High Bilirubin/Normal AST/ALT

[9743km]

Hello.  Looking for anyone who has any answers or who has gone through the same thing.  I am 36 diagnosed w/Auto Hepatitis in March.  I am on 12.5 mg of prednisone and 200 mg of imuran/day.  Anyone on that high a dose of imuran?  Well, finally my numbers for the liver have all gotten to almost normal.  Maybe 5 pts to high, but my bilirubin is 4.0.  Way, way to high.  Dr. thinking it could be due to toxicity being created from imuran.  They are doing blood tests in the middle of Nov.  He doesn't seem to be "overly" concerned, and that drives me crazy.  My bilirubin was normal, and in the last 3 months has been creeping up.  Anyway, anyone been battling autoimmune for a long time.  Any helpful tips??  Any diet tips?  My Dr. seems to think the meds are working just fine, I don't need to be overly concerned w/diet, etc.  I diagree!  Just no alcohol, no smoking, no fried foods he says!!!

[9743km]

Well, my Dr. thought mine could, but lately w/my bili going up and things like that, I'm not sure.  I do know someone who has the same auto hepatitis disease as I and she has had a liver transplant.  Actually, she has had 2.  One in her 20's and one in her 30's.  So there are definitely those possibilities.  My Dr. told me a couple months ago that he is surprised how aggressive my disease really is, so that kind of bums me out!  Are they still not sure what you have?  They should be able to find an autoimmune disease quite easily.  I think auto hepatitis is the only auto disease that goes after the liver.  I don't take any medication either.  Little bit of tylenol if I have a splitting headache.  But that is it!!!  You take care!!!

[cat33]

I am so glad to hear your liver will regenerate. I was told mine was to damaged and it would not. I went to one of the best clinics in the country. I'm still in the middle of all the final work ,was supposed to get examaned every two weeks but since we live so far I have to do some of the stuff from here at home. It  has been difficult finding an endocrinologist in this area. The ones I've called can only give me appointments in Feb. or March. So until then I can't be put on the transplant list. As long as I feel well . Thats fine by me. I believe I may have an autoimmune desiese and thats why they are sending me to that particular dr. but they tell me I'm not allowed to take any medication so I really dont understand why another Dr.  I'm not allowed other  medications only the ones I take  for blood pressure and my vitiamins. Not even a Tylenol or Ibuprofen. And I am in alot of artheritis pain. Of course tylenol and ibupofen abuse was probably why my liver went so bad. I'm just so happy you will recover just with a healthy diet and whatever they give you to help along. TAKE CARE - cat33

[9743km]

My Dr. told me w/the type of disease I have, autoimmune hepatitis, he was fully confident that as soon as he got the disease under control, w/the amt of liver damage I have the liver should come back 100%.  Its just trying to get the disease under control and stabalized.  With auto hepatitis he said your getting the liver damage when the ast and alt are elevated.  So as long as he can keep those low he was confident.  That is why he is not worried so much about the bili.  Now he is going to look into it.  He thinks that the one drug I'm on, imuran, is what is causing the problem.  It starts beating up on the red and white blood cells and when that happens a lot of times you get what I'm experiencing.  When they do the testing on the 15th of Nov. they should be able to tell more.  How do you feel about the liver transplant?  Good and bad days?  And your sister is 100% correct, one day at a time.  Enjoy every one of them!

[cat33]

What did they tell you about your biopsy. They  told me that with liver damage and a MELD score of 10    should get eveluated for a liver transpant. Thats what I'm dealing with now I believee I mentioned it before. Sometimes I tend to repeat myself . Could be  my age. Or the desiese. They did tell me my brain function will come back after a transplant . But thankfull I'm not close enough Your already ahead of me on the list. May be your bili. will come down. Mine did but my INR went up . Thats why it still turned out to be10 again. I guess I shoud lower my intake of water I drink way more than 34. I will take a look into raw vegetables. I get contradictory information from the Dr.s.My sister tells me I need to enjoy one day at a time. She has lupus. So she understands me.

[9743km]

My MELD score was 13.  That was w/my bili so high.  I'm hoping when that gets back to normal it will help my MELD score.  I guess I can check it every couple months...Well, your eating sounds like my eating.  Lots of brown rice and vegetables.  BORING!  The raw vegetables may be something you want to look in to.  They say those are a whole other set of nutrients.  You are supposed to drink 17-34 oz/day.  I stick to the 17.  The almond butter is exactly what I eat.  Trying to at least too.   Just basically changing every habit we have, huh?  Celery and peanut butter at 3 AM.  Sounds yummy?  I have trouble sleeping a lot too.  Though I made it til 6 AM today!

[cat33]

km;     What did your MELD score turn out to be.  Mine was 10 at home. Then I went for blood work again and bili, cre, and INR were all different but the MELD score didn't change.

      I don't have a book . I just eat when every I'm hungry. I cook for my husband but I only eat the vegetables, beans, rice, and lots of nuts for protein. I've never liked peanutbutter but am trying to get used to it. I suppose I could try almondbutter or other nut butters. I go through phases where I eat only certain things then I get tired of them and move on to something else. Right now at 3:00 a.m. I just had some celery and peanut butter and an apple.