Page 20 - Time to DeLiver: Getting a Grip on HE report 2015

CASE STUDY

Sheila, 57-year-old with non-alcohol-related
fatty liver disease.
Shelia has long-standing type 2 diabetes and for 20
years she did not feel herself and was eventually
diagnosed by her GP as suffering from depression.
During this time, her symptoms worsened and Sheila’s
daughters and grandchildren felt they had lost her. Her husband, Steve, dreaded
phone calls from home while he was at work and became increasingly frustrated by her
behaviour - she could no longer manage routine daily tasks and was very forgetful.

Eventually, Sheila’s symptoms dramatically worsened and she was admitted to hospital.
Whilst there, Shelia slipped into unconsciousness and the staff were concerned that
she would not recover. After several weeks, Sheila regained consciousness but started
suffering frightening hallucinations. It was during the recovery from this episode that
Sheila was diagnosed with non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, which had progressed
to liver cirrhosis, and the cause of her symptoms became clear. Her specialist told
her that her liver function had been abnormal for 10 years and her misdiagnosis of
depression was in fact unidentified hepatic encephalopathy. Sheila continued to suffer
post-diagnosis, experiencing difficulties with everyday tasks and requiring home visits
from carers.

Shelia was fortunate to receive a liver transplant and has since almost returned to her
normal self. She now plays an active role in running local patient groups for people with
advanced liver disease and says her experience helps her understand the fear that
others feel about losing themselves to hepatic encephalopathy.

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