Thanks for the reply. I’m always happy to hear about how you are doing. There is so much to look forward to and I can see you grabbing the bull by the horns everyday. Your word may sound simple to...
I have my 2nd MRI tomorrow morning. They just called me and told me that they would like to take an additional MRI picture to assess the stiffness of my liver. I will also need to have a liver...
Yes, this has been very supportive for me. Thank you so much. I talked to a cancer survivor a few months ago and we realized that we both went through the same thought process. We are about the same...
A year ago today I got a call from a GI Dr with results from my blood tests. He called to tell me that my platelets were 59 and that I likely have liver scarring and some could be reversible but some...
I finally went to my PCP about the GI issues. He ran some blood tests which came back with some abnormalities. My TSH is 5.49 and normal is between 0.27 and 4.20. My Free Throxine is 3.34 and normal...
Thanks for the reassurance. I think my GI issues are on the mend now. I’ll probably do another day of low fiber and then start to work the fiber back in next week. I’ve been pretty strict on my diet...
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. Seems to be getting a little better today. I do have a point of clarification though. And maybe I’m just splitting hairs here. You mentioned that liver patents...
Hey there, I’ve been feeling pretty good this new year. I’ve been taking the mindfulness based stress reduction class and it is really helping. But I ran into another thing that I have been dealing...
Thanks ppm guy My labs came in, pretty consistent with the labs they took in July, hey 6 more months and i'm still chugging along. bilirubin - 1.2 in July and 1.1 in Dec serum sodium - 142 in July...
I had my Dr visits on Wednesday. Spent over an hr with Hep Dr and his statement was that "there is no good reason for me to have liver disease." It isn't alcohol, hepatitis, autoimmune, obesity, no...
Thanks so much. You have been so helpful. I’ll let you know how my Dr appointment goes next week....
I turned 41 yesterday and I feel great. I’m down to 190#, losing about 3# per month. I think I’m pretty close to my target weight, maybe another 5 pounds or so. Hep Dr called me a few weeks ago due...
I just posted my full MRI results. I haven’t yet gotten a call back about the blood vessel outpouching. I did send another email asking for another call to review the results in detail to see if...
STUDY: ENHANCED MR - MRCP OF THE ABDOMEN CLINICAL INFORMATION: Age/Gender: 40 years / Male History: Cirrhosis, undergoing evaluation for hepatocellular carcinoma and portal hypertension. PROCEDURE:...
I had my first MRI on Friday. It wasn't hard at all. It was open at the other end so I didn't feel claustrophobic at all. It was a lot of beeping and holding my breath. They gave me an IV and...
Yes, that is worth celebrating! 6 months without alcohol. I’m working to do a better job taking stock of the positive in my life. Thanks for pointing hat out to me and the congratulations feel great....
Thanks so much! This is really helping me to calm down. I appreciate you both so much. You are making a huge difference in my life and I don’t know what I would do without you. I started freaking out...
I am getting my first MRI on Nov 3rd. I believe I am supposed to get them every 6 or 12 months and I believe they are to look for cancer. I’ve never gotten an MRI before. Is this the long tube that...
I am so sorry for your loss....
Thanks, this put me through the ringer emotionally this week. I didn’t hear anything back from Hep Dr though and it seems like no news means good news. It was the same thing when I learned my...
My PCP just called and gave me my ultrasound results. He said that he is sending the results to my Hep Dr and will be in touch if my treatment plan changes. He said it might not change anything but...
I just finished my ultrasound. The tech said I definitely have an enlarged spleen that is prominent and overtaking the area. This is new as my ultrasound in May didn’t show this and my Hep didn’t...
No worries. Humor is good. My emotions are pretty much 2 steps forward and 1 step back right now. I get to a good place emotionally but then any negative info has me spiraling to the worst thing that...
A PA from my Heps office emailed me that my platelettes and MELD will be checked every 6 months....
Oh ok, so this sounds common for us with Cirrhosis. I heard someone say that they do take the spleen out of it gets too big. Apparently it’s not a vital organ....
Can you clarify on protein. I thought I needed protein because my liver does not do a good job on making protein which will lead to protein-wasting. But it also sounds like I shouldn’t have too much...
I met with my PCP today for an annual physical. It was a good discussion of what I already learned about platelets, liver enzymes, and my diet. I’m fairly on track. Though he did recommend I reduce...
That's good info and advice. Thank you. I have an annual physical with PCP on Oct 9, MRI on Nov 3, and next Hep appointment on Jan 29. I guess I have 4 months until I can ask my Hep those questions...
Thanks for the reply...and nice to hear good news about the low inflammation. I asked my Hep the same question and he has yet to respond. Here is what one of his PAs wrote to me about the copper in...
I was asking my Hep Dr about the follow on the elevated copper found in my biopsy and a PA sent the biopsy report or at least a part of it. This one phrase stuck out to me. mild macrovesicular...
Thanks! Great advice...I was actually wondering what to do with all our wine glasses...LOL...not that we really used them much before anyway. Now they will be for water and fruit. We'll probably use...
Things have been going pretty well for me. I'm still working to control my anxiety, but no sleepless nights so that is huge progress and way better quality of life. My next Hep appointment is in Jan...
Thanks for the reply and it's great to hear about the cryptogenic person doing well. I'm going to stay focused on my healthy living. Eating healthy has become very normal for me and makes me feel...
Actually the way that Dr. put it was that I probably wouldn't be making these great healthy choices now if it wasn't for my cirrhosis and these choices will pay off 25-30 years down the road. I like...
Some updates: 1. Headaches - My PCP said it is ok to take 1,000mg of Tylenol 2x/day or 500mg 4x/day. She also had some other advice like using ice or even biofeeeze and eye masks too. And she said to...
Thanks MamaLama, This is good info. I'll check on this with my Drs. My triggers seem to be too much sun, not enough sleep, not eating and drinking water. I've done a lot of work to reduce those...
Thanks, I sent a note to my Dr too and I'll also ask about the 750mg. I'm feeling a lot better this morning, just minimal pressure above my left temple. I still have to go to work today but I'll try...
Do you know of any good headache remedies? I'm not allowed Motrin anymore due to low platelets. I can have 500mg of Tylenol 4x per day. I'm on my 3rd dose of Tylenol for today and my head of a left...
Ok thanks. I'll do that....
Crap, having a hard time sleeping. I thought I was in the acceptance phase but am freaking out a bit again. My new PCP is nice, actually answered all my questions and stayed until 9:30pm doing so....
Nine and a half weeks after diagnosis now. I started calming down a bit when I hit week eight. I'm still on track with my weight loss and my blood pressure is improving even more, now 101/67. We had...
Yes I can totally relate to the "self diagnosis" you mentioned. When I was told I had elevated enzymes 15 years ago I freaked out and could not figure out a healthy way of dealing with the problem so...
I'm not sure what drug the phase 3 trial is for. I was really just asking my new hep about his views of anti-Cirrhosis drugs coming on line when he got sidetracked and started talking about me...
Here is an update: - I got a call back about the phase 3 drug trial. They said I do not qualify at this time. There are 2 different trials. In one I must have platelets over 100 and in the other I...
Thanks for the feedback and reassurance. Apparently they found more copper than normal in my liver biopsy. However, I tested negative for Wilson's Disease. They ran some additional genetic tests that...
Thanks MamaLama, Yes, I am not drinking. Here is what I have been doing this last 3 months (and praying I can maintain or improve this further): 1. No alcohol 2. Low sodium - Usually below 1,500mg...
MamaLama Thanks so much for your reply. It's really overwhelming sorting through advice. Your words mean a lot to me. My Drs. are great, experienced, and smart but seem to be prioritizing there time...
Shoot, INR is 1.3 not 11.3. That was a typo. Does that make things less puzzling? Paddle boarding this morning I was in the middle of a dolphin migration, think I saw about 100 of them for 10 or 15...
Today I got a call back from a PA about my questions and test results. She said that 44 platelets is not concerning, that they will bounce around, and they would only "maybe" do something if they hit...
ppm guy, thank you so much for the note. I'm really not doing well with the stress and anxiety right now. Spending a day with the wife and kids at the YMCA, doing some yoga and swimming. I know that...