Simple symptoms like significant fatigue, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can be harbingers of a serious illness such as liver failure. Jaundice, abdominal swelling (ascites), easy bleeding (unexplained nosebleeds, gum bleeding, or bleeding from minor injuries), confusion (hepatic encephalopathy: loss of sense of time and place, failure to recognize loved ones, inconsistent behavior), lethargy, and coma can indicate the disease has progressed to a more serious stage.