mildly enlarged liver

[mblessed]

I have know for several years I have the virus. But just got the first bad report. All blood work, biopsies, etc., have shown normal until my recent ultrasound. I was told my liver is mildly enlarged. Does anyone know if that means I have taken turn for the worse? I haven't felt well for a long while but a bit worse in the last few months. I guess my question is how bad is having mildly enlarged liver

[Forseegood]

Just so you won't think I'm crazy, I only take a tiny amount, and I was told to by my integrative specialist MD to take a tiny amount if I was having gerd attacks, they went away after I started taking it so obviously I had a lack of it...Betaine HCI is made from pure beet sugar and pepsin...

Also, my allergies seemed to be bother me far less frequently, don't know if it was the Betaine or what, but it happened soon after I took it...now I prob have a lack of this acid, so replacing it (that's all I'm doing) is a good thing, because I just don't have gerd anymore, I don't have any stomach probs anymore....also, I'm not on treatment right now so consider that, if I was on any medication that contradicted this I wouldnt take it...

And I'm not saying other people should do this at all, this is me I'm talking about...my doc did tell me that sometimes people actually have a lack of this acid, so they are plagued with stomach probs, then they take things to neutralize what little acid they have left, and they keep having to take the acid neutralizers they are taking cause they are in pain from not having adequate acid, a yo yo effect...We need a certain amount of acid in our stomachs in order to digest properly...

But I'm going to start taking the pure beet powder (which is just made from beets for crissake, ha ha!)and see if it gives me the same benefit, it sure has a lot of good things in it...

Wish I just liked beets but I don't...beets also come in crystal formulations...they are very, very good for the system...


Betaine Hydrochloride


Also indexed as: Betaine HCl, Hydrochloric Acid, Stomach Acid

What does it do? The digestive process takes place as food passes through the mouth, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. One of the most important parts of digestion occurs in the stomach, where gastric (stomach) acid helps break down proteins for further digestion in the small intestine.

A deficiency of gastric acid secretion increases the likelihood and severity of certain bacterial and parasitic intestinal infections. A normal stomach

[Forseegood]

all I know is I take a really small dose of it, and it works like a charm to take away burpy feelings, nausea, and gerd type feelings, I notice when I don't use it.....Supposedly they have been using it in Europe for years for the same thing...like I said, I'll try using the plain beet powder and see if I get the same benefit...

[Forseegood]

like Jim wisely said, don't borrow trouble, you might not be that far into the disease, just see some experts in the disease asap to figure out your next step...hope all is well and the best I could wish for you is peace of mind with all of this, I know how you feel...

Rocker: been taking Betaine HCI for years now in tablet form (which is always more convenient but I'll do what's needed) and am really heppy with it, before I started it I would occasionally get those attacks of Gerd, and with that stuff, occasional is too much...

Anyway, been meaning to add beet powder to my regimen, I have also read how benefitial it is to the system/liver...but I don't want to double up on the stuff and take both beet powder and the Betaine HCI...maybe I'll try the powder and see if that gives me the same benefits as the HCI...how do you take it? BTW, hate beets as a veggie form, so I really like that we have these other ways of taking them...your thoughts? glad youre having a relatively pain free tx experience...hope all is well in Rockerland...

[Califia]

How can a woman such as yourself not appreciate a vermilion colored soup?   Truly I must say unto thee that borscht  is your best ticket.  Want recipe?  Just ask.

[Califia]

R:  Yeah, glad you added that warning.  Hydrochloric acid is not something we want TOO much of.

F:  BEET-ific!

[Forseegood]

Borscht is great, I love borscht, what I can't handle are those little red buggers called beets!

Boy that boy could dance huh? Got me doing the hustle all over my living room....had to draw the line at break dancing though, fraid those days are over...glory be to God...

[jmjm530]

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions before consulting with a liver specialist (hepatologist). They can usually be found at your larger  teaching hospitals. In general, biopsy is the gold standard for liver damage, so if your biopsy shows "normal" that should be encouraging.

A quick "google" reveals that an enlarged liver may have many causes. How this relates to a "slightly" enlarged liver I'm not sure. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/enlarged-liver/DS00638

None of us here are doctors, but even if we were I doubt anyone could come to any conclusion without your full records, an exam, and maybe follow-up tests.

In the meanwhile -- before you get things checked out professionally -- try and be positive about things. It may turn out not to be serious at all, and please report back what you find if you have time.

All the best.

-- Jim

[mblessed]

Also, how do you know when it's time for drug therapy?