Cousin dying of cirrhosis of the liver
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,635
Cousin dying of cirrhosis of the liver
I just got the news that my 41 year old cousin was admitted to the intensive care unit in FL.
She has known that she has cirrhosis for 5 years and continued to drink. She has had her stomach drained in the past and before this latest episode she was green yellow, hallucinating and had an extremely swollen abdomen. She still drank.
She started throwing up blood last night and then proceeded to bleed out of every orifice of her body. I have read that liver failure is a long painful death but never heard these horrific details,
My uncle said that as they were trying put her on the gurney and she was throwing up blood, she was trying to drink a beer.
This disease wants us dead. I tell y'all this to get it off my chest but also because it is a grim possible reality that is out there for us alcoholics.
She has known that she has cirrhosis for 5 years and continued to drink. She has had her stomach drained in the past and before this latest episode she was green yellow, hallucinating and had an extremely swollen abdomen. She still drank.
She started throwing up blood last night and then proceeded to bleed out of every orifice of her body. I have read that liver failure is a long painful death but never heard these horrific details,
My uncle said that as they were trying put her on the gurney and she was throwing up blood, she was trying to drink a beer.
This disease wants us dead. I tell y'all this to get it off my chest but also because it is a grim possible reality that is out there for us alcoholics.
Choosing Life
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,435
I am so sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing this, Elisabeth. Wow, what a horrific way to die. We all know that alcoholism is basically slow and painful suicide, and this certainly illustrates that. This is the third time in a year that I have gotten sober, and it will be the last. I have absolutely no desire to die that way.
Take care.
Take care.
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: San Francisco bay area
Posts: 66
I'm so sorry to hear that. I had a friend die a little over a week ago due to severe pancreatitis, which in turn led to internal bleeding and his blood wouldn't coagulate so the doctors never had a chance to find out where he was bleeding from. Due to the bleeding, his liver and kidneys shut down, and he passed--saddest thing I have ever witnessed in my entire life.. Bless you and your family.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 119
Elisabeth,
I am so very sorry for this situation. I will be holding your cousin, you, and your family close in my thoughts and prayers.
Be gentle with yourself. I hope that you can find some comfort in the days to come.
Blessings
Mish
I am so very sorry for this situation. I will be holding your cousin, you, and your family close in my thoughts and prayers.
Be gentle with yourself. I hope that you can find some comfort in the days to come.
Blessings
Mish
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Texas, a state of mind
Posts: 380
I am so very sorry.
Had 2 very close family members go through this and that final 'explosion' stage...is beyond words.
And we always are left thinking "Why couldn't they have...?" but also knowing just how hard it can be.
Wishes for strength and peace to you and all who love her.
Had 2 very close family members go through this and that final 'explosion' stage...is beyond words.
And we always are left thinking "Why couldn't they have...?" but also knowing just how hard it can be.
Wishes for strength and peace to you and all who love her.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 690
So sorry to hear about your cousin. Thank you for posting the details. I think we all need to hear how alcohol can get that terrible grip on you and the incredible damage it will cause. Sending prayers to your cousin.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 401
My thoughts and prayers to you & your family for your loss. I've got cirrhosis and expeled blood on Dec 24th. My doc put me on librium since so I can't exactly say I'm "sober" as it's a benzodiazapine.
It makes me wonder what history will say about alcohol in x50/x100 years and the way it was advertised and promoted when it kills people yet is still socially acceptable.
It makes me wonder what history will say about alcohol in x50/x100 years and the way it was advertised and promoted when it kills people yet is still socially acceptable.
MIND OF DESTRUCTIVE TASTE
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 744
Wow. I'm so very sorry. I lost a very dear friend at the age of 30 for the same thing. It was horrifying to stand helplessly by and watch him slowly die - painfully. A very real reminder that regardless of our addiction, it does indeed want us dead. My thoughts go out to you and your family.
-Jess
-Jess
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