# How long from cirrhosis diagnosis until death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569 "2008-09-21T18:58:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/41 "2014-02-09T19:37:56Z")
> [@Mr\_Buttons](#): > > Assuming the person still drinks heavily. > > My SO’s father has been drinking about 4 30-packs of beer per week for going on 4 decades now. He’s finally been diagnosed by his doctor as having cirrhosis of the liver. > Doesn’t matter to him it seems, because he’s still drinking around 4 cases a week. He drinks from about 10am until bedtime. > How much longer will he be around at this rate? I once knew a man who drank so much that he had to have a liver transplant. The day he got home from the hospital, he paid some kid to go to the liquor store and buy a pint of bourbon. It was a long time ago and so I don’t recall exactly how long after that he died. But it wasn’t too long. I would guess that each person has some degree of variability. I don’t know. But I think so. Bottom line? I doubt they have very long. I won’t guess because I wouldn’t want to cause you any distress. But, you should be able to Google that. No? (Barney Google wit da Goo Goo Googley Booze … No?) I’m just J/K although it prob is **not** something to joke about. ---
**Author:** ![JustASis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@JustASis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustASis)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/42 "2014-02-09T20:45:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > IAAMD who treats end-stage liver disease patients. And it’s hard to say anything definitive without knowing more, but altered mental status is a strong indicator that his liver is losing the ability to do its most core function: Clear the blood of toxins. > > With proper evaluation and treatment, this might be stabilized and even possibly reversed a bit. Without it, the outcome does not look good, and people in this situation often decompensate and die quickly. Thank you for this most helpful comment. I wish I knew more but my questions are met with answers that are apathetic or subject-changing or which indicate he doesn’t know/remember/I need to ask someone else. ---
**Author:** ![JustASis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@JustASis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustASis)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/43 "2014-07-09T20:35:43Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > IAAMD who treats end-stage liver disease patients. And it’s hard to say anything definitive without knowing more, but altered mental status is a strong indicator that his liver is losing the ability to do its most core function: Clear the blood of toxins. > > With proper evaluation and treatment, this might be stabilized and even possibly reversed a bit. Without it, the outcome does not look good, and people in this situation often decompensate and die quickly. Thanks again for your post. My brother died May 20, 2014. He drank til the end. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/44 "2014-07-09T22:13:50Z")
I’m sorry for your loss. He was pretty young. Thank you for keeping this thread updated. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/45 "2014-07-10T01:30:26Z")
> [@JustASis](#): > > Thanks again for your post. My brother died May 20, 2014. He drank til the end. A pity. The fate of alcoholics, if they fail to find sustained sobriety, is generally one of jails, institutions, and eventual premature death. My condolences. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/46 "2014-07-10T01:42:40Z")
I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you find peace. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/47 "2014-07-10T03:25:22Z")
I’m sorry to hear this news. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569/48 "2014-07-10T03:55:37Z")
> [@JustASis](#): > > Thanks again for your post. My brother died May 20, 2014. He drank til the end. I am very sorry. My father also died prematurely due to his alcoholism, he drank right up until he couldn’t any more. It sucks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-from-cirrhosis-diagnosis-until-death/464569.md?page=2)