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It’s not the holiday weight—your abdomen is swelling with fluid (ascites) because the scarred liver is leaking protein and blocking blood flow. One study found 50% of cirrhosis patients develop ascites within 10 years of diagnosis. Press gently—does it feel tight or fluid-filled?
6. Sudden Confusion or “Brain Fog” That Comes and Goes
You walk into rooms and forget why. Conversations feel fuzzy. Toxins like ammonia that the liver should filter are slipping into your brain—this is called hepatic encephalopathy. It can start mild and progress to full disorientation. Ever had moments where your thinking just “glitches”?
