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Posted 8/14/2008 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
 hello everybody, iam new to healingwell. to tell you alittle about myself , my husband was diagonesed with alcoholic hepititis c and cirrohsis in dec. o6 he qiut drinking but had problems with a bakers cycst in june 07 and almost bleed to death during the operation on his leg after  complications from the cycst becaus of his blood not clotting and has had problems with fluid but the hospital will not drain him they just increased his lasix and spirolactone ad it went down he had to go through a routine of evaluations to be placed on the transplant list and one of the requirements was a heart cath and he had complications from that also and they also found he had a 85 percent blockage in the right side of his heart so eventualy he will have to get it repeated or he will not get transplanted. i was wondering if anyone else with liver disease has had to have a heart cath and had bad complications with it he is bruisd severley from it and ended up in icu for 3 days from low blood pressure and trouble breathing, and from where they inserted the cath he was bleeding inside they gav him frozen plazma and platelets and whole blood and it stopped bleeding and he thought he was coming home today but his amonia went up and he became confused with an ammonia level of 60 ad its been higher than that and he had no problems is there anyone else that has ha this problem? im sorry this is so long but iam realy getting scared for him and dont know what to do. thanks alot mary
Posted 8/14/2008 4:07 AM (GMT 0)

Hi, Mary, and welcome to the forum.  I'm sorry that your husband is encountering so many difficulties.  As far as I know, a heart cath is not part of a transplant evaluation.  Your hubby must have had a bad result on an EKG, a stress test, or a scan for them to do a heart cath...which would give them a clearer picture of what is going on.  Apparently, they found an 85% blockage in one of his arteries.  From what you said in your post, your husband is having problems with clotting, so an invasive procedure to clear the blockage, or a bypass operation, would not be possible right now, nor would a liver transplant.

It may just be your lack of punctuation, but there is no such thing as alcoholic hepatitis C.  There is alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, and there is hep C, which is caused by a virus.  Is your husband still abstaining from alcohol?  I hope so, as that is the worst thing for the liver.

I know there are people on here--both patients and caregivers--dealing with high amonia levels.  I have chronic active hep C and mild cirrhosis, and am a survivor of liver cancer caused by the hep C.

There are many knowledgeable and supportive people here, so I'm sure you will get an answer to your questions.  I also recommend that you read some of the old posts, and the educational posts.

Hang in there!

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 8/14/2008 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mary,

I'm afraid that I can't help with your questions but wanted to welcome you to the forum. I'm sorry that you need to be here but there is a lot of experienced and caring people here. I hope the forum helps you as much as it has me and others. I'm a Hep A, B, C'er with End Stage Liver Diseaase awaiting a transplant. I suffer from ascites, low platelets from an enlarged liver, encephalopathy, and edema, plus.

While I hope that you get some insights from others here, it sounds as though your coordinating hepatitis doctor need to be pinned down on your unresolved questions. One thing that I have learned here is that very few doctors volunteer all of the information that you need. I have learned to write all of my questions down so that I don't forget any, ask the questions, and not to let the doctor walk away until I am satisfied with the answer. Of course, since I am a patient with ammonia (therefore memory) problems, I bring a trusted friend to help with remembering the responses.

Again, I am sorry that you need to deal with this. Please be sure to take time for yourself so that you will remain strong. As you know, it is not easy.

Be well, John
Posted 8/14/2008 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
thanks connie and john for replying so quickley. We were told in the begining that he had alcohol induced hep c and cirrohsis, i dont know to much about the difference cause we are just now realy getting answers but still feel like im in the dark with no end if you know what i mean? Im realy concerned because they want to repeat the heart cath after he heals from this one and undo the blockage. I talked to his transplant coordinator about it and he said that if he has problems with the procedure then that means he would also have problems with the transplant is they did it, and at mcv in Richmond is where he goes and they require you to have a heart cath if you are over 50 as part of the liver transplant work up.I was just wonderng if anyone else has had problems with the heart caths thats all. Thanks alot and best wishes to you all! Mary

Posted 8/14/2008 5:40 AM (GMT 0)

Mary, I've never undergone a transplant evaluation or had a heart cath, but perhaps someone here can answer your questions about it.  I can only say that this is the first time I've heard of a heart cath being part of a transplant evaluation, but I learn something new every day here at the forum.

The cirrhosis may have been caused by alcohol, but there is no such thing as alcohol-induced hep C--of that I'm sure.

Take care,

Connie

Posted 8/14/2008 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mary,

I hope that you are holding up well. Don't let them get you down. There are ALWAYS alternatives!

Not knowing the background of your husband's heart condition, I can only say that I just finished my 3rd transplant evaluation and have never had a heart cath done or even mentioned.

As far as the origin of Hep C, you should go to the source, www.cdc.gov and search for 'Hepatitis C' documents. Their basic statement is:

"How is hepatitis C spread?
Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person infected with the hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

People can become infected with the hepatitis C virus during such activities as

* Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs
* Needlestick injuries in healthcare settings
* Being born to a mother who has hepatitis C

Less commonly, a person can also get hepatitis C virus infection through

* Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes
* Having sexual contact with a person infected with the hepatitis C virus"

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HepatitisC.htm is their general information page.

Be well, John

ps: Pink Grandma - I am assuming that it's alright to post the cdc.gov web address since it is an official government resource.
j
Posted 8/14/2008 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, i had to have a heart cath before going to evaluation next week. They had a slight problem with mine. Something about the cath got stuck. The reason I had one was because when I had my stress test something funny showed up so they did one to be sure. NO blockage for me though. I did have to stay in hospital for 8 hours though after the heart cath laying flat on my back so nothing would happen.

Karen
Posted 8/15/2008 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
hello everyone!   I hope everybody is doing fine. My husband just started having problems with ammonia, and his ammonia level was 60 it has been 123 before but he had no problems and then it was 60 and he couldnt remember what year it was or our phone number the hospital has been giving him lactolous and it has gone down to 30 now but he is still having to concentrate to remember the year does it usualy take awhile to remember things after the ammonia levels go down or could it lead to a permanent thing cause his dr wont let him come home until he can remember the year and stuff. He is very upset over it any help would be appreciated, and by the way my husbands name is Al, thank all of you for replying to my other questions and concerns. Mary    I know im probaly jumping around alot on things that are happening with my husband but Iam very upset about the things that are happening to him and im probaly just as scared as he is. I just want to be able to help him as much as i can, so any suggestions or just someone wh knows what im going through i realy dont have anyone to talk to that understands, well im gonna go for now until next time. take care, Mary

Posted 8/15/2008 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Dose the lactulose !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karen
Posted 8/16/2008 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Mary, Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry that your husband is not doing well. This disease causes so much pain and heartache for everyone involved. There are some older posts here that may answer alot of your questions. Just know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted 8/16/2008 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mary and welcome to the forum

I am sorry to hear of your husband's diagnosis of liver disease and his problems with elevated amonia levels. This is a wonderful place to express your concerns and fears to people that are having or had the same issues. Please keep us posted.

Lucy
Posted 8/18/2008 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
I AM A 25 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OF A 54 YEAR OLD MAN THAT IS BATTLING CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS AND HEP.C. RIGHT NOW MY FATHER IS IN THE HALLUSINATION STATE AND FORGETFULL STATE. HAVE SEEN HIM GO IN AND OUT OF HTIS FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. WE HAVE ALMOST LOST HIM 3 TIMES NOW. WELL ANTWAYS HE IS INCARCERATED AND IS VERY SICK IN JAIL. THEY HACE LOCKED HIM UP FOR DEADLY CONDUCT BECAUSE HE SHOT A GUN IN THE BACK YARD AND THE NEIGHBOR SAID IT BARLEY MISSED HIS HEAS. THE JUDGE BELIEVES HE IS NEEDING MENTAL HELP BUT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY KNOW IT'S MEDICAL HELP HE IS NEEDING. HIS AMMONIA LEVELS ARE AT 168 ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REGULAR AMMONIA LEVEL IS. WE WERE TOL THAT 168 IS TWICE THE AMOUNT IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE. MY FATHER NEEDS TO BE IN A HOSPITAL NOT IN A JAIL. THE JAIL SEEMS TO NOT CARE about HIS MEDICAL PROBLEM. I AM TRYING TO FIMD OUT WHAT MORE I CAN DO TO HELP HIM OUT IN THE WORLD. MY FAMILY AND I FEAR THAT WE WILL LOSE HIM IF THEY WAIT MUCH LONGER TO GET HIM THE MEDICAL ATTENTION HE IS NEEDING. CAN ANYBODY GIVE ME SOME ADVICE OR HELP ME. HOW MUCH LONGER TILL IT'S TOO LATE. I FELL HOPELEDD. THANK YOU EVERYBODY WHO READS THIS, RACHEL FROM INGLESIDE TEXAS
Posted 8/18/2008 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
hello Rachael,      I know how scarey it is to see someone you love like that for i have almost lost my husband twice to this disease and i realy dont understand much about it myself but from what i understand normal amonia levels is 0 to 30 but my husband had his first memory loss due to amonia levels the other day and he still had some memory loss at 30 so i guess it depends on the person but so far from reading different posts on here there are alot of people on here that know alot more than i do, but from what i understand lactolous is what brings it down and high levels of amonia can kill you. Maybe you should get disability in on it and a lawyer cause the jail should get your father help and you are not alone as i have found out there are alot of people going through this terrible disease and it is very upseting watching someone you love go through this but the only thing you can do is be there for them and pray that everything will be okay. Best of luck and I hope everything will be ok. Mary

Posted 8/18/2008 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
R Oglesby, how much longer do you expect your father to be in jail?  Does he have an attorney?  You could see about having him placed in a treatment facility or transferred to a hospital.  The Meyer's Act can be used to have him placed somewhere for treatment, if he does not willingly want to do this.

Connie

Posted 8/18/2008 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rachael and welcome to the forum. Connie is right about trying to get him an attorney that would be willing to petition the court to have his bond reduced and to seek immediate medical attention. From what I have read on here high ammonia levels can cause violent and unpredicatable behaviors. If your dad has an attorney I would suggest that you and your family talk to him about his medical problems so that he may be able to access his records for the courts.
Good Luck to you and your family.

Lucy
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