HCC info

Barry,

I'm sorry your brother has HE. For themister, this is the very worst part of liver disease. Here is a link to the documentary for you. www.hesback.com

Medications really interfere with HE and make it so much worse. The worst offenders are Ambien, pain meds like oxycodone, anti-anxiety meds (xanax), and many anti-depressants. A lot of liver folks also take meds for other things, or for depression and insomnia. But, once HE comes into the picture, those meds that never caused any sides in the past can trigger significant HE episodes. Some do fine on lactulose alone. Most seem to take Xifaxan and lactulose.

Is your brother on the transplant list? If he is eligible and interested, now would be a good time to be evaluated for a transplant. Big Hugs

My brother will be banded next week and then his oncologist will start targeted tumor treatment. He has two tumors, one is 6 cm, the other 3.
Don't know his AFP, but needs to be under 500. Oncologist got his medical records and said his tumors are 2 years old, and seemingly well contained. His Medicaid Drs dropped the ball on this. They didn't think he was transplantable, because of adhd and bipolar conditions.
His oncologist has to play catchup now. He has drank alcohol once in the last 2 years, so hopefully his social worker will say he's stable. We were adopted so we have no family to caregive. I will get involved now, and his social worker will take him to appts. Until he can arrange home care.
Ucla is transplanting at melds close to forty.