Aa
portal hypertention
hello and how are all of you today? I have just found out that I have portal hypertention. I had hernia surgery 3 wks ago and my dr says ( she shuddered when she said this) I don't want to go back inside you because your vessels are so HUGE. She also said for me not to strain or even become constipated cuz I could rupture one and could maybe hemorrhage to death..... I am so scared. Is there anyone in the group that has gone thru this and maybe can give me some good news? Everytime I go see my drs. its another bad thing that I'm going to be faceing. Does it ever get any better? I just want you all to know that I pray for you all . prayer and my faith in God is all I have left. Can someone please help. God Bless
When you are first diagnosed it can be rather frightening. Once you learn about liver disease your fears lesson and acceptance occurs. As Hector has said many of us have some degree of portal hypertension and live very normal lives including myself.
We are so VERY lucky to live in an era where there is now a cure for Hep C.
Once our Hep C is gone the liver is no longer under attack and begins to heal. For many with varacies, (me too) once the healing begins the varacies will for some begin to shrink. The portal hypertension will lesson and the vicious cycle will slow down or perhaps stop.
I've had portal hypertension and liver disease and have never had them bleed. Just because you have varacies it does not mean that you will automatically have a problem.
Now, what should you do now? Find a good hepatologist , treat your Hep C, do not drink alcohol or take drugs, and eat healthy. Should you do these things you may actually reverse the damage done. It's really that simple!
We are here to help you get thru this. You are going to be Ok.
......Kim
We are so VERY lucky to live in an era where there is now a cure for Hep C.
Once our Hep C is gone the liver is no longer under attack and begins to heal. For many with varacies, (me too) once the healing begins the varacies will for some begin to shrink. The portal hypertension will lesson and the vicious cycle will slow down or perhaps stop.
I've had portal hypertension and liver disease and have never had them bleed. Just because you have varacies it does not mean that you will automatically have a problem.
Now, what should you do now? Find a good hepatologist , treat your Hep C, do not drink alcohol or take drugs, and eat healthy. Should you do these things you may actually reverse the damage done. It's really that simple!
We are here to help you get thru this. You are going to be Ok.
......Kim
Yep. Nadalol is good. 80mg's is high. I went from 40 to 20 now to none.
It makes you tired all the time though.
I used to eat lots of eggs but avoiding them has helped me. Strange, I know.
Last bleed-out was almost death for me. I had to be banded 3 times in 24 hours. Current endoscopies shows all the scars from banding.
No bleed-out since. But hey, there are new miracle drugs out now to kill this virus. No more does a person have to wait while getting sicker and more worried.
It makes you tired all the time though.
I used to eat lots of eggs but avoiding them has helped me. Strange, I know.
Last bleed-out was almost death for me. I had to be banded 3 times in 24 hours. Current endoscopies shows all the scars from banding.
No bleed-out since. But hey, there are new miracle drugs out now to kill this virus. No more does a person have to wait while getting sicker and more worried.
You have already started improving your health through education from this forum. The more you learn about the various complications of cirrhosis and the ways of mitigating them will give you some sense of control and greatly lessen the fright. Many folks here have cirrhosis at various stages and can offer plenty of insight. Some, like Hector, has seen it all and done it all.
I didn't know that I had cirrhosis until I had an esophageal variceal bleed and was admitted for treatment in 2005. After banding and discharge I moved away and started being followed closely by a GI in a small town. Our goal back then was to reduce my heart rate by 25% and thereby reduce the pressure in the portal vein. We used Nadolol. Initially this 25% reduction took 80mg/day. Over time, coupled with healthy eating and living right, the dosage was reduced and ultimately discontinued.
I've been with this GI for 10 years now. He banded me a couple times when I first started seeing him and the last varices large enough to band was 9 years ago I get a screening EGD once a year. Without the bleed I would not have found out I had cirrhosis and continued living as I was. Everything has a reason,
Hopefully your GI is as competent as mine and stays on top of surveillance. I was evaluated with a hepatologist at a teaching hospital before treating for hcv the first time but have not needed to return there since 2006. Keep a copy of all labs, office notes, EGD's ultrasounds etc so you can monitor your progress, that gives you some control.
Take care,
Marty
I didn't know that I had cirrhosis until I had an esophageal variceal bleed and was admitted for treatment in 2005. After banding and discharge I moved away and started being followed closely by a GI in a small town. Our goal back then was to reduce my heart rate by 25% and thereby reduce the pressure in the portal vein. We used Nadolol. Initially this 25% reduction took 80mg/day. Over time, coupled with healthy eating and living right, the dosage was reduced and ultimately discontinued.
I've been with this GI for 10 years now. He banded me a couple times when I first started seeing him and the last varices large enough to band was 9 years ago I get a screening EGD once a year. Without the bleed I would not have found out I had cirrhosis and continued living as I was. Everything has a reason,
Hopefully your GI is as competent as mine and stays on top of surveillance. I was evaluated with a hepatologist at a teaching hospital before treating for hcv the first time but have not needed to return there since 2006. Keep a copy of all labs, office notes, EGD's ultrasounds etc so you can monitor your progress, that gives you some control.
Take care,
Marty
Yep. I have it. Best way I can tell if I'm bleeding internally is to self monitor my fatigue, and to keep tabs on my blood count. Go to ER if the Hemoglobin gets lower than 9. Also if the stools are black there is a slow bleed going on. If your Endoscopies don't show anything then you may be ok but between time just monitor how you feel. Do you feel weak? Nauseous? Confused about your surroundings and ultra memory loss? Different things can signal a problem. Mine is definitely nose bleeds that come down from the sinuses and not from the nostrils itself. Don't worry. Rupturing it from exerting yourself is not usual. In your particular case you already have issues with hernia and that is why you shouldn't strain yourself. After treatment and SVR the symptoms lesson and it's appears less likely to get a bleedout.
You have ER so no worries. Also if your heart beats fast for a few days on end that may be a sign of bleeding. If you ask me it's highly unlikely to get constipated with this condition since everything you eat will more than likely go right through you. Just avoid cheese. Eat 3 fruits a day and you'll be okay. Your doc may be more worried about the hernia than anything. Time to watch your diet and find out what suits you for nutrition. Coconut milk is good for the liver, spleen and portal. It worked wonders for me.
You have ER so no worries. Also if your heart beats fast for a few days on end that may be a sign of bleeding. If you ask me it's highly unlikely to get constipated with this condition since everything you eat will more than likely go right through you. Just avoid cheese. Eat 3 fruits a day and you'll be okay. Your doc may be more worried about the hernia than anything. Time to watch your diet and find out what suits you for nutrition. Coconut milk is good for the liver, spleen and portal. It worked wonders for me.
I thank you all . Everyone that I have heard from has been very helpful. I'm gad that I found your forums. I agree with you all. Take deep breathes, ask questions and try to as focused and don't let my medical problems steal my JOY. On my next post.....I should have all my numbers and results of a few tests. Again I thank you so much....
I thank you so much for your input. It just seems like every time I go to see my Gastro. Dr. it's something new. I do have an blood work and scope done every six months so he is trying to stay ahead of all of these things. I am just so scared of EV and the others. Thanks again .....you gave me some things to ask about. Bless you.....
Great to see your comprehensive reply to questions that your are vary knowledge in. Very helpful.
I read your 8 week post Sov, Oly Rbv post liver transplant viral load as undected and hoping for that 12 week SVR in a few weeks. Best wishes for dealing with your other medical problems.
I read your 8 week post Sov, Oly Rbv post liver transplant viral load as undected and hoping for that 12 week SVR in a few weeks. Best wishes for dealing with your other medical problems.
Lupa, welcome to the Forum. I cannot imagine what you are going through! All I can do, is offer support. You have placed your trust and find your strength in the best possible place!
Also, you have had input from Hector, the most knowledgeable person on the Forum, in my opinion!
This is a warm, caring Community, full of knowledgeable people. Please take a deep breath, exhale, and relax as much as you can. Worry only makes any situation worse.
YOu should find a hepatologist, prefersbly one in a transplant center, as Hector suggested, who can guide you each step of the way. No one is saying it will be easy, however, it will certainly seem easier with support here and a GOOD Hep Specialist.
Keep on keeping on and hang in there!
Let us hear from you and tell us what is happening with hepc treatment!
God Bless you and keep you, make His light shine upon you and give you peace.
Pat
Also, you have had input from Hector, the most knowledgeable person on the Forum, in my opinion!
This is a warm, caring Community, full of knowledgeable people. Please take a deep breath, exhale, and relax as much as you can. Worry only makes any situation worse.
YOu should find a hepatologist, prefersbly one in a transplant center, as Hector suggested, who can guide you each step of the way. No one is saying it will be easy, however, it will certainly seem easier with support here and a GOOD Hep Specialist.
Keep on keeping on and hang in there!
Let us hear from you and tell us what is happening with hepc treatment!
God Bless you and keep you, make His light shine upon you and give you peace.
Pat
Most people with cirrhosis have some degree of portal hypertension with its enlarged spleen and low platelet count consequences but it usually can be managed until the cirrhosis becomes very advanced and decompensated. If you have cirrhosis and portal hypertension you should be seeing a hepatologist or a GI who works with a hepatologist at a liver transplant center. Hepatologists work with people with cirrhosis on a daily basis and know how to manage all of the complications of cirrhosis including portal hypertension and the varices it can cause.
As far as "not to strain or even become constipated cuz I could rupture one and could maybe hemorrhage to death". That is nonsense otherwise none of us would ever survive long enough to get a transplant. Many of us have had bleeds. Typically vomiting blood. Not something you want to have happen if you can prevent it. Which in many cased you can. I and all of my friends had varices, ascites. HE and other complications for many years before getting out transplants. Of course if you are a heavy weight lifter you may have to change your lifestyle. :-)
You need to have a hepatologist you can communicate with and trust. Untreated or improperly treated advanced liver disease can be life threaten disease, not something you want to settle for less with. Also you need to educate yourself about so you can stay as healthy as you can... for as long as you can.
Your doctor should have your varices checked (using endoscopy/colonoscopy) to see how advanced they are. Should they be large and in danger of bursting then they can be banded to prevent a hemorrhage. Meanwhile you should be prescribed a beta blocker, such as Nadolol, to lower your portal blood pressure and prevent a bleed. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Also your hepatologist should evaluate you for treating your hepatitis C. Treating and curing your hep C now will prevent any further damage to your liver and prevent you needing a liver transplant at some time in the future.
Also since you have cirrhosis you need to be screened for liver cancer ever 6 months. Should you develop cancer it will be caught early when it is still treatable.
Get cured and your liver disease will stop progressing and begin to reverse itself over time. If at all possible I would recommend avoiding the need for a liver transplant as things will only get much worse before they can get better.
Good luck.
Hector
As far as "not to strain or even become constipated cuz I could rupture one and could maybe hemorrhage to death". That is nonsense otherwise none of us would ever survive long enough to get a transplant. Many of us have had bleeds. Typically vomiting blood. Not something you want to have happen if you can prevent it. Which in many cased you can. I and all of my friends had varices, ascites. HE and other complications for many years before getting out transplants. Of course if you are a heavy weight lifter you may have to change your lifestyle. :-)
You need to have a hepatologist you can communicate with and trust. Untreated or improperly treated advanced liver disease can be life threaten disease, not something you want to settle for less with. Also you need to educate yourself about so you can stay as healthy as you can... for as long as you can.
Your doctor should have your varices checked (using endoscopy/colonoscopy) to see how advanced they are. Should they be large and in danger of bursting then they can be banded to prevent a hemorrhage. Meanwhile you should be prescribed a beta blocker, such as Nadolol, to lower your portal blood pressure and prevent a bleed. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Also your hepatologist should evaluate you for treating your hepatitis C. Treating and curing your hep C now will prevent any further damage to your liver and prevent you needing a liver transplant at some time in the future.
Also since you have cirrhosis you need to be screened for liver cancer ever 6 months. Should you develop cancer it will be caught early when it is still treatable.
Get cured and your liver disease will stop progressing and begin to reverse itself over time. If at all possible I would recommend avoiding the need for a liver transplant as things will only get much worse before they can get better.
Good luck.
Hector
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