What do you think it would be like to die of cirrhosis of the liver?!

Someone said tumors form throughout the body and this is just not true with cirrhosis. There are no tumors present with cirrhosis. Cancer would do that but not cirrhosis. I had cirrhosis and a liver transplant. I was told I would have died in about one year had I not gotten my transplant so it was a bit close.

I really never had pain from my cirrhosis, but some people do. The liver itself does not have any nerve endings to cause pain, but there is a sac around it that can cause pain. Cirrhosis is typically a slow death that takes time, often years before it is finally over. At the end the person is usually retaining a lot of fluid, has high ammonia levels which cause confusion and behavior changes, easy to bruise and blood takes a long time to clot. Internal bleeding is not unusual and there may be multiple trips to the hospital for one crisis or another before reaching the end of life. Once the liver gets near total failure, it can no longer filter the toxins. Sometimes the person can die of an infection or have a massive hemorrhage internally that will take their life or the disease will just run its course until there is total fatal liver failure.

What can be done for the person dying? The usual comfort measures are taken regarding any pain or discomfort with medications. If there is massive fluid retention, it can be physically drained at the hospital to make the person more comfortable. This is often routinely done as the disease worsens. They will try to keep the ammonia levels in control with meds but this is difficult to control at the end. You give them the same comfort measures as any dying person with a terminal illness would receive.

I had cirrhosis and a liver transplant.

My father died of cirrhosis of the liver, it is very painful as it usually travels throughout your system from your liver. You quite literally starve to death as tumors consume all of the nutrients that you eat. That is what happens with regular medical care, your liver ceases to function and your body can't get rid of all the poisons. The medical doctors tell you that you need a new liver because they don't know what to do. My father died from it , but his best friend, diagnosed at about the same time didn't. He didn't listen to the medical doctors tell him he was dying. He went to a naturopath, changed his diet and is still alive today,19 years later.

Liver death is often not pleasant but with plenty of pain relief the person can de with dignity and comfort. Offer comfort, support, love and medical care (pain relief)

I've had major cirrohsis since 2003. It is extremely life limiting. You can make it so it doesn't get worse by giving up addictions.