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Posted 10/17/2007 4:57 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Everyone, I'm new here.
My spouse (48 yrs old) has not been diagnosed with Cirrhosis yet, but has a few of the symptoms. He started having swelling in his feet, legs and abdomen about 4 months ago. We had a trip to the beach mid Sept. and the swelling became unbearable. He went to the dr. as soon as we returned and they did some blood work and gave him Lasix. It came back with his liver enymes elevated and Triglycerides really high:

AST 95
ALT 68
Triglycerides: 744
The rest of the numbers were in normal ranges. They also checked him for thyroid problems. They called back and said his TSH was elevated and they were putting him on synthyroid.
His other symptoms are sleeping ALOT, lack of energy, bruising easily and the fluid in his abdomen and legs.
I have worried myself sick reasearching what could be wrong.
He did drink alot about 5 years ago, but for the past few years only has a beer occasionally. Since the dr visit he has had no alcohol for the past month.
His insurance company has dragged their feet on every test the dr has ordered. The doctors thought at first it was Congestive heart failure. His EKG was abnormal. They sent him for a Echo and a nuclear stress test that came back good. He was supposed to have a CT scan this morning but the nurse called back and said she was still waiting on the insurance company to approve. The doctor said it could be his liver.
My question is could the thyroid problem be caused from the liver?
http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/95/9/559#SEC3
This article makes me think possibly so, but I'm not a dr and don't understand some of the wording. Is it common for a liver patient to be on thyroid meds? I know hypothyroidism and Cirrhosis have some of the same symptoms. His skin is not yellow but the whites of his eyes have been for the 15 years that I've known him. A eye dr told him it was a layer of fat and not to worry about it many years ago.  His sister died at a young age from fatty liver disease that she didn't even know she had.  The autopsy findings were death from a fatty liver. 
I know there are no definite answers without a CT scan and biopsy so I'm just looking for opinions.
I've read alot of the articles on this forum and found them to be helpful. I'm praying for all of you who are sick.
Thank you

Post Edited (Feeling Helpless) : 10/17/2007 10:58:50 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/17/2007 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Feeling Helpless, welcome to our forum. Hope this forum will help you not feel helpless. The doctor should get the results from his blood work and should reveal any information that requires immediate attention and can get a baseline of what is going on with your spouse. That's a start. Depending on what is revealed, I'm sure the doc will let you both know what is next. My husband has several issues going on with him besides ESLD/Cirrhosis, he also has thyroid and is taking synthroid as well, he also has sugar diabetes, a damaged pancreas and a heart murmur. I know when he became sick, it started with feet swelling, decreased appetite, losing weight fast, exhausted all the time, no enery, and jaundic looking skin and in his eyes. This was about three weeks before he ended up in ICU and almost lost his life. So there can be several things going on simultaneously. Just watch him and make sure he's doing okay, if something doesn't seem right, call the doc or take him to the emergency room right away. The swelling, make sure he elevates his feet often and decreases the amount of salt intake if he uses salt. It will help. The Lasix should help. Please keep us posted on what the docs find. I'll keep you in my thoughts an prayers.
Posted 10/18/2007 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to healingwell Feeling helpless. So sorry about your husband. Insurance companies do drang their feet. Ask the nurse for the name and phone number of your husband's case worker who's dragging their feet. Call them directly. Give them a what for! Get on a first name basis with the nurse who does the ordering. It really helps to get her on your side. It's her that going to be doing the bulk of ordering of the tests and recalling the insurance company. And the answer to the thyroid question is yes. A bad liver can affect the thyroid. In fact it affects so many other organs it is not funny. Stay on the doctors and the insurance company. You will have to be your husbands advocate. He may not feel like fighting with anyone sometimes to get things done. You will probably have to fight for good healthcare for your husband. Don't be afraid to assert yourself when needed. Shelly gave you good advise. One other thing though is that he may want to reduce his fluid intake some if he is still retaining fluids. Good luck and stay strong. Lastly take care of your self. Keep your self health also both mind and body. And come back to vent,update or to pick our brains. Thoughts and prayers.
Posted 10/19/2007 10:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the welcomes and the advice.  We finally got the CT approved yesterday.  He has it today at 1:30. 
Posted 10/19/2007 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Great! Remember to call for the results if the doctor's office doesn't call you in a few days. Good Luck.
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