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Amonia high - brain fog?
Got bloodwork results yesterday that were read by my primary. He stated that the Amonia levels in my body were higher than normal. He then stated that this can effect the thinking pattern and/or clarity of the brain being able to concentrate and think normally.
I personally don't feel like I'm disabled in that capicity. Anyone else have this? Has anyone else been told by their doctor that they have high Amonia which can relate to thinking problems?
I have to say this must be related to the last volatile and near death over-dosed treatment, as I never had high Amonia before...
Magnum
I personally don't feel like I'm disabled in that capicity. Anyone else have this? Has anyone else been told by their doctor that they have high Amonia which can relate to thinking problems?
I have to say this must be related to the last volatile and near death over-dosed treatment, as I never had high Amonia before...
Magnum
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you take lactulose prophylactically, then the ammonia producing bacteria will be kept at a low level and the lactulose dose to achieve this will be low, with no unpleasant degree of diarrhea. If a patient has already toxic CNS symptoms, the presribed dose of course will be high and diarrhea will be intense. Again, hepatic encephalopathy can be life threatening and then even lactulose enemas are given to save the patient.
Because of this almost miraculous effect of lactulose, it seemingly is respectfully considered a "drug" here - and by some doctors-, something to be reserved for severely ill patients.
In reality it is a harmless sugar, simply fostering a nontoxic enteric flora that lives on lactulose that we cannot absorb, reducing not just ammonia but also LPS and endotoxins reaching the liver from the gut, reducing hepatic and overall inflammation, having antifibrotic effects for that reason and preventing "bacterial translocation" that is the transport of bacteria from the gut lumen through "leaks' in the guts epithelial lining into the intstinal tissue towards local lymphnodes and the liver. It preserves the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, which further reduces the antigen induced stress on the liver, calming the Kupfer cells, which are sitting there to catch these foreign intrusions that all hit the liver first.
It is therefore, together with some probiotic bacteria, part of any reasonable probiotic/eubiotic treatment plan of the intestinal flora, with great importance to anyone with liver disease and and eye towards reducing hepatic and systemic inflammation, fibrosis progression /regression.
It is something that, in low dose, even a "healthy" person should consider as part of his/her lifestyle.
Here is a study to determine its "toxicity":
Lactulose has profound health benefits by way of increasing bifidobacterial flora in the intestine of infants thereby protecting them against enteric infection, constipation and systemic encephalopathy. In the present study to assess the sub chronic toxicity of lactulose syrup, the rats were fed on a basal feed supplemented with lactulose syrup at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0% for a period of 21 weeks. Monitoring of food consumption, gain in body weight and physical observations did not reveal any treatment-related toxicity in any of the group of rats. Terminal autopsy also did not reveal any signs of toxicity. Further, no significant alterations in relative organ weight, serum biochemistry and urinalysis were observed up to 1% lactulose supplementation level. The results suggest that supplementation of lactulose in the diet does not produce any toxicity at the doses tested.
Because of this almost miraculous effect of lactulose, it seemingly is respectfully considered a "drug" here - and by some doctors-, something to be reserved for severely ill patients.
In reality it is a harmless sugar, simply fostering a nontoxic enteric flora that lives on lactulose that we cannot absorb, reducing not just ammonia but also LPS and endotoxins reaching the liver from the gut, reducing hepatic and overall inflammation, having antifibrotic effects for that reason and preventing "bacterial translocation" that is the transport of bacteria from the gut lumen through "leaks' in the guts epithelial lining into the intstinal tissue towards local lymphnodes and the liver. It preserves the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, which further reduces the antigen induced stress on the liver, calming the Kupfer cells, which are sitting there to catch these foreign intrusions that all hit the liver first.
It is therefore, together with some probiotic bacteria, part of any reasonable probiotic/eubiotic treatment plan of the intestinal flora, with great importance to anyone with liver disease and and eye towards reducing hepatic and systemic inflammation, fibrosis progression /regression.
It is something that, in low dose, even a "healthy" person should consider as part of his/her lifestyle.
Here is a study to determine its "toxicity":
Lactulose has profound health benefits by way of increasing bifidobacterial flora in the intestine of infants thereby protecting them against enteric infection, constipation and systemic encephalopathy. In the present study to assess the sub chronic toxicity of lactulose syrup, the rats were fed on a basal feed supplemented with lactulose syrup at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0% for a period of 21 weeks. Monitoring of food consumption, gain in body weight and physical observations did not reveal any treatment-related toxicity in any of the group of rats. Terminal autopsy also did not reveal any signs of toxicity. Further, no significant alterations in relative organ weight, serum biochemistry and urinalysis were observed up to 1% lactulose supplementation level. The results suggest that supplementation of lactulose in the diet does not produce any toxicity at the doses tested.
my doc told me the same thing about "range levels" they are different for everyone. alcoholics can die in the 100 range .i was over 200 and other than confusion and spaciness, functioned fine. I agree about the lactulose. i did have looser stools, not diarhea but figured out when to take it based on bathroom access at work.I took in mid eves and was fine all day. I am pretty physical at work and was going 3x a day. my wife has a coworker, whose dad went wild at work, tried to beat up his boss, left after work, tried to run him over and went into a coma. he had had a tplant before this, but is better now.weird huh?
Based on my SVR and a fairly recent Fibroscan, not overly concerned with cirrhosis -- however, for the past 9 months I have had quite noticeable post treatment 'bloating' in the abdominal area that was unremarkable on ultraound. The bloating, combined with more frequent bowel movements with sometimes more than usual urgency t, leads me to believe some sort of gastric inflammation, IBS, etc.
First, does this make any sense to you in terms of treatment and
do you think lactulose might be beneficial in terms of my bloating? And second, any other suggestions/comments on the bloating, including additonal tests, next steps, etc.
I did mention it to my hep doctor but have not pursued it agressively partly due to the symptons not being severe, and partly being tired of doctors, procedures and medications :) He did ask me if I had been under stress lately -- probably guessing IBS -- and we left it at that. As to stress, nothing conscious, but I have likened many of the symptons myself and others have experienced post treatment to post traumatic stress syndrome, so in that light, I probably am under a certain level of stress coming out of a very traumatic 54 month experience.
Thanks in advance for any insights.
-- Jim
First, does this make any sense to you in terms of treatment and
do you think lactulose might be beneficial in terms of my bloating? And second, any other suggestions/comments on the bloating, including additonal tests, next steps, etc.
I did mention it to my hep doctor but have not pursued it agressively partly due to the symptons not being severe, and partly being tired of doctors, procedures and medications :) He did ask me if I had been under stress lately -- probably guessing IBS -- and we left it at that. As to stress, nothing conscious, but I have likened many of the symptons myself and others have experienced post treatment to post traumatic stress syndrome, so in that light, I probably am under a certain level of stress coming out of a very traumatic 54 month experience.
Thanks in advance for any insights.
-- Jim
Forgot to mention that I was thinking of seeing a doctor of TCM both for the bloating and post tx skin issues. I imagine their rx would be herbs and acupuncture. Your comments welcome on this.
-- Jim
-- Jim
Hi Guys,
My husband's ammonia elevated to a point where he was experiencing blackouts, but in the beginning it presented as confusion and disorientation. The blackouts are what ultimately led to the HCV diagnosis. He was put on lactulose and it did wonders, rather quickly. He hated the stuff, and due to improved liver histology he no longer needs to take it, but without it, things could have gone from "worst" to worser...
Magnum, one of our doctors told us the number is irrelevant, it's how you feel and not to get too hung up on what's "in range" and what isn't.
Good luck,
Debbe
My husband's ammonia elevated to a point where he was experiencing blackouts, but in the beginning it presented as confusion and disorientation. The blackouts are what ultimately led to the HCV diagnosis. He was put on lactulose and it did wonders, rather quickly. He hated the stuff, and due to improved liver histology he no longer needs to take it, but without it, things could have gone from "worst" to worser...
Magnum, one of our doctors told us the number is irrelevant, it's how you feel and not to get too hung up on what's "in range" and what isn't.
Good luck,
Debbe
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