TIPS procedure

Hello,
I was diagnosed with end stage liver disease after my liver biopsy was performed to start my treatment for Hep-C several years ago; I no longer have Hep-C. I also was an alcoholic for many years, I'm currently 8 years sober and grateful! In the beginning I was getting tapped every two weeks, until my GI Doctor tweaked the dosages of the Spironolactone, Furosemide and Propranolol I was given. I was doing great, with no taps for about 4 to 5 years, then a wrench got thrown at me with an emergency gall bladder surgery this past February 2018. My body just flipped upside down on me and I haven't been able to recover to my previous normal. I've been hospitalized with Peritonitis and C-Diff, which just added insult to injury. While in the hospital the option of the TIPS procedure had been mentioned to me by several GI Doctors and that I'm an excellent candidate for this. I will be scheduling this tomorrow on Friday 6/1/18, my concern is the after care and the ammonia levels being an issue among other things. I've already had some experience with Lactulose for 2 and 1/2 days. I was basically handcuffed to the toilet!!!! The worst substance I've ever had to deal with!! I really don't think I can go through that again, it really messed with my mental and emotional state. Any thoughts would be so greatly appreciated!!

Hi ppm guy,
Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but what does "HE" mean? I've noticed that many people on these forums use many abbreviations or acronyms like "ESLD", which I figured out what you meant!!

I was told that once I have the tips procedure, I can be evaluated for a transplant and possibly be placed on a transplant list.

Sorry to hear about your brothers situation. Was it a long adjustment for him?

Because of the C-Diff I contracted from all the antibiotics I was given, the GI doctor recommended a probiotic, VSL#3, to bring back the good flora in my gut. Sounds like this antibiotic Xifaxan 55o is a contraindication for the good flora we all need!! Such a slippery slope!!

I will be scheduling the tips procedure tomorrow, I will definitely let you know how it goes!

Thank you for responding, it's very much appreciated!!! I pray your brother feels better soon!

hi ymama...the meds are always a balance. I too have CDiff, but am not the liver patient in our family. I acquired in the hospital in 2015 when I went in the hospital with sepsis after a ranging UTI and came out with a cancer of the appendix diagnosis...not a fun time. I take that same probiotic and it really helps. There may be other ways to keep your stool moving without heavy doses of lactulose...hopefully the docs can figure it out. we have one member here who posts from time to time who had the tips some years ago, I am going to say maybe 8, told it was his transition to transplant. He had HE at first, that settled down, he doesn't need the lactulose just now and has not needed the transplant. Evidently enough of his liver was still functioning...and those cells can regenerate. His HE is hiding most of the time also!

Just as aside. Mike's HE was AWFUL. He was mean and ugly and made me cry often. Then the morning after transplant he was his mental status was NORMAL. Once he was pink again...perfect. And he has amnesia bout that last year before transplant...totally.

Keep us up to date.

Mama Lama