Cirrhosis Support Group
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease, most commonly caused by alcoholism and hepatitis C. Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis and is associated with a poor quality of life, increased risk of infections, and a poor long term outcome. Liver damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay further progression and...
Hi. Male 54, chronic alkie for decades. No hep vir.
Confusion, extreme headache, pheripheral numbness, nausea, instant diarrhea, vomiting, wetting bed, cramps, weakness, shakes, itching, tics, tremors,cold sweats, nausea, neglect of body, ataxia, speech and thought problems, no ST memory, losing things (passport, credit cards, keys), risky behaviour, objects slipping from hands, red spots in palms, enlarged breasts with spider veins torso/breasts, large veins hip/abdomen visible, impotence, reduced body hair, convulsions in abdomen/solar plexus, 99% asocial ......
Ca. 5-10 LFT 'and UltraS.'s last 2-3 years says Fatty Liver and most values withinn range. Before AST and ALT 100-150.
Last LFT:
TProt. 7.5
Alb 4.4
Glob 3.1
T Bil 0.6 (up from .3 Dec 10)
D Bil 0.1
AST 28
ALT 38
Alk. P 89
I got Creat 1.0 and INR 1.04 which gives me a MELD of 5-6. I am waiting for Ammonia. Is my last resort a Biopsy?
Thank you.
Confusion, extreme headache, pheripheral numbness, nausea, instant diarrhea, vomiting, wetting bed, cramps, weakness, shakes, itching, tics, tremors,cold sweats, nausea, neglect of body, ataxia, speech and thought problems, no ST memory, losing things (passport, credit cards, keys), risky behaviour, objects slipping from hands, red spots in palms, enlarged breasts with spider veins torso/breasts, large veins hip/abdomen visible, impotence, reduced body hair, convulsions in abdomen/solar plexus, 99% asocial ......
Ca. 5-10 LFT 'and UltraS.'s last 2-3 years says Fatty Liver and most values withinn range. Before AST and ALT 100-150.
Last LFT:
TProt. 7.5
Alb 4.4
Glob 3.1
T Bil 0.6 (up from .3 Dec 10)
D Bil 0.1
AST 28
ALT 38
Alk. P 89
I got Creat 1.0 and INR 1.04 which gives me a MELD of 5-6. I am waiting for Ammonia. Is my last resort a Biopsy?
Thank you.
One MD says I have cirrhosis - which seems obvious to me since my alcoholic encephalophaty and gynecomastia and spider veins must come from somewhere-but when I get the lab tests and ultrasound comments it always boils down to 'alcoholic steatosis/hepatitis'.
I have to wait a week for the result of the ammonia test, and by then I will either get a copy of last blood work or have taken a new one. Will post back.
Thank you.
my state is really inhibiting - i can not go anywher if i have been eating (sometimes i wear diapers) or are stressed (it goes sthraight into my muscles) or are too anxious 9i lose control - drop everything and run for the first beer fridge).
sad - i used to be a strong man. give me my time, i will post the ammonia and the blood chemistry and may be a scan.
ps. i think that alcohol and manic-depressive is some of the worst sh..
roy
I would strongly recommend having this discussion as they may not be aware how acutely you are feeling it - and are much better solutions than reaching for a beer (assuming, that is, you are not tempted to do both).
It should certainly help you function a lot better. The only major drawback is that diazepam is itself addictive, so they may want to prescribe you a minimal dose, renewed frequently.
No, definitely a bad plan to mix benzo's with alcohol - hence my comment: '[they] are much better solutions than reaching for a beer (assuming, that is, you are not tempted to do both)'.
Cheers,
The dr. said no need for biopsy - the clinical signs
are clear. No edema or ascites yet, but the rest of the signs are mentioned in my posts over.
But the figures shows that the cirrhosis is mild and there is little ongoing alcoholic hepatitis. He said that my brain has probably taken a greater toll due to malnutrion and vitamin defiency than my liver to alcohol.
New numbers:
Ammonia 42 (11-48)
Hb 14.7
Hct 43
WBC 6,830
PMN 48.4
Lymph 43.3
Mono 7.3
Eos 0.7 L (1-6)
Baso 0.3
Plt.Smear Adeq.
Plt.Count 188,000
MCV 95.8
MCH 32.7
MCHC 34.2
RDW 12.8
RBC 4.49
BUN 7
Uric acid 5.4
Mg 1.9
All electolytes OK
ULTRASONOGRAM
Liver normal size, diffused increased echogenicity.
No space occupying lesion.
Impression: Fatty liver or mild parenchymatous disease.
He said that alcohol and diet will determine further development.
Biopsy useless, but suggested a CT scan of the brain and abdomen.
All in all positive, but negative in the sense that I don't know if it is enough to scare me off the booze.
Thank you all.