Aa
I need some help
I have several questions: I hate the taste of lactalose. Is there anything out there that has same results with out that awful sweet taste? Do u mix your lactalose with anything to hide the taste?
2 nd question:I have untreated cirrhosis that was diagnosed about a year ago. Came as a result of Hep C. My dr at a prominent medical center in Ohio had me wait all of 2013 for the FDA approval of a new drug. Now in March of 2014 he says they are currently getting about an 80% success rate with a combination of Semprivir and Solvadi. Without the use of ribivirin or interferon. Them he says he has heard some good things about one of these two combined with a new one-and in trials it has 95% success rate. So now he wants to wait on more trials to come in with that! He won't put me in a trial because my BMI is too high( nice way to say obese). Says my labs are "stable" although there are MELD markers that are out of normal ranges. So here's the question: should I wait because I'm stable or seek out another facility that may start treatment??? I guess that's all I have for now. Please reply if you can
2 nd question:I have untreated cirrhosis that was diagnosed about a year ago. Came as a result of Hep C. My dr at a prominent medical center in Ohio had me wait all of 2013 for the FDA approval of a new drug. Now in March of 2014 he says they are currently getting about an 80% success rate with a combination of Semprivir and Solvadi. Without the use of ribivirin or interferon. Them he says he has heard some good things about one of these two combined with a new one-and in trials it has 95% success rate. So now he wants to wait on more trials to come in with that! He won't put me in a trial because my BMI is too high( nice way to say obese). Says my labs are "stable" although there are MELD markers that are out of normal ranges. So here's the question: should I wait because I'm stable or seek out another facility that may start treatment??? I guess that's all I have for now. Please reply if you can
Posted by another member:
"Lactulose syrup is synthetic disaccharide and cannot be digested. It is 'eaten' by the bacteria in the bowel, causing acidification of the colonic contents. Creating an ionic exchange, drawing 'poisons' from the blood, and adding an ion preventing them from re entering the bloodstream. ie. ammonia is changed to ammonium."
"Lactulose syrup is synthetic disaccharide and cannot be digested. It is 'eaten' by the bacteria in the bowel, causing acidification of the colonic contents. Creating an ionic exchange, drawing 'poisons' from the blood, and adding an ion preventing them from re entering the bloodstream. ie. ammonia is changed to ammonium."
"Assuming you do have HE, you may also have your pharmacist prescribe Xifaxin (Rifaximin) pills for the treatment of HE. My husband takes 550mg twice a day. It does help. "
Correction: Have your doctor prescribe...
Correction: Have your doctor prescribe...
There are two different companies that I know of that manufacture lactulose for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Do you have symptoms of HE and is that why you are taking lactulose? There is one my husband can't stand (orange color) and the other is much more tolerable for him (green color). The green one is manufactured by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals. You can ask your pharmacist to order that one next time (unless you already have that one and that's the one you don't like).
Assuming you do have HE, you may also have your pharmacist prescribe Xifaxin (Rifaximin) pills for the treatment of HE. My husband takes 550mg twice a day. It does help.
Hope this info is helpful to you.
I agree with Advocate. If you are not already seeing a hepatologist at a transplant center you should consider doing so asap. Is you have HE, this is a symptom of decompensated cirrhosis. Getting on HCV treatment asap is important before you develop more symptoms of decompensation making treatment even more difficult.
My husband has HE and portal hypertension. He is post transplant with cirrhosis due to recurrent Hep C and bile duct problems. He has been on Sovaldi/Ribavirin for 8 1/2 weeks. He is now undetected for the Hep C virus
and also very importantly, all his lab work shows improvement showing that his liver is healing itself. This is preventing further decompensation.
So based on his experience, if you do have symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis like my husband, my advice is to see an experienced hepatologist asap.
Good luck!
Nan
Nan
Assuming you do have HE, you may also have your pharmacist prescribe Xifaxin (Rifaximin) pills for the treatment of HE. My husband takes 550mg twice a day. It does help.
Hope this info is helpful to you.
I agree with Advocate. If you are not already seeing a hepatologist at a transplant center you should consider doing so asap. Is you have HE, this is a symptom of decompensated cirrhosis. Getting on HCV treatment asap is important before you develop more symptoms of decompensation making treatment even more difficult.
My husband has HE and portal hypertension. He is post transplant with cirrhosis due to recurrent Hep C and bile duct problems. He has been on Sovaldi/Ribavirin for 8 1/2 weeks. He is now undetected for the Hep C virus
and also very importantly, all his lab work shows improvement showing that his liver is healing itself. This is preventing further decompensation.
So based on his experience, if you do have symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis like my husband, my advice is to see an experienced hepatologist asap.
Good luck!
Nan
Nan
Try Kristalose (prescrption) its much easier to tolerate. Its a dry mix with water & juoce. Get a Hepatologist ASAP at a Liver Center. Best wishes for U.
yes, I believe there is an alternative to Lactulose.
The question of whether to treat now or wait is a very tricky one given your stage of advanced Cirrhosis. I presume your Cirrhosis is advanced because you are taking Lactulose. What is your MELD score?
If you wait, you run the risk of further decompensation of your liver.
If you treat now, since your liver is already decompensating or decompensated, you run the risk of the treatment being too hard on your liver.
Only a hepatologist who is experienced in treating Hep C and advanced Cirrhosis can answer the question about when best to treat. Is your doctor a hepatologist. Only a hepatologist has the skills and experience needed to treat someone with decompensated Cirrhosis.
I would like to encourage you to post on the Cirrhosis of the Liver forum, where you will find others in the same situation.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/show/1390
Advocate1955
The question of whether to treat now or wait is a very tricky one given your stage of advanced Cirrhosis. I presume your Cirrhosis is advanced because you are taking Lactulose. What is your MELD score?
If you wait, you run the risk of further decompensation of your liver.
If you treat now, since your liver is already decompensating or decompensated, you run the risk of the treatment being too hard on your liver.
Only a hepatologist who is experienced in treating Hep C and advanced Cirrhosis can answer the question about when best to treat. Is your doctor a hepatologist. Only a hepatologist has the skills and experience needed to treat someone with decompensated Cirrhosis.
I would like to encourage you to post on the Cirrhosis of the Liver forum, where you will find others in the same situation.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/show/1390
Advocate1955
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
