Cirrhosis — Diagnosis & Treatment in Okeechobee, FL
Cirrhosis is advanced scarring of the liver. Over years, chronic injury — from viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, or alcohol-related liver disease — gradually replaces healthy liver tissue with scar tissue. As scarring worsens, the liver loses its ability to do its vital jobs: filtering blood, producing proteins that help blood clot, and processing nutrients and medicines. Early cirrhosis often causes no symptoms, which is why it is sometimes found only through blood tests or imaging. While early liver scarring can sometimes improve when its cause is treated, advanced cirrhosis usually cannot be reversed — but its progression can often be slowed, and its complications can be managed with specialist care.
Symptoms
Many people with early cirrhosis feel fine. As the disease advances, symptoms may include:
- Fatigue, weakness, or loss of appetite and weight
- Nausea or a general feeling of being unwell
- Swelling in the legs or abdomen (fluid buildup called ascites)
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) and itchy skin
- Easy bruising or bleeding, or small spider-like blood vessels on the skin
- Confusion, forgetfulness, or difficulty concentrating
Causes and risk factors
The most common causes of cirrhosis are chronic hepatitis B or C, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), and long-term heavy alcohol use. Less common causes include autoimmune hepatitis, bile duct diseases that block bile flow, and inherited conditions such as hemochromatosis, in which the body stores too much iron. Risk rises with the duration and severity of the underlying liver injury, and with additional factors such as obesity, diabetes, and continued alcohol use. Because cirrhosis develops slowly, people with any chronic liver condition should have their liver monitored regularly, even when they feel well.
How we diagnose it at Gastro in Florida
Diagnosis usually begins with blood tests that measure liver function, platelet counts, and how well the blood clots, along with imaging such as ultrasound. At Gastro in Florida, we offer FibroScan on site — a painless, non-invasive scan that measures liver stiffness, giving a clear picture of how much scarring is present without a biopsy in most cases. Upper endoscopy is used to check for varices — swollen veins in the esophagus or stomach that can bleed — and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can help evaluate complications or unclear findings where relevant. You can also browse our full list of conditions we treat. Together, these tests let us stage the disease and plan monitoring and treatment.
Treatment options
Treatment focuses on the underlying cause and on preventing complications. That may mean antiviral treatment for hepatitis, stopping alcohol completely, and managing weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol for fatty liver disease. To manage complications, your doctor may recommend dietary changes such as reducing salt, medicines that help remove excess fluid, and regular endoscopy to watch for and treat varices before they bleed. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is important if you are not already immune. If liver function becomes severely impaired, we coordinate referral for advanced liver care, including evaluation for liver transplantation. Care plans are tailored to each patient’s stage of disease and overall health, and regular follow-up is essential.
When to see a specialist
See a gastroenterologist if you have any chronic liver condition, abnormal liver blood tests, or symptoms such as swelling, jaundice, or persistent fatigue. Seek urgent care right away if you vomit blood, pass black stools, develop sudden severe abdominal pain, or experience confusion — these can signal bleeding varices or advanced liver failure and need emergency attention. Early, consistent specialist care gives you the best chance of slowing cirrhosis and staying ahead of its complications.
Related conditions: Hepatitis, Fatty Liver Disease
For cirrhosis evaluation, FibroScan testing, and ongoing liver care, call Gastro in Florida at (863) 824-3447 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Vikram Tarugu in Okeechobee.
Patients from Sebring, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Lake Placid, Avon Park, Stuart, and Wellington travel to our Okeechobee office for gastroenterology care — call (863) 824-3447 to schedule your visit.