Questions about Bridging Fibrosis

[jadee6]

I have had Hepatits C now for about 30 years and contacted it as a nurse. I did very well for a long time and then got diagnosed with bipolar 11 illness and got put on medications that are killing me! So I quit the Lamictal and then tried to get off of the Topamax and feel terrible! So now I have to get back on the Topamax. But I hear that Topamax is terrible and it is the only one so far that works for me for mixed episodes. I get depressed and then I will feel fine and then off and on. That is not too fun to live like that. But right now about two months ago I had the liver biopsy, and it showed stage 2 and then stage 3 for bridging fibrosis. I was treated twice with intereferon. The first time the interferon was in the 90's for one year and did not work. I have the type A I think. The one that is resistant to treatment.

Well then the second time, the doctor did not know what he was doing and almost killed me with treatment everyday of interferon and I quit after about 3 months of it and in and out of the hospital constantly with dehydration or vomiting or whatever. He gave me enough chemo for a breast ca patient. So I have not had any treatment since the 90's and did fine and did not drink or anything, and eat well.

Then I had a hysterectomy in 2006 and that made me gain 30 lbs and then I got the weight problems and then I had fibromyalgia for years. So things started to take its toll. You can never tell what is wrong with me because it all is the same symptoms. Tired and feel bad. So, all those years as a guinea pig and then I started to sleep constantly and then they treated depression to no avail and then they said it was ADHD and put me on Adderall and the Lamictal and the Topamax after trying all kinds of stuff. Well the adderall worked right away for energy because that is what I complained of was the chronic fatigue constantly from the fibromyalgia! So that was a Godsend. Then I got better with the Topamax. The lamictal I found out never did a thing after I got off of it.

So here after $500.00 a medication a month and broke I find all of this out!! Now I find out that I am hypothyroid! I cannot see a doctor until this next week. I could not afford the Topamax so I quit taking it and started with B-12, B-6, folic acid, vitamins and all kinds of good stuff because I had read that bipolar was linked to folic acid deficiency and I truly feel that God put every single thing on this earth that we need to get better and read all about vitamins and minerals for a whole week and studied everything and learned that the human body is made up of just that! Nothing but minerals and vitamins and trace elements of other things! So makes sense when we are deficient we get sick.

That is why people lived longer back years ago before pollutants and cars and carbon monoxides and pesticides and all of the food additives. Then I found out that we are all deficient in B-12 because of our food processing! That our water in Austin is loaded with bacteria and we could not whirlpool certain patients due to that! So it all makes sense to me, but now the question is the liver?

I have been on those meds now for 6 years and they took their toll big time which is what anti convulsants do! They tear you up! Topamax is horrible and they do not tell you? I have $7,000 worth of teeth work that needs to be done and then bridging fibrosis and then hypothyroidism? I am scared to death! I am just 50!

I started exercising in December and have lost 30 lbs and need about 15 to go and eat well, do not drink, but what is going to happen now? I have to take that med? How bad am I? I quit the Topamax about three weeks ago and now I have headaches, my blood pressure is up and I had that about two months ago right before the biopsy and he said you can have flair ups of liver problems. I am suspecting that is what is going on and that is why I feel bad again.

Then it will go away. But I am not discounting the bi-polar part but I doubt you would have headaches from it and I never have or high blood pressure? I have a history of high blood pressure and am on meds but it gets to the point of uncontrolled almost and then gets better. I feel so tired and sluggish!

Is that what this is? Is this the liver and am I getting worse? I had my teeth deep cleaned but still need 7 crowns and a bunch of cavities done and then the thyroid and I am so scared I will not make it to that. Does the thyroid do that too? I also am hypoglycemic but controlled and still exercising everyday almost for an hour dancing to music. I feel like a walking time bomb though. I know some of this is the bi-polar but not all of it. And the sad part? No one will help me finacially? I cannot get anyone to accept some of the insurance and then let me pay out the rest on the teeth and have it all done right now! We were eligible for Medicaid last year due to illness and got passed by and now are not and no one will help us.

I have dental insurance but they will not take that but would Medicaid! Is that not sad? I am really scared to death. Then I have to wait until next week on the Thyroid and have been waiting for 3 months on that one too! They checked me for an adrenal tumor after going to the emergency room last time with the headaches and uncontrollable bp but sent me home and did nothing else. I had to demand the urine test and the doctor missed the thyroid test which showed the TSH of 4.89 and that is now considered high and the new tests say you are and they had not changed it.....so I got passed on that too.

Is this bad for the thyroid too to be like this for a long time??? And then my liver and then the other problems??? Should I consider treatment if I can do it? What about bi-polar? Doesn't the treatment make that worse? I am really concerned here. I do not want to die and feel like I am going to at this point and am only 50!! Any suggestions??

Please help me with this because that is all I think about and I do keep busy with arts and crafts and try to do things but I really am scared this time and am trying to fight this but cannot seem to get it out of my head and what do I do with all of this and then the Topamax really scares me because of what it has done to me so far and it cause eye problems too and I need to get my eyes checked and I surely do not want to hear that one and have put that off too. They say that it can cause glaucoma and put out a warning and then I found out that anyone with liver disease? No one should be on more than 200mg a day and I have been on 400 mg a day for about 4 years now!!!!!!! and my doctor knows that!!

I felt actually pretty good for a while up until about six months ago and started to feel a little more tired off and on but overall I had a lot of energy and was exercising and doing well until I quit the Topamax lately. But to have headaches? And feel a little nauseated is not like Bi-polar is it? But I do feel the depressed part of it though and the no energy part so probably do need the meds and maybe the stress of that is causing the stress on the liver problems? Could that be?

I also started taking MSM this week but have only had three doses of that. I am really trying and also Liv-S I take too and then this stuff callled Thymune Plus and Echinacea and grape seed extract, Vit C, Multiple, Calcium,  D2, D3, CQ10 or should I take the Omegas? Anything else I need to help me?

CH

[Rockerforlife]

Sounds like you definatley need a product called Stem Enhance...i know i keep posting about this food supplement...BUT...this will help you big time..do a google on it...for people like you in really rough shape...this blue green algae will change your life...like i said before...i have family and friends with arthritis and all kinds of problems and it has been very effective....

wishing you well

[jadee6]

Good luck with treatment, I did it twice! It did not work for me but that depends on the kind you have, I definately will support you if you need help. I can give you my e-mail.
Hang in there you can do it.

[jadee6]

I did have a Liver Biopsy in May and they do them every 7 years. The last showed mild scarring but then they did not do the second staging because they did not have that in 2001. They do this test by CT scan and then biopsy the lobes and then study that. It did show the Bridging Fibrosis which is stage 3 and 4 is the Cirrhosis. Now many people live with Cirrhosis for years, however the topamax is the main issue. It is hard on the Liver but I chose to take every other day. I take Liv 52, MSM, Vitamin Supplements, whole wheat only, no liquor, exercise, and that is all I can do. I also take Omega 3's which I hear are good for you. However, I do trust this Doctor, but God is the main one that make the decisions. My thryroid was good as well as lab! So that is is great for now!

Thanks for the help!

[cindyfs48]

i am hypothroid have been for 10 plus years.i started out on 50 mc of synthroid and now take 175.it has been a fighting battle ill tell ya.i have never felt good since ive know i had it.im tired,hair is dry and falling out.dry skin.foggy brain.i get to the point of why am i taking this med if it doest help.i go to doc next week anf im telling him he better find away to make me feel better or im stopping the med.but... then i am also hepc.well hepc has some of the same systems...so now the hepc and hopothroid is fighting in me.i know im going to go crazy before its over.cant wait til i start the treatment for hepc.im hoping it will clear and make me feel better.what do i have to loose.but from what i read you need to get that throid taken cae of.good luck and god bless

[meki]

OK first... WOW...

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

I know nothing about Topomax - and I don't know anything about the supplements you are taking except the Multiple and Calcium and Echinacea... and CoQ10.

Personally - I'd stay away from echinacea. I really would.

Second --- get another doctor. In my opinion - it is good to have 2 or 3 different opinions.

That way you can understand it a lot better.

You have so much going on --- thyroid, liver and bi-polar...

Could they all be affecting you? MOST DEFINETELY.

The thyroid plays a major part in your life. That's probably (from what I'm reading, and understanding) one of your main problems (energy, mental fatigue, headaches, weight gain, etc.).

If you aren't on a medication to take care of that - then find out why.

I know there are quite a few folks around here on this board who have major issues with their thyroids --- please check with them --- they can answer some questions.

The thyroid may even be playing a part in your mental issues - you'd be surprised.

Can HCV be causing the other problems.. Possibly.

Have you had a biopsy? Do you know where you stand on your ALTs and ASTs?

Are you panicking because you've only been to one doctor --- who doesn't really know the answers?

I would sincerely suggest that you get to a Hepatologist to deal with your liver --- a doctor specifically for your thyroid --- and manage those 2 things first.

They alone - might help you with your other issues.

Much luck to you - welcome to the boards - and I hope that you take the time to read through these threads to meet the excellent people here --- and learn more about HCV - the effects and more.

Meki