Hep C and Cirrhosis

[shelly21168]

My husband's doctor has said his colon is slowing down, and that it is causing toxins to build up, gave him an antibiotic and Lactulose. He has said the next thing is to have him evaluated for a liver transplant, however, he won't be eligible, he only quit drinking last week.
Doctor has not said why the colon is slowing down, is that related to the liver, and what does it really mean?? And, can a person be at this point, begin to take care of themselves, FINALLY, and live a long life without a transplant? How long can a person go when they are showing signs of hepatic encephalopathy but no ascites, no portal hypertension and the only other issue seems to be swelling in the ankles? His blood tests, except ammonia are all fairly normal. ALT is at 145, the rest is normal. Any ideas on what to expect? I have lost one husband to a terminal illness and I have three children. I am not flipped out, just need to know what to expect? Can anyone help?

[jonihs]

I didn't say earlier, but I also suffered complete liver failure July,02. I was in ICU for 7 days. 1 week later I went to treatment for alcohol. I have not had a drink since. My memory came back very slowly, as there was miscommunication between my G.I. and the treatment center. I was told at the time that if I lived and didn't drink for 6 mos., I could go on transplant list. I took my meds carefully, didn't drink and watched my diet. Very little protien (2oz. servings of meat plus 1 half cup milk per day, or if I had cheese, no meat.  Eggs I had to have only one a day, then no milk, etc.) After 6 months, a biopsy and new blood work, I was told I no longer Qualified for the transplant list! Hopefully I will Start tx. for the Hep C in the next couple of months, and I will never qualify again. No guarentees,that's okay. Lots of hope, thats wonderful.  Anything is  possible and each day is a gift from God. By the way, when they life-flighted me to where I was in ICU, they told my husband not to expect me to make it! I was a newly-wed.(still am) God is good!!

[new-sojourn]

"lighten up", "light one up", oh the power of 'o'.

[oldhippiechick67]

Haaaahahahahhaha hhhaaaaahahahhaa, you crack me UP! Good one!!

[new-sojourn]

I did refrain from saying, 'Maybe you should light one up.'

[oldhippiechick67]

hmmmm, she said "living a high-quality life"  get it? high ? hahaha!!  I thought it was funny.

[oldhippiechick67]

I have grade 2 stage 1 and my doc said I could wait, but he seemed happy I decided to treat it now, I think there is some medical ethic thing that they can't insist on starting treatment, Erin PA may be able to clear that up.  Here is a good site with lots of links to find out about Hep C stuff:
  http://www.hepcassoc.org/links.html

I do believe Grade 3 is right before cirrhosis, and Grade 4 is cirrhosis.  Anyone care to comment?

[britgirl]

Hep C moves slowly, so even though you are right that bridging fibrosis is "just before" cirrohsis, that could be  a matter of 10 years or so. The important word is "bridging". This means that the scarring is no longer isolated but has started to get "joined up". I also had early bridging fibrosis and treatment was highly recommended. I certainly was not told I "had time" to do nothing. Why wait?

[new-sojourn]

I guess I'm just Amsterdam dreaming, planin' my next trip over.  It's bulb buying time.  We were there during the spring bloom this year.

Also, there is a small body of evidence that pot and tx are not mutually determental, and are at times compatible and beneficial.

Needless to say, for some it means no need for antidepressants, sleep aids or anti-nausia drugs, not to mention pain medication. 25% of the so called 'Western world' use it medically and recreationally whether its legal or not.

I would rather take a toke than pop a pill, eat a Big Mac or have a cig or beer.

And if you can't recognixe a joke, maybe you should lighten up.

[minneapolis]

help me out here.  where is the joke? lynn

[britgirl]

Sorry, that earlier post was for you!

[Tim in Tenn]

Sorry to butt in.Went to the gastro today and got my formal biopsy report.It states"chronic hepatitis,grade2,stage3.There is a mild portal tract infiltrate composed of lymphocytes and plasma cells.There is no significant interface hepatitis.Minimal patchy lobulitis is present.Masson's trichrome stain highlights early bridging fibrosis without regenerative nodules.There is no increase in stainable iron".Will someone please interpret that for me.Doc says I have plenty of time but if I "want" I can start tx as soon as I'm cleared by psych doctor(past history of depression).I was under the impression that stage 3 was just before cirrohsis.Your thoughts will be appreciated.
                                           Thanks,
                                             Tim

[minneapolis]

i am wondering why you brought up the smoking pot issue. lynn

[new-sojourn]

It will be 2yrs 9-12-03 since I went into complete liver failure.  I wasn't given 6mo to live.  2wks later they tested for hepc, even tho all med records showed I had an emerg c-sec 24yrs before.  Naturally, I had gotten a bad transfusion and the hepc finally was correctly dx.

3mo later a specialist in the 'big city' told me I was 2b and eligible for a trail for decomp liver hepc sufferers.  I cl@4wks. fin 24wks, few sxs, now SVR 11mo post-tx.

I didn't have a problem quitting drinking since it was(is) a no brainer-drink, drug, and die and be buried.

I live a very high-quality (and not just b/c I smk pot) life and do just about everything I want.  I even started weight lifting this summer(I'm 56).

As to how long one can live w/o a transplant,  I plan to see.
Transplants are costly, complicated and most people die on the waiting list.  B/that doesn't mean I live in dread or 'if onlys'.  I also have no ins. and am not eligible for any gov ass't.

It is so easy now to live a 'liver friendly' life style now.  We do take it to the extreme, incl clothing, cleaning and garden supplies, food supplies and even vacation destinations.

So good luck, your husband isn't as sick as I WAS!!!

[jonihs]

The only reason that I know of to use lactulose when there are easier and cheaper stool softeners out there, is because ammonia attatches itself to the lactulose, therefore the ammonia level goes down. I am just a layperson, but I would want to know if ammonia is involved and why. Ammonia, for me caused severe memory and logic problems, until it went back down. I still have residuals. Ammonia congregates in tjhe brain!   Joni

[oldhippiechick67]

Here are a few sites to help you learn more... the last one is a site for Clinical Trials.


http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/Why%20treat%20cirrhosis.html

http://www.natap.org    http://www.janis7hepc.com/index.htm

http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/cirrhosis.html

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cirrhosis

http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/cat79.html

Best to you, keep ck'ing back here for input from others...
OHC67