The liver is a large organ in the upper right of your abdomen (belly). It has a variety of important functions that affect your body and how it works. Your liver helps:
- digest nutrients
- clean the blood
- blood to clot
- process (or metabolize) medicines
There are many causes of liver disease.
Cirrhosis is a common liver disease. Healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, which stops the liver from working the way it should. Some causes of cirrhosis are:
What are some symptoms of liver disease?
People can live for years with cirrhosis as the liver slowly stops working. As the liver becomes more damaged physical symptoms can include:
- itchy skin
- yellow skin
- loss of appetite
- feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
- bleeding in the stomach
- fluid build-up and swelling in the belly (ascites) and legs (edema)
- pain
- problems thinking and understanding
- confusion from liver toxins (encephalopathy)
You may feel anxious, unhappy, or moody. Often these are related to the stress from dealing with your diagnosis.
What about liver transplants?
A liver transplant is surgery where a healthy donor liver or part of a liver is put into your body. This may be an option for some people with liver disease. If a transplant is right for you, your care team will also include the transplant team, and a liver specialist. You and your family doctor will also be important parts of your team.
How can palliative and end-of-life care help?
Often with liver disease you may need to be admitted to the hospital because of the health problems that you have. The palliative and end-of-life care team can help to:
- manage your symptoms
- give emotional support to you and your family
- answer questions and concerns you have about the future
- find other supports if you need a higher level of care (for example, go from home to supported living or hospital)
If you're waiting for a liver transplant, the palliative and end-of-life care team can also:
- work with transplant teams to help manage your symptoms while waiting for the liver transplant (for example, help arrange medicine delivery, provide information about massage, acupuncture, mindfulness, and psychological and spiritual supports))
- give emotional support and help manage symptoms before and after your transplant
Not everyone on a transplant list will have the surgery. For these people and their families, palliative and end-of-life care can help:
- you have a better quality of life
- give emotional support, and comfort
- manage symptoms, including decreased appetite and poor sleep
- Find other supports if you need a higher level of care (for example, go from home to supported living or hospital)
