HepB carrier from birth with sudden flare ALT >1500 and AST >500

Hi everyone i'm not sure what to make of my 'recovery' so far as I can see some significant drop in my liver enzymes test but still the values are above normal range. How long does it usually take to get all the enzymes back to normal range? I'm currently on Entecavir and Legalon and the cost is really killing me. Any idea what else i can take that will not interfere with Etv ? I read that Chanca Piedra works for some so i'm not sure if its a good idea to take it together with my meds. The doctor says that i can be off Legalon if I have HBeAB but I asked a pharmacist and he says Legalon is just a supplement so I can take it as long as I want it doesn't matter if I have HBeAB or not.
Just would like to know the usual recovery time needed and also to document my current fight with hep B here.

Family history
-------------------
Grandfather(now 79 years old) - drank alcohol and was hospitalized 11yrs ago (currently on Sebivo)
Mother(now 55yrs old) - also drank alcohol and hospitalized at yr 2011 (not on meds now previously on Entecavir)
Me(27yrs old) - did not drink but hospitalized anyway (currently on Etv and Legalon)

Symptoms
---------------
Dark urine and loss of appetite for > 2weeks
Food did not get digested with constant bloating and burping of food >5hrs after meal
Fatigue and mood swings and late menses
Feeling of tightness on right side of abdomen, back pain

Went to the local doctor and did urinalysis, trace blood, leucocytes, ketone, bilirubin and urobilinogen found
Prescribed Ciprox for urinary tract infection and finished 5 day course
Symptom persisted and proceeded with blood test

Blood test result
---------------------
**Blood drawn on 28/12/2012 but result collected 1week later**
Total Bilirubin 32 umol/L
AST 553 IU/L
ALT 1519 IU/L
GGT 95 IU/L
Prior to this test, past blood tests have never had any out of range values for Liver Function Test
Started on Bitter Melon tea for 2 days before seeing the specialist (improved appetite observed)

Hospitalized after seeing the hepatologist with blood test result above
Doctor ordered another set of test
***7/1/2013***
Total Bilirubin 14.6 umol/L
AST 184.9 IU/L
ALT 581 IU/L
GGT 77.3 IU/L
HBsAg 6614.05 IU/ml
HBeAg 1057.61 S/CO
Ultrasound done with no liver enlargement observed (but i can still feel tightness around abdomen)
Doctor started me on Entecavir and Legalon

After 1 week on Entecavir and Legalon
***14/01/2013***
Total Bilirubin 13.1 umol/L
AST 46.4 IU/L
ALT 146.6 IU/L
GGT 52 IU/L
HBeAg 708.3 S/CO

Any feedback is welcome. Hope to hear about the recoveries of others from hep B! Really need something positive right now :)  Thanks everyone!

[StephenCastlecrag]

I am glad your ALT is returning to normal after a very severe flare. Next time when you have your test, be sure to test for:
1. your HBeAg status - here we are hoping that you will seroconvert to HBeAg negative after such a big flare;
2. your viral load (hbvdna), this will provide more useful information;
3. if possible a quantitative assay of your HBsAg - here we are hoping to see a big decline.

I think you should give up Legalon since you are already on Entecavir. It is a herbal supplement and serves no useful purpose as your ALT is returning to normal.
You may like to try get cheaper generic Entecavir from India or China.

Just my opinion.

[stef2011]

check both hbeag and hbsag quantity, such a high flare on entecavir can mean:
hbvdna decrease but also hbeag seroconversion and also hbsag seroconversion and follow hbsag quantity in particular you may be one of the lucky who clears on etv by 1-3years use

[orientalPearl]

Im back with my latest test result after a month on baraclude n legalon

**04/02/2013**
Total bilirubin 9.2 umol/l
Ast 21 u/I
Alt 22.1 u/l
GGT 23.9 u/l

Hbsag 6453.81 s/co
Hbeag 324.55 s/co
Anti hbe 4.261 s/co

I noticed that the hbsag test are in different units compared to my first test.. Which unit is more accurate?

By the way, the hbv DNA result from 7/1/2013 during my flare is out.
It was 94,100 iu/ml n I will be taking another test in another 6 months.
I'm really happy that my liver function has returned to normal but I'm not quite sure about the other results. If alt goes back to normal mean slower clearance of virus or hbsag?
Any feedback is welcome!

[StephenCastlecrag]

Your ALT is very good. You are right, your HbsAg test this time is not a truly quantitative test and so comparison with your previous test result is not possible. Next time, insist on the test that reports in iu/ml. It does seem your HbeAg is coming down too. I am guessing that your hbvdna is already on the way down when your ALT peaked. So hopefully your next test in 6 months will show that you have seroconverted your eAg and your hbvdna will be undetectable.

Your are right, the price of normal ALT is that your immune response to virus is quietened too. Remember, not all flares will clear the virus and they do cause fibrosis.

If Baraclude is too expensive, try to buy them from India, it should be cheaper.

[orientalPearl]

By the way, I forgot to add..I didn't just take baraclude n legalon. I also took bitter melon tea ( fresh melon without seed slow cooked for 4 hrs) almost daily. It helps me to digest n I notice that the days I didn't drink it my stomach discomfort will be back. I  don't know how it will interact with my meds though. So far only side effect is low blood pressure at one point 76/48 so I stopped for a few days.I've started planting phyllanthus, will start to drink that consistenly soon.  I'm thinking of meds+herbs for 6mths to see how it goes. Other than that, I drink chlorophyll n propolis once a day too. Prior to my flare, I drink all sorts of tea on a daily basis, ranging from fennel tea to goji berry+American ginseng slice, cats whiskers ( orthosiphon something), lemongrass+mulberry leaves tea to coconut juice to a lot more ( mostly from the garden).
Don't mean to deviate from the topic, just sharing in case anyone want relieve of symptoms, do give bitter melon a try.