Esophageal Varices & Weight Training

[Berzerker]

Hello all,

Please help with my question, desperately need some answers!
Diagnosed with Hep C 10/07 and milded Cirrhosis w/ Varices
12/07; no symptoms from C. Currently having Varices (some of
Them were large) banded While on Propanolol. Can I get back to
Weight lifting after all the Varices have been banded? Answers
Would be greatly appreciated, Thank you.

Tim R.

P.S.
First doctor said no, second opinion, doctor said yes!

[Berzerker]

Oh I'm so sorry Viaduk, good luck to you to. Good luck to all of you
that responded.

Sincerely,

Berzerker

[Berzerker]

Thank you Viaduk and thank you all for the responses,

Viaduk,

I'm scheduled for my 3rd banding April 10, 1st banding 6 were done,  2nd banding
5 were done. I called the doctors office yesterday asking how many were going to
be done this 3rd time and they said "at least 2 more". He said the 1st 11 were of the
larger varity. And yes he did mention that they'll probably will need to be redone at
some point. When he found these varices with the 1st initial scoping, he indicated that
I could never work out again. I can learn not to drink, but taking away my weights
I wasn't going to take lying down; weight traing is my life. I went for a 2nd opinion
at one of my areas (Detroit) best hospitals, Henry Ford. The doctor I got to see
is one of Hepatologies best in the country. He told me that how it is widely said that working out with weights will cause varices to ruputre is basically "urban legend".
He personally knows the doctor who originally wrote the paper; a doctor out of Yale
University in the 1960s. He did say that the banding should be done before I do any
weight training. Thank you so much for the input Viaduk.

Sincerely,

Berzerker

[viaduk]

I've had my varices banded and the doc said it's OK to work out, but not too vigorously.  I do take nadolol, and have had the varices repeatedly scoped and banded.  Each time I returned for treatment, the varices were less in number and smaller in size, and at my last scope, there were no varices.  I lift enough weight so that I can do a set of 12 without gettting to the point of vomiting (as JJ said).

Did the doc recommend another scoping and banding if needed? I think I'd wait for them to clear up a bit before getting back into a lifting routine. And don't forget the beta blockers.

I'm going to have another scoping at the end of this month (last one was a year ago, previously every 3-6 months).  Hopefully, things are still looking good down there.

Good luck.

[jmjm530]

There's weight lifting and there's weight lifting. I'd probably lay off the full squat and throw-up-bucket routine. Hopefully some here or elsewhere with varisces can chime in with their own experiences with weight lifting. You might also try posting a similar question at this site: http://www.janis7hepc.com/  Or, try an "ask the doctor" here:
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/

[merryBe]

my guess would be to concentrate on arms and legs only with the weights and leave the abdominal toning to things that do not increase the G-forces on that area. You could swim, do some light yoga, and the like. The more force excerted the greater chance of rupturing something so giving up washboard abs might be wisdom.

[mikesimon]

See: http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000857/

"Factors that increase the risk of variceal bleeding1

These are also the same factors that increase the risk of portal hypertension.
Factors that increase the risk of variceal bleeding

    * Decompensation of liver disease
    * Malnourishment
    * Alcohol intake
    * Physical exercise
    * Circadian rhythms
    * Increased intra-abdominal pressure
    * Aspirin
    * NSAID's
    * Bacterial infection (cause of initial and recurrence of bleed"

See also: http://www.hepatitis-central.com/hcv/cirrhosis/propranolol/exercise.html
There is much more detail in this article.

Note that this study focussed on MODERATE EXERCISE while taking PROPANOLOL and not an activity like weight lifting.. I would guess that you're taking Propanolol and there does seem to be some benefit with moderate exercise. Intuitively it would seem that strenuous exercise is not a wise thing to do if you have banded esophageal varices.

"In summary, the results of the present study strongly suggest that propranolol therapy adequately protects from the deleterious effects of a moderate physical exercise on portal hemodynamics in cirrhosis. This may represent one of the mechanisms by which propranolol is effective in preventing bleeding and rebleeding from varices. However, our findings should not be taken as an invitation to advise physical exercise in portal hypertensive cirrhotic patients receiving propranolol. Indeed, although preventing an increase in HVPG and maintaining a reduced AzBF, propranolol pretreatment caused a more pronounced reduction in liver perfusion during exercise than that observed in patients receiving placebo, which may have adverse consequences in patients with an already impaired liver function".

Mike

[sldb]

I have read where peole with portal hypertension should not lift weights.Supposedly it increases the pressure and you already  have varies, this could b/c  dangerous situation.  Talk to your Hepatologist or GI doc. and get a more definitive answer before lifting weights.