Table 2.

Categories and themes regarding informants’ experiences of living with liver cirrhosis

Categories	Sub‐themes	Theme of meaning
From unnoticeable to noticeable disease From gradual to quick progression	Varying levels of deterioration	Life turns into an unpredictable roller coaster
Optimise health based on requirements and ability Become dependent on relatives	Adapting to a new life situation
Worry about the future Loss of social relations Find it difficult to talk about the disease Feel apathetic and depressed Relate to a potentially fatal disease	Feeling emotionally and existentially distressed
Feel ashamed Feel guilt	Feeling stigmatised