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Jaybespoke- how the H are you?

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Posted 3/23/2011 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Jay!

It was so good to see you posting!

Catch us up with how you are doing health & school wise.

Not sure if you have read old posts but old Weary's liver appears to have caught up with her. Doctor is furious that I continued to have a few drinks on the weekend and has banned my use of MTX at least until my next blood test to see if the enzymes went back to normal. That is mid April.

I actually have not been on MTX since mid December as I was doing an experiment of my own as to whether or not I need it. When I told him that he got nasty and says it cannot be the MTX causing this- it is the alcohol. He didn't even say good bye to me at the end of the visit.

He did say go ahead and drink as I like- otherwise we won't know what's causing the elevation. It's not that high but worisome to me just the same.

Now that I have the green light- I still feel guilty if I have so much as a glass of wine. :(
Posted 3/23/2011 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
ahoy there!

Sounds to me like your doctor is having trouble keeping his conservative views to himself! Elevated liver enzymes could be a million and one things, and you don't sound like a heavy drinker at all, so don't bother feeling guilty!

Health wise, same old really. School wise, just about (another couple of weeks) done and dusted and now secured a scholarship as a post-graduate researcher doing my doctoral thesis in Regenerative Medicine, toward new joint-replacement technology/surgical methods, and stem-cell research toward tissue regeneration for arthritis, amongst other things. I know I was supposed to be a physicist, but I decided that a change in career direction was appropriate given the circumstances!

I've been a recluse since I finished college in December, basically sleeping and working on final thesis for 3 months...

good to see your still active on here!
Posted 3/25/2011 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
I'm impressed Jay! All the best to you!

Thanks for the reassurance about the enzymes....it's been so upsetting to me.
Posted 3/25/2011 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Weary, so sorry about how your doctor visit went, he should've kept his opinion to himself.
Jay, WOOHOO on your scholarship, way to go Mr. Academia, hope you blew away all the
competition, way to go....
Posted 3/26/2011 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah Weary, ask your GP to check your liver enzymes for you, it could be a virus but it may be worth having a non biased doctor check you over.
I know my enzymes are slightly elevated and no one seems bothered by it. My rheumy said she'd keep an eye on it.
Well done James! Amazing results hope the post grad goes well for you. Brilliant to get a scholarship.
I'm teaching too many classes this semester! I only have one post grad one, but I love it.
I haven't had the time to pop in here much either.
Honestly Weary I'd get a second opinion, golitho
Posted 3/26/2011 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
weary,
Like golitho said I would get a second opinion. He didn't like your honesty, but he should of. Besides it's your body!! I wouldn't wait on him. I would go to your pr. dr and find out. Good luck.

Jay I noticed you here and there, but not as much as before. I pop in as much/or little too. So happy to hear about everything going so well with you, that is fantastic!! I wish I had stayed in school. I might be a woman and children's family law attorney as we speak, had I stuck with it rolleyes Only let myself and whoever I may have helped down. sad You are so smart I know you will only do good things!! Heather
Posted 3/27/2011 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all who say get a second opinion. I had lunch with my best friend yesterday who said the same thing. I think I am just going to wait out the time period, get re tested and when the results are in if they are still elevated I may go to a doctor I used years ago. He used to be my GP but then he changed his specialty to Gastroenterology which I believe includes the liver. My insurance wouldn't cover him as a GP but they will in this case. I really liked him a lot.
Not for nothing- my RD may think he knows more than he does. He just wants to jump on the band wagon because in his field the MTX/Alcohol combo is written with a skull and crossbones insignia. I actually found a study done in England that showed no greater liver problems when people on MTX drank. Of course that was only one out of all the reports of the opposite opinion.

The friend I spoke of is dying of breast cancer mets and no one ever told her not to drink. She has had all kinds of treatments that include chemo drugs and even has mets to the liver. Her dosages are far higher than what we get with 20 mgs. of MTX... The only reason I can think of why is maybe they figure since her time is so limited why deny her a little pleasure.
Posted 4/8/2011 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
The study in England actually showed that those who drank an average amount while taking MTX actually improved!

Their DAS (disease activity score) was noticeably smaller with good correlation. Good find by Weary! Incidentally, this is something I noticed that was definitely true when I made the decision to disregard the MTX alcohol warning - although in the UK the warning is merely "Don't regularly exceed 14-21 units (125ml glass of wine) each week.".

How UK can say "avoid more than 21 glasses of wine a week" while the USA are basically endorsing prohibition, I don't know. Some Int'l dialogue on the issue could improve the quality of life for a lot of people. The UK also advise that men are safely allowed 7 units more than women per week, allow private consumption from the age of 5 (for spirits, no age limit for beers), public consumption with food/guardians from 14, and unlimited from 18. All of which is probably a little too liberal, meeting at the half-way point is probably the best advice for those taking MTX (Unless of course there are any aggravating factors toward liver function)

j
Posted 4/8/2011 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Also, thank you Weary, Gotlitho, Heather, Chartreaux for the words of congratulations :)
Posted 4/8/2011 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Jay- keep me in your thoughts- blood test is next Tuesday....

How's your thesis coming along?
Posted 4/10/2011 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
I will do, try not to worry!

It's coming along very slowly thanks, 5 weeks till deadline but I won't have publishable results till end of May :(

j
Posted 4/12/2011 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Goodluck Tuesday Weary, let us know the results, golitho
Posted 4/12/2011 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks go- I actually put this off until Thursday- please keep me in your thoughts
Posted 4/16/2011 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Weary - have you had your results yet? hope you haven't put it off again!
Posted 4/16/2011 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Jay- thanks for remembering!

I did go Thursday but don't expect results until mid next week.

I am feeling very anxious about it. I so wish that the enzymes come back normal and none of the other tests reveal new problems to worry about elsewhere...

Thinking about having a good old time this weekend in case next week I find I must give up alcohol 100%

Simple pleasures...why are they so out of reach?
Posted 4/21/2011 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
What was the result? Sorry if you've posted it elsewhere already!

I doubt a blood test would be conclusive enough for anyone to suggest going tee-total - a more quantitate measure of liver function would be necessary imho.

Hope you're well

james
Posted 4/21/2011 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
James! I am good! I did a whole post about it! Thanks so much for following up!
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