Ammonia levels and liver disease

My husband's ammonia number was 286. He was given lactulose(2x30mg per day).  His liver ultrasound was 'fine'.  He refuses to stop drinking.  He doesn't believe that his condition is dangerous.  What is in store for us?  Hep C has never been part of the discussion.

Clueless, welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry that your husband is ill with liver disease and won't accept the seriousness of it. Believe me, if his ammonia levels are so high that he's having to take Lactulose, his liver is in bad shape. Someone really needs to stress to him that he will die if he continues to drink. Also, he would have to have 6 months of documented sobriety before he would even be evaluated for transplant. Medical personnel take a very dim view of patients with liver disease who continue to drink, as it's basically a waste of their time. He undoubtedly has alcoholic cirrhosis. (He would need a liver biopsy to determine this, though.) The ultrasound results being "fine" simply means he doesn't yet have cancer. He undoubtedly will NOT be able to quit drinking on his own. I recommend AA. I just celebrated 24 yrs. of sobriety, thanks to that progam.

I suggest you read the information in the folder at the top of the page entitled Hepatitis Resources. It covers liver disease, not necessarily caused by hepatitis. It will give you an idea of what you are in for. Also, as Butterfly suggested, read some of the older posts for an idea of what is to come. In particular, read posts by Allie and NCbornandbred.

Hugs,

Connie

Thanks all of you. I will do as much reading up on this as I can. The AA suggestion would be great if only the man thought he actually had a problem. By giving him the Lactulose, he now has an "antidote" and any personal responsibility is waived. Go figure.

my husband's dr told him to come back in a few weeks & they'll do another ammonia test. Cirrhosis was mentioned but only in passing. Hubby is not as foggy or as tired and hasn't fallen down in a week (was falling 1-2x per wk). Dr told him he could cut back on the lactulose if he felt better (he never thought he was feeling bad in the first place, only I thought he was a mess.) Still drinking a little and dry heaving in the a.m. with hand shaking (no flapping). Seems like only a little drink will start him slurring. Could this ammonia thing be a one time deal with minimal associated problems like next to no scarring, no cancer and no real long term effects? The dr seems so not worried and isn't insistant that hubby quit the drinking. Do I have a mediocre dr? I really need a reality check here friends :(

Thank you Connie. Hubby's dr is a gp. I am upset that he isn't more assertive in insisting the drinking stop, but only the drinker can decide. I am embarrassed that I am so angry with my husband for contributing to his condition. He denies the damage to his liver, he denies the dr told him to stop drinking, he denies anything is wrong or that things could be very serious. I almost wish I had not started to research this situation- I hate being angry and scared. I don't know which to deal with first, the alcoholism or the liver disease. I just called home to check on him and he's already slurring. This is breaking my heart. How can he say he cares if he makes no effort to take care of himself. He already takes anti-depressants. He sees a counselor but he isn't entirely honest or forthcoming (I've been to a few sessions w/him.) He doesn't work and our $ will be gone soon, as will the charity of family. We will lose our house, be buried under medical bills and massive debt (already) and I will be a widow at 48. He can't hear me. I am finding it hard to feel bad for him because the anger is taking over and swallowing me whole! I can't beg, bargain or threaten anymore. Maybe it's time to let him do his own thing with out my constant nagging and interference. Is that what God wants me to do? Step back and not try to control things? In re-reading this post, I sure sound like a mean b****h. I've never said any of this aloud and now I'm really ashamed of myself. Thanks for the ear- even if I did chew it off!

What you are feeling and expressing is entirely normal.  You need to see that he gets a referral to a hepatologist.  But you cannot stop him from drinking.  He has to be the one to do that--to WANT to stop and then go about getting the help he needs to quit.

You need to decide if you are willing to put up with this behavior or have had enough and are ready to walk.  As a sober alcoholic, for me it would be an easy decision.  Life is too short to be unhappy.

And by the way, alcohol and antidepressants are a deadly combination.  Also, since alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, it is canceling out any good the antidepressants might be doing.  He may as well not take them.

Hugs,

Connie

Dear Clueless... wow ur not those names u wrote... that's just pure outright fear there... helplessness... and alll those emtions that run through your mind when a person is face with this situation... your husband may forget what the doctor says.. or may just plain be in denial... hopefully something can pull him back from the brink... to sobriety... but an intervention needs to happen.. of some kind.. and u need to plan and think for u... u r in my thoughts and prayers..