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Cirrhosis
What is the cause of a gurgling stomach in cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis patients experiencing gurgling noises in the abdomen may suffer from functional dyspepsia due to cirrhosis, leading to accelerated intestinal motility and the mentioned symptoms. It is also possible that patients with cirrhosis may concurrently have acute enteritis, causing these symptoms. If these symptoms occur, further comprehensive stool tests are necessary to determine whether the symptoms are caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Depending on the cause, different treatment measures should be adopted. Consider using montmorillonite powder to stop diarrhea and using Bacillus cereus, composite lactic acid bacteria, etc., to regulate the intestinal flora. Given the patient's cirrhosis, proactive liver treatment is essential. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
In the early stages of cirrhosis, is there abdominal bloating and stomach pain?
Early-stage cirrhosis generally does not result in abdominal distension or stomach pain, and individuals in the early stages of liver cirrhosis might not exhibit any discomfort symptoms. However, if liver function reaches an advanced stage, complications like ascites associated with cirrhosis might occur, leading to abdominal distension. There might also be the occurrence of conditions like portal vein thrombosis, which can cause stomach pain, and possibly primary peritonitis, which can induce abdominal pain in patients. It is necessary to promptly identify the cause and adopt appropriate treatment measures. For example, if the stomach pain is caused by primary peritonitis, active anti-infection treatments should be applied.
What should be noted in the early stages of cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is a disease characterized by diffuse fibrosis of the liver tissue, pseudolobules, and regenerative nodules. In China, it is mostly caused by chronic hepatitis B, with a small portion caused by chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease. What should be noted if someone has cirrhosis? Firstly, alcohol consumption should be restricted; regardless of whether the cirrhosis is alcohol-related, abstaining from alcohol is critical as it can further damage the liver cells; Secondly, a low-sodium diet is advised, meaning that salt intake should be reduced. Excessive salt can lead to fluid retention, resulting in ascites or edema; Thirdly, increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits and intake some high-quality proteins, such as beans or fish, but avoid raw seafood; Lastly, be cautious with the use of various medications. Drugs that cause liver damage should be avoided to prevent exacerbating cirrhosis.
What are the symptoms of early cirrhosis?
Early-stage cirrhosis does not have specific symptoms, and its manifestations are not typical. Some patients may have no symptoms at all, while others may experience general weakness, aversion to greasy food, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to visit a hospital promptly for an examination to determine the specific illness. If diagnosed with cirrhosis, it is necessary to identify the cause. Common diseases that lead to cirrhosis include viral hepatitis, such as chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C, as well as alcoholic liver disease and fatty liver. Once the cause is identified, treatment can be targeted based on the specific cause.
Can second stage cirrhosis be cured?
No form of cirrhosis can be cured, but it is possible to alleviate the condition, control it, and slow its progression through medication. Therefore, once diagnosed with cirrhosis, it is essential to understand the type of cirrhosis, which means making an accurate diagnosis. If it is hepatitis B or C related cirrhosis, active antiviral medication should be taken orally to quickly control and slow the progression of the disease; for alcoholic liver, it is advised to abstain from alcohol strictly; if the condition is severe and irreversible, liver transplant surgery could be considered.
Is the surface of the liver smooth in the early stages of cirrhosis?
In the early stages of cirrhosis, it is not necessarily the case that the liver surface is very smooth; in patients with early cirrhosis, the liver surface can be uneven. Patients in the early stages of cirrhosis also need serious attention. They should undergo regular follow-up examinations, and it is important to identify the cause of the early cirrhosis. Based on different causes, appropriate treatment measures should be taken. For example, if the early cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus, antiviral treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. If it is due to alcohol, leading to early alcoholic cirrhosis, then it is crucial to quit drinking actively, and liver-protective treatments are also needed.
Will the platelet count be low in the early stages of cirrhosis?
The early stage of cirrhosis does not cause a decrease in platelets. Patients in the early stages of cirrhosis often have no obvious symptoms and may only exhibit fatigue, weight loss, jaundice, etc. However, once a patient with cirrhosis develops splenic hyperfunction, it can easily lead to a decrease in platelets, where the platelet count may drop to 100,000 per microliter. In such cases, it might be necessary to perform procedures like splenic embolization or splenectomy for antimicrobial treatment, and it is also important to prevent other complications of cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric varices, etc.
Does early-stage cirrhosis hurt when pressed?
The anatomical location of the liver is covered by the ribs, so generally, the liver cannot be felt below the lower edge of the ribs, and since it is covered by the ribs, the liver cannot be pressed, hence there is no such thing as pain upon pressing. When we generally check for liver pain, we use percussion pain. By percussing the area of the liver, which is under the rib area, pain can be elicited in the liver, this is called percussion pain. The liver generally does not have tenderness because it simply cannot be pressed. Early stages of liver cirrhosis usually exhibit little to no pain sensation. However, some symptoms might appear during the decompensated phase, such as fatigue, weight loss, dull complexion, reduced urine output, edema, and spider angiomata, among other symptoms.
Does early-stage cirrhosis cause leg swelling?
Generally, in the early stages of cirrhosis, there is no swelling in the legs. However, if a patient with cirrhosis reaches the advanced stage and develops hypoalbuminemia, swelling in the feet can easily occur. At the same time, there is also the possibility of complications such as ascites, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and esophagogastric varices, among others. If swelling of the legs occurs in patients with cirrhosis, it indicates that the patient has entered the decompensated stage. At this point, it is necessary to go to the hospital as soon as possible to complete the relevant examinations to determine the cause of the cirrhosis, so that targeted treatment can be administered based on the cause as soon as possible.
How long does it take to see the effects of Chinese medicine in the early stages of cirrhosis?
As for how long it takes to see the effects of traditional Chinese medicine in the early stages of cirrhosis, it depends on the specific cause of the disease. Depending on different causes, the time to see effects may vary. For instance, if it is early-stage alcoholic cirrhosis or drug-induced early-stage cirrhosis, after abstaining from alcohol and stopping the use of some liver-damaging medications, then supplementing with traditional Chinese medicine treatment, effects can be seen quite quickly. If it is caused by viral hepatitis and has not undergone standard antiviral treatment, relying solely on oral intake of traditional Chinese medicine, it might take a relatively long time to see some effects. Furthermore, the effects will be better after undergoing antiviral treatment.