omega 3 fish oil and the liver ?

[GINGERPAL]

I finished triple tx in mid march 2012.  My cholesterol and triglycerides have been high.  I was thinking of taking omega 3 fish oil…maybe start now ?  or  maybe wait till after 6 months post tx?  Perhaps  the fish oil can help with my cholesterol and triglycerides. Is fish oil ok for the liver?    Anybody have any thoughts on this?   Thanks.

[Advocate1955]

You should contact the info number for the liver biopsy and ask for the preparation procedures.  I remember that the requirements were to stop taking aspirin, Ibuprofin, or tylenol, blood thinners, and iron I believe.
Advocate1955

[HarlemHon]

Wow!  I am having a biopsy on August 7, and nobody told me to stop taking anything.  I take fish oil, milkthistle, and glucosamie/chondroitin.  So you think I should stop taking these, probably right now since the biopsy is in two weeks?

[MeWithC]

I remember stopping ALL supplement before the biopsy........t'was required..

[Advocate1955]

My husband's triglycerides went sky high during his second treatment in 2010 (daily infergen and 1400 mg of ribavirin).  This was a side effect of treatment.  It settled back down after he stopped that treatment (because it wasn't working), so his doctor doesn't see a need to worry about his cholesterol right now.  So, I think there are several questions.  1) Are your triglycerides high because of treatment, and now that you are 4 months months past end of treatment, have they improved?, 2) How does your liver doc feel about fish oil and the liver?, and 3) Does your general doc want to try treating your high cholesterol with diet and fish oil first, or does he/she recommend another medical intervention such as Lipitor?
Advocate1955

[mykids247]

before I started treating my Dr, had me taking omega 3-6-9 and vit D omega 1000 three times a day and D once. Finished treatment in march and still take the omega and d, didnt want me to stop. See him again in september for 6 month eot. I do see a hepatologist at a transplant ctr.

[Dawn703]

I too have been taking it with my Dr's knowledge. Krill oil is the best though

[pooh55811]

That is a very good point, Dennis. I do recall that I stopped taking the Omega Fish oil (3-6-9 balanced) (gelcaps) about 2 weeks before my liver biopsy because I had read that it could cause some problem with bleeding so I did not want any in my system when I had the biopsy. The doc never said I had to stop and neither did the pharmacist, but I did anyway just to be safe.

[yodennis]

There is always a caveat with HCV regarding Omega's (especially the fish oil form). Omega's reduce your platelet count and for some of us (almost universally if we have cirrhosis) we already have thrombocytopenia, i.e.,low platelets. So the answer to your question requires some clarity regarding your stage. It cannot be answered generically. d

[MeWithC]

I've been taking it for years & my hepatologist knows it...no problem....
The only thing they asked me to stop was a multivitamin...they said I don't need it.

[pooh55811]

I have taken it for years also and my Hepatologist said it was fine. Plus I looked it up on the internet just to check.

I have taken it all during treatment so I don't think there are any problems with the Tx drugs. I checked that on line too, plus with my specialty pharmacist, and with my hepatologist.

[orphanedhawk]

Yes. I've taken it for years and my hepatologist has never had any problems with it.