What Do Excessive Sleep When Diagnosed With Liver Disease Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 7 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 7 Nov 2016 Answered on

Mon, 5 Dec 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : my husband has end stage liver disease. he went through this same "behaviour" last week and I made him go to the hospital in an ambulance. his tests all came back good and they released him. so here i am again this weekend again with him ( by the way he is 5 years sober ) sleeping almost to a comatose state, gets up, if he is lucky, to urinate and poop right next to the bed or in the bed. then goes back to sleep in it and I cannot get him to wake up and talk to me to try and help him.

Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Encephalopathy

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.

These are all symptoms of brain dysfunction called hepatic encephalopathy.
Some of the common causes are bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, constipation, electrolyte imbalance etc.

He needs inpatient care.
A course of Rifaximin, lactulose may improve his brain function.
He needs to be under the care of Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist for periodic evaluation

Regards,
Dr.R.K.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng