1. Avoid Alcohol and Certain Medications
If your cirrhosis is caused by alcohol abuse, it is extremely important to stop drinking to avoid further liver damage. If you can't stop your alcohol use on your own, ask your doctor to recommend a chemical-dependency treatment center. Your liver disease may stem from frequent use of certain medications--including ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin (NSAIDs)--that you can buy in drugstores without a prescription. The damage that has already been done to your liver can't be fixed, but removing substances that are toxic to your diseased organs can slow the progression of your illness.
2. Reduce Fluid Retention
Reduce the fluid retention your body is experiencing as a result of cirrhosis. If you are in the very early stages of liver disease, removing alcohol from the equation may be all it takes to allow the ascites (fluid in your abdominal cavity) and the edema in your limbs to drain. Some people need to take further steps toward limiting their salt intake and using diuretics. More serious cases of edema may require paracentesis, a procedure in which fluids are removed through a tube inserted in your abdomen.
3. Control Bleeding Disorders
Bleeding blood vessels under your skin and in your esophagus are consistent with cirrhosis, and can be very dangerous. Some people respond well to medications that constrict the blood vessels and stop the bleeding. Others may need to have an endoscopy, a procedure in which doctors band off the areas that are bleeding.
4. Treat Cirrhosis-Induced Itching
With the consent of your doctor, you can take antihistamines to control the intense itching you might experience as a symptom of cirrhosis.
5. Have a Liver Transplant, if Necessary
In acute cases of late-stage cirrhosis, liver function is damaged to such a point that the only option left is a liver transplant.
