Cirrhosis of the liver is scarring that occurs when your liver is so overworked that it cannot process the toxins in your body. There are many causes, but the end result if it is not arrested is that your liver can no longer function at all, necessitating a transplant. Dealing with cirrhosis -- especially if it is caught early -- usually entails lifestyle changes. There are many cirrhosis treatment options, and while they can't reverse the condition, living with cirrhosis does not have to be any more scary or difficult than living with conditions such as diabetes.
Step 1
Stop drinking. This is the single most important thing you can do, and is listed first on the guidelines from MayoClinic.com, the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Medicine. Continuing to drink alcohol can cause your liver to stop functioning completely.
Step 2
Eat a healthy, nutritious diet that is made up mostly of fresh fruits and vegetables. Many people with cirrhosis are malnourished, notes MayoClinic.com. Fresh vegetables and fruits are low in calories, and full of fiber and nutrients which your body needs to function properly.
Step 3
Cut back on salt. The University of Maryland Medical Center lists edema -- swelling due to fluid retention -- as one of the symptoms of cirrhosis. Sodium contributes to fluid retention, so if you have cirrhosis, you are already at risk for edema, and should not do anything to encourage it.
Step 4
Take the appropriate medications and supplements as advised by your doctor. Prescriptions will vary from person to person. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that you may be prescribed beta blockers to ease hypertension, diuretics to help with fluid retention and medications to deal with damage to your body from built-up toxins.
Tips and Warnings
- Stay positive, and let your friends and family help you make the lifestyle changes needed to stay healthy. Educate yourself. Whether you developed cirrhosis from overindulgence in alcohol, contracting hepatitis B or hepatitis C, through a parasite or any other cause, it is not an automatic death sentence if caught early. Your biggest enemy is denial, so learn everything you can about this condition, as well as what you can do to help yourself.
- Don't ignore your doctor's advice in favor of quick cures. Many naturopathic remedies, like milk thistle, have proven benefits to liver health, so work with your doctor if you want to try an alternative treatment. Avoid medications that can cause liver damage, like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Acetaminophen is considered safe for people with liver damage, according to MayoClinic.com, but check with your doctor before taking any medication, natural remedy or supplement.
