Liver disease progresses through five main stages: A healthy liver, a liver with fibrosis, a liver with cirrhosis, a liver with cancer, and liver failure. While there are treatment options, there are not always cures.
This is important because a failing liver can be fatal. The key is for doctors to treat whatever has led to the cirrhosis — or whatever stage of the disease the liver is in — to keep it from progressing. In some cases, liver transplants are also possible. However, there are a lot of factors that have to work together for that to be an option.
If you have liver cirrhosis or you’re worried that you may, it’s wise to consider some of the outside symptoms. These could mean it’s time to talk to a medical professional. Potential symptoms include the following:
- You have extensively itchy skin
- You bruise or bleed more easily than you used to.
- You have swelling in the abdomen or in your legs due to water buildup.
- Your skin could take on a yellow hue, known as jaundice. This could also impact your eyes.
- The side effects of any medications that you’re on could become more pronounced.
- If you have type-2 diabetes as well, you could find yourself building up a resistance to insulin.
- You could have impaired mental functions or trouble concentrating.
- Your memory could get worse.
- You may have trouble sleeping.
As with any medical condition, these symptoms could be unrelated or point to another issue. However, they do tell you it’s time to talk to your doctor, and you may want to find out what legal options you have if it is a serious condition that keeps you from working.
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