .....but most of the toxins are taken care of by the liver.............You can live without kidneys....but not without a liver.

TwitchKitty (and others),

It is a genuine concern.

At present electrolite levels are low, and she is on a drip.
Bloodpressure this afternoon was 85 / 54. blood O2 @ 98%
Some of the fluid in her stomach area was removed late yesterday...maybe a liter or two from the description that I got.

Don't sound to me like she has much time left.

Good luck. :(

I agree......watching someone you care about slowly slip away like that is likely the hardest thing you will ever deal with.

Update
 

Today her chances for survival were placed at 50/50.

Kidney function is minimal, but at least noticable.

BP is still low...this morning upper value was in the upper 70's.

On a positive note, she has eaten more this morning than usual, and was moved a bed over, near a window that has a nice view of the Ringling Bridge.

50/50 isn't so great...I know...but it's at least something.

You are on life's most extreme emotional roller coaster ride. Don't forget to take care of yourself during this time.

The liver filters waste from your blood and attaches an enzyme to the waste before it releases it back into the bloodstream. When the waste with enzyme attached gets to the kidneys they separate the waste from the enzyme and send the waste on to the bladder. When this process fails you will see jaundice and unconcentrated urine (chemically clear).

As the kidneys process and recycle the water in your body they also regulate levels of water soluble chemicals (electrolytes).

This is an oversimplified overview of some of what you will hear.

The liver also processes everything that you eat/drink before it enters the bloodstream and gets sent to various places in the body.

One of my almost-doctor friends tells me that, next to your brain, the liver is the organ you least want to mess up. Partly because of how important it is, and partly because of how difficult it is to fix once broken.

Best wishes and all the luck in the world to you and your friend.

Well...it appears the answer may be "less than six months".

She going home today...The doctors say there is nothing more to do...The Liver quit, the kidneys have shown no improvement and if anything the kidneys have gotten worse.
Hospice has been called, and they are going to help her out with her time remaining with the family. I hear they are a really great organisation, as I have always heard good things about them. I suppose this will be my chance to see that for myself firsthand. Wish it could be under better circumstances.

I suppose there is a chance she could live quite a bit longer...I will do whatever I can to help her out, which would mostly through diet recommendations...letting her know which foods put additional strain on her system and which could possibly help.
Apparently vitamins are out for now, especially A,D and E. I think its because they are fat soluble. As it is, fats and meats (proteins) should be avoided (not to mention oysters-a fave of hers).
How terrible though....can't even eat the stuff you like. If only I knew when her last day would be...that day I would give her the biggest filet mignon that I could find, and a dozen oysters for an appetizer. Oh, and have it served by a guy wearing a G-string. That would be her style...she would like that.

Answer
 

The answer is: Roughly two weeks. :disappoin

I'm sure she was grateful for your caring and companionship during her final days. Deepest condolences.

k

My condolances to you and your family.