Aa
Cirrhosis - LFTs - Glucose
I'm diagnosed with 'early cirrhosis'. Six mos post treatment and virus free, my ALT/AST is 31/26. Here's what my docs says in response to my inquiry:
<i>I'm happy with the current enzyme levels. Teens would be ideal but 20's is fine as well. I think you have a good chance of reversal of damage as I don't think your liver has passed "the point of no return". Time, of course, will tell.</i>
I'm posting this because we have a few of us with similar damage levels and it might be of interest to the others. "The point of no return". It has an ominous ring, don't it?
Also, a question for the gang about glucose. Mine is right on the cusp of out of range to the high side. When does it become an issue? Should I be concerned now? Should I be working on eliminating all refined sugar from the diet? What else?
<i>I'm happy with the current enzyme levels. Teens would be ideal but 20's is fine as well. I think you have a good chance of reversal of damage as I don't think your liver has passed "the point of no return". Time, of course, will tell.</i>
I'm posting this because we have a few of us with similar damage levels and it might be of interest to the others. "The point of no return". It has an ominous ring, don't it?
Also, a question for the gang about glucose. Mine is right on the cusp of out of range to the high side. When does it become an issue? Should I be concerned now? Should I be working on eliminating all refined sugar from the diet? What else?
Just found this post, didn't think you or Mike were still checking.
...was kind of hot and she was either being professionally very friendly or interested. We'll see on that. LOL.
Well now, that situation looks complicated. Unless you are planning a nose job, not sure how you can go back to the office. Maybe a question about the bill, or you lost the receipt and need it for tax purposes would warrant another call. I guess there are always ways.
I have debated ripping some shingels of my roof in hopes to get the roofer back :)
I met through med help a lady that lives only a couple of miles from my house, and we are talking a lot on the phone. She saw her hematologist, and he has tx patients with interferon for Leukemias, not the peg kind though.
Apparently he has had plenty of complaints about post tx brain fog, and he is sending patients to a psychiatrist who is retraining their brain, as I understood, no drugs.
I am more than interested...what do you say to that, is that possible?
Hope you see this.
Is your brain clearing up? Mine is not, coupled with some depression and constant anxiety. I am pretty uncomfortable in my skin, but I can attack only one problem at a time, so brain stuff will be addressed early next year
My 9 month PCR will be drawn on monday.
I thought I would be enjoing SVR life, but still not, just too many post tx problems.
I wish you would talk more in details about any post tx issues, I mean other than skin. Looks like we are getting Rosacea finally under control. But how about energy, motivation, focusing, concentration, joint stuff, intestinal stuff, sleep disorders.
There is so little I enjoy now, I can't get exited much about anything.
Luckily I managed to divorce med help somewhat. I only read posts from "old timers" now, or if a headline grabs my interest.
I talked my endocrinologist into lending me one of his books, guess the title...The metabolic syndrome.
One thing that jumped into my face...protease inhibitors can acutely induce insulin resistance, they are talking of course about HIV drugs. But that side may also transfer to the HCV drugs.
I still don't know if diabetes must be part of of the MS, in order to be called MS. I am beginning to think not, but paves the way for development of it.
Just rambling again,
Ina
...was kind of hot and she was either being professionally very friendly or interested. We'll see on that. LOL.
Well now, that situation looks complicated. Unless you are planning a nose job, not sure how you can go back to the office. Maybe a question about the bill, or you lost the receipt and need it for tax purposes would warrant another call. I guess there are always ways.
I have debated ripping some shingels of my roof in hopes to get the roofer back :)
I met through med help a lady that lives only a couple of miles from my house, and we are talking a lot on the phone. She saw her hematologist, and he has tx patients with interferon for Leukemias, not the peg kind though.
Apparently he has had plenty of complaints about post tx brain fog, and he is sending patients to a psychiatrist who is retraining their brain, as I understood, no drugs.
I am more than interested...what do you say to that, is that possible?
Hope you see this.
Is your brain clearing up? Mine is not, coupled with some depression and constant anxiety. I am pretty uncomfortable in my skin, but I can attack only one problem at a time, so brain stuff will be addressed early next year
My 9 month PCR will be drawn on monday.
I thought I would be enjoing SVR life, but still not, just too many post tx problems.
I wish you would talk more in details about any post tx issues, I mean other than skin. Looks like we are getting Rosacea finally under control. But how about energy, motivation, focusing, concentration, joint stuff, intestinal stuff, sleep disorders.
There is so little I enjoy now, I can't get exited much about anything.
Luckily I managed to divorce med help somewhat. I only read posts from "old timers" now, or if a headline grabs my interest.
I talked my endocrinologist into lending me one of his books, guess the title...The metabolic syndrome.
One thing that jumped into my face...protease inhibitors can acutely induce insulin resistance, they are talking of course about HIV drugs. But that side may also transfer to the HCV drugs.
I still don't know if diabetes must be part of of the MS, in order to be called MS. I am beginning to think not, but paves the way for development of it.
Just rambling again,
Ina
I'm supposed to call her regarding an insurance form so I have an entree if I want. Fortunatly not planning on having any work done there cause based on my relationship history don't want someone I'm dating in the same room with me under sedation and a knife. LOL.
"Retraining" the brain sounds feasible and let me know what protocol they use. Anything to keep the brain active should help. Things like crossword puzzles, chess, cards, even writing. Passive stuff like watching TV probably won't.
Like I said, skin is almost normal but the real test will come this winter when I go outside for walks. And the real, real test, next summer when I will try some outdoor sports. This summer as you know I've been babying the skin -- no sun, nothing.
My physical strength and stamina are fine -- ran some stadium steps today -- but seem to have lost some motivation. Part of the problem I think is that I've been doing nothing for over a year now -- no work, very little social contact, etc. -- and it's hard to jump back into the saddle.
I did try about two months post tx, but the rosacea was a big set back, sort of like a kick when I was down. Maybe still haven't gotten up even though skin is better.
You say: "There is so little I enjoy now, I can't get exited much about anything." Yes, I have that too. Maybe part of the isolation thing again. Thought of taking some ADs but had a bad reaction to Wellbutrin a few months ago. We'll see. Chinese herbs are another route, might also help with your brain fog. If I did it this time I'd seek out someone with credentials like Misha Cohen. Again, we'll see.
What's with the 9-month post tx PCR? You really think that necessary as long as your enzymes are normal? My next PCR will be at the 1 year mark and then the 2 year mark. Beyond that I doubt if I will ever test unless my enzymes spike.
What else -- GERD is like 90% gone and the rest I don't really care about. Take a Pepcid AC maybe twice a month if I eat bad or too late. One of the days I'll probably get scoped again to double-check on my short-something Barrets. Hope it stays "short" because don't want to go back on PPI's. Sinus problems no worse than pre-tx and same with Prostate. I think tx just turned every pimple into a molehill. Right now I'm taking NO medications although I'm sure I'll be put on Lipitor later this month. Will see someone else on laser eventually but now the problem is that there's no redness to treat although you can see the veins if you look hard enough and I have no doubt they could become inflamed again with too much sun, etc. Maybe a little bit of that V-Beam you talked about to nip the bigger veins on nose, etc. I mean I probably wouldn't even be diagnosed with rosacea now if I walked into a new derms office without giving prior history and photos. In fact, when the hot lady at the nose-job derm came in to give me the names of some laser docs, she seemed suprised at the dx of rosacea because she couldn't see any redness. But hey, I've got the photos :)
What else...sleeping more than normal...some minor (hopefully) stomach issues and bloating. Doc thinks it's probably added fiber in diet. I'm having some x-rays, sonogram done for liver and he said it will pick up on the stomach. No real discomfort but not 100% normal either. He also told me to take the serum insulin test when I mentioned I thought I may have pre-diabetes. Are you familiar with the test?
That's about it. A good year and a half out of my life so far, but I don't have to tell you that. On "paper" I really look good, just have to get my mind to catch up with the body I guess.
Be well.
-- Jim
"Retraining" the brain sounds feasible and let me know what protocol they use. Anything to keep the brain active should help. Things like crossword puzzles, chess, cards, even writing. Passive stuff like watching TV probably won't.
Like I said, skin is almost normal but the real test will come this winter when I go outside for walks. And the real, real test, next summer when I will try some outdoor sports. This summer as you know I've been babying the skin -- no sun, nothing.
My physical strength and stamina are fine -- ran some stadium steps today -- but seem to have lost some motivation. Part of the problem I think is that I've been doing nothing for over a year now -- no work, very little social contact, etc. -- and it's hard to jump back into the saddle.
I did try about two months post tx, but the rosacea was a big set back, sort of like a kick when I was down. Maybe still haven't gotten up even though skin is better.
You say: "There is so little I enjoy now, I can't get exited much about anything." Yes, I have that too. Maybe part of the isolation thing again. Thought of taking some ADs but had a bad reaction to Wellbutrin a few months ago. We'll see. Chinese herbs are another route, might also help with your brain fog. If I did it this time I'd seek out someone with credentials like Misha Cohen. Again, we'll see.
What's with the 9-month post tx PCR? You really think that necessary as long as your enzymes are normal? My next PCR will be at the 1 year mark and then the 2 year mark. Beyond that I doubt if I will ever test unless my enzymes spike.
What else -- GERD is like 90% gone and the rest I don't really care about. Take a Pepcid AC maybe twice a month if I eat bad or too late. One of the days I'll probably get scoped again to double-check on my short-something Barrets. Hope it stays "short" because don't want to go back on PPI's. Sinus problems no worse than pre-tx and same with Prostate. I think tx just turned every pimple into a molehill. Right now I'm taking NO medications although I'm sure I'll be put on Lipitor later this month. Will see someone else on laser eventually but now the problem is that there's no redness to treat although you can see the veins if you look hard enough and I have no doubt they could become inflamed again with too much sun, etc. Maybe a little bit of that V-Beam you talked about to nip the bigger veins on nose, etc. I mean I probably wouldn't even be diagnosed with rosacea now if I walked into a new derms office without giving prior history and photos. In fact, when the hot lady at the nose-job derm came in to give me the names of some laser docs, she seemed suprised at the dx of rosacea because she couldn't see any redness. But hey, I've got the photos :)
What else...sleeping more than normal...some minor (hopefully) stomach issues and bloating. Doc thinks it's probably added fiber in diet. I'm having some x-rays, sonogram done for liver and he said it will pick up on the stomach. No real discomfort but not 100% normal either. He also told me to take the serum insulin test when I mentioned I thought I may have pre-diabetes. Are you familiar with the test?
That's about it. A good year and a half out of my life so far, but I don't have to tell you that. On "paper" I really look good, just have to get my mind to catch up with the body I guess.
Be well.
-- Jim
I have a weeks pass to a local gym pool but held off using it until I saw my last derm. I wanted him to see me 'before' in case it changed things. I have one more derm to see so may wait or may not. My skin appears to be A LOTS less sensitive these days so I don't think I'll have a problem and the plus may be that the cholrine will repress any fungal or bacterial issues. We'll see.
As to V-Beam or IPL, I read it both ways but as mentioned, yesterday's derm acknowledged he didn't know all that much about it and referred me to a laser specialist. Sort of pissed off that I spent $250 consulting the wrong doctor especially since his web site and office staff suggested that's what he does. Turns out he mostly does cosmestic surgery and mostly nose jobs. LOL. Anyway, he seemed honest, did make some helpful comments suggesting that my head "fullness" may indeed be more related to tightened neck muscles than rosacea or sinusitis, gave me a good consult and his office manager was kind of hot and she was either being professionally very friendly or interested. We'll see on that. LOL.
As to V-Beam or IPL, I read it both ways but as mentioned, yesterday's derm acknowledged he didn't know all that much about it and referred me to a laser specialist. Sort of pissed off that I spent $250 consulting the wrong doctor especially since his web site and office staff suggested that's what he does. Turns out he mostly does cosmestic surgery and mostly nose jobs. LOL. Anyway, he seemed honest, did make some helpful comments suggesting that my head "fullness" may indeed be more related to tightened neck muscles than rosacea or sinusitis, gave me a good consult and his office manager was kind of hot and she was either being professionally very friendly or interested. We'll see on that. LOL.
Hey Mike, are you still reading here. I can't believe this thread has not gone to the archives.
I lost my train of thought in regards to the post-prandial testing.
Pre diabetes has moved to the back burner.
They saw something on my breast MRI, and it was recommended I see a surgeon for further evaluation.
Of course I see myself already at Sloan Kettering...so difficult to remain positive, while trying to overcome post tx depression ( mild though).
Besides, I am battleing with the same sides as DD. He has yet to mention something that I can't relate to.
Well no, that is not correct...he didn't chime in on the cannibalism, LOL...oh what the heck, I am just running my mouth saying nothing.
I wonder how long they plan to keep you on low dose, now that you are negative again. Hope you will ask what they are trying to accomplish.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi.
Ina
I lost my train of thought in regards to the post-prandial testing.
Pre diabetes has moved to the back burner.
They saw something on my breast MRI, and it was recommended I see a surgeon for further evaluation.
Of course I see myself already at Sloan Kettering...so difficult to remain positive, while trying to overcome post tx depression ( mild though).
Besides, I am battleing with the same sides as DD. He has yet to mention something that I can't relate to.
Well no, that is not correct...he didn't chime in on the cannibalism, LOL...oh what the heck, I am just running my mouth saying nothing.
I wonder how long they plan to keep you on low dose, now that you are negative again. Hope you will ask what they are trying to accomplish.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi.
Ina
I've had that happen to me and I was so mad I could spit. I bet you haven't heard that expression in a while - if ever. There's no rush about this. I'll check here and, if and when you post, I'll see it and get back to you. All is well. Mike
Mike, I am screaming mad. I just wrote this long post to you, and when I clicked the post button, it disappeared, as well as med help site.
I am so pissed, because it is 2AM, and it took me half an hour to write. Did that ever happen to you?
I have a full plate for the next 5 days, so I wont't be able to write.
I apologize, I really wanted to beat the post prandial glucose issue a little more to death.
Now how can I click "post", and the whole thing goes away.
Good grief, if you could hear me cursing...mf, cs, f..st!!!
Catch you some other time.
Ina
I am so pissed, because it is 2AM, and it took me half an hour to write. Did that ever happen to you?
I have a full plate for the next 5 days, so I wont't be able to write.
I apologize, I really wanted to beat the post prandial glucose issue a little more to death.
Now how can I click "post", and the whole thing goes away.
Good grief, if you could hear me cursing...mf, cs, f..st!!!
Catch you some other time.
Ina
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