Hello Everyone!
First of all, thank you everyone for being there, even if it's only to read and say hey...
A short history: It really started 22 years ago with a probable diagnosis of Lupus, Schleroderma, Diabetes, Hypertension, ya-da, ya-da. Well it came to a head last year I started feeling very tired, passing some blood from my rectum, vomitting...well you know the drill, I'm sure. (Oh I am a legal assistant for defense attorneys at the time and have been for about 30-35 years. ) Doctors now say I can no longer be involved in full time stressful employment. Anyway I was under alot of stress during the last week of July first week of August. We were in a meeting and all of a sudden had some kind of anxiety attack, (the doctors say a mild TIA); I was hospitalized and they discovered cirrohsis(sic) and hepatic vein tear? A little plastic vein was inserted to resolve the bleeding issue with very close monitoring. (I was in and out of the hospital 6 times since August, 2011) Twice in ICU/SCU.
Well today I went back to my hematologist/oncologist (because I have had to have 3 transfusions during my hospital stays cause of my low platelets), and found out my ammonia levels are at 73. I realize that this is not as high as some of whom I have read, but I am concerned. I do have lactulose in my refrigerator but have not taken it due to my diabetes; it really shoots my blood sugars up over 200 levels and I really do not feel very good and puts me out of commission. Loma Linda has called me and wants to review my meds for a possible transplant candidate.
I guess my underlying question is, does anyone know of anything else that can be taken aside from lactulose, that does not contain so much sugar.
Note: I am not a drinker. When I was diagnosed I not had an alcoholic beverage in 7 years, I think it was either Lupus/Sch. or medically induced. I was on a Lovastatin for years and other liver causing medications. I do not have hepatitis.