QUESTION:
Can anyone give me good sites or books with lot of info on alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver?
It can be internet sites, ebooks, journals and books? please it will help. thank you

• ANSWER:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrhosis

QUESTION:
How does Liver Cirrhosis impair the regenerative capacity of the liver?
Given that the liver can supposedly regenerate up to 75% of its mass, how is it that the impairment of liver function by Alcoholic Cirrhosis is irreversible?
Thanks.

• ANSWER:
  cirrhosis in a nut shell means replacement of working hepatic(liver) tissue into a fibrous one.
  this fibrous tissue is like a scar tissue with no functional ability. simple as this sounds..loss of functions is accompanied with loss of the cellular regeneration capacity.

  regeneration requires active cells. regeneration of liver as u stated is possible even if 75% of the hepatic mass is removed, thus it depends on the rest 25% to regenrate back.

  may be u r not aware but mild cirrhosis ie in the early stages of fibrosis, in case of alcoholic cirrhosis if the pateint stops consumption of alcohol then the cirrhsosi can be reversed.
  but rarely it is daignosed that early and the symptoms arise only after a good amount of irreversible damage has taken place. the most important reason why regeneration cannot take place is that once cirrhosed, the blood supply to the liver is greatly decreased which is augmented by the decreased functioning of the liver, these two together dont allow regenration and reversal of cirrhosis.
  organ transplant is always an option..u will just need to find a donor that matches with ur histocompatibility genes

QUESTION:
Doyou think this alcoholic liver damage is cirrhosis or otherwise non-repairable?
The ALT yesterday was 160, now 140.

Bilirubin - yesterday was within normal range (15 I think) today is 46.

Bsically the person concerned drank chronically - went from 5-6 cans a day for 4 years to a bottle of vodka a day (70cl size) for the last two years.

The person stopped drinking yesterday afternoon and has no intention of starting again. The first test was done 2 hrs after the last drink.

The second test was done this morning.

The person has no symptoms.

Do you think it is beyond repair?

• ANSWER:
  Liver Cell Damage follows the same course, no matter what the cause is:

  The liver cells become damaged. The immune system of the body
  will respond to this damage and cause inflammation to develop inside
  the liver. If the cause of the damage is stopped, then there is a chance
  that the liver cells can heal and the problem could be reversed.

  The liver is a soft and smooth organ. If you have seen beef liver that
  people cook, than you have an idea what it looks like. When it
  enlarges in size (the liver is surrounded by a tight membrane capsule)
  from the inflammation, it takes on a spongy texture.

  What can happen to the liver from alcohol Consumption?

  Keep in mind that the liver cells do all the functions of the liver
  to keep the body well. One of those functions is to remove toxins
  from the body and convert them to a non toxic form that the body
  can easily dispose of.

  When someone overconsumes alcohol in a short time period,
  it doesn't give the liver cells enough time to make enzymes to help
  it convert the alcohol to acetaldehyde to acetate to CO2 and water.
  Left unconverted completely, it can be toxic to the liver cells themselves.

  When a person consumes alcohol over long time periods, fat can
  start to build up inside the liver. This fat causes pressure there and
  can also damage the liver cells. Inflammation will then appear and
  it is called (Steatohepatitis...steato means fat, hepat means liver,
  itis means inflammation.

  Some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others are and
  some are even allergic to it. This means it is an individual basis
  on whether a patient will develop liver disease and what amount
  of alcohol would cause this.

  Taking medications with alcohol, can cause such an interaction
  that the liver cells are damaged immediately.

  If the cause is removed, then it is possible the liver cells will heal
  and reverse the problem. However, if it is not, it can lead to where
  the liver cells die off and form scar tissue. This scar tissue cannot
  be removed from the liver..it does block the flow of blood to the
  functioning liver cells and also will end up blocking the flow of
  blood thru the liver on its way back to the heart. This is what
  is known as the progressive, irreversible disease of Cirrhosis of
  the liver. The liver is basically dying inside the patient. It starts
  to shrink in size and takes on a hard texture. The functions that
  the liver cells once did, start to deteriorate and signs and symptoms
  will appear. The first one is usually Jaundice (the yellowing of the
  whites of the eyes and skin ...can be seen best in outdoor lighting)

  ................................................................
  The ALT is the enzyme that is most specific to the liver itself...
  the other ones are made in other organs, also. No blood test
  is 100% accurate, though. Different things can affect the results
  of these tests, like having an intramuscular injection, muscle injury,
  or even exercising before the test was done. It takes the whole
  picture of all the Liver Enzymes blood tests, the Liver function
  blood tests, the Liver viral blood tests, the film tests (like a
  liver ultrasound or CT scan) and the main highest recommended
  tests (The Liver Biopsy) to be sure that it is definitely a liver problem,
  how far advance in the disease a patient is, and whether or not it
  has reached the stage of Cirrhosis, which is irreversible and a
  progressive disease.

  The liver biopsy is where they take a sample of the actual tissue
  of the liver, which is far better than just looking at film (pictures)
  of it...it tells the doctor alot more than any other test.

  Only the doctors with these tests results can give you an
  "educated guess" how far advanced a patient is and
  also how long they will live without a transplantation being done.

  Patients should be monitored closely coming off alcohol to be sure
  the body is able to withstand the reactions of doing this. Doctors have
  meds to give to help with the side effects and be sure the patient will
  come through it all okay. Many will refer the patient to a hospital
  outpatient detox program.

  The higher ALT levels and the Bilirubin levels is a warning sign.
  Most blood tests give the doctors an "idea "of a problem occurring...
  it takes more than that to be sure. .Your blood chemistry is changing
  all the time...considering this test was done just after consuming alcohol
  would have a direct effect on the tests results. The Bilirubin has to reach
  a certain level in the blood before Jaundice appears. If this is up to 4.6
  than that is really high and your urine should start to appear darker in
  color as the Kidneys filter the bilirubin out of the blood. And, yes, that is
  definitely not good sign.

  Best wishes

QUESTION:
Typically, how long can a person live with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver?
Hello everyone. My Father was diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver. He has been an alcoholic since he was a teenager. My question is how long do people with this condition generally survive? He has jaundice, he is very confused, he has swelling in his abdomen, his ankles are swollen, he is too weak to walk on his own... they are giving him physical therapy but his health changes every day. He gets better, worse, better, worse, it is so overwhelming. Also on top of that he has abused drugs in the past as well. They claim he is slowly dying... but my question is if he does therapy and everything and eats right could he possibly get better or is it to late?

• ANSWER:
  Ty, I have had patients like your dad. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done. If he follows the regimen the doctors have him on it might slow it down some. The question to consider is have the doctors diagnosed him end-stage liver disease? If so, then he is dying. He will go up and down with it. I really hate to hear your dad has this and you and your family have my prayers. I have seen what these patients go through.

QUESTION:
What is the outcome after being diadnosed with non alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver?
After having a routine MRI some abnormalities showed up which led to further testing and a liver biopsy. It appears that at sometime in the past I had auto immune hepatitis that went undiagnosed. I really didn't have any symptoms other then fatigue but then I was always fatigued for other reasons. As of right now even with the cirrohsis my liver function is normal but my liver enzymes are elevated but not high enough for treatment. I realize the hepatitis could flare up again which would call for aggressive treatment to prevent any further scaring of my liver. I have read all kinds of information on these diseases both very disturbing and some encouraging but I would just like to know if anyone who reads this has been diagnosed with this or knows someone who has and what has been the outcome.

• ANSWER:
  I have an autoimmune disease in which my autoimmune system attacks the bile ducts in my liver. This is called primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). I am curious to know how the doctors came to the conclusion that you have a problem with your autoimmune system to the point that it has caused cirrhosis. If this is true, then this autoimmune problem has been going on for a very long time to damage your liver to the point of it being cirrhotic. I had no symptoms with my disease until my liver was already 90% destroyed with cirrhosis. I suddenly started to swell up with fluid and had no idea anything was wrong prior to that. It was a shock to me that my liver had so much cirrhosis that I would need a transplant. I had no idea anything was going on inside of me.

  That autoimmune hepatitis is probably still flaring up each and every day since it just doesn't stop and go away. It takes many years to destroy a liver. There is really nothing much they can do as far as treating it. Sometimes they will give medication to help it, but it really doesn't stop the disease from progressing, especially when its from your autoimmune system. When symptoms from the cirrhosis appear, they can give medications to control them and lab work is done routinely to ward off problems early. I used to have to get an endoscope done every 3-6 months to get banding done to any varices that form to lower the risk of bleeding problems. Basically, they just let the disease take its course since there is no cure other than a transplant.

  Even when my liver was 90% destroyed, my liver enzymes were just slightly above normal. My transplant doctor told me this can happen with some people, that the enzymes can almost normalize even though the disease is far advanced.

  You said you had a biopsy done. It should show the amount of damage done and how much cirrhosis (scarring) your liver has in it. Figuring out the cause of it when it is not so obvious like alcoholism, can be difficult to diagnose. That's why I asked how they determined yours was from an autoimmune problem. I didn't know the real cause of mine until after my transplant. The biopsy also should show whether or not there is active inflammation going on. The elevated enzymes can be an indication that there could be continued inflammation.

  The good thing is that you are still asymptomatic which means your liver is still compensating. It can stay this way for a long time. When I started to swell with fluid, that was my first sign of it starting to decompensate. Even then, I took diuretics that controlled the fluid retention quite well for several years. Once I was diagnosed with cirrhosis, I believe I went and got evaluated for transplant and was placed on the list a year later. I waited 18 months for my transplant and am doing well today. My autoimmune disease still wants to attack my new liver. I do take a medication that works well in keeping my enzymes in normal range which means there most likely will not be any damage as long as they remain that way.

  If you want to ask me anything else, just email me. I will be happy to help you if I can.

QUESTION:
Cirrhosis of the liver level four?
My grandmother has non alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver they said it is level four could anyone explain this to me?

• ANSWER:
  First, cirrhosis isn't a form of cancer. Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease where the healthy liver tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue. This leads to a progressive loss of liver function. The most common causes of cirrhosis are alcoholism (most common), hepatitis (B and C), or fatty liver disease. There are several other causes as well. Sometimes there is no known cause; these cases are termed cryptogenic. Your grandmother has cirrhosis due to something other than alcoholism. Since the doctor used the term non-alcoholic, he may be referring to Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this condition, fat builds up in the liver and eventually causes scar tissue. NASH is associated with diabetes, malnutrition, obesity, heart disease, and treatment with certain drugs.

  Cirrhosis is not reversible. Doctors focus instead on preventing its further spread. Stage 4 indicates severe cirrhosis.

  To learn more, look at the links below.

QUESTION:
What was Ataturk cause of Death?
On November 10, 1938, following an illness of a few months, the national liberator and the Father of modern Turkey died.

Atatürk died, at age 57, at the Dolmabahçe Palace on November 10, 1938. It is thought that he died of cirrhosis of the liver.[56] Ataturk's funeral called forth both sorrow and pride in Turkey, and seventeen countries sent special representatives, nine contributed with armed detachments to the cortege.[57]

"His lifestyle had always been strenuous. Alcohol consumption during dinner discussions, smoking ....."

Cirrhosis has many causes. In the United States, chronic alcoholism and hepatitis C are the most common ones.

Alcoholic liver disease. To many people, cirrhosis of the liver is synonymous with chronic alcoholism, but in fact, alcoholism is only one of the causes. Alcoholic cirrhosis usually develops after more than a decade of heavy drinking. The amount of alcohol that can injure the liver varies greatly from person to person.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk#Last_days.2C_1937-1938
Irmak:I think you should read your answers before posting them.
I don't see how ataturks alcoholism lets me go to the mosque or helps me live. Ataturk commanded the Turkish army and the soldiers with God’s will saved Turkey.
out of curiosity who are ppl like me??

• ANSWER:
  yes u r right every second of his life was beeing drunk
  even because of him we lost islam

QUESTION:
do all alcoholics develop cirrhosis of the liver?
and are women more suspectible than men? are overweight people less suspectible than skinny people?¿ how much do you have to drink in a week and are there certain kinds of drinks that make it more suspectible than others and how many years do you have to drink for cirrohsis to develop?

• ANSWER:
  Of course alcohol ruins your liver and kidneys. It all depends on how much you drink how fast and how responsibly.

QUESTION:
I have NAFLD (Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease). What are my chances of getting Cirrhosis?
I went to the the ER the other day because I have had chronic diarrhea, dizziness, and abdominal pain for more than 3 months now. The Dr. found that I had NAFLD and said that I should be seeing a Dr. for this condition and said that I need MANY tests done to see what is causing it. She also said that I have to be on a vegan diet (I am not overweight) to see if it can reverse the Disease. My questions are: Is there a cure for this & What are the chances of it forming into Cirrhosis?

• ANSWER:
  You should be seeing either a gastroenterlogist
  or hepatologist now.
  Fatty liver disease can be caused by many
  different things: alcohol consumption, certain
  medications like steriods, weight gain, hereditary conditions,
  diabetes, insulin resistance, high cholesterol/triglyceride levels
  and more.

  The cause needs to be determined.
  There are different stages of this disease....
  Simple fatty liver doesn't usually cause a
  problem and can be easily reversed by
  stopping the cause. Alot of people are very
  thin and can still have this problem.

  The fat pushes on the liver cells and can
  even push the nucleus of the liver cell out of
  place. That is why it has to be treated immediately
  ....so the fat will disappear and not harm the cells.
  The liver is surrounded by a membrane capsule and
  the fat only adds to the pressure inside the liver.
  If the cells of the liver become damaged, it signals
  the immune system of the body to respond to
  this. The immune system then causes inflammation
  to develop inside the liver, also. This will cause the
  liver to enlarge in size. It then goes from simple
  fatty liver to steatohepatitis. Steato means fat,
  hepat means liver and itis means inflammation.
  This becomes more serious...the inflammation adds
  to more pressure inside the liver and the cells can
  more easily start to die off. When the cells die off,
  it becomes a progressive disease known as
  Cirrhosis of the liver. What happens now, it the
  cells die off and form scar tissue inside the liver
  that blocks the flow of blood through the liver on
  its way back to the heart and may also block
  the flow of blood to the other liver cells and they
  will continually die off.

  If the patient follows the doctor instructions and
  is treated for any inflammation that may have
  developed...then it may never go to the point of
  becoming Cirrhosis of the liver.

  Here are some links to help you learn more about
  this, that you can click on:
  http://www.medicinenet.com/fatty_liver/article.htm
  http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060601/1961.html
  http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/fatty-liver.html
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_liver

  I hope this information has been of some help to you.

QUESTION:
in alcoholic cirrhosis how and why are mallory bodies produced?
I'm having difficulty connecting alcoholic hepatitis and fibrosis leading to cirrhosis to the development of mallory bodies/hyalines. i know their collections of fibres in the liver cells but can't identify how they get produced, is it to do with the impairment of protein movements? also are they cytokeretin or collegen? if anyone can give me any help with this i would much appreciate it! any info on mallory bodies would be great.

Thanks kate x

• ANSWER:
  The precise mechanism of formation is not known (See Hepatology Research, October 2007 issue) but their chemical identity is hyperphosphorylated keratins 8 and 18.

QUESTION:
How to help someone who is in a tailspin and getting ready to hit rock bottom?
My dad is having some problems and I frankly don't know what to do.

In February he was diagnosed with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis which I believe (with the depression he is experiencing) has affected his time management skills and organizational skills. He also has severe stomach pain (don't know if its from the liver cirrhosis) that affects his ability to work.

Because of these issues his business is failing, the credit cards are maxed out (with no way to pay them off and with my mom having no knowledge of these credit cards), and my mom is constantly nagging him to close the business, get with the program, stop being lazy, get another job so she can go shopping, oh my g

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Wife is not looking after his husband?
My younger brother who is due to retire on 31 Dec 2010 after completing 20 yrs of service in Indian Air Force. He is battling for his life since Sep 2010 at Army Hospital Research & Referral. He has been diagnosed as a Alcoholic liver cirrhosis with brain TB and meningitis. Since last week he is under life support system in ICU. My aged parents are looking after him in the hospital since Sep 10. My father is cleaning his urine, latrine every thing which require a bed ridden patient. The service which should have been rendered by his wife, the same is being done by my aged parents irrespective of their poor health. They are sleeping in the corridors of the hospital. His wife is working in a pvt school in Halwara and staying with her widowed mother and unmarried sister. They are not having any child also. During his course of critical illness she has just come twice to see his husband for few hours only because she can't leave her job and her mother and sister. Through out the married life they have stayed separately as she can't leave her job and her mother and sister. Now my parents are now helpless, now they are not able to stay in the hospital day and night. Now we are telling her that please come to your husband and look after him, she is denying on the pertext that how she can leave her job and her family members. She knows that my brother will die and she just waiting for his retirement benefits and pension which comes to near about 10 lacs. She has also been told that you leave your mother & sister and be with your husband and if you can not survive with the pension amount we will help you financially, but she is not agree to this also.
Now my question is can we by any legal course of action debar her from my brother's pensionary benefits since she is not doing her duty as a responsible wife. I want that 50% of his pensionary benefits should go to my parents and 50% to any trust/NGO.

Is it possible, please advise as the time is very less.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Alcoholic Cirrhosis Prognosis?
My father was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, due to alcoholism, about 2 months ago. And if he let me go to the doctor and/or gave me the explicit details of his condition and/or prognosis, I wouldn't be typing this out right now. He drank heavily for years, had massive ascites but once he was diagnosed, they gave him dieuretics and he has lost about 35 lbs (mostly in belly). He stopped drinking completely once he found out of the sickness. He's 63. He doesn't seem sick and is following the doctor's orders for the most part (I believe). I think he's tired a lot, but I just don't really know what to expect or how this goes. I read a lot of posts about this disease, but was hoping (although, not really hoping) that someone went through this and can relate. What's the prognosis like? Is it fairly promising or am I too optimistic? If you want to answer and I forgot important details that could help you in your response, tell me, and I'll add them to the details. That's all I could think of. I'll be here.

Thank You
He drank vodka regularly for about 8 years, I'd say...by regularly, I mean probobably 360/365 days of the year

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
why don`t they add more taxes to Alcoholic Beverages, like they do to Cigarettes?
Becky (1 friends, send message) wrote:11m ago
I`m out raged at all the taxes placed just on cigarettes "" WHAT ABOUT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, IT COST TAX PAYERS BILLIONS, IN HEALTH CARE OF THE ALCOHOLIC, CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER, FROM EARLY STAGES TO THE MORE ADVANCED STAGE, END STAGE CIRRHOSIS'S OF THE LIVER, DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS, AND CUTS AND BUMPS TO THEM SELF`S AND TO OTHERS WHILE THEY WERE INTOXICATED, AND ALCOHOLIC`S CAN GET DIABETES WITCH THE COST OF THOSE MEDICAL NEEDS RUN VERY HIGH, TESTING EQUIPMENT, INSULIN, OR PILLS, SURGERY'S.

• ANSWER:
  I've been asking the same question for a long time. Most of all the items you mentioned that costs taxpayers money also brings in big business for others such as hospitals get paid for all those diseases such as cirrhosis and diabetes not to mention the doctors, labs, pharmaceuticals, all the testing, plus employment for all the medical personnel to take care of all this. Face it, it's a big business for a lot of people. In PA here, the state is the only one that is allowed to sell liquor in a store, so raising taxes wouldn't do much to help them since they already get all the profits. Private business can sell beer here, but nothing else. Personally speaking, I think it would be a good way to get money if they must tax something since alcohol does such harm to people in our society in so many ways. Alcoholism destroys families not to mention kills not only the people drinking it, but innocent people in their way such as on our highways.

QUESTION:
Does anyone know the signs of when the liver is at its last points of failing?
My dad got diagnosed with non alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. He has nasuea, vomiting, ascites (accumulation of fluid in his body), and lots of bloating, and loss of apetite. Basically those are all the symptoms of cirrhosis. Hes my best friend and I never want to lose him. Im keeping a close eye on him constantly. But now Hes been throwing up more than usual, he gets a strong cough at night, and this morning he woke up saying he sees white lights in his vision. Does this mean his liver is getting worse or those are just the symptoms all cirrhosis patients go through?
He doesnt have his next drs appointment till next week. Also, if anyone knows about how to get on the liver transplant faster than usual- please let me know. His MELD score is a 15 or 16 i believe.
Thank You.

• ANSWER:
  Yes, those are typical signs of cirrhosis, but his doctor should be answering this question as to how severe his disease is right now. I had cirrhosis and a liver transplant. I never saw any white lights or a change in my vision and have never really heard that as being related to cirrhosis. He could have other medical issues going on at the same time as his cirrhosis such as the coughing at night. I never had that problem with my cirrhosis either.

  When it gets near to the end, the patient is usually very weak and extremely tired. It's not unusual to sleep 16 hours a day and get so weak, they can no longer function to take care of themselves. They will be yellow (jaundiced), will bruise very easily, and need to be watched for internal bleeding. Their condition just worsens until they fall into a coma and then it will be over soon. Sometimes, it's the side effects of cirrhosis that can take them out such as an infection in the abdominal fluid or a massive internal bleed. All can be life threatening.

  The only way to get a transplant quicker is to get sicker which puts a person to the top of list that goes by their lab work. There is just no getting around it. The MELD score determines who gets to go. I know I was having fluid retention problems and they increased my Lasix to help control it. They told me that due to the high dose I was on, my creatnine level would probably also go up. Creatnine is one of the lab tests that is part of the meld score. It did go up as they said. It put me at a 15 and that's when I got my transplant.

  Every center is different as to what numbers are going for transplant at any given time. It varies day to day. It depends on so many things such as how many organs are being donated to what region you are in. It was pretty common for my center to do transplants at 15, but another center may not be able to give them until the score reaches mid 20's or so. If you go to the UNOS website who controls all the transplants, I believe you can look up your center and find out all the details of the numbers.

  I hope your father has already been listed and is waiting now. If not, the next step for him will be the evaluation process to determine whether or not he could be a candidate for transplant. He must go through all the steps and there are no short cuts. Good luck to him and I wish him the best.

QUESTION:
what are the consequences to my body after survivg 4th stage alcoholic cirrohsis?
i was hospitalized and sent to a hospice house 3 years ago with end stage alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver and told i had a few days to live. My ammonia level was around 250. I miraculously was able to flush the toxins out and have been stable for about the past year or more. What will my body go through physically? I do already have vascular necrosis of my left knee and left and right hip, the knee already has been replaced. And the prognosis is five years so as this passes I feel as if my body is starting to fall apart. Please help me to know what to expect generally as this time passes. I am 48 years old and thank you very much for your time.
Michele

• ANSWER:
  My dad died from this in October, at 41. He was diagnosed around Feb 2010, but they managed to flush his body. He continued to drink heavily until the day he died. It was tragic.. Statistics say five years for the ones who stay sober, about one for the ones who don't. The last few months my dad's body just fell apart. He was swollen from the fluid, his bones were aching, colon problems, jaundice, pneumonia, kidney failure. It is a very scary thing.

  When he was diagnosed, he went sky diving, para sailing, travelled as much as he could. My advice, do the opposite of what my dad did. Get regular check ups, stay sober, be healthy, and spend time with people you love. Don't think about if this will kill you and when, anyone can die at any second from just about anything. Don't let it limit you.

QUESTION:
Alcoholic Cirrhosis - advice needed - anyone have experience of this?
My mother has end stage liver disease and now has hepatic encephalopathy (confusion through not being able to process toxins and near coma). It would be good to hear from anyone who has had family members go through this - it is terminal but not getting much out of the doctors. Please no horrid answers - genuinely would like advice.
She is in hospital already - we know she's dying but we don't know how long she might stay alive for.

• ANSWER:
  My mother in law has the same thing she has been in hospital a couple of times in comas and near death. with laxatives and drips thay can get the toxins out and rehydrate her. At home she was taking sleeping tablets thats what caused a toxic build up cos her liver couldnt break anything down. She is now in a nursing home as she cant look after herself but at least here she has no access to any chemicals and has a regular routine. Her quality of life isnt 100% but its better than it has been for a number of years. And shes still around.

QUESTION:
can cirrhosis of the liver be avoided/prevented from this condition?
i have a mild inflammation of the liver due to fatty liver (non-alcoholic type, NOT obese but overweight) I've been losing weight and eating right to try to burn the fat off my liver. Question is: I know this condition is chronic (but is said to be reversible) and CAN lead to cirrhosis, but say I change my lifestyle completely and keep a healthy body, can I prevent myself from ever getting cirrhosis in my entire life? They say fatty liver with inflammation can be reversible, does that mean I can get rid of the inflammation through healthy lifestyle choices?

• ANSWER:
  yes, change your lifestyle, and it can repair, good luck x

QUESTION:
Why is Marijuana Illegal?
Annual deaths from smoking tobacco: roughly 5,400,000,000
Annual deaths from alcohol: 100,000
Annual deaths from Marijuana: 0

Harmful effects of cigarettes:

Cancers
Lung diseases
Heart disease
Cardiovascular diseases
Stroke
Osteoporosis and weakened bones
Circulatory problems
Ulcers
Premature aging
Damage to the fetus
Low sperm count and impotence
Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)
Decreased lung function
Bronchitis
Infections
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Harmful effects of Alcohol:

Impaired behavior and judgment
Memory loss
Lack of concentration and co-ordination
Impaired vision and hearing
Slower motor skills and reactions
Mood swings
Slurred speech
Jaundice
Liver cirrhosis
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic fatty liver
Liver cancer
Vomiting
Peptic ulcers
Throat cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastritis
Hemorrhaging
Colon cancer
Infertility
Impotency
Breast cancer
Sterility (in men)
Atrophy of testes (in men)

Harmful effects of Marijuana:

No long term or directly dangerous effects.

So this makes me wonder, WHY? All three are drugs, and ironically Marijuana is the least harmful and the least addicting, yet it is the only one which is illegal out of the three. It doesn't make sense. At all.

• ANSWER:
  Money. Tobacco and alcohol generate billions annually, the government doesn't care about your health; It's all about the money. Weed wouldn't sell as well and it can't be taxed since it's natural. Many people would grow it at home as well, which they wouldn't want. But there is talk about legalizing it in Canada and some of the states, so let's pray.

QUESTION:
How long can someone live after being diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver?
My mom, an alcoholic for over 15 years, was recently diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. She became diabetic two years ago and has lost massive amounts of weight, brusies extremely easy, has hair loss, and has difficulty walking as she says she often has no feeling in her feet. She decided that she does not care and is continuing to drink as much as she ever did. How long does she have left to live? I'm getting married next August and am wondering if she'll still be alive by then.

• ANSWER:
  Please refer to previous qestions on cirrhosis in this website. You will get a lot of information. Only a gastro-enterologist can answer your question after verifying her present liver condition, and medical records.

QUESTION:
Liver Cirrhosis questions?
About six months ago my uncle was admitted to the hospital because he was throwing up blood. After running a bunch of tests it was determined that he has liver cirrhosis from being and alcoholic for most of his life. He has been in and out of the hospital a few times over the last few months for different things due to his cirrhosis. For the past couple months his body has been filling up with fluid around his lungs and in his stomach (sometimes he looks like he is pregnant) so he goes to the doctor they drain out the fluid and he is fine and then a few weeks later he fills with fluid he goes gets drained and so on..Well yesterday he went into the doctor to get the fluid drained and the doctor admitted him into the hospital because his heart rate was extremely high and he was just not doing well. Today they decided they needed to send him to a larger facility to have special treatment done on him because of how bad off he is and he needs to get on a donor transplant list.

So my questions are 1) Would he be able to get on a donor list or are there guidelines to being able to get on this list? 2) With the symptoms I have described with his cirrhosis could he ever get better from this? BTW he is in his late 40's

• ANSWER:
  No, he would not be able to go on any donor list for now, but he can work towards getting a transplant. Transplant centers require at least 6 months of detox before they will consider him for a transplant. He will have to prove that he no longer drinks and has had a total lifestyle change. He must agree to getting random drug/alcohol testing done all the way up till his transplant should he be listed. If he ever tests positive for drugs/alcohol, he will immediately be removed from the list and be disqualified from receiving a transplant. He must also agree to go into some kind of rehab/counseling to address his alcoholism. He must be committed to never drinking again for the rest of his life if he wants to save his life.

  Once he goes through the detox and rehab, then he must pass an evaluation that all people must pass in order to get listed. It includes a lot of medical tests along with psych evaluation. After all this, a board of doctors will go over his case and all his results and decide whether or not he can be listed to receive a transplant. He must also have health insurance or a way to pay for his surgery. The typical cost for a liver transplant today runs about 0,000. It is extra hard for an alcoholic to get a transplant because they not only have to deal with being sick with liver failure, but they have to be doing all that is required of them plus address their addiction problem. It's a really tough road for them. You might ask what happens if the person doesn't have 6 months left to live. I'm sorry to say that from what I have seen on this, the patient will die. You have to understand that the patient must be well enough to survive the surgery. Many people are turned down because they are too sick to endure this very serious surgery. The organ would be wasted on them and organs are so precious in that it could save the life of someone else who could survive the surgery. It's a fine line because you have to be sick enough to need a transplant but well enough to survive the operation.

  Only the transplant doctors are going to be able to determine whether or not your uncle is well enough to go the distance. He is young yet which is a good thing. He does sound like he is in the end stage of the disease from his symptoms. I think he does need a transplant ASAP. It's too bad he couldn't have started the process much earlier before he got this bad. If he doesn't stop drinking or do exactly what they tell him to do, there is no chance he will ever get a transplant. Compliance is such a big deal in getting one.

  Can he get better/ Without a transplant, no he will not get better. He will only get worse and since his disease is far advanced, it will eventually take his life. With a transplant, he can certainly get healthy again and feel like a new man. There is no cure for cirrhosis other than a transplant.

  I wanted to add that if your uncle is accepted to be listed, he will be given what is called a MELD (model for end stage liver disease) score that goes to 40. This score is based on the results of 4 blood tests that determine how close to liver failure he is at the time. The higher the score, the sicker the person. When an organ is donated for transplant, the person with the highest meld score that is a match gets called for the transplant. If there are multiple people that are a match with the same meld, the doctors will decide who gets it. It is not difficult to find a match for a liver transplant. All that is required is that they have a compatible blood type and be similar in body size. Just because your uncle was an alcoholic does not mean he will go to the bottom of the list. People think this all the time and it is just not true. He will be given a fair shot at it just like everyone else on the list as long as he did everything he was supposed to do. I have talked to a number of alcoholics who received transplants and are doing well today. Good luck to your uncle at getting his.

QUESTION:
HOW MUCH DOES A FUNCTIONING WHISKEY ALCOHOLIC DRINK UNTIL CIRRHOSIS?
A buddy of mines father was an oral surgeon and alcoholic. Drank whisky. Suddenly one day began throwing up black blood and was DOA- his liver failed him and he was a goner-(life support for a week). He was 51.

To get to this point, do you have to be sh**faced 7 days a week?
How also do they acheive in their occupation? Wouldnt you have the shakes?

• ANSWER:
  hey,It is different for everyone,myself,whisky beer drinker for 30 + years,but I was a binge drinker,now sober 5 years,stopped at age 45,so far as I can tell,no problems,I hope I dont have problems later on,at the end of my drinking I drank on antibuse,and thought I was going to die,also could feel a numbing in my forehead,the start of a wet brain,now 5 years later that has finally gone away,alcohol has f---ed up my life since junior high,but now,I really enjoy life.I really hate to hear about people who die from alcohol,It took a near death for me to sober up,some people are functioning alcoholics,and can hold a job and a family,myself,Icould not hold a job,and yes there were times I got the shakes.bottom line is people have to hit there bottom to sober up,and most important is,they really have to want it more than anything,good luck.

QUESTION:
Do you think he has cirrhosis of the liver?
My dad, on a weekly basis, usually has, 21+ 1 litre bottles of cider, somethimes a 35cl bottle of whisky and occasionally wine. He is an alcoholic and i suggested he went for a liver scan, do you think he has cirrhosis of the liver?

• ANSWER:
  The only way to know for certain if there is any
  liver damage is to have blood testing done.
  The doctor checks the liver blood enzymes,
  the liver functions tests, and the liver viral tests.
  This will show if there is damage to the liver
  cells, if the liver cells are able to do some of
  the necessary functions of the liver, and if a
  virus has entered the body and is using the
  liver cells to replicate itself.

  If a problem is caught early on...there is a chance
  that the liver cells can heal and the problem will
  be reversed. There are people walking around
  with liver diseases and don't even know they
  have them. The signs that first occur could be
  tiredness and maybe flu like symptoms. This
  could be mistaken for other things. The first
  true sign is becoming Jaundice, but sometimes
  this doesn't show up right away until someone
  is in the advanced stages (in some people).
  Jaundice is the yellowing of the whites of the
  eyes and skin.

  Just having this blood test done gives the doctor
  alot of information about whether there is a problem.
  Anyone who drinks, on a regular basis, should have
  them done just to be sure. If the liver cells are
  damaged to the point that they start to die off,
  it can become an irreversible disease known
  as Cirrhosis and the only cure then is to have a
  liver transplant. Liver transplants costs
  0,000 and up.

  Each patient is different. Some people are more
  sensitive to alcohol than others are. In some, it
  doesn't take much at all to cause damage and in
  others, they can go all their lives without a problem.
  It is always good to find out, just to be on the safe side.
  Over consuming alcohol doesn't give the liver enough
  time to process it and convert it to a non toxic form.
  Drinking alcohol over long periods of time, can lead
  to fat infiltration inside the liver. Either way, it can cause
  damage to the liver cells.

QUESTION:
Alcoholic Cirrhosis Questions (My Father) Please Help Me?
Two weeks ago my father told me he went to see a doctor cause of the massive belly that he developed..turned out to be ascites...he told me literally 45 minutes ago that it's cirrhosis, and was told that he needs to a liver transplant. My world shook when I heard those words. He had drank alcoholically for the past 7 years, vodka, almost every single night.

If anyone has gone through this, God forbid, and can please give me some insight on what to expect from here on out I would appreciate it cause my world is shaking...I asked him if the doctor's knew how long he'd live, he said no, and that 'it's not like i'm gonna die tomorrow'...he told me it's not cancer, doesn't feel sick, and is predominately good health other than the liver..except for addicted cigarette smoker...he stopped drinking, period, 2 weeks ago.

What is going to happen? The last thing he said was 'you're a big grown man, it's alright, you don't need me that much'. I feel like he knows he is going to die but just can't tell his children that. My mother died of cancer in 2004 and not like I'm making an excuse for the drinking, but that's why he got so hooked on it...

I want him to tell me everything, like that he will pass within the next year if that is what he was told. by a doctor. I don't want to get a call at work in 7 months telling me I no longer have any parents

Thanks

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Cirrhosis without diagnosis ?
I was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease 3 months ago and spent several weeks in hospital with jaundice. I still attend as an outpatient for blood work and my bilirubin level is normalized, although my ALT is elevated at 70 and my ALP at 190. The only medication I take now is a diuretic (spironolactone) which has worked well in reducing my ascites (swelling of abdomen), and B-vitamin compound strong. I have ceased alcholol.

The thing that concerns me is whether or not I have cirrhosis, as no doctor or consultant has diagnosed me specifically with this, only ALD, and I've had no surgery or biopsy to confirm either way. I'll be seeing my own doc next week but the stress of not knowing this in the meantime is causing me great worry.

The liver enzymes which are elevated are coming down weekly.

Is it possible I have cirrhosis but the doctors would not have told me this. If so why would they not tell me ?

• ANSWER:
  If you have ascites, then you have cirrhosis. There are basically two stages of cirrhosis; one is called compensating cirrhosis, when the liver is still functioning enough to do it's basic jobs, and one is when the liver is decompensating- not able to do it's cleansing & metabolic work to a satisfactory degree. That's what you have, & that's why you have ascites. I hope they told you to restrict your salt intake down to nothing (<500mg daily). Unfortunately, doctors forget that we don't know what they know, and they forget to fill us in on the details. Quitting alcohol is the best thing you can do. You might want to consider documenting your sobriety by attending AA meetings in case you need to be referred for a liver transplant. Since your cirrhosis was caused by alcoholism, they require 6 months of sobriety before considering you for a transplant. Livers are precious and far & few between, so they are very cautious about who gets one. It can be done, though; I've know several people who have had a transplant and ALL are doing great! Hopefully you are seeing a specialist (gastroenterologist or hepatologist); they are qualified to walk you through this treatment. Best wishes to you.

QUESTION:
health questions?
fat soluble vitamins - dont build up in the body, are absorbed by fat, a lot are needed by the body, or pass easily through the blood stream

tiny air sacs in lungs destroyed and breathing becomes harder by a disease known as - lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema

carbon monoxide is present in blood and boday tissues and cells are deprived of - hemoglobin, carcinogens, iron, oxygen

nicotin causes addiction and - acts as a stimulant, is a carcinogen, competes with oxygen , or destroys cilia

a symptom of alcohol poison is - irregular heart beat, or increased respiration

liver tissues replaced with useless scar tissue is - fatty liver, alcoholic hepititis, cirrhosis, or fetal alcoholic syndrome

tar contained in tobacco smoke is harmful to the lungs because -
it clogs blodd vessels, paralyzies cilia, its a stimulant, or its addictive

a disease caused by a virus is - tuberculosis , malaria, or influenza ringworm...

plz help.....

• ANSWER:
  - are absorbed by fat
  -emphysema
  -oxygen
  -acts as a stimulant
  -increased respiration
  --cirrhosis
  -paralyzies cilia
  -influenza

QUESTION:
SHould we make alcohol illegal?
With all of the problems that alcohol causes, isn't it time that we make it illegal again? How can we let this stay legal? Why should our society put up with a bunch of drunks? Look at all the problems that alcohol causes.

Liver disease Elevated liver enzyme levels Fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis

Pancreatic disease Acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis
Cardiovascular disease Hypertension Cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, stroke

Gastrointestinal problems Gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, diarrhea, peptic ulcer disease Esophageal varices, Mallory-Weiss tears

Neurologic disorders Headaches, blackouts, peripheral neuropathy Alcohol withdrawal syndrome, seizures, Wernicke's encephalopathy, dementia, cerebral atrophy, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive deficits, impaired motor functioning

Reproductive system disorders Fetal alcohol effects, fetal alcohol syndrome Sexual dysfunction, amenorrhea, anovulation, early menopause, spontaneous abortion

Cancers Neoplasm of the liver, neoplasm of the head and neck, neoplasm of the pancreas, neoplasm of the esophagus

Psychiatric comorbidities Depression, anxiety Affective disorders, anxiety disorders, antisocial personality

Legal problems Traffic violations, driving while intoxicated, public intoxication Motor vehicle accidents, violent offenses, fires

Employment problems Tardiness, sick days, inability to concentrate, decreased competence Accidents, injury, job loss, chronic unemployment

Family problems Family conflict, erratic child discipline, neglect of responsibilities, social isolation Divorce, spouse abuse, child abuse or neglect, loss of child custody

Effects on children Overresponsibility, acting out, withdrawal, inability to concentrate, school problems, social isolation Learning disorders, behavior problems, emotional disturbance
We need to step up the War on Drugs to include alcohol.

It has NO positive benefits on our society.

NONE.

It should be illegal.

• ANSWER:
  I totally agree!!

  Marijuana should be legal instead!!

QUESTION:
Do you think the young alcoholic's death is a wakeup call?
I read that a 22 year old British lad has died from severe cirrhosis of the liver. He started drinking when he was 13. Do you think young people will take note of this and stop binge drinking or do you think they will all just assume it would not happen to them?
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5742059/alcoholic-denied-liver-transplant-dies/

• ANSWER:
  Ok I'd like to start off by pointing out that people presume ALL teenagers are drinkers. I'm 16 and refuse to drink, smoke etc partially because my rents won't appreciate it, partially because i cant find a reason too (neither do a lot of my friends) and because I'm underage. Because of the small fraction of teenagers in society who do these things, its presumed we all do it. When things like this happen, suddenly ALL the teenagers are the guilty ones. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.There'ss always a pack of idiots who will do stupid things like that, even if they know what the potential consequences are. But it's like sex. You can't stop teenagers doing it. I know I for one thought the guy was an idiot to drink so young. Then again I see 13 year olds smoking cause its "cool". I'd just like to point out, when your a teenager, chances are you'll think your invincible. I know I don't think of myself as that, but I know people who do. So to make it clear there is a binge drinking problem with ONLY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF TEENAGERS. And no matter what happens, you can make the legal age 100. Teenagers are going to drink. If every teenager was drinking, fair enough, lets declare it a binge drinking crisis, but we're not. When do kids like me in society get recognised? We don't. The crisis we have at hand here is people who don't have enough time to look at their own issues, and would rather look at the faults my generation is having. And just as a point. My mother, with her year 12 classmates had a champagne breakfast on the morning of their graduation. A whole of 5 of them were even legally allowed to drink. This is nothing new. The difference.. It's a different generation repeating the cycle we see. By the way.. servane.. they educate us at school about the dangers. But once again, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

QUESTION:
if i was a hard core alcoholic for 2 years could i possibly get cirrhosis of the liver?
i'm only 5'9" 160 pounds and it runs through my family.i drank mostly liquor and malt liquor for those 2 years.but none the less i drank anything and alot.
i'm 5'9",160 pounds. i have just recently slowed down or stopped. but when i drank i drank alot.malt liquor and liquor were my choiced beverages.now it seems that my body doesn't work the way it used to.i encounter fatigue,more ailments. my immune system feels like its shutting down.and if i'm correct the liver is a big part of the immune system right?

• ANSWER:
  I've never heard of anyone getting cirrhosis in 2 years from heavy drinking. The liver is a very tough organ and it takes more than that to hurt it. The experts say 10 years of heavy drinking can cause cirrhosis in some people, but not all drinkers get it and most take a lot longer than that. It is a very slow process that happens to form cirrhosis which is when healthy tissue is replaced by scar tissue.

  If you are really worried, have your doctor order lab work for you and get liver function testing done. It's just a blood draw and it will show whether or not your numbers are abnormal and there could be a possible problem. I think you will find out yours will be good. The best thing you could do for your liver is something you have already done which is quit with the heavy drinking. You are one of the smarter ones and keep it that way.

  If you are feeling very tired and just not good, there are a million reasons why. Tell your doctor who will give you blood work (make sure to ask for liver function tests) and maybe find out what is going on. It could be something minor that can be easily treated.

QUESTION:
questions about ALT/AST levels and fatty liver (non-alcoholic)?
I had a blood test recently which showed elevated levels of ALT (132) I also have high cholesterol and triglycerides. I had an ultrasound done and some further blood tests (for hepatitis and auto-immune diseases) and came out negative. The ultrasound however does show a fatty liver. My gastroenterologist says that fatty liver DOES raise ALT / AST levels but my primary physician (cardiologist) says a fatty liver does NOT raise ALT/AST since there is fat on the liver to begin with. He just says my liver has a high turn-over rate with an inconclusive cause. I don't want to end up getting Cirrhosis. Who should I believe? What is the right answer?
fatty liver CAUSES cirrhosis over time

• ANSWER:
  Sorry hun, you must be worried. I am a little confused you say your primary physician (cardiologist) ? Do you mean your gp or cardiologist? Anyway neither of them are a specialist in this area. A gastroenterologist specializes in this area, so he knows best, and
  I would listen to him concerning my liver. The first thing that crosses their mind is always alcohol, the same as when you have lung problems, they assume that you smoke. I don't know that you can get cirrhosis from a fatty liver?? But definetly listen to your gastroenterologist and do not blame yourself for your body make up. To say inconclusive cause is negligence, do not settle for that. Perhaps it is because of fatty liver, also alcohol and some meds can also do it, but DO NOT settle for the inconclusive cause.

QUESTION:
my mom was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. what is her prognosis?
i live in another state and she called me today and said she was diagnosed with cirrhosis. she has been an alcoholic but now has stopped. apparently her and her doctor have discussed a liver transplant. HELP IM AFRAID

• ANSWER:
  Cirrhosis is a very serious condition in which scarring damages the liver. The liver is a large organ that is part of the digestive system
  When a person has cirrhosis, scar tissue (fibrosis.) replaces healthy tissue and prevents the liver from working as it should. For example, the liver may stop producing enough clotting factors, which can lead to bleeding and bruising. Bile and poisons may build up in the blood. Scarring can also cause high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the intestines through the liver (portal hypertension). This can lead to severe bleeding in the digestive tract and other serious problems.

  Cirrhosis can be deadly. But early treatment can help stop damage to the liver.

  How is it treated?
  It is important to get treated for cirrhosis as soon as possible. Treatment cannot cure cirrhosis, but it can sometimes prevent or delay further liver damage. Treatment may include medicines, surgery, or other options, depending on what caused your cirrhosis and what problems it is causing.

  There are things you can do to help limit the damage to your liver and control the symptoms:
  * Do not drink any alcohol. If you don't stop completely, liver damage may quickly get worse.
  * Talk to your doctor before you take any medicines. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Drugs that can be dangerous include acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin, for example).
  * Make sure your immunizations are up-to-date. You are at higher risk for infections.
  * Follow a low-sodium diet. This can help prevent fluid buildup, a common problem in cirrhosis that can become life-threatening.

  Symptoms may not appear until a problem is severe, so it is important to see your doctor for regular checkups and lab tests. You may also need testing to check for possible problems such as:
  * Enlarged veins, called varices , in the digestive tract. Varices can bleed.
  * Liver cancer. People with cirrhosis are at higher risk for liver cancer.
  If cirrhosis becomes life-threatening, then liver transplant may be an option. But transplant is expensive, organs are hard to find, and it doesn't always work.
  If your cirrhosis is getting worse, you may choose to get care that focuses on your comfort and dignity. Palliative care can provide support and symptom relief so you can make the most of the time you have left. You may also want to make important end-of-life decisions, such as writing a living will. It can be comforting to know that you will get the type of care you want.

  It can be hard to face having cirrhosis. If you feel very sad or hopeless, be sure to tell your doctor. You may be able to get counseling or other types of help. Think about joining a support group. Talking with other people who have cirrhosis can be a big help.

  It took me a long time to decide if I should edit this before I sent it to you. I've decided that maybe it's important you see the whole picture. Be strong.

QUESTION:
Does any one know much about cirrhosis of the liver?
my father has been an alcoholic for 14 years drinking whiskey every day. he now has yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) and complains about stomach pains through the night. The doctor has been treating him for alcoholism for a long time but he won't let anyone go with him so I don't know if he has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis yet. Any doctors or nurses out there, what is the average time someone has left when they get like this (bearing in mind that he will not give up the drink. He is determined to drink till he dies)

• ANSWER:
  Alcohol & liver disease

  When you drink alcohol it is quickly absorbed directly into the blood stream from the stomach and upper part of the gut (small intestine). The absorbed alcohol then passes through the liver and subsequently into the blood stream where it reaches all organs in the body. Although most tissues are capable of breaking down alcohol, this is mainly carried out by the liver, where alcohol is eventually converted into water and carbon dioxide, which is removed through the lungs.

  Since the liver sees the highest concentrations of alcohol, it is one of the organs in the body most prone to developing alcohol related problems. However, alcohol also causes toxic effects on other organs in the body including the brain, heart, muscles and pancreas.

  Almost all excessive drinkers will develop the first stage of alcoholic liver disease fatty liver. This is a ‘side-effect’ of the liver breaking down alcohol into carbon dioxide and water. Fatty liver disappears when patients stop drinking excessively. If patients continue drinking excessively then a proportion (around 20-30%) will develop the next stage of alcoholic liver disease - alcoholic hepatitis. In this condition, the liver becomes inflamed and in its extreme form, patients can die of liver failure.

  An even smaller proportion of patients (around 10%) will develop a permanently scarred and damaged liver (cirrhosis), if they continue to drink excessively.

  Why certain heavy drinkers remain at the stage of fatty liver and others progress to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis is not known at present, although undoubtedly, the more you drink and the greater the frequency and duration of heavy drinking, the more likely you are to develop the more advanced forms of disease. Recent evidence suggests that being overweight increases the risk of developing serious alcoholic liver disease and as yet largely unidentified genetic (inherited) factors may also be important.

  Excessive drinking can also cause:

  stomach disorders
  pancreatitis leading to diabetes
  high blood pressure
  heart muscle damage leading to heart failure
  strokes
  cardiac rhythm disturbances
  sudden cardiac death
  vitamin deficiencies
  sexual difficulties
  problems with the brain
  depression
  problems with nerves in the limb
  cancer of the liver, mouth, throat, gullet, large bowel and breast.

QUESTION:
My dad has cirrhosis of the liver. I had a dream that I was at his funeral. Does that mean he's going to die?
My dad was a chronic alcoholic and was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver like two years ago. He's been very weak lately and he's also lost a lot of weight. He gets disoriented and has the jaundice in his eyes already. He stopped drinking and it doesn't look like anything has gotten better. He goes in and out of the hospital and the only thing they give him are the medicines he takes at home. Last night I had a dream I walked into his funeral. I saw one of my brothers in the front and as I walked towards him I saw my oldest brother. After I hugged and cried with him as I walked to my other brother, my dad was sitting on a bench and said to me "don't forget the insurance payment is due". When I woke up, I was so scared. I knew it was my dad's funeral, but why was he sitting down at his OWN funeral? Does this mean he's gonna pass soon or what does it mean? Please send me your opinion...

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
What's in alcohol that causes the disease of cirrhosis of the liver??
I dont drink, n i have never drank any alcoholic beverage until the recent age which i am 21, and i am thankful!! but i am curious about this b/c my uncle was diagnosed with it, n now he's in serious condition, y does it affect the liver, what does alcohol contain that makes it dangerous for our health???

• ANSWER:
  Alcohol itself is toxic. Over time too much alcohol can cause cirrhosis of the liver.
  A very good rule is, "moderation in all things".

QUESTION:
Are there any natural or home remedies for cirrhosis/ liver failure?
My mom has been an alcoholic for 25 years. She has been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. We don't know the severity of the cirrhosis because they cannot biopsy her liver because her blood is no longer clotting and she will bleed out and die. Upon her release from the hospital the doctor told her that there is nothing they can do for her and that her liver is " fried'. She has since quit drinking, but I think she already has liver failure. Her eyes are neon yellow. Her hairline has a yellow line and her skin and nail beds are yellow. I just can't give up and watch my mother die. There has to be something that prolong her life and help repair her liver. Please help, my family and I are desperate! Thank you in advance.

• ANSWER:
  I was told the same thing about my liver 5 years ago. I'm sorry your mother is so sick, but there is nothing she or anyone else can do for her at this late stage. Only a transplant will save her life, and it seems as though that is not an option since her doctor never mentioned it.

  Her liver function is very low with 25 years of drinking which caused the cirrhosis. If she is no longer clotting well and yellow, then the disease is probably in the end stage. The disease will progress to total liver failure whether she drinks or doesn't drink. Not drinking can slow it down, but it won't stop it at this point.

  I don't know whether or not a transplant could be an option for her, but she could call a transplant center and find out what she has to do in order to qualify. I know they require at least 6 months of proven sobriety before they will even consider you. Then you have to go through an evaluation after the 6 months. The problem is that with many alcoholics, they don't have 6 months left or are too sick to withstand the surgery. This is probably the case with your mom. I think your family is going to have to prepare yourselves for the worst if she cannot get a transplant. So sorry.

QUESTION:
My husband an alcoholic w/ cirrhosis, should NOT drink- BUT sneaking beer every 4-5 days -? Need to know...?
How long should I expect him to live at this rate? He had total hepatic system/ liver failure 2 years ago this Oct - barely lived - in Hosp 16 days.Last October he had a siezure from withdrawal - he started drinking 24 beers every 2 wks - that I know about - He should not drink at all but says he isn't him if he can't have a beer. I am beside myself finding he is stashing beer in the trunk of his car, & other really cute places around the house. HELP!! I am deeply hurt seeing him commit suicide this way...he does not really want to live anymore since he can't do what he used to...where we live there is little or no support at all, our kids have grown & his boys are in their own worlds. I have been with him throughout this ordeal & it's been a really rough ride for us both. I love him & won't leave him, but his Dr.Jeckle & Mr.Hyde personality is tearing me apart & he remembers only what he wants to remember. He is on blood pressure/2 dif diuretic meds & pantaloc.Lorazapam too

• ANSWER:
  Unfortunately, it looks as if he's made the choice to continue hurting himself. At that rate, he won't make it much longer. You can try your best to help him stop drinking, but if he doesn't want to stop, then the only thing you can do is divorce him or make sure that his affairs are in order and that you're ready emotionally for when he finally succumbs. I'm sorry.

QUESTION:
How Much Fructose and Sugar Can I eat?
I read this from Answers. I want to avoid getting the following:

"On top of containing a large number of calories, the sugars and high fructose corn syrup can slow the speed at which the liver digests and converts your in-take into energy. If you live a generally sedentary lifestyle and consume a lot of sugary products you will be at risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver, which could then progress to NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) or even cirrhosis and liver failure down the line. Approximately 2%-5% of under 18's are affected by this in America at the moment, with most not even knowing."

Q: Can I have a couple of grams or so?

• ANSWER:
  The killer sugar is table sugar (sucrose). Fructose is not a problem and that is the most common sugar in fruit. If you want 146 reasons why sugar (sucrose) is ruining your health you can find them in http://www.rheumatic.org/sugar.htm .

QUESTION:
Stage 4 liver failure, high ammonia levels, cirrhosis, death?
A 59 year-old alcoholic/drug addict (recovering) is in the ICU with stage 4 liver failure and high ammonia levels, the toxins in his bloods are starting to poison him and he is confused. This is one of multiple hospitalizations due to cirrhosis/liver issues.

...What does this mean? Is there a chance this man will live?
It's my Uncle. He has been drinking for nearly 40 years and smoking dope for almost 30. When he found out he had Hep C a few years ago, he tried to get sober, but um, it hasn't been going real well, he just earned his one month sobriety medallion in AA.

• ANSWER:
  When the liver cells become so damaged, they can start
  to die off and form scar tissue inside the liver. This
  scar tissue can block the flow of blood through the liver
  on its way back to the heart and also block the flow
  of blood to the other functioning liver cells and they
  will continue to die off. This is known as Cirrhosis of
  the liver. It is an irreversible, progressive disease.
  Alcohol, medication toxification, and Hepatitis C
  either individually or all together can cause serious
  liver cell damage.

  Our bodies uses proteins all the time. The by product
  of our body doing this is ammonia. The liver usually
  filters the ammonia from the blood and converts it into
  urea, that the kidneys can pick up and remove from the
  body in our urine. This is not being done efficiently, now.
  The ammonia is able to pass the blood brain barrier
  (just like alcohol can) and go into the brain and cause
  confusion, disorientation, sleep pattern changes, and
  tremors. This is known as Encephalopathy and can
  easily be mistake for being drunk.
  The doctors normally start the patient on a medication
  to help remove this ammonia known as Lactulose or
  Xifaxan.
  Patients can also build up fluid inside the abdominal
  area. This is known as Ascites. It develops because
  the liver is no longer able to make a protein, known
  as Albumin, which holds fluids inside our vessel.
  This fluid now seeps out and collects there.
  If the patient becomes uncomfortable, has difficulty
  breathing or eatting...the doctor can remove this
  fluid by a procedure known as Paracentesis.
  He may be placed on a "lower" sodium diet with
  diuretics. The doctor should inform him how much
  sodium and fluids he is allowed to have per day.
  This Ascites can easily be mistaken as having
  a beer belly.

  Warning, any bleeding from the sputum, vomit,
  or rectal area is an emergency situation.
  The blood is not flowing through the liver and
  backs up into the portal vein, the
  spleen (which will also enlarge) and into smaller
  vessels not used to handling this (varies). They
  can have weak spots and balloon outward and
  burst open. Patients can bleed out completely
  or bleed internally. Cirrhosis patients, the liver
  doesn't make clotting factors well to help the blood
  to clot.
  This is known as Portal hypertension with Varies.

  Most Transplant Centers have a rule that a patient
  has to be detoxed from alcohol and dope for a period
  of six months (with proof from a doctor) before they
  can be evaluated for placed on the transplant list.
  However, certain exceptions are made.

  No one but the doctors can know for certain how far
  advanced he is in this disease. They can usually get
  an educated "guess" from his blood work and the
  liver biopsy of the liver.

  Stage 4 means he has cirrhosis of the liver.
  There are different stages of the cirrhosis, though.
  The liver cells are what does the functions of the liver.
  If the liver cells are able to do most of the functions...
  then it is said to be compensated and a patient will
  live longer.
  If the liver cells are not able to do this...then it is
  considered to be decompenstated....and all those
  signs that I posted above will start to take place.
  Then he is heading toward complete liver failure.

  To learn more about Cirrhosis, here are some
  sites to click on:
  http://www.hcvets.com/data/hcv_liver/cirrhosis.htm
  http://www.medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/article.htm
  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cirrhosis/DS00373
  http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/cirrhosis.html

  I hope this information has been of help to you.
  Best wishes

QUESTION:
Signs of impending death for end stage Cirrhosis of the liver?
My father ( a lifetime alcoholic) was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis of the liver about 1 year ago. He has need repeated hospitalizations due complications. We currently have him in a care center due to his quick decline in health.
About 1 month ago his was hospitalized again due to the build up of amino in the brain. And I went to visit him this week and notice he has gone from being verbal responsive(being able to speak and answer questions) to completely non verbal. And I am wonder if this is a symptom of the cirrhosis or not?

On a side note it is a sad way for a person to choice to go. He was at one time a while spoken and educated man with a Ph.D in Education and Psychology. And now he has the mentally faculties young child or early adolescent on good day.

Additional Details

As a family we are not at this time looking into a liver transplant. This may sound cruel but my father choose to drink in heavy excess and to destroy his own liver.Myself and other members of our family believe to place him on a transplant list would be wrong because there maybe another person on the list in more need.
My father is 57

• ANSWER:
  Sorry but his is the terminal stage and he is gradually going in to prehepatic coma(As per your data).
  All options are just palliative as he is not fit for transplant.
  May GOD help you all.

QUESTION:
Cirrhosis of the liver symptoms.. and Need Help!!?
I have a family member who has been diagnosed 15+ years ago with cirrhosis of the liver. He is probably the largest alcoholic known to mankind. He drinks at least 30 + beers a day, and is now experiencing constant nosebleeds, for over 3 days now.. It just bleeds and bleeds when he sits up. He has blood in his urine and his stool appears blackish greenish of color and has constant diarrhea, but does not eat very often.. at all!

I am assuming that hes in the end stages of this disease and want to know if any of you have had these issues with a family member or friend, and what is wrong and how long that this trend will continue and what will happen.

Thank you so much for your cooperation in advance, we appreciate any answers you may have!

• ANSWER:
  I have worked with people who had cirrhosis. They get swelling in their abdomen (ascites) & extremities (edema). The stomach can get the size of a honeydew melon.
  Vit K gets reduced & so there is more bleeding. As the toxins build up in the body, the skin begins to itch...the person becomes jaundiced & mental changes occur...sometimes during these various stages antibiotics are given.

  High potency Vit B complex can be helpful as can milk thistle. However, I don't know how long it will prolong his life.

  Google: mayo clinic>>diseases>>cirrhosis

  I'm very sorry to hear of your situation.
  Good luck.

QUESTION:
sign of impending death from end stage Cirrhosis of the liver.?
My father ( a lifetime alcoholic) was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis of the liver about 1 year ago. He has need repeated hospitalizations due complications. We currently have him in a care center due to his quick decline in health.
About 1 month ago his was hospitalized again due to the build up of amino in the brain. And I went to visit him this week and notice he has gone from being verbal responsive(being able to speak and answer questions) to completely non verbal. And I am wonder if this is a symptom of the cirrhosis or not?

On a side note it is a sad way for a person to choice to go. He was at one time a while spoken and educated man with a Ph.D in Education and Psychology. And now he has the mentally faculties young child or early adolescent on good day.
This is my second time posting this question. I noticed it posted in the wrong section.
We are not at this time looking into a liver transplant. This may sound cruel but my father choose to drink in heavy excess and to destroy his own liver.Myself and other member of our family believe to place him on a transplant list would be wrong because there maybe another person on the list more in need.

• ANSWER:
  End stages of Cirrhosis of the liver can cause different things:

  1) Portal Hypertension with Varies....
  When the liver cells die off, it forms scar tissue inside the liver that
  blocks the flow of blood to the functioning liver cells and also
  prevents the flow of blood through the liver itself, on its way back
  to the heart. This is why the liver cells continue to die off. It
  also causes the blood to back up into the portal vein and
  other smaller vessels (that have weak spots) that are not
  used to handling the pressure and blood amounts. These vessels
  are known as Varies and can break open and bleed.
  The liver is no longer able to make clotting factors to help the
  blood to clot...therefore, Cirrhosis patients tend to bruise and
  bleed very easily. "Any" blood in the sputum, vomit, or
  rectal area is an emergency. The doctors can go in &
  band these vessels to stop the bleeding.

  2) Ascites....
  This is the build up of fluid in the abdominal area. It is caused
  because the liver can no longer make a protein, known as
  Albumin, that holds fluid inside our vessels. This fluid now
  leaks out and collects in this area. The doctor can remove
  this fluid (if a patient has difficulty breathing or eatting) to
  relieve the pressure against the stomach, diaphragm, etc.
  The procedure is known as paracentesis.
  However, this fluid will have to be removed on a regular
  basis because the protein is still not made.

  3) Encephalopathy...
  This is what you are talking about. The patient becomes easily
  confused, disoriented, has sleep pattern changes, and tremors.
  It is caused by ammonia that the liver cannot convert to urea,
  which the body can easily dispose of. The ammonia stays
  in the blood and goes pass the blood brain barrier and into
  the brain to cause the problems mentioned. The doctor can
  give the patient medications: like Lactulose and Xifaxan to
  try to help this. If the patient isn't taking this medication...
  the condition will continue to get worse and he may go into
  a coma. Some doctors will try to limit the amount of proteins
  taken in foods...but, others won't do this because proteins
  are needed to help heal the body and make cells. You can
  discuss this with your doctor.
  Proteins byproduct is ammonia and is converted to urea.

  4) Edema (swelling of the feet and legs and other area)..
  this is caused because Cirrhosis patients tend to hold onto
  sodium in their bodies. The doctor usually will start the
  patient on a lower sodium diet and diuretics to help this.
  This has to be watched closely because sodium is one
  of the electrolytes that keeps the heart beating in rhythm.
  The doctor must tell the patient how much sodium he is
  allowed in his diet per day AND ALSO how much fluids.

  5) The muscles do start to waste away in this Disease.

  Only the doctor can give you an educated 'guess' how long
  he might have to live if he doesn't have a liver transplant.
  Most patients have to be detoxed from alcohol for a period
  of 6 months prior to being "evaluated" for placement on the
  transplant list. Doctors usually refer their patients to a
  Transplant Center for this to take place.
  Once is is placed on the transplant list, he will receive a
  MELD score which will give him an idea of his sickness and
  how far advanced he is. The MELD score runs from 6 to
  40. Those who are closer to a 6 are the healthiest on the list,
  have few symptoms, and may even go off the list if they get
  better. As you go up the ladder toward the 40, he is sicker..
  has more symptoms...and in more need of a transplant.
  Those at the top are the ones who need the transplant the
  most and may only have days or weeks to live without having
  a transplant.

  Here are some links to learn about this disease and
  about transplantation. I hope this is of some help to you.
  Best wishes...You can click on these links.
  Cirrhosis:
  http://www.medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/article.htm
  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cirrhosis/DS00373
  http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/cirrhosis.html
  Transplantation
  http://www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/hep/patientguide/index.html
  http://www.transplantliving.org/
  http://www.ustransplant.org
  Advance directive:
  It is important for him to have an advance directive or power of
  attorney form filled out and signed:
  http://www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload
  http://www.caringinfo.org/index.cfm?
  Meld Score and calculator (if you can get a copy of his lab work):
  http://www.unos.org/SharedContentDocuments/MELD_PELD(1).pdf
  http://www.unos.org/resources/MeldPeldCalculator.asp?index=98

QUESTION:
Cirrhosis/Liver disease life expectancy. Please help???
Does anyone kow the life expectancy of someone in the late stages of cirrhosis?
My mom is very ill, she is a chronic alcoholic. She stopped drinking last week, but was diagnosed with cirrhosis many years ago.
I need to know if anyone has been through this and knows what I can expect.

She is jaundice, and in the past week has had high levels of amonia in her blood, also, she vomits all the time, can barely keep anything down.
Today she is having her stomach drained again, this will make the 4th time, fluid builds up in her uppper stomanch area, and it makes it very uncomforatable for her. He legs also are very swollen today (ankles) she cannot walk she is so week. She went from wieighin 145 pounds to now about 98 in a matter of 3 months. I am afraid that it is too late. She has been admitted to the hospital so much that now the Hospitals now just say that the damage is done, they cannot help her. Last year she was in ICU - .......please give me any opinions you may have.

• ANSWER:
  There are a few things that I know to give you
  as information. (you might already know this) The best doctor to have for
  a patient with cirrhosis is a Hepatologist.
  She can be given medication to bind the ammonia in her blood to be eliminated from the
  body which should help to clear her mind some. She could be placed on diuretics, like
  Lasix and Spirolactone to help relieve the sodium content in her blood and also
  remove some of the fluid and help keep it from
  coming back so fast. If they take alot of fluid
  from her abdomen, they might give her
  albumin, a Protein. The fact that she did
  not stop drinking alcohol, may mean she cannot
  be placed on the transplant list for a donor
  organ because they usually request that the
  patient be free of alcohol for about six months.

  With what you have stated that her condition is
  now, it doesn't look promising...but I would
  not give up. The doctors look at many things
  considering a patient: whether they have a
  strong, well beating heart, whether they can
  withstand a long surgery, whether they have
  cirrhosis in one area of the liver or throughout,
  whether they have love and support of family
  and friends, and how much a person truly
  wants to live,etc. Ascites( fluid in the abdominal
  area) and Encephalopathy (memory, and mental
  confusion problems caused by toxins) and
  the fact that she drank clear up to a week ago..
  means that the end is in site.....She may last
  a long time this way or depending on what I
  have stated above...it could be very short.
  Each person's body chemistry, diseases,
  and conditions are unique and have to be
  evaluated to see what may be in the future.
  If you have an advanced directive with your
  Mom signature on it, you may be able to
  talk with her doctors and get her medical
  records and have a second opinion and also
  be able to answer for her since she might
  not be able to answer for herself. There are
  free forms on the internet according to your
  state. It should be signed in front of two
  witnesses, but a notary can stamp it and make
  if valid. I hope this info is of some help to you.
  It is sad that a daughter has to watch all this
  happen to a mother they love...as long as
  you are able to be there with her, she will
  have peace in knowing that you really care.

  You asked what you can expect. There are
  a few things that may take place: her heart
  may start to beat irregular. If you get her
  blood work results, if the sodium and potassium
  levels are either too high or too low, this
  will cause an irregular beat and is an
  emergency. If she starts to cough up blood and
  not just vomit (it may look like coffee grounds,
  or a darker color) this is also an emergency
  cause she could be bleeding internally. If she
  feel faint and goes into a coma...there may be
  little chance she will come out of it without the
  doctors help. What can you do? be there for
  her so she doesn't feel alone. Watch for
  any of these signs above and keep a record
  of how she is feeling day to day and let the
  doctor know what exactly is happening with her.
  Be with her at all her doctor appointments so
  that you can be sure she is taking medication
  right and doesn't get so confused she puts
  herself in more danger. She might not be
  able to break the habit of alcohol especially
  since she has been so sick, but knowing that
  others understand and will try to help her in
  anyway despite of this all, may give her the
  strength she needs to try.

QUESTION:
Cirrhosis of the liver how bad has it got?
My mum has Cirrhosis due to being an alcoholic, she started drinking about 10 years ago. 8 years a go we were told that if she carried on drinking she only had 6 months to live due to a fatty liver, now 8 years on she has Cirrhosis. She was recently taken to hospital by an ambulance as she was vomiting blood, she didn't tell anyone that this was happening luckily my step dad caught her on day 3 of her doing it!

Me and my sister arrived after our mum at the hospital and when we went to see her she was in the resuscitation room and the doctors wouldn't say what they did to her, all they said is that she lost blood.

On the 4th day of her being in hospital she had an operation in her throat to try and stop the bleeding but it was unsuccessful, she is now out of hospital and on tablets to help it, but my mum is now drinking again and most likely not taking the tablets. But surely even if she was they wouldn't work if she is still drinking?

I really would like advice on how serious her condition has got, as i am not her next of kin i can not find anything out from her doctors and my mum isn't saying anything either.

How long do you think she has left to live if she carries on drinking everyday?

I went to the doctors yesterday and they say it could be any day now, but i dont just want ot listen to one opinion.

Thank you for your time, and help.
also my mum has brittle nails, fluid retention in her stomach (which has been drained 3 times in 8 months) she bruises easily, and yellowing in her skin.

• ANSWER:
  your mum does now sound like she is at the end stages of her alcohol addiction....im sure if you have read the previous answer that she is now so advanced in her condition, re: ascites. clotting factor, varices, liver failure etc, that there is nothing that you can do....sadly...
  and dont blame your mum...and nor importantly yourself !!
  i have had parents that were dependent on alcohol, despite my immediate family having strong grounds in medicine [gp and `in law`respiratory consultant, state reg nurse and x2 regst paramedics] none of our help our advice was ever taken.....its a destructive illness and the only thing that your mum will listen too is the `bottle`.....its going to be hard for you and your family.....your mum has made her choice...and its not personal....its what she wants, she is now so advanced in her illness...it seems now irreversible....all i can say, is help your mum in any way you feel comfortable with ....and dont be angry [as tempting as it may seem] with her or yourself....and as for how long.....who knows....2 or 3 months?? i wish you well....but dont let it DESTROY YOU as well

QUESTION:
Does anyone know anything about alcoholism and liver disease. My mom's an alcoholic and I need advice!!!?
My mom is an alcoholic and has been for about 5 years. Her face is puffy and her abdomen is bloated. Her arms and legs are just flesh and bone. She doesn't look healthy. She is in total denial that she has a problem. On top of that, her mother died a few years ago of cirrhosis of the liver. She is now taking care of her boyfriend who lives with her and is in the final stages of cirrhosis. Her boyfriend is dying in her home, right in front of her and she continues to drink. I honestly don't know what her "rock bottom" is, that is, if it's not death. She lives in another state so there's not much I can personally do to help her. Can somebody help me? I don't know what kind of help I'm seeking here, but if anybody has any advice on how I should confront her or if anyone knows anything about liver disease and whether or not I should be concerned about the health of her liver based on her physical appearance, it would greatly be appreciated.

• ANSWER:
  You need to seek out an Al-Anon group. It doesn't really do any good to confront an alcoholic, all you can really do is stop being supportive of it and control the effects on your own life. The bloating you describe could simply be the result of malnutrition and protein deficiency, and there could also be liver damage as well. But to know that, your mom would have to go see a doctor, and from the sounds of it she isn't willing to do that. Perhaps she is in denial, perhaps she'd just rather not know for sure. Perhaps she does know, and still isn't willing to give up the alcohol. Confronting an alcoholic really never works out, all it does is give them another reason to drink, and you end up frustrated. You can offer to support her if she chooses to dry out, otherwise there just isn't anything really you can do except save yourself. I'm sorry, it's rotten. But in this situation, the only person you can save is yourself. You can't make your mother do a single thing she isn't willing to do. The first step is hers. But do find the Al-Anon group, because there you will find folks in the same spot as you, and they will have a lot more support to offer than you can get here. Good luck, I wish you well.

QUESTION:
Can your imagine a life without alcohol?
If you could never have another alcoholic beverage for the rest of your life due to doctor's orders such as liver problems (cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis) and the doctor told you due to your condition you cannot drink ever again for the rest of your life would you think life will still be worth living if you can never enjoy a nice old one ever again?? Would you keep drinking or would you listen to the doctor and stop for life??
to Hula so you would stop for life and it wouldn't bother you at all? A lot of people say the same when I ask this they say that they'd rather be above ground alive and be able to see another day rather then keep drinking and die. They say a life where you can never drink again is better then no life at all.
to Hula that isn't the case with me I don' think I'm physically addicted to it yet because I can go for several days without it I just drink on the weekends and fridays but not the other nights.
and you are right if the doctor's said it was either to stop or die wouldn't you rather stay alive then keep drinking and eventually die?

• ANSWER:
  I had a liver transplant and have no problem with never drinking. I didn't drink prior to my transplant, so why should it bother me now. It's really no sacrifice to me. I enjoy my life just fine with never drinking. If I am around people like in a bar with friends, I just drink soda and still have a lot of fun. I don't need booze to be happy at all. If anything, I think it complicates your life when drinking becomes a problem like you have right now. It affects your health, your family relationships, etc. Example: You have said in the past that you have a young daughter. How does you child feel when you drink all weekend like you say you do every Friday, Sat. and Sunday? It takes something away from your relationship with her and I would not want to remember my mom as being a weekend drunk. What a waste and your daughter is the one to suffer from your binge drinking. You get to escape life. She doesn't have that privilege. She has to see you drunk every single weekend. I thank God that I never did take up drinking like you because I would never want that for me or my family.

QUESTION:
Can you die from cirrhosis of the liver and Hep C?
My mom has been an alcoholic and drug addict for a long time ad she has Hep C.
her liver cirrhosis is pretty bad and her Hep C is really bad also, she doesnt want to go on any meds (she's scared of the side effects)
and i just want more info, maybe someone has dealt with this? any info is great thanks!
to answer below, yes she is really swollen and in pain she goes to the hopsital to get the toxins cleared out, i dont think she is able to get a transplant because of her drug and alcohol use (sorry i dont know how to reply to the answers)

• ANSWER:
  Here is some information that may be of
  benefit to you, if you are trying to take care
  of your mother:
  The fluid build up in the abdominal area,
  may be Ascites....the fluid builds up because
  the liver isn't able to make a protein, known
  as Albumin, efficiently. This protein, normally
  hold the fluid in our vessels...but now it seeps
  out and collects in the abdomen. This fluid
  can be drained by a procedure known as
  paracentesis. It gives the patient instant
  relief. However, this fluid will come back.

  Being an alcoholic, it is hard to tell if these
  patients have develop Encephalopathy.
  This is where the patient will become easily
  confused and disoriented. It happens because
  the liver isn't able to convert the ammonia to
  urea for the body to dispose of it. The ammonia
  goes into the brain and causes this problem.
  It has to be treated, otherwise...the patient
  may end up in a coma. The doctors have
  drugs, like Lactulose, that should help with this.

  The fluid in the legs, feet, etc is because
  cirrhosis patients tend to hold onto sodium in
  their bodies. The doctor usually places a
  patient on a lower sodium diet and give them
  diuretics to help. Elevated the legs can help
  relieve the pressure from this...however,
  don't massage the legs because if there is
  a blood clot, it can move and go to the heart.

  If you notice any kind of bleeding in vomit,
  rectal area or near the belly button...this is
  an emergency. Because the blood no
  longer flows through the liver, the blood gets
  backed up into vessels in these areas. They
  may have weak spots and break open, causing
  internal bleeding. Therefore, this becomes
  serious as the patient can bleed to death.
  These vessels are known as Varies.
  The liver can no longer make clotting factors
  to help the blood to clot well, so the patient
  can bruise easily and bleed easily....that is
  why, also, it is important to see that any blood
  from the areas I mentioned is checked right
  away.

  Liver patients are told, No alcohol. The doctor
  needs to know every medication they take:
  over the counter, herbs, herbal teas,
  vitamins, minerals, supplements and drugs
  prescribed by other doctors. All medications
  go through the liver first before going to the
  rest of the body and has to be adjusted
  according to have much liver damage there
  is...otherwise, the liver may not be able to
  handle it.

  A patient has to be clear of alcohol and drug
  consumption for a period of six months before
  they will be considered placement on the
  transplant list.

  If your Mom becomes real bad, the doctor
  may sign for her to have home care such
  as Hospice. People who are placed on
  Hospice are usually considered to have only
  about 6 months to live. Depending on your
  mothers age, I would consider contacting
  the Area of the AGing in your neighborhood...
  they can sometime help in these areas.

  Best wishes to you.
  Here are some links that may be of benefit
  in learning more about this disease:
  http://www.hcvets.com/data/hcv_liver/cirrhosis.htm
  http://www.medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/article.htm
  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cirrhosis/DS00373

  There is a liver cirrhosis support group for
  caregivers and patients with cirrhosis.
  They are a very friendly group.
  http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/livercirrhosissupport/

QUESTION:
How do I find a rehab for my medically disabled alcoholic father?
He has been in and out of the hospital the last few weeks. He was denied Medical because he is not "terminally ill" but hes 59, 5'10" and 90 pounds, cant walk, has cirrhosis of the liver which has gone to his brain as a result of being an alcoholic for years. I need to get him in rehab but need a place that will take care of him medically as well. We are not rich, nor does he have insurance... but willing to do whatever it takes. We live in Southern California.

• ANSWER:
  I am so sorry for what you must be going through.

  Your father needs a dual treatment / dual diagnosis facility (treating two things at once - alcoholism and mental illness that comes from it). And he will need one that can sponsor him. Call the I suspect what you mean by it going to his brain is that he does not behave or speak normally when he is sober? That is commonly referred to as "wet brain" and not completely reversible.

  His cirrhosis may be a barrier to treatment, I am not sure

  I come from a long line of alcoholics, it is a very frustrating disease to say the very least. Your father is amazingly blessed to have you. Make sure you take care of yourself in the process of taking care of him.

  Blessings to you both

QUESTION:
How long can one live (I want answers in days, weeks or months only) with a decompensated liver cirrhosis?
He has had most of the complications in the last year, bleeding varices that were banded last fall, he still drinks, he sleeps most of the time, he has ascites and edema which the Dr. just put him on a diuretic to see if that will reduce the fluid. He has had bouts of Hepatic Encephalopathy also, but no signs of that now. He is a severe alcoholic, 56 years old and cannot/won't quit drinking, although he does go for some days now without alcohol because he is too sick to drink. He is not a candidate for a transplant, so don't mention that to me. I would like to know what the dying process consists of with cirrhosis and if the kidneys always fail first. I want specific days or weeks or months of his likely survival please from someone who may have gone through this. Do they all go into a coma before they die? Since he just started the diuretic Hydrochlorithiazide we don't know if it will relieve the fluid buildup or not, but the Dr. did not recommend paracentesis for him.

• ANSWER:
  First of all I can really relate to your problem. My husbands brother was an alcoholic, he drank from the moment his foot hit the floor in the morning till he passed out at night.
  He started bloating and passing blood, that is how they found out he had problems. They would drain the fluid off of him and it would just blow him up again, he would not stop drinking so it was a moot point, it was about 6 months for him, he just started getting tired, slept more and more, kidneys started fail, his scrotum area became swollen, and he was dead within 3 days after that. Good luck.

QUESTION:
Cirrhosis and Gall-Bladder Surgery?
My friend is in the early stages of cirrhosis (non-alcoholic) and is having surgery to remove her gall bladder because of painfull gall stones. The surgery is so risky that she was told she has a 50-50% chance of making it through.
Is there anyone who has gone through this surgery with cirrhosis and/or knows someone who has? Was the outcome of the surgery favorable?

It is believed her cirrhosis was caused by having had hepititis as a young adult. She first was diagnosed with fatty liver, progressed to NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (non contagious)) and then early stages of cirrhosis.
Can you list some of these herbs that you claim can dissolve the stones? Can you guarantee they will dissolve them? If she postpones surgery and her cirrhosis becomes worse the surgery is even more dangerous so they say, "the sooner the better."
Some herbs, I'm sure can be harmful to the liver and although surgery isn't always the best option, it seems to be the best one at this time.

• ANSWER:
  Tell your friend to get a new doctor. 99% of ALL gallbladder operations are unnecessary. The very best thing is for your friend to see a Certified Nutritional Therapist that understands QRA testing. Do you really think not having a gallbladder is what nature intended? There are herbs that can shrink the gall stones and then herbs that will open the throat of the gallbladder to allow the smaller stones made from the first herb to pass.

  The liver is not a piece of rubber! It can be detoxed and will repair if given the right nutrients.

  The liver is responsible for making bile and if the wrong oils are consumed, the liver will make bad bile. Doctors do NOT understand how the body works or they would not take the gallbladders out and would take the time to help their patient(s) to repair the liver and make the patient healthy. Once you remove the gallbladder, they can't put it back.

  It only takes a few weeks to get the gallbladder working better and there is a protocol for making the liver and gallbladder healthy again.

  The protocol does not require drugs and their are no side effects to good nutrition. If it doesn't work, there is always the surgery option, but if you do the surgery first, there is no other options available.

  Gallbladder surgeries are becoming epidemic in the medical field. This is due to these low fat, high carb diets and bad oils being consumed. You will be very surprised at how you can change this situation with some good advice.

  good luck to you

QUESTION:
Possible Cirrhosis of the Liver and still drinking everyday.. ? ?
my boyfriend is an alcoholic he is 25 and has been one since 15. he recently was in a alcohol program (sober house) for 6 months and was going to the doctors regularly. the doctor was running tests and told him he could possibly have cirrhosis of the liver and was shocked when my boyfriend told him that he hadnt had a drink in a year and a half and said that it looked like he was still drinking til this day.. it really scared him and he never went back. Needless to say hes been drinking since he left the program 6 months ago everyday, what could happen to him if he really has this? can he just drop dead? how long can his drinking and surviving last if he really has cirrhosis of the liver?

• ANSWER:
  If your boyfriend quit drinking and there is no improvement, his cirrhosis could have possibly progressed to the point of no turning back and the disease is severe enough and the scarring of the liver bad enough that it continues to progress even if he does stop drinking. This type of progression requires a transplant to get well again.

  Someone mentioned the GGT test as showing proof if one is drinking alcohol or not. Alcoholics frequently do have high levels of this, but it's not proof that they are drinking. I had cirrhosis and a liver transplant. My GGT was always at least 10X the normal amount, and I never drank alcohol throughout my entire life other than an occasional beer in the hot summer. The GGT can be greatly elevated and it have nothing to do with drinking.

  Your boyfriend is so young to deal with this, but he must deal with it or it will kill him. Needless to say, nothing will stop his disease unless he stops drinking forever. Whether or not he will need a transplant depends on how far advanced his cirrhosis might be at this time. Every time he takes a drink, it is damaging his liver more. If he is scared right now to see a doctor, he is going to be terrified when he sees what cirrhosis is going to do to him in the future if he continues to drink and ignore his problems.

  Some of the health problems with cirrhosis is filling up with fluid until you look 9 months pregnant and having to go to the hospital and get tapped to relieve the pressure and fluid. This can happen every week or two when the disease is in the final stage. Bleeding problems from veins that grow trying to get blood to the damaged liver that can leak and burst internally. If bad enough, this can be fatal and a person can bleed out in a short time. Confusion and hallucinations from high ammonia levels. People can get violent at times with this. If these get bad enough, it can lead to coma. There are many more problems, but these are just a few of the major ones. If your boyfriend does not want to go to the doctor now, tell him to get ready to see a lot of them in the future.

  Good luck to him since he is going to need it if he continues on the path he is on right now. It's not going to be easy for you either since you will end up being his caregiver. Taking care of a confused, belligerant, violent at times alcoholic while they are sick and dying is not much fun. If he doesn't straighten up his act and I were you, I would get as far away from him as fast as I could and get me a better life because he is going to put you through hell.

QUESTION:
How do eating disorders lead to liver failure?
Is there a way to continue on and not have those issues?

• ANSWER:
  Weight loss, anorexia and bulimia can be red flags indicating malnutrition. Malnutrition can cause cirrhosis. When the liver develops scar tissue and enough scar tissue that it cannot function properly, than cirrhosis results and from that point liver failure is imminent.

QUESTION:
In reference to liver disorders, what is Gilbert's Anomaly?
What is it? What causes it? How common is it?

• ANSWER:
  I will be back later to offer my notes, and what I have read from a book. Lol, I dont really remember this except for a very few basic info.

  Gilbert is an hereditay disease which is autosomal dominant. The disease belongs to syndrome class of Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinaemia ( lol!) - and the only common form of non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia ( heamolytic just means losing of red blood cell, while bilirubinaemia means losing of bilirubin in blood, with hyper, it means extra loss - it is all annoying latin) which indicates a decrease of glucuronyl transferase and bilirubin uptake. The typical manifestation of Gilberts is mild jaundice, which can be quite obvious with fasting and normally , no treatment is necessary.

  Normally UNconjugated bilirubiin are produced from the catabolism ( destruction of ) haem - a structure that consists of iron and some chemical group- haem is found in haemoglobin- that is carried in red blood cell , which usually bound to albumin. They will be " conjugated" by glucuronyl transferase into mono forms of bilirubin and transported to the bile where they are made into several products ( I am not gonna list their names here) by colonic bacteria, these products are then excreted in stool and a small amount in urine. The breakdown of bilirubin results in yellow discoloration.

  Gilberts patient usually has a mutated region of gene that is responsible for producing the transferase enzyme, so abnormal amount ( reduced amount ) of this would be the result. Since there wont be enough of this enzyme, the unconjugated bilirubin wont be conjugated and leads to accumulation of this stuff circulating in the blood. During fasting, the liver tends to produce even more unconjugated bilirubin, hence jaundice is more noticable during fasting. Treatment with phenobarbital will help reduce this. The prognosis of this disease is excellent and needs no treatment. Usually, it is only clinically important since it can be mistaken for other serious liver diseases that has jaundice as one of the major manifestations.

  We can detect the presence of bilirubin when we sustain bruises and they appear yellow, it is also responsible for the yellow color in urine. Approximately 5% of the population carries this disease.

QUESTION:
Does Any Type of Liver Disorder Cause Weight loss ?
I my uncle's wife has liver cancer and whenever its "awake" she gets stick thin and really pale looking.

I was wondering if Liver Disorders cause weight loss and how?

Im currently on accutane and it is been known to cause liver problems thats why it is important to get a blood test once a month.

• ANSWER:
  Cancer in the liver is very different from any effects Accutane can have. The latter are reversible, cancer is not.

  The regular blood tests are to check your white cell count (they fight infection) and accutane may increase the level of blood fats, sometimes to risky levels. This reverts back to normal when the drug is stopped. Occasionally it may affect the liver. That's why regular blood tests are necessary during Accutane treatment. There is little risk of any damage if these precautions are followed.

  Also in the case of a woman to check she is not pregnant.

QUESTION:
How can I get rid of Fluid retention.Have a liver disorder.?
I suffer from Liver disorders and have alot of fluid buildup in my legs and feet.I could use some good advise.

• ANSWER:
  acupressure techniques, silver charged water and black tea therapy, green juice therapy shall help u out, in so far as oedema of Ur legs is concerned. for Ur liver problem, post Ur symptoms in detail.
  best wishes from www.saioam.com

QUESTION:
bulimia and abnormal liver disorders?
Im just coming to terms with the fact that I do have a eating disorder, I m now having tests done to see what damage I have caused to myself and one of my results has come back with a possible abnormal liver disorder, is this connected with my bulimia, if so, what should I to save my liver, and how can I overcome bulimia?
please help

• ANSWER:
  Yes, it's possible that bulimia has caused liver disorders because anemia which could result from bulimia will cause decreased oxygenation of your liver leading to reduced functional capacity of the liver to regenerate and detoxify whatever you ingest; inability to detoxify the toxins will damage the liver and your body. The liver is a very very high metabolic organ that requires a lot of oxygen and energy. The fact that you vomit not only reduces the energy that you are consuming, it is also likely that you are reducing intrinsic factor secretion from the stomach and ultimately, Vitamin B12 absorption (which is absorbed through intrinsic factor). Vitamin B12 is necessary to reproduce folate in the body constantly and folate is required to produce nucleotides for DNA synthesis, which happens at a very high rate in red blood cell production. Reduction in red blood cell production because of low intrinsic factor -> low B12 -> low folate -> low nucleotides -> low DNA can results in Pernicious, Macrocytic anemia. The anemia reduces oxygen delivery in the body resulting in your liver to choke and become fibrotic (which is the case in many liver diseases). This is especially important in women since y'all menstruate and are already losing iron as it is, which can also 'cause anemia and exacerbated with low iron supplementation. Choking of the liver has another danger since the liver receives that full blunt of all the toxins in the body. If the liver cannot do its job properly, the toxins that are passing through it can damage it.

  See a therapist. I was also bulimic in high school, there I said it, but it is so not worth what it did to my body especially my teeth. If you having trouble seeking help, at least take vitamins.

  Here are other long term consequences of bulimia that i told another guy (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah6QWFVFUi_qWS9SRBHuXBbty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090211115221AA9N0jf&show=7#profile-info-KyRiSEKyaa)

  esophageal metaplasia - Barrett's esophagus which can increase your susceptibility to esophageal cancer. Vomiting can also cause arrhythmias through vagal efferent response to heart following induced vomiting and GI stimulation, metabolic alkalosis due to increased HCO3 output to blood from HCl secretion compensation by stomach which can also increase respiratory rate/pulse rate/cardiac output/blood pressure, enamel wear, and nutritional deficiency particularly B12, iron, and Calcium since absorption of these minerals are dependent on stomach pH and factors secreted by oxyntic cells such as intrinsic factor, gastroferrin, transferrin, calcium binding protein

  ya, well throwing up one a week doesnt mean that the damage caused will be cured the day after or a week after. the damages are cummulative!!!!! your enamels do not regenerate, your esophagus will sustain regular damage from throwing up the week before and get worst if you throw up a week after, and the factors that i said are only secreted in response to mechano and chemo-stimulation of the stomach which you eliminate by throwing up. the reason i bring up esophageal varices and metaplasia is because the stimuli for acid secretion by the stomach is largely by nervous and hormonal stimulation. If you throw up your food, hormones (gastrin, histamine) that were produced after swallowing and filling of the stomach remains in circulation in the blood causing continuous secretion of acids even though your stomach is empty. there is no bicarbonate secretion in the stomach so that large pool of acid meant to digest the food remains there, and what do you think it eats up instead? esophageal and stomach lining!!!!!

  this is exacerbated by aspirin or any pain killer use (COX inhibitors). i know athletes that abuse this drug or use it inappropriately, well, if you couple this with hyperacidity from throwing up, you're eliminating prostaglandin effect in the stomach which can lead to gastric ulcers!!!

  And this is additional info about macrocytic anemia that i told another ggirl (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlfPoAJKWbNbCnFB2b8eRRbty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090213025651AAaZXxQ&show=7#profile-info-9la6Oh53aa)

  Macrocytic anemia is almost always caused by a vitamin b12 and folic acid deficiency. Your body constantly produces red blood cells and so RBC precursors must divide at a very high rate. The cells enlarge because folate, a molecule that donates a carbon to nucleotide rings during DNA synthesis, is either absent or too low to support normal physiologic need. Vitamin B12 is used as cofactor to produce folate in the body. Before mitosis or cellular division, the cells enlarge to about twice their size so that there is adequate amount of resources for two daughter cells, BUT, if the DNA is not enough for two daughter cells because nucleotides are deficient (low vitamin b12 causes low folate causing low nucleotides) for complete DNA replication, the cell does not divide and remain enlarged (basically it's stuck in interphase).

QUESTION:
What is the best and natural way to cure a liver disorder?
Hi, My husband has a liver disorder and his doctors have said he has a high increase level of enzymes and believe it has filtered into his blood. I believe the excess of over-the-counter drugs caused this and alcohol. Is there a cure? If so, please let me know.

• ANSWER:
  I went through this same situation. Eliminating the alcohol and over-the-counter drugs is the first step. There is an herbal supplement called milk thistle that promotes healthy liver function and I took it - it really works! My enzymes went down to normal within several months. I'm sure it helped that I stopped the alcohol/drugs and improved my diet - but I swear by the milk thistle now! You can get it at any health food store as well as most drug stores.

QUESTION:
can over the counter sleeping tablets (not herbal)cause liver disorders?

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
How can liver dysfunction cause bleeding disorders?

• ANSWER:
  your liver not only detoxifies your body, it also makes a lot of proteins, including some clotting factors which are signals and active products that help stop bleeding. so if the liver isnt making them, more prone to bleeds.

QUESTION:
  Which of the following skin colors may be due to a liver disorder?
Which of the following skin colors may be due to a liver disorder?

  A. erythemia
  B. pallor
  C. jaundice
  D. bronzing
  E. bruises

• ANSWER:
  Actually, all of them.
  A) Erythema- may be seen in end stage liver disease (cirrhosis), specially in the hands (palmar erythema).
  B) Pallor- may also be seen in cirrhosis, when there is massive bleeding from esophageal varices.
  C) Jaundice- classically seen in Cirrhosis
  D) Bronzing- Hemochromatosis (disease of iron overload, can be either genetic or acquired).
  E) Bruises- again, Cirrhosis, due decrease in clotting factors (which are made by the liver)

QUESTION:
Why do patients with liver diseases commonly develop blood clotting disorders?

• ANSWER:
  Your liver's job is to filter the blood.

  If it is doing a bad job due to being damaged, those impurities etc. will escape through the arteries.

QUESTION:
Why do patients with liver diseases commonly develop blood clots disorders?

• ANSWER:
  The liver makes many of the proteins needed to make blood clot. In certain liver disorders the liver cannot make enough of these proteins and so blood does not clot so well. People with liver disease will usually take regular blood tests to check liver function and this includes their prothrombin time (the time it takes for blood to clot). Usually blood should clot quickly, within about 14 seconds maximum. Patients with liver disease often take longer.

QUESTION:
Is there back pain associated with a liver disorder?
I have middle back ache that continues around the front under the rib cage.Can this be related to a liver problem?

• ANSWER:
  No, a liver problem would not cause back pain.

QUESTION:
MY FIANCE LACKS AN ENZYME IN HIS LIVER TO PROCESS ALCOHOL. WHAT IS THIS DISORDER CALLED?
Ok... So my fiance has some kind of liver disorder that causes him to not be able to drink alcohol. He was told he lacks an enzyme in his liver to process the alcohol. He will get very sick if he consumes any alcohol at all. (throws up blood, severe pains, etc). what is this disorder called and what are the causes? also, is it genetic and are there any treatments ?

• ANSWER:
  LIkely alcohol dehydrogenase deficiency. It does have a genetic component and is very common is Asian populations. The treatment is to avoid alcohol.

QUESTION:
what types of blood disorders/complications could arise for a person who has liver disease?
i was curious about this. could you please explain

• ANSWER:
  When the cells of the liver die off, scar tissue
  forms inside the liver that blocks the flow
  of blood through the liver on its way back to
  the heart and also, to the other liver cells and
  they continue to die off.

  All blood from the abdominal area, including
  the intestines, goes to the liver through the
  Portal Vein. Now, the blood is blocked,
  so it backs up into this vein and causes pressure,
  known as Portal Hypertension. It also backs
  up into smaller vessels not used to handling
  this amount of blood, known as Varies
  (varicose veins). They are usually found
  in the esophagus, rectal, and belly button
  areas. These vessels can have weak
  spots and balloon outward in places and
  break open. It is a very serious emergency
  as the patient can bleed out completely or
  bleed internally. This bleeding is mostly
  stopped by a endoscopic procedure where
  they band them...something like placing
  a rubber band over the tip of your finger.

  The blood can also back up into the Spleen
  and cause the spleen to enlarge in size.
  The spleen can then trap the Platelets in
  it and the liver patient will show a decrease
  of platelets on their blood tests results.

  The liver isn't able to make the clotting
  factors efficiently anymore or almost not at all.
  These help the blood to clot...so a decrease
  in them can cause a patient to easily bleed
  and bruise.

  Some patients are placed on steriods for
  their liver problems and even after the
  transplant operations. These steriods can
  have an effect that deplete bone mass...
  known as osteopenia. Sometimes it
  can effect the production of the red
  blood cells and the patient may have to
  be placed on Procrit or Epogen, etc. to
  try and raise the amount of erythropoeitin
  in the bone marrow to produce more.

  All liver patients are at a greater risk of
  cancer, including lymphoma.

  Transplant patients are on immune suppressive
  drugs. Their white cells counts have to stay
  within certain levels so they don't fight off
  the new organ. However, some of the
  transplant drugs and intravenous medications have a known effect of reducing the white cells to dangerous levels. These can be brought
  back up with the use of products like
  Neupogen.

  A Transplant patient is watched very closely
  to the effects of any drugs taken and
  changing are made to be sure of their
  survival.

QUESTION:
Why do patients with liver diseases commonly develop blood-clotting disorders

• ANSWER:
  Because the process of blood clotting is a cascade of reactions between different clotting factors, which are mostly proteins made in the liver. Advanced liver disease means less ability to make these proteins, which means the blood takes a long time to clot.

QUESTION:
For liver disorder patients: What are the forbidden food?
My ALT is 88 and I wonder what food I MUST not eat. Please help.

• ANSWER:
  http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=liver+problem+food&fr=ush-ans&ygmasrchbtn=Web+Search&pvid=ckS3vUoGkukR9HiISxcqSgvQSz4Dc0scNSoAAMEc
  pepper?

QUESTION:
Why do patients with liver diseases commonly develop boold-clotting disorders?

• ANSWER:
  The liver produces many proteins that help to clot blood, so when the liver stops functioning properly, it is unable to clot blood.

QUESTION:
Is my backache related to any liver disorder?
These days I am getting backache intermittently towards the right middle section of my back, just behind the area where I think my liver is located. I am just worrying whether it has anything do with my liver. Can a liver problem trigger such back pain? Any help is highly appreciated.
FYI- I am experiencing gastric problems as well, but my appetite is normal and no yellow coloration noticed as in Jaundice symptoms.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
how can liver dysfunction cause bleeding disorders?
What is the basis of blood groups? what are agglutinins?

what is transfusion reaction? why does it happen?

if you had a high hematocrit, would you expect your hemoglobin determination to be high or low? why?

• ANSWER:
  Liver dysfunction- it can cause bleeding disorders because some of the clotting factors are created by the liver. Platelets travel thru our blood vessels not sticking to everything because they have to be activated by something, like a cut. To put it simply, the cut activates some clotting factors (way too many to name here) and hence platelets attach to form a clot.

  Transfusion reaction- likely talking about the mismatch of blood types, like A, B, AB, & O, and (+) &(-) blood types. If you are transfused w/ the wrong blood type, your body reacts to it like an "intruder" and trys to destroy it. Essentially, it means your body is destroying the cells that carry oxygen to your body, and the broken-down cells can also be harmful to you. This happens because the red blood cells have "markers" on the surface that determine if it is (+), (-), A, B, AB, O which is genetically inherited from our parents. Real quick and simple, if your blood type is A+, you can receive A- & A+ blood types. If your blood type is AB+, you can receive A, B, O. If is O-, then only O and has to be (-).

  Hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct) are measurements of the red blood cells. Hematocrit is sort of a calculated hemoglobin, essentially it is a 3-to-1 ratio. For example, if your Hgb is 10, then your Hct is around 30. So if you have a high Hgb, then you will likely have a high Hct.

QUESTION:
Are liver problems/diseases able to lead to personality disorders? ?
Just wondering, perhaps this is a stupid question.

• ANSWER:
  well something that is quite common with disease and sickness is depression. People become depressed because of the pain they are experiencing, their quality of life goes down, and in many cases, depression is a personality disorder.

QUESTION:
Can low Urea signify liver diseases?
Can anyone explain this in detail please?
i know that it can also signify dehydration or be seem as little importance by some but im particularly enquiring regarding its connection to liver disorders.
Thankyou.

• ANSWER:
  Hi, at first the urea level is increased with dehydration not decreased, because the kidneys try to concentrate urine & reabsorb more water, actually urea reabsorbtion is also increased.
  Urea is the break down product of ammonia created in the liver during protein metabolism. Urea is an indicator for protein metabolism. The low serum urea level may indicate trouble with the liver as the liver is not synthesizing protein but this also may take place if the protein intake is very low giving a false impression about liver functions.There are other specific tests for the liver.
  Good luck

QUESTION:
Question regarding liver disorder diagnosed in blood test?
while undergoing blood test my blood analysis showed the following results Billrubin(Total) 1.2 mg/dl ,SGPT 64 U/L, SGOT 58 U/L, Alk. Phosphatase 224 U/L. Now my doctor said that you have liver problem. All other counts are normal ? Do I have liver problem ? What other tests are needed to confirm and diagnose liver problem.

• ANSWER:
  The SGPT, SGOT, and the Alk. Phosphatase are liver enzymes.
  The liver enzymes are made by the liver/biliary cells and if they
  become damaged, they will leak out and go higher on the blood
  tests results.
  Different labs have different ranges for what they consider to be
  normal range for someone who is healthy. If you could receive
  a copy of your lab tests results (of which you are entitled to have)
  then you would have the correct range level for that particular lab.

  I'm using the range our own lab uses...so it may be a little different:
  The SGPT normal range is 1 to 56 u/L....yours is 64 therefore it is high.
  The SGOT normal range is 5 to 40 u/L...yours is 58 therefore it is high.
  The ALP normal range is 42 to 128 u/L....Your is 224 which is also high
  The Bilirubin normal range for Total is 0.2 to 1.20...therefore you barely made
  a normal range

  The one thing that really stands out is the Alk Phosphatase (ALP)...since
  this seems to be the highest...the problem may be located in the biliary
  area.

  The liver makes bile, the bile flows through tube like structures (ducts) to
  the gallbladder to be stored and concentrated. When we eat, the food
  moves from the esophagus, to the stomach, and then to the first part of
  the intestines (known as the duodenum). Hormones then signal the
  gallbladder to contract and this pushes the bile into the common bile
  duct to flow to the intestines to help emulsify (dissolve) the fats we
  eat so they can be digested and absorbed into the body.

  Anything that can block the flow of this bile can cause it to back up
  into the liver and damage the liver cells. This could be a growth
  in bile ducts, a stone in the bile ducts, malformation of the bile ducts,
  or even an infection in the ducts.

  An ultrasound or Ct scan is usually ordered to check the liver for
  growths, texture, size, and blood flow and also to check the gallbladder,
  bile ducts.

  If this is a liver problem, when the liver cells become damaged, the immune
  system of the body will respond to this damage and cause inflammation inside
  the liver...which would cause the liver to enlarge in size. Finding the cause
  and stopping it can help the liver cells heal.

  If this is a biliary problem, there is a procedure that can help, known
  as a ERCP (endoscopy retrograde cholangiopancreatography).
  Big words that only mean that they numb the throat and insert
  a scope, ask you to swallow it, put you under, and then move
  the scope (with a camera and light on the end of it) through
  the areas needed till they reach where the bile ducts enter
  the intestines. They then can shoot dye up into the ducts
  and film them. This scope has instruments (tiny ones) that
  can remove a stone, widen the bile ducts with a catheter,
  biopsy the area, and can also check the pancreatic
  duct that connects to the bile duct before it reaches
  the intestines.

  Bilirubin is known as a liver function test. Bilirubin is
  made from our dead red blood cells and the liver
  takes this bilirubin and converts it to a soluble form
  to become part of the bile. Bilirubin is a greenish/yellowish
  substance that is known as a pigment because it colors
  other things. If the bile backs up into the liver, like I
  mentioned above, the bilirubin would then go out into
  the blood and when it reaches a certain level in the blood,
  it can cause Jaundice (the yellowing of the whites of the eyes
  and skin). The level that you are at right now, doesn't seem
  to be quite high enough to do this as yet. If it does go
  higher than normal...then you may see this coloring and
  also notice that your urine is becoming darker in color.

  If this is a bile problem where the bile doesn't reach
  the intestines, then you may take notice that the
  stools will become lighter in color and may float on
  top of the toilet water. The bilirubin is also what gives
  the stools their color.

  Liver problems and a determination on how far
  advanced a liver disease is: a liver biopsy is the best
  test.

  No one blood test is 100% accurate...doctors usually
  will repeat tests and then compare them, before
  moving onto other tests to confirm the results before
  making a diagnosis. Sometimes these levels will
  return to normal range. Just an added thought.

  I hope this information has been of some help to you.
  Best wishes

QUESTION:
What is the liver disorder, biliary atresia?

• ANSWER:
  This is a condition that occurs at birth. The bile
  ducts are either blocked or totally absent.
  The sites I list below, that you can click on, state
  that it can happen because the bile gets trapped
  inside the liver and can cause damage or scarring
  of the liver cells, known as Cirrhosis or the bile ducts
  may be damaged by the body's immune system in
  response to a viral infection acquired at birth.
  http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/alpha/l/liver/diseases/biliary.htm
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biliary_atresia

  I hope this information is of some help to you.
  Best wishes

QUESTION:
Do eating disorders have anything to do with elevated liver enzymes?
i have had an bulimia for about two months now and when i finally told my parents i had been purging for 4-5 weeks and when i went to the doctor for a follow up they took blood. when we got the results i have 2-4 liver enzymes which are 'elevated'. so i looked 'elevated live enzymes' up on a doctor website and it had to do with alcohol and i dont drink (15) all i know is that i have bulimia. so Does Elevated Liver Enzymes Have Anything To Do With Eating Disorders?

• ANSWER:
  Yes, eatting disorders can have an effect on the liver.
  Those who are mal nourished or lose weight fast can
  develop fat inside the liver. Why? is very hard to
  explain...since doctors are still finding out the many
  causes of this disease and are not sure why it happens...
  only when alcohol is involved.

  When fat builds up in the liver it is known as
  Simple fatty liver disease. But, if it continually builds
  up, it can put pressure inside the liver that can cause
  damage to the liver cells. When damage to the liver
  cells occur, the immune system of the body responds
  to this damage and will cause inflammation to develop
  inside the liver...this will cause the liver to enlarge in
  size.

  The liver cells are what makes the enzymes.
  When they become damaged, these enzymes leak
  out of the cells and go higher in the blood test results.

  The cause has to be found and stopped.
  Some of the causes of fatty liver disease are:
  alcohol consumption, certain medications like steriods,
  weight gain, mal nourishment, fast weight loss,
  high cholesterol/triglyceride levels, diabetes,
  insulin resistance, and even can happen sometimes
  in pregnancy. As you can see, being overweight or
  really underweight is both causes.

  Please take this very seriously.
  When inflammation develops in the liver, it is then
  known as Steatohepatitis. STeato means fat,
  hepat means liver and itis means inflammation.
  If the cells become so damaged that they start to die
  off...scar tissue will form inside the liver that blocks
  the flow of blood...this is then known as Cirrhosis of
  the liver and is not reversible.

  Follow any instructions the doctor may give you on
  this...the liver cells can heal and this problem could
  be reversed. Best wishes to you.

QUESTION:
Good treats for liver sensitive dog?
My dog has a liver disorder; its somewhat like a shunt, only its a series of smaller blood vessels that surround his liver. Basically, it causes some of his blood to not be filtered through his liver. It doesn't cause all of his blood to bypass the liver, but it is inoperable, and must be dealt with by diet and medication. He eats Hill Science Prescription Diet LD to help with this, and thankfully, the vet has said that he shouldn't need any medication as long as we're careful. He's a one year old Cairn Terrier. Does anyone have any suggestions for good, healthy treats for him that won't cause him any further liver damage? Thanks!

• ANSWER:
  What we always recommend is taking some of your prescription food, cutting it into thin pieces, and baking it until hard. Then it has a crunchy texture and tastes different, but is still healthy for him. You can also try Quaker Ricecakes, they are very low fat (fairly easy on the liver). Good luck!

QUESTION:
A person has a liver disorder,interfering with the production of plasma proteins. Edema has developed.?
What is happening physiologically? I am not sure if my answer is correct please HELP!!

• ANSWER:
  Proteins in the blood, particularly albumin, reduce the amount of liquid that leaks out of the small blood vessels. When the amount of protein decreases, more fluid leaks out, which results in edema.

QUESTION:
If one has a liver disorder, then is it okay to detox and take things such as "Livercare."?

I would also include Milk Thistle here. Thanks.

• ANSWER:
  You can take Livercare and/or Milk Thistle, but doubt it will do much of any good for a liver disorder of any kind. You didn't say what type of disorder you are talking about. Milk Thistle has some benefits, but very minor and it won't heal you in any way. I know nothing about livercare, but it there was anything to it being a miracle cure of some kind, hepatologists from all over the world would be on top it giving it to their patients. I took Milk Thistle for years and it did nothing for me.

  Don't know what you mean about "detox." Are you talking about cleaning out the liver somehow. If that is the case, that is just a bunch of nonsense. It's just some peope making a lot of money from a bunch of suckers that is selling stuff that will "clean your out." Don't fall for it. Talk to a good hepatologist if you want to know how to treat your liver disorder. They are the top guns in liver disease.

QUESTION:
How would you feel if you got attack all because you have a skin disorder and liver disease?
and the people that did it won't admit what they did
they verbally attack me and also made up bullentins on myspace, and half of them I don't even know.
Yea, me and mom reported this to the principal, they did nothing

• ANSWER:
  If someone did this to me, I would be crushed. My heart really goes out to you that you have to go through this difficult time because of certain ignorant people. I think it's hard enough on you having a skin disorder and liver disease that you don't need this kind of trash added it. If the principal is not willing to do anything about this then you need to report it to the police because this is harassment.

  I think it's so sad that you have to suffer so much right now. I know about your skin disorder and your liver disease and if I would meet you on the street it wouldn't stop me from giving you a big hug.

  During this difficult time you should try to keep yourself busy and you should go out more often with friends. You don't want to let those ignorant people get to you. Always keep this in mind, what goes around comes around. And someday they will pay for hurting you.

QUESTION:
Can liver flushing really help with skin disorders?
My sister has seborrheic dermatitis, acne (face, back, arms, chest), dandruff on her head, and psoriasis. She's also losing her eyebrow hairs for some reason (thyroid is fine. kidneys are fine. apparently liver is fine).

Do you think she could benefit from it?

thanks
<3
nah.. we don't have any of those. no plants in the house, she doesn't have any fillings.. We checkd if she had fungus,.. didn't have that. we installed a water filter. that didn't help either. we're running out of ideas.

• ANSWER:
  Anything is worth trying, but your body might be reacting to something in your environment that got past your five senses. Here are a few possible things that may affect a person.
  1. The silver filling in your teeth are more mercury and could make you sick slowly over time.
  2. Stray EMF in your home can make you sick.
  3. Lead in your drinking water pipes hazard.
  4. Mold hazard
  5. Radon hazard

  6. Lastly, please consider the results of "NASA's Clean Air Plant Study" that can improve your environment drastically.

  "Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. Those plants in your office or home are not only decorative, but NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings."

  "NASA research has consistently shown that living, green and flowering plants can remove several toxic chemicals from the air in building interiors. You can use plants in your home or office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to live and work - where people feel better, perform better, any enjoy life more."

  TOP 10 plants most effective in removing: formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air.

  Common Name - Scientific Name
  Bamboo Palm - Chamaedorea Seifritzii
  Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum
  English Ivy - Hedera Helix
  Gerbera Daisy - Gerbera Jamesonii
  Janet Craig - Dracaena "Janet Craig"
  Marginata - Dracaena Marginata
  Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana
  Mother-in-Law's Tongue - Sansevieria Laurentii
  Pot Mum - Chrysantheium morifolium
  Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa"
  Warneckii - Dracaena "Warneckii"

  Don't stop looking for the solutions, because your health is your wealth. Good luck.

QUESTION:
Do I have to explained myself to people I don't know about my skin disorder and liver diease?
People are always talking shit. starring at my skin for no reason.

They won't ask me anything about my skin, but make up lies to their friends about me.

What should I do? Should I tell people that I don't know about my illness, or just let them talk and think what they wanna.

If you had a illness, would you tell people all ur business?

• ANSWER:
  I do have a disease that causes huge bruises, my eyes to swell shut and raised red welts to appear all over my body. Since it can happen any where at any time, sometimes I am in public where people notice that right before their eyes I look like someone beat me up. Sometimes they even tell me, "Hey, your eye or lips are swelling up and look like they are bruised". If it is a child, I explain that I have a disease that causes it and if it is an adult I consider whether they are being kind or have bad intention as to how I respond. I often just say "thank you" with no comment and let them come to their own conclusions. I don't worry too much about what other people think about it except when they assume my husband beats me and then I set them straight.

QUESTION:
Alpa 1 anti tripshen defishence it is a liver disorder?

• ANSWER:
  alpha 1 antitrypsin is an enzyme which counter acts protein destruction ,when its deficent from its source the liver can cause problems like lung emphysema ,disturbed hepatic function

QUESTION:
What can I do to keep my liver healthy?
I am taking lexapro and kava kava for anxiety and panic disorder, and I drink socially. There are liver problems in my family and all 3 of these are bad for my liver. Even if I never drink, I am still taking the meds, and I'm afraid of getting liver disease.
Is there any way to counteract this or help keep my liver healthy?

• ANSWER:
  Milk Thistle supplies the active component Silymarin and supports a healthy liver function.*
  Also drink cranberry water (pure no sugar cranberry) mixed with water..4oz of carn to 29oz of water every time you are thirsty, and drink hot lemon water before each meal. Do that for 3 weeks.

QUESTION:
Suggest me Blood group based diet to stay fit and lose weight .I can't use pills as I have liver disorder?

• ANSWER:
  I BELIEVED THAT NO TWO PEOPLE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH
  WERE ALIKE; NO TWO PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME FINGERPRINTS, LIP PRINTS, OR VOICE PRINTS. NO TWO BLADES OF GRASS OR SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE. BECAUSE I FELT THAT ALL PEOPLE WERE DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER, I DID NOT THINK IT WAS LOGICAL THAT THEY SHOULD EAT THE SAME FOODS. IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT SINCE EACH PERSON WAS HOUSED IN A SPECIAL BODY WITH DIFFERENT STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, THE ONLY WAY TO MAINTAIN HEALTH OR CURE ILLNESS WAS TO ACCOMMODATE TO THAT PARTICULAR PATIENT'S SPECIFIC NEEDS.
  James D'Adamo

  The dynamics of weight loss are related to the changes your body makes when you follow your genetically tailored diet. There are two factors.
  1) First, as your body makes the dramatic shift of eliminating foods that are poorly digested or toxic, the first thing it does is try flush out the toxins that are already there.
  Those toxins are mainly deposited in the fat tissue, so the process of eliminating toxins also means eliminating fat.
  2) The second factor is the effects that specific foods have on the bodily systems that control weight. Depending on your blood type, the lectin activity of certain foods may do the following:
  __ Interfere with the digestive process.
  __ Slow down the rate of food metabolism, so you don't efficiently burn calories
  for energy.
  __ Compromise the production of insulin.
  __ Upset the hormonal balance, causing water retention (oedema), thyroid
  disorders and other problems.

  Our blood contains aeons of genetic memory--bits and pieces of specific programming, passed on from our ancestors in codes we are still attempting to comprehend. One such code rests within our blood type. Perhaps it is the most important code we can decipher in our attempt to unravel the mysteries of blood and its vital role in
  our existence.

  __ When you use the individualized characteristics of your blood type as a guide for eating and living you will be healthier, you will easily reach your ideal weight and you will slow the process of ageing.

  __ Your blood type is a more reliable measure of your identity than race, culture or geography. It is a genetic blueprint for who you are, a guide to how you can live most fully.

  -O is for Old.- Type O.

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE WEIGHT GAIN"Sweetcorn
  Kidney beans
  Cabbage
  Brussel sprout
  Cauliflower

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE WEIGHT LOSS"Liv 52
  Sea food
  Iodized salt
  Liver
  Red meat
  Spinach
  Broccoli

  The appearance of our Cro-Magnon ancestors around 40,000 BC propelled the human species to the top of the food chain, making them the most dangerous predators on earth. They began to hunt in organized packs; in a short time, they were able to make weapons and use tools. These major advances gave them strength and superiority beyond their natural physical abilities

  -A is for Agrarian.-__ Type A.

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE WEIGHT GAIN"Meat
  Dairy foods
  Kidney beans
  Lima beans
  Wheat

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE WEIGHT LOSS"Liv 52
  Vegetable oils
  Soya foods
  Vegetables
  Pineapple
  The first immigrants, forced by the necessity of migration to adapt to a more agrarian diet and lifestyle--and a more cooperative personality to get along in crowded communities.
  Type A blood initially appeared somewhere in Asia or the Middle East between 25,000 and 15,000 BC in response to new environmental conditions. It emerged at the peak of the Neolithic Period, or New Stone Age, which followed the Old Stone Age, or Paleolithic period, of the Cro-Magnon hunters. Agriculture and animal domestication
  were the hallmarks of its culture.
  Blood Type A had mutated from Type O in response to the myriad infections provoked by an increased populace and major dietary changes.

  -B is for Balance.-__ Type B.

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE
  WEIGHT GAIN"Lentils
  Sweetcorn
  Peanuts
  Sesame seeds
  Buckwheat
  Wheat

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE
  WEIGHT LOSS"Liv 52
  Green vege
  Meat
  Lamb Liver
  Eggs
  The assimilator, adapting to new climates and the mingling of populations; representing nature's quest for a more balanced force between the tensions of the mind and the demands of the immune system.
  Blood Type B developed sometime between 10,000 and 15,000 BC, in the area of the Himalayan highlands--now part of Pakistan and India.
  Pushed from the hot, lush savannahs of eastern Africa to the cold, unyielding highlands of the Himalayas, Blood Type B may have initially mutated in response to climactic changes. It first appeared in India or the Ural region of Asia among a mix of Caucasian and Mongolian tribes. This new blood type was soon characteristic of the great tribes of steppe dwellers, who by this time dominated the Eurasian plains.

  __ Type AB.

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE WEIGHT GAIN"
  Red meat
  Kidney beans
  Seeds
  Sweetcorn
  Buckwheat

  "FOODS ENCOURAGE WEIGHT LOSS"Liv 52
  Tofu
  Seafood
  Green vege
  Dairy products
  Alkaline fruits
  Pineapples

  The delicate offspring of a rare merger between the tolerant Type A and the formerly barbaric but more balanced Type B.

  -AB is for Modern.-
  Type AB blood is rare. Emerging from the intermingling of Type A Caucasians with Type B Mongolians, it is found in less than 5 per cent of the population, and it is the newest of the blood types.

  Find out how you can loose weight and stay healthy by following blood group Diet .

  http://www.diskovery.co.in/how_to_loose_weight__how_to_gain_weight

QUESTION:
Before bloodwork showed with liver or kidney probs, what symptoms did you exhibit?
For those people with liver or kidney problems...did you have your symptoms long before you were diagnosed with a problem?

I seem to be exhibiting every serious symptoms of a kidney or liver disorder except bloodwork is showing nothing.
Severe pruritus, itchy/buring skin, inflamed RUQ, swollen eyes, nausea and swollen joints, burning eyes. NO blood indicators.
I have a lot of suspicion of have kidney problems, because it started when was holding 10lbs of water.

Swollen kidney? Enflamed Nephrons? Without blood problems?

Thanks very much for sharing your experiences.
Also, this has gone on over year, without letting up... Im holding water in my gut too.

• ANSWER:
  I have PBC - Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Stage 3 liver disease) and am on medication for it. The only symptom I exhibited before being diagnosed is severely itchy skin, which I assumed was dry skin but never had professionally diagnosed. Apparently some liver diseases cause you to itch a lot. Luckily, I was diagnosed during a routine physical where my doctor ran a panel of blood screens and they found the liver enzymes were high. That led to more tests by a specialist, which eventually led to a biopsy to determine for sure what was going on. Anyway, have you gotten a second opinion or gone to a different lab for the blood work? Maybe the doctor isn't running the correct tests on the blood? Good luck, hope you feel better soon.

QUESTION:
Does liver damage show up in a blood test?
I just had a blood-test that showed i have a hormonal disorder, i was wondering just incase my liver is damaged will it show up in a blood test?

• ANSWER:
  There are different" blood tests" done to check
  the liver: the liver enzymes, the liver
  function tests, and the viral testing.

  The liver enzymes show if there is damage
  to the cells of the liver.
  The liver function tests show how well the
  cells are able to do the functions to keep
  the body well. The liver does, as a whole,
  over 500 functions.
  The liver viral testing is done to see if
  a virus has entered the body and gone
  to the liver and is using the liver cells to
  replicate itself.

  To be diagnosed with a hormonal disorder
  requires totally different types of blood tests
  than the liver. So it may not show up unless
  the doctor specifically requested a
  "Liver Panel" which would include what I
  mentioned above. Hormonal disorders
  are usually listed under endocrinology
  or gynecology (for women)
  and Liver tests are usually listed under
  either gastroenterology or hepatology.

  I would ask the doctor what all kinds of
  blood tests you really had done. If he
  did the liver tests...he can tell you the
  results and what they mean.

  Hope this is of some help.
  By the way, any blood tests you have done...
  you should be allowed to have a copy of them,
  if you ask your doctor for it. You can then
  look up each test done at this site and
  learn more about them.

  http://www.labtestsonline.org

QUESTION:
Does drinking too much diet coke or taking more than 2 tylenol a day harm your liver?
I drink about 2 cans of diet coke a day and i am wondering if it damages your liver? i have spent hours looking for proof online about drinking diet coke but haven't found any. I am aware of how tylenol can adversly affect your liver but the docs have told me that it's the only thing i can take for pain (on top of that i am allergic to aspirin and ibuprofen) I had this rare liver disorder called "primary sclerosing cholangitis" (it damages the bile ducts and then causes liver cirrhosis and death unless you have a transplant) and was lucky enough to have had a liver transplant in december of 2001 after i was stage 3 for 4 years. Now i was diagnosed with another rare liver disorder called "primary billary cirrhosis" (it doesn't differ much from the first illness i described) Fortunately I am still stage one and have no or little symptoms. Maybe someone can tell more about the effects of diet coke or tylenol? (btw, I also drink plenty of juices and other things as well as soda). thank you

• ANSWER:
  ouch, lots of misinformation in these answers.

  diet products are not harmful to the liver, and have not been proven to be harmful to human in any way (except those with phenylketonuria). the most common claim is that they cause cancer, which is false (see the link below). there is no way for them to "clog up" your body or urinary tract.

  you are right to be concerned with taking tylenol or any product containing acetominophen (many cold remedies have it). tylenol can be fatal to anyone if they take too much, and the cause of death is liver failure.

  you are definitely a special case, with multiple liver disorders AND allergies to other pain meds. you really need to call your gastroenterologist and ask them whta the maxiumum dose of tylenol you should have is. if the transplanted liver is functionally normally, you should be able to take it, although I can understand wanting to be extra careful with your gift.

QUESTION:
How long does it take the liver to fail?
I have an eating disorder and I overdose on laxatives a lot. I normally take two daily. I know its bad, and I'm trying to stop. How long do you think it would take for my liver to fail, though?

• ANSWER:
  If my alcoholic uncle lived into his 70s, I think you have a long way to go until liver failure. That having been said, it's definitely best that you knock it off with the laxatives. Please see a professional for help, because you are harming your body.

QUESTION:
what is the disorder where your liver doesn't metabolize proteins as fast as it should?
my friend has this disorder...but i forget what it is called...i want to do some research on it before talking to him about it
my friend got diagnosed with this disorder at the age of 27...i think Phenylketonuria starts at a young age

• ANSWER:
  Phenylketonuria?

QUESTION:
Liver problems?
I had the results from a liver function test and the doc said my bilirubin was up (he did not say how much) and i also had a low red blood count which means i have slight anemia.
I have jus had a second blood test and am going back to see him next week.
he mentioned gall stones but could not rule out hep c or other liver disorders due to the the low red blood count (i had hepatitis over 20 years ago but don't know which one)
he said he will refer me to hospital to see a consultant ,but it could take weeks.
Any views

• ANSWER:
  Don't worry !! Take it easy. I think you have got hepatitis type B. You have to eat some foods for increase your red blood count for example some green vegetables, liver and egg. You have not to eat the fat foods but you can eat carbohydrate food for example sugar. bread and rice.
  And also you have to rest and sleep to reduce the function of liver. Don't forget to don't worry because if you are stress it's bad for your liver.

QUESTION:
Is Liver cancer/serious disorder completely cure with juice therapy or some other natural therapys?

• ANSWER:
  No. I'm sorry, there are no 'natural therapies' that are proven to cure cancer.

  Natural or alternative in this context simply mean unproven.

  There are always people eager to part desperate and vulnerable people from their cash in exchange for ineffective therapies.

  If you are tempted by any alternative therapies, please do a search on http://www.quackwatch.com/ before investing money, hope and - most dangerous of all - time in an ineffective and possibly dangerous treatment

QUESTION:
Why do people hate the thought of taking medication for mental disorders?
So many people are so opposed to taking medication for mental conditions. I just wondered why this is. I look at it like this: The brain is just another organ in our body. People don't seem to have a problem taking medication for a heart problem, liver disease, diabeties etc. A lot of mental conditions are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. These conditons are easyily treated with the right medication. So what is the problem? Do people feel that taking medication means they are crazy? I am just curious about the opinions that bring people to feel this way.
I hope some people that read this will take into consideration my views and the views of others. I simply hate to think of people suffering when they could be leading happier lives. This was by no means to insult anyone. Poor mental health can be just a debilitating as poor physical health.

• ANSWER:
  Well, within the mental health community this is a huge debate. Therapy versus medication. Studies have shown that the therapeutic relationship has as much or more of an effect on 'mental illness' as psychiatric care. Also, is the chemical imbalance the result of environmental influence or does it occur independently. If it is a reaction to the environment, then medication is only helping a symptom of a problem rather than directly effecting change in the causal factor. For example, you might put a band-aide on a cut you get on your foot, but if you're walking on broken glass then the band-aide hasn't really solved the problem, instead you might want to consider getting off the glass! Generally, however, there is a stigma related to mental health care of any kind, medication or therapeutic intervention.

QUESTION:
Do I have to explained myself to people I don't know about my skin disorder and liver diease?

People are always talking ****. starring at my skin for no reason.

They won't ask me anything about my skin, but make up lies to their friends about me.

What should I do? Should I tell people that I don't know about my illness, or just let them talk and think what they wanna.

If you had a illness, would you tell people all ur business?

• ANSWER:
  its nobodies business about any disorder you might have if it is contagious then it is up to you not to put them in a position where they might catch what you have if you want them to know then tell them if i had an illness i would tell who i chose to about it

QUESTION:
My six months child has a liver storage disorder and has a grade 111 hepatomegaly.?
liver has enlarged by 15.5 cm

• ANSWER:
  I believe you may mean
  Glycogen Storage Disease Type III

  Here are two links that may be of help to you.
  The first one, that you can click on, is
  easier to understand...the second one
  is from a professional site and you may
  have to register to view it. Registration
  is free. It requires an understanding of
  Medical terminology...
  http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/index.php/component/option,com_mpower/Itemid,70/diseaseID,345/

  http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/942618-overview

  Having an enlarged liver is common with this
  disease.
  When we eat...the protein, carbohydrates,
  glucose (sugar), and fats go to the liver.
  The liver will convert proteins, carbohydrates
  to glucose. Why? Because glucose is the
  main source of energy for "all the cells" of
  the body. What the body doesn't need to
  use right away...the liver converts to glycogen
  to be stored until the body needs more glucose
  to use. It will then take this glycogen and
  convert it back to glucose. However,
  the muscles and other parts of the body can
  store a small amount of glycogen itself, but
  the liver is the main storage place for it.

  Glycogen storage disease means that there
  is something wrong in the process of the
  liver to handle the glycogen...be it an
  enzyme deficiency, transport problem,
  gene mutation, etc. There are about 6 types
  of this disease. Some cause very low
  blood sugar levels, muscle weakness,
  acid/balance problems and other things.

  Hope this information has been of some help
  to you.

QUESTION:
can any problems in the liver can be cured?
hi,my friend (male mid 30's with healthy weight)has some pain due to work and he took a pain killer for a long time almost a month daily,now he took his blood tested for some other problem and found that his GGTP and ALT (92 and 43)are high.Can it be cured and is it serious?He drinks alcohol occassionaly hardly like once or twice a week.does changing his deit and taking healthy food help him to control the problem?please give me some information.
Does taking milk thistle really help in curing liver disorders?I know that he should see a doctor but i need some help from u guys too.

• ANSWER:
  Absolutely see the doctor. The liver is one organ that can regenerate itself!! I would not take any supplement and start straight on the medical opinion.

QUESTION:
Is my liver disease caused by my eating disorder?
I've had anorexia for several years. I've used laxatives, about thirty to fifty each day, but starting a little lower each time with a couple of days in between. Lots of diet pills too and vomiting. I don't have an eating disorder anymore, but it feels really bad if I did this to myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• ANSWER:
  It is possible for people who have anorexia to develop
  fatty liver disease. That sounds strange, but it does happen.
  Fatty liver disease can be caused by weight gain, fast
  weight loss, malnouishment, insulin resistance,
  diabetes, high cholesterol/triglyceride levels and others.

  Overdosing on drugs is another cause of possible liver
  cell damage and it is quite real that you over did it on
  the laxatives, diet pills, etc.

  Liver blood tests should give the doctor an idea of
  how bad your liver disease really is. Some of
  these blood tests are:
  1) the liver enzymes which show liver cell damage
  2) the liver functions tests which show how well the
  cells of the liver are still able to perform all the
  functions the liver cells do to keep the body well.
  3) the liver viral tests will show if a virus has entered
  the body and is using the liver cells to replicate itself.

  If the problem is stopped early on and the inflammation
  in the liver has been treated...then the liver cells may
  heal and the problem be reversed. However, once
  the liver cells die off and form scar tissue inside
  the liver...this can become an irreversible disease
  known as Cirrhosis of the liver.

  The only way to be sure how the liver is, is by
  testing: blood tests, ultrasound, Ct scan, and
  maybe a liver biopsy to see how far the disease
  has advanced if they believe you have Cirrhosis.

  It is best to start in the here and now. To do the
  best you can to help your body. Beating yourself
  up for the past only causes more unnecessary pain
  that only you will feel. I hope you find out that
  you are doing fine now. It is best to be checked
  by a gastroenterologist or hepatologist now.
  It will give you peace of mind. Be sure to be a
  open and honest with them as you have been here.
  Best wishes to you.

QUESTION:
any foods to make my liver healthier?
i've been hospitalized for eating disorders but now i am healthy and eating right but after overdosing so many times my liver is in really bad condition. what can i do to help it?

• ANSWER:
  Foods that are healthy for the liver fall into two main categories. First are those that promote the detoxification process of the liver. And second, are those that are high in antioxidants and therefore protect the liver while it's carrying out its detoxification processes.

  Benefits

  When your liver is functioning at top performance, you are less likely to get sick because your immune system is stronger when there are fewer toxins in your system. Eating foods that are known to improve liver health may result in increased energy, healthy skin and improved mood. Your digestion will also be better.

  Detoxifying Foods

  Eating the right types of food can improve how the liver functions. Certain foods such as apples, beets and carrots can have a cleansing effect on the liver. These foods may bind to toxins and assist the liver with flushing them out of the body. Detoxifying vegetables include Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. Beets are a strong liver tonic because they can absorb heavy metals in the liver and help carry them out of the body.

  Consider buying organic vegetables to avoid harmful pesticides and other chemicals that can affect the health of your liver. Include five to eight servings of vegetables and fruits in your diet each day. Drink eight to 10 glasses of pure water, and avoid coffee and alcoholic beverages. Bitter foods like chicory, rocket, and dandelion can also help to stimulate bile flow and help clear the liver of toxins.

  Herbal Supplements

  Your liver can benefit right away from a healthy diet. However, it can take time to notice a difference in liver function if you suffer from any type of chronic liver disease. You may need to take additional liver supplements such as milk thistle. If you take any medications for liver disease or liver cancer, talk to your doctor before adding herbs to your regimen.

  Healthy Fats

  Consider adding healthy fats and oils to your diet in addition to fruits and vegetables. Healthy fats contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation in the body and promote healing. Your liver can benefit from this is if it has become enlarged and inflamed from disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can also improve the health of your heart, brain and skin. These healthy fats can be found in fish such as salmon, tuna and halibut, other marine life such as algae and krill, certain plants, nut oils and in supplements.

  Expert Insight

  Sandra Cabot, M.D. is a liver health specialist who has created a blog dedicated to detoxification and improved liver function. According to Cabot, poor diet is one of the most common causes of poor liver function. People with fatty livers may even develop scarring or cirrhosis of the liver, which can be just as bad as cirrhosis caused by alcohol. Keep your weight under control in order to help prevent fat from accumulating on your liver.

  Read more: Foods for Liver Health | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5549410_foods-liver-health.html#ixzz1TXzDDRcH

QUESTION:
is it possible to have 4 mental disorders?
I already know I have major depression and bipolar and 2 years ago my doctor said I'm schizoaffective now my new doctor is saying I have ocd. I mean whats going on here?? if i take any more med's my liver will explode.

• ANSWER:
  all these disorders are collections of symptoms that have been categorized as disorders because psychologists need an easy way to talk about them, but no one person with OCD or bipolar has the exact same symptoms as another with OCD or bipolar, You gotta figure out what symptoms you have that you don't want to have and talk to your psychologist/psychiatrist about what drugs will best treat those symptoms and what non-drug treatments will help you overcome these problems. Drugs can't cure mental disorders, they can only help alleviate some of the symptoms. you have issues that you need to work through, and psychologists/therapists might be able to help, but not if they just keep throwing drugs at you.

QUESTION:
what can contribute to elevated bilirubin in adult females?
my test came back at 2.5. Dr says normal range is 0.2 - 1.2. Can anything contribute to an elevated test result besides liver disorders? Maybe stress, meds, fasting, etc?

• ANSWER:
  Elevated bilirrubin has three types of causes:

  Hemolytic, hepatic and obstructive.

  Two key tests are hepatic sonography and complete blood count.

QUESTION:
Is liver sclerosis a genetic disorder?
Please specify how to detect it in intial stage.

• ANSWER:
  Cirrhosis is almost always not a genetic disorder.
  Causes of cirrhosis are many.
  Although most often associated with alcohol abuse, cirrhosis of the liver can result from many causes. Almost any chronic liver disease can lead to cirrhosis. This list gives some of the many causes:
  Alcoholic liver disease - most common cause in the U. S. A.
  Chronic viral hepatitis B, C and D
  Chronic autoimmune hepatitis
  Inherited metabolic diseases (e. g. hemochromatosis, Wilson disease)
  Chronic bile duct diseases (e. g. primary biliary cirrhosis)
  Chronic congestive heart failure
  Parasitic infections (e. g. schistosomiasis)
  Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (liver inflammation that can be caused by fatty liver)
  Long term exposure to toxins or drugs

QUESTION:
a serious chronich dieses of the liver caused by chronic alcoholism and hepititis C infection causes initially?
a serious chronich dieses of the liver caused by chronic alcoholism and hepititis C infection causes initially a build up of fatty tissue ;eading to healthy cells replaced by scar tissue, what is this serious disorder known as?

i dont know kno which one it is , is it cirrhosis, inflamatory bowel diese, hepititis or ulcers?

• ANSWER:
  cirrhosis

QUESTION:
Treatment for Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?
I am a 52 year old male who has presented with swollen feet, distended belly and abdominal pain last week. Following blood tests for liver function it was established that although albumen production was normal, the enzyme reading was not. An ultrasound scan revealed fatty liver disease. I was disturbed to hear a BBC Radio 4 documentary say that 20% of people with my symptoms do not live beyond a few months.

I have stopped drinking alcohol and am taking lecithin and milk thistle and I have also radically changed my diet to exclude fat, sugar and nighttime carbohydrates and have been eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Despite this regime being enforced for more than two weeks, the pain continues, the belly is still swollen and I have not lost an ounce of weight.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge.

• ANSWER:
  Ann gave you a lot of good advice. Don't believe that radio thing because it is simply not true. I had cirrhosis and had to get a transplant, but my disease was from an autoimmune problem. Whatever causes the cirrhosis, it still pretty much acts the same for everyone.

  You need to get treatment for your liver problem and find out what is really going on with it. You need more done that just blood tests. I don't know how much fluid you are retaining, but that is what sent me to the hospital where I was eventually diagnosed with cirrhosis the first time. The next step is a CT scan to show if your liver is enlarged or shrunken and the size of your spleen. Depending on what shows up there, a biopsy would be next which is the one definitive test that will tell exactly what is going on.

  The fluid in your belly is probably what is causing you pain and that needs treated one way or another. There's 2 ways to do it and they did both with me. My fluid was so bad that I could hardly breathe anymore so I had to get tapped to drain it out physically. Then they gave me meds (diuretics such as Spironolactone and Lasix) to try to keep it under control. Once I received treatment, the meds were able to control it until I received a transplant. That fluid can be quite miserable when it is pushing on everything inside you and it needs to be removed. You might actually continue to gain weight if left untreated no matter what you eat.

  Stopping the use of alcohol is the most important step you can take with this disease. Find yourself a gastroenterologist or hepatologist to treat you since they know much more than a regular PCP about the problems that come with liver disease. I was surprised at how little some regular doctors know about liver problems.

  You are on the right track with what you are doing, but now you have to take it a step further and find out more about your condition and get the proper treatment for it. Otherwise, you are probably going to be pretty miserable. Good luck to you and get help ASAP because it seems like that fluid of yours is not going to go away on its own which means it will just continue to accumulate. You also run the risk of that fluid getting infected and you never want that to happen because that is life threatening.

QUESTION:
How long can a person live with fatty liver disease without treatment?
I was diagnosed with a fatty liver in Feb and i weighted 260lbs im 6'0 , and since then i have worked really hard and im down to 220 i run for 45 mins a day and have cut out fast food and butter and pop and chips and now drink skim milk , i haven't had my check up yet but am looking forward to it

I am juss wondering how long it takes for a liver to go bad from this if i isn't reversed like 10 years 5 or 20 or what .

thanks

• ANSWER:
  Fatty liver is caused by increased deposition of lipids in your liver cells (hepatocytes). In it's mild forms, its very reversible and there's a good chance that your diet and exercise changes have made a big difference.

  As long as you continue exercising and eating right, as well as minimising your alcohol intake and controlling your cholesterol, it might not ever get worse.

  It's great that you've made so many changes to your lifestyle - it really reduces the risk of advancing liver disease. Keep at it!

QUESTION:
Anyone had any succes with Milk Thistle in helping with Fatty Liver disease?
I have Fatty Liver disease and have almost constant pain. Looking for someunorthodox/natural treatments.

• ANSWER:
  Liver DTX Complex contains milk thistle which is shown to support the regeneration of liver cells. Also contains dandelion and turmeric which help flush out toxins and thwart free radicals.

  Lecithin is a fat emulsifier and prevents fat build-up in the liver.

  Hope this is useful and feel free to contact me.

QUESTION:
I need help saving my cat from hepatic lipidosis, fatty liver disease!?
My 7 year old cat, Toby wasn't eating for a couple of days. I took him to the vet and they said that his liver looked enlarged, he was jaundice, and he had all of the common signs of having Fatty Liver Disease.

I need help. I am on the verge of tears every night. The treatment for this disease is to hospitalize your pet and have a feeding tube inserted. The cost is upwards of 00.00 which I simply do not have at this time. I have researched every possibility. Payment plans, credit cards, Care Credit... nothing will work.

The vet recommended that I feed him one or more cans of Hills a/d per day with syringe. He absolutely hates it. He doesn't struggle too much, but he spits it all out. I don't know how much I'm actually getting into his belly because I'm wiping so much off of my walls, floors, chin etc.

I desperately need some advice from anyone who has gone through this before or has veterinary experience.

I simply do not know what to do. Am I helping him? Is he getting enough food? He won't eat or drink anything. I even offered him his favorite, tuna, and he just turned up his nose.

I love him dearly, and I can not fathom having him die or be euthanized, so I need help and soon.

Please let me know your thoughts about this. Thank you so much <3

• ANSWER:
  I am sorry you're going through this, it must be awful not to be able to help. Unfortunately your vet is not helping either by prescibing the Hills junk. Really, all the prescription stuff is just a moneymaker and the only research that supports the results is paid by the companies that make the food.

  Your cat with fatty liver disease need low carb, high protein diet. You can't feed anything that contains grain, that is probably what caused this in the first place. Most commercial food contains grain and the pet food industry doesn't care that it's killing our cats.

  Most of the natural wet foods available today like Wellness, EVO, Merrick, Nature's Variety and Blue Buffalo have high content of animal protein, and don't include andy sources of carbohydrate. This is much better food for your cat's disease than Hills.

  I understand your cat doesn't want to eat. force feeding usually doesn't go well, try to get him to lick the mashed up food from your fingers. Try a little tuna juice to add the smell. but not too much, and not the oil, just the juice. If it doesn't work you will have to feed him with the syringe. You can't let your cat go without food, especially since it gets also hydration from the food.

  The amount of consumed food should reflect in the amount of feces. You should get at least one small poo per day.

  Here are some great websites on cat nutrition, the first one also mentionas fatty liver disease. This doctor who wrote it is extremly knowledgable and hopefully this will help you.

  Good luck

QUESTION:
Anyone with diabetes been told they have fatty liver disease?
If so what is treatment and long term affects? Any information is greatly appreciated.

• ANSWER:
  I wasn't told it was a disease, I was just told that I had fat deposits. My Dr. told me that there's not a treatment yet.

  I found out about it when I was getting life insurance and my blood work came back I didn't have diabetes yet. He monitored my liver levels once a year to watch for liver failure, if that happen then I'd need a transplant. Then two years ago my blood work came with with high sugar. Retested and still high, officially now I'm diabetic.

  I lost a lot of weight (60 lbs), dieted, working out, this brought my liver tests back down to high normal or just a point or two high.

  Don't know if it was working out, that helps all your organs work better, losing the weight, or a combination of the two. Maybe it wasn't anything of those things don't know.

  Anyway if you're overweight losing weight won't hurt and might help.

  Hope this helps.

QUESTION:
Can Psittacosis in Budgies damage thier liver?
I have a 18 month old Female budgie with the following symptoms:
Lethargy, lime green droppings (and Urates), sleepiness, quiet, ratty wing feathers, watery eyes,

Vet: Feacel smear + mouth swab
mass in abdomen
Diagnosis: Fatty Liver Disease?

Treatment: Baytril + Duphalac - 7 days

Return vet
Treatment: Doxycycline injection
Improvement within days

Return vet
Blood test - immunocomb-chlammydia - results pending
Treatment - Psittavet in water daily

Could undiagnosed psittacosis cause liver damage (mass in abdomen)?

I also have a male budgie with no symptoms except for ratty-looking tail feathers
Vet had quick look - no diagnosis made
I was just wandering if he could be carrying psittacosis aswell?

• ANSWER:
  Unfortunately, many infections will attack the liver in parrots, but I don't think this is the problem here. Masses in budgies are very common, and even though this a young bird, i think it's a common tumor. Are you sure she's only 18 months? Are you sure it's a female? I ask that because many male budgies get testicular tumors, and as the tumor restricts the flow of testosterone, his blue cere will turn brownish; thus, he looks like a female.

  How long have you had the birds, and for how long have they been separated from other birds? If it's been a while, then the possibility of psittacosis lessens.

  The mouth swab... was there just one, for psittacosis? Was there one taken for other bacterial infections? There's definitely something going on, but we see many more cases of bacterial infection, like klebsiella, Pasteurella and pseudomonas than we do psittacosis.

  Is the Baytril going in the water? If so, you can almost bet on that it's not going to work, especially for only 7 days. Same thing with Duphalac (lactulose) which is usually a long-term treatment for fatty liver disease. If it's a tumor on the liver, that's a different story. Personally, I prefer treating most liver ailments with milk thistle. That goes for birds, dogs, cats, and humans.

  The male could have the same thing as the female, but you're going to have to wait for the test results. If it's really suspected to be psittacosis, he should be treated as well. If it's not psittacosis, you'll need to know what it is that's making her sick, and testing to see what antibiotics will work on whatever it is. Baytril and doxy may not work on that particular bacterium or bacteria.

  Good luck.

QUESTION:
question about fatty liver inflammation (non-alcoholic) and its treatment?
I was told that fatty liver inflammation (non-alcoholic type) is usually prevalent in obese people. However I was recently diagnose with it but I'm actually overweight, not obese. I think the reason I had inflammation was due to the fact that I have high bad cholesterol and triglycerides. I was told fatty liver inflammation is reversible. My question is, would this disease be easier to treat and reverse on an overweight person rather than an obese person?

• ANSWER:
  The treatment the same wehether your overweight or obese. You need to lose weight. It takes a shorter time frame if your not obese.

QUESTION:
How much of a decrease in food intake is normal when switching from a low to high quality cat food?
Recently my cat has lost his appetite. I think it's due to a number of changes in his life:

1.) He began to eat less right after his cat friend passed away about 6 weeks ago.

2.) He is an overweight cat who was used to eating Friskies so I gradually transitioned him to a more healthy dry diet. He is not fond of wet food but I offer him that as well.

3.) We introduced a new kitten about 2 weeks ago which was making him nervous.

Now, I am debating whether or not I should take him to the vet. Right now he does eat, but not nearly as much as he did before the death of his friend. He even stopped eating his Friskies right after my other cats' death. He is an overweight cat and I'm concerned about him developing fatty liver disease, but I don't think his condition has progressed to the point of force feeding or feeding tubes (standard treatment of fatty liver disease) as he IS eating just not as much.

How much of a generally healthy cat food like taste of the wild or chicken soup for the cat lover's soul does he need to eat in order to not progress to develop a health issue? In other words, would he only need to eat a small amount to equal the calories contained in Friskies?

I think his lack of appetite is due to depression over the loss of his cat friend, but I don't really want to medicate him with prozac as I think that will be unhealthy. Do you have any tips for helping him grieve and helping him to regain his former appetite?

Please be aware, that I WILL take him to the vet if he loses any weight or starts to exhibit other signs of a true medical condition. I am hoping to try some methods at home before medicating him for depression.

• ANSWER:
  Well if your on healthy cat food, a decrease in food intake is normal. I My cat used to eat foods like purina cat chow,friskies,and purina ONE. She was never satisfied and I would have to constantly refill her bowl. When I switched her to Innova and she only ate about 5 teaspoons of food in one sitting, I mistook it for not liking her food, but in fact, the food has more of what she needs like real meat and less of what she doesn't(corn,wheat,soy which make up the basis of friskies and other low brands). She had to eat so much more on cat chow just to get enough meat to keep herself healthy.

QUESTION:
focal fatty infiltration of liver?
I recently had an CT scan that showed "Focal Fatty infiltration is noted adjacent to the ffissure for the falciform ligament, and the liver." Can anyone tell me what that means. I have tried to look via the net to find out info about it and it does not tell me anything. My family has a history of liver disease including my father who did have liver disease and my grandfather who had cancer of the liver. My grandmother had some lesions removed from her liver. I was wondering if this is something that I need to be worried about. Or what are some types of treatment for this. I have had numberous abdominal surgeries and have also had an cholecystectomy done.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Emaciated Cat with Liver Issues?
3 days ago i found a cat in the basement of an abandoned, boarded up house. it is skin and bones and severely jaundice. Vet thinks it was once an overweight cat who now has fatty liver disease since it had no access to food or water for "who knows how long." Blood results were normal except for slight anemia and bilirubin in the 20's which is really off the charts. He was given flea treatment and stool sample showed no worms or parasite and he has no infections of any sort.

I'm caring for him in my home and give him prescribed under skin lactating ringers (200 day). I feed him small frequent meals and he's a great eater. He eats on his own and always has. After all i've read about fatty liver disease in cats, it seems that most cases are due to an overweight cat who stops eating due to stressful situations vs. no access to food. Other cats with fatty liver disease need tube feeding, but this guy gobbles up food and then falls back to sleep. He's also extremely wobbly most of the time.

While visiting the vet, he prescribed clavamox as a prevenative to an infection...he does not have infections now. However, after his 3rd dose of clavamox, he doesn't have nearly the appetite that he used to and seems very lethargic (as compared to before clavamox). I also worry that feeding him every hour interrupts his much needed sleep.

Should i stop the clavamox since he has no infection and should I give him bigger meals and more sleep? He has not vomited since I've met him. I love him. Has anyone dealt with an emaciated and or severely jaundice cat with fatty liver?

• ANSWER:
  I would continue with the Clavamox, but call the vet and ask if what you're experiencing might be a side effect.

  Fatty liver disease can be hard to deal with, but you've got a survivor on your hands.

  Feeding every hour is a little too much, I would stick to feeding about 4 times a day. Also you can go for healthy, nutritious brands instead of the supermarket stuff, and he'll be putting weight on soon.

  I wouldn‘t really recommend feeding any dry food. Cats are designed to get their water from food. That's the way nature designed them, they have low thirst drive. When fed dry, they won't drink enough to compensate for the lack of moisture. They will only consume about 50% of the water they should be having. This can lead to kidney disease, UTI, crystals, blockage, renal failure and more. Especially since you have a tom, this is crucial. Male cats have a narrower urethra than female cats and are more prone to blockage from the crystals.

  Free feeding also contributes to obesity. And the fact that dry food is over-processed means, that most of it’s little nutrition has been already destroyed, leaving almost no nutrients for your cat. It needs to eat more to meet it’s needs, and in the process consumes more calories from the fillers.

  Btw wetting the dry food will not help. There’s bacteria on the kibble and the water would just allow it to grow.

  The only way to give the cat it's natural hydration is to feed it wet food only.

  But some wet foods are not of a very high quality, either. That goes for most commercial foods. Just like the dry, they are often made with cheap fillers such as corn, wheat, soy, rice etc. These are not a part of cat's natural diet (it’s an obligate carnivore – it eats meat) and they are not designed to digest it. Grain is carbohydrate which the cats can't process and it turns into blood sugar and fat, causing diabetes and obesity. In the wild, where cats only hunt for meat, diabetes and obesity are unheard of. It's us who cause these by feeding a species inappropriate food.

  We usually read labels on our food, but rarely on the food for our cats. Learn to read the label and understand the ingredients. The healthiest food to feed apart from raw feeding is grain-free wet food with no by-product. Some good brands are Wellness CORE, EVO, Merrick, Nature's Variety, Blue Buffalo Wilderness and more. These will give your cat the proper hydration and nutrition it's designed to get and it will be strong and healthy.

  If you switch it's diet, do it gradually, by mixing the current food with the new one over couple of weeks until there's only the new. This will prevent diarrhea and upset stomach.

  You will probably get a lot of different answers, so google feline nutrition or look at the links below, and do the research for yourself. I personally wasn't able to find one reliable source (besides the pet food industry) that would say grain is beneficial for cats or that dry is beneficial for them.

  More on cat nutrition below,

  Good luck!

QUESTION:
What is the appropriate treatment for a DVT (blood clot) in lower left leg (calf)?
A little more history: 49 year old female, diabetic, high bp, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, severe depression, PTSD, bipolar, major anxiety, sleep apnea, and liver disease due to extreme fatty liver. On 16 daily meds for psych and med, plus a 17th optional for nausea as needed, and 18th for stool softener. Her meds: Docqlace, Cytomel, Lexapro, Famotidine, Promethazine, Metoclopramide, Metformin, Trazodone, Hydroxyzine HCL, Cymbalta, Glimepiride, Levothyroxine Sod, Protonix, Lisinipril, Benztropine, Tricor, and Clozapine. Of those, 7 had warnings about anticoagulants, 4 of which were serious interactions, and 2 other meds have a rare side effect of causing clots (research on WebMD). This person went to ER twice in 10 hours (sent home both times, told not to worry, talke Ibuprofen)then to her personal doc not even 2 days later, he put her on home injection blood thinners. She died the next night, clot broke loose, split, and traveled to both lungs.

• ANSWER:
  she died from pulmonary embolism
  its one of the complications of DVT ... as the clots may travel through the viens of the lower extrimities and get in to the lungs either as massive emolism or showering embolies ...

  well ... the effect of the drug interaction in a patient with long term uncontroled Diabetis , Hypertenssio , hypothyroidism in addition to psychological stress and depreesion ... and i suppose immobilisation ... the risk becomes morbidly high ...

  the appropriate treatment of DVT and preventing the pulmonary embolsm is by
  blod thinners pills or injections
  mobilisation is so very important
  Good Control of pre-excisting diseases
  avoiding drug interaction
  but never can obtain a 0% of risk or 100% of prevention.

  and for such cases it is done in a special care units

  my kindest regards and deepest sympathy

  Havoc

QUESTION:
Syringe-feeding a cat?
My cat is in treatment for liver damage, and I'm having to syringe-feed him until he will eat on his own. He hates it in the worst possible way. He will tolerate about half an ounce at a time, and so he's not getting nearly the amount of food he needs. The vet just said that if he's not eating, there's no more that can be done for him.

Does anybody have experience with fatty liver/liver damage/liver disease in cats? Or any pointers in how to more effectively syringe-feed my cat? Or anything?? I'm desperate. He's only 3 years old, extremely sweet, and I'm not ready to give up on him.
Edit: Fortunately, Rygel's very gentle and, even though I've clearly been doing it wrong, he has never tried to bite or scratch me. He just thrashes and tries to escape, and then cries. I've been letting him go when he starts fighting, but I'm going to have to get tough (or get it right) if I want to save his life.

I had done some research, and I honestly didn't think his condition was that dire. I was completely unprepared to get the news that it was over. I can't accept that.

Thank you for your answers and help. It's given me hope.

• ANSWER:
  When you are about to feed you cat hold him on you lap and with one hand gently, but firmly hold him in between the scruff and the ears. Pull back.Then lightly press the tip of the syringe onto him lower gum behind the teeth.He will then (hopefully) open his mouth so you can push the food into his throat (again, be very gentle). When cats swallow they lick their nose, so don't let go or try to get him to open his mouth again because he will spit the food out.If he won't swallow gently rub the front of his neck until he does.

QUESTION:
Question about metfomin?
Biguanide, a type of oral antihyperglycemic agent, does not increase insulin secretion from the pancreas and thus does not cause hypoglycemia. Since it works by decreasing glucose production by the liver; it decrease intestinal absorption of glucose; and it improves insulin receptor sensitivity in the liver, skeletal muscles, and adipose tissues.

Now biguanides, or specifically metformin, are a type of the most commonly used medication for type-2 diabetes, a couple of questions have triggered my attention. Knowing that overweight or obesity can lead to many serious complications if left untreated. Can an overweight or obese individual with no type-2 diabetes take this type of medication for the primarily purpose of weight or fat reduction (as many of the mechanism of action do contribute to weight loss)? Other than the adverse effect of the medication, what would to be down-side of doing so? Will non-alcoholic fatty liver disease be a potential complication of this treatment?

Thanks for answering in advance.

• ANSWER:
  Yes. Actually Metformin has been demonstrated to be useful for such, particularly when metabolism is impaired as it is in treated schizophrenics. The advantage of Metformin is that it is impossible for it to induce hypoglycemia, which most other antidiabetic medications can do.

  It's been shown to nearly halt the overwhelming weight gain associated with use of Zyprexa. It's an older medicatio, and quite safe.

  As for downsides, possible nutritional problems. Really not many. You're rather off label though. The studies that have been done haven't shown any problems, but there's only a couple of small scale ones.

  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a pretty unusual complication, sometimes related to certain drugs. Since weight loss tends to antagonize NAFLD, and metformin is used to treat it, I can't think of any reason in particular why it should be a complication.

QUESTION:
Cat lost his appetite when his cat friend died?
Within the past 5 weeks or so, I have noticed that my cat has been eating very little. He doesn't appear sick, he is actually overweight, which is why it concerns me even more because I'm worried about him developing fatty liver disease.

There are a number of changes that seemed to trigger the loss of appetite.

1. His cat friend passed away.

2. I had been transitioning him slowly to a healthier food than friskies. He wasn't eating the friskies either after his friend died.

3. I got a new kitten which made him very nervous.

My cat is still acting a little sad and nervous, but not acting sick. I think his nerves and some depression are to blame. I will take him to the vet if he loses any weight or continues to not eat as much or shows any other symptoms.

Right now he is eating some, but not too much. I have read that cats don't eat as much of a higher quality food that they would of a low quality food?? I also have read that they will stop eating or eat less when stressed. The kitten is kept in a separate room. He comes out about twice a day to visit. My older cat doesn't appear too stressed by it. At first he hissed, but now he's just acting quiet and observing.

Any suggestions as to what I can do to help prevent my cat from developing fatty liver disease? He's definitely not at the point for invasive treatment such as feeding tubes. He DOES eat just not much. How can I help him start eating again?

I have tried wet food, warmed up wet food and two high quality foods. I don't want to go back to Friskies because he wasn't eating that either anymore after his friend died.

• ANSWER:
  Hi Summer... so long as he is eating something he will not develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver). Additionally, it is quite common for a cat to eat much less when fed the premium pet food diet respectively.

  Consider offering chicken or turkey baby food as a supplemental treat. Most cats are willing to eat this when they are stressed or not well. It's important to select the baby food that is completely devoid of the ingredients garlic and onions which are used to flavour the foods. Both ingredients cause Heinz Body Anaemia.

  Continue to be patient as he will come around.

  The following articles may be helpful for you to better understand when cats are grieving:
  http://www.messybeast.com/cat-grief.htm
  http://www.petplace.com/cats/your-cat-s-grief/page1.aspx

QUESTION:
what could this be? abnormal vaginal bleeding?
im 19, not sexually active, never have been. don't plan on until i'm in a really serious relationship.

height 5''6
weight: 260

I have polycystic ovarian syndrome, fatty liver disease, and sleep apnea.

My problem is this:

From july 2008 - may 4th 2011 i hadn't gotten a period, and from may 4th-july 5th i was having abnormal vaginal bleeding everyday,lots of clotting, and i would have to change my tampon AND pad every 45 minuets ( it was light at the begining, and coming into july, it got so bad)

I went to my doctor, and she said its just because of the ovarian cysts that i'm having all of this bleeding, anyways she put me on the birth control called try-ceclyn lo?? (spelling..)
and i was taking it for about a week, nothing had stopped, so then i went to the ER, (my doctor doesn't really do anything..)
they sent me to a gynocologist,he put me on these hormone pills called : PROMETRIUM 100MG
and the bottle says " TAKE 3 CAPSULES ONCE DAILY FOR 2 WEEKS OF EACH 4 WEEK CYCLE AS DIRECTED"

so i took those for about 2 weeks, and had really really bad night terrors, so stopped.

Went back to my doctor, and she put me on these birth control pills called:MARVELON

So i started taking those 28 days ago, it stopped the bleeding for about 1 week, but then i started slowly spotting everyday again.. and ive never had it this bad before! i went to USA for the weekend, and its so embarrasing, i had to go to the bathroom to change my tampon like every 45 minuets, or else i would soak through.

(i know im being graphic.. sorry..)

over night is the worst, i would wear a Big Tenna pad, plus a tampon (super plus)
and i would wake up in the hotel room, and my shorts were soaked with blood!

i also have these unbareable pains in my lower abdominal area.
its not a ruptured cyst..
but i don't think that this bleeding is normal what soever. its affecting me socially, and physcially.

what could be a treatment,and causes of this?

i plan on calling my gynecologist ASAP tomorrow morning, i just wanted to know if anyone else has had problems like this, or knows anything about it.

thanks very much,

s.

• ANSWER:
  They definitely should be doing blood testing on you to be sure of
  your Red blood cells, iron levels, and also your hormone levels.

  People who have liver disease and those who have polycystic
  ovarian disease can develop problems with their hormones.

  I would ask to be referred to a More advanced Hospital in your
  area or outside that area, that deals more on the Specialist side
  of Gynecology. You need a second opinion with someone who
  understands more about these problems together.

  I do know that a woman who is overweight tend to produce more
  estrogen. That blood tests can show if your ovulating, and have
  a hormone imbalance. A D&C can sometimes stop someone
  from bleeding much if the lining of the uterus is thick.

  Wish I could be of more help.
  Losing alot of blood for long periods of time is not good at all and
  is causing your bone marrow to do what it can to replace the cells.
  You are a good candidate for becoming anemic.

  Write down all your questions, take any doctors records and films
  with you, and be bold about telling the doctors your symptoms, pains,
  etc. Make sure you don't leave there with an explanation that you
  don't understand or a reason why this is all taking place and how the
  drug, you are given to take, is suppose to work to stop this flow.

QUESTION:
Do I really need a liver biopsy?
I am a 35 year old male, overweight (5'10" and 280lbs). About 6 months ago, blood tests showed elevated liver enzymes. I was told to follow up with a liver specialist. 6 months went by (procrastination), another blood test was taken, and my enzyme numbers were even higher (sorry I don't have specifics).

I had an ultrasound done, which showed no lesions, and the diagnosis was "fatty liver". My liver doctor wants me to get a biopsy, since all blood tests for specific diseases have come back negative.

My question is: is this necessary at this point? In my research, it seems the result of the biopsy only affects treatment (which is usually weight loss) in a small percentage of cases. Others recommend a period of gradual weight loss for 3 months, followed by the enzyme tests again, to see if they have gone down, and only then to have a biopsy performed if they haven't.

My main concern is the 1 in 10,000 mortality rate for liver biopsy. Good odds, yes. Great odds? No. What are the risks of skipping the biopsy, starting a weight loss program, and checking back in in 3 months?

• ANSWER:
  Hi lugubrious,

  Biopsy is both the "gold standard" for diagnosis of liver diseases and yet still highly controversial.

  I did a Google search for "role of liver biopsy" and came up with many articles discussing the pros and cons.

  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22role+of+liver+biopsy%22&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

  Like you said, you pretty much know that the very first thing you need to do is change your eating and exercise habits and lose weight. Being obese alone can cause elevated liver enzymes. It sounds like you are strongly leaning toward putting it off and I think you would find scientists who would support that decision.

  Please check out my other answer about fatty liver, with more information about diet and treatment, here:

  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgBYc7MaQcF0_LkPd5EEgKvty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090104031733AAqozea&show=7#profile-info-oAyfPk2oaa

  I hope that helps some!

  Good luck!

QUESTION:
Do you think that Black Seed Oil can be used as a treatment for HIV/AIDS?
I AM SORRY THAT THIS IS LONG, BUT PLEASE READ

I am currently doing research about Black Seeds. It is also known as Black Coriander or Black Caraway seeds. It is know that Black Seeds can cure/treat many medical ailments.

Well in my Biology class, we were learning about adaptation, and an example is the AIDS virus. When ever this one perosn took the medication, it seemed that somehow the virus would adapt to it. Well since I have heard of Black Seed, and I have done some research, I was wondering if it can treat HIV/AIDS. I know that it may not completley cure it, or that you need to take this for a while to see results, i was just wondering about the possibilities.

Based on this info, what do you think? Any comments will be accepted. It would help me if you cite your information (if you can).

-Black seed unquestionably has a positive and stabilizing effect on the human immune system which . Moreover, since diseases are the result of defective immune systems, it is fair to assume that the beneficial effects go beyond skin disorders and allergies. Since the immune system has a direct or indirect effect on all the systems of the body, when you are infected by any disease, the power of the immunity system affects the cure of this disease.

-Black seed is a safe and effective herb that can be used by almost anyone. No irritations or side effects are caused when the right dose is correctly applied. Its benefits are obtained through consistent use,the effects are medium to long term. Diabetes is useful in the treatment of diabetes mellitus or diabetes caused by an allergy. However it is recommended that the treatment be supervises because Black seed does lower blood sugar levels. Black seed should not be taken by pregnant women if their wombs are sensitive

-Mahfouz and El-Dakhakhny, prominent Egyptian researchers isolated the active principle nigellone from Black Seed's essential oil in 1959. There are over 100 different chemical components in the seed.

Nigella and melatin are two ingredients in Black Seed that contribute greatly to its highly diversified powers. These substances work together to provide the digestive benefits that have been revered in Black Seed. They also promote cleansing and assist with overall eliminating action.

Two of the most volatile oils found in Black seed are nigellone and thymoquinone which were fist discovered in the herb in 1985. Nigellone offers both anti-spasmodic and bronchodilating properties which contribute to Black Seed's potency against respiratory ailments. It also acts as an antihistamine which helps to reduce the negative symptoms of allergy sufferers. Thymoquinone contains excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is also a strong anti-oxidant and helps cleanse the body of toxins. Both nigellone and thymoquinone work in conjunction with one another to enhance Black Seed's action against respiratory ailments. It also provides a healthy alternative to the more commonly prescribed cortisone based therapies used by allergy sufferers.

Black seed provides a rich supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These ingredients play a key role in daily health and wellness. They help to regulate the metabolism, carry toxins to the skin's surface for elimination, balance insulin levels, regulate cholesterol, improve body circulation, and promote healthy liver function. A deficiency in polyunsaturated fatty acids can lead to a wide number of health problems including nervous system disorders, uninhibited growths, and skin diseases.

Black seed contains over 100 valuable nutrients. It is comprised of approximately 21% protein, 38% carbohydrates, and 35% plant fats and oils. The active ingredients of black seed are nigellone, thymoquinone, and fixed oils. Black seed also contains significant proportions of protein, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids. Other ingredients include linoleic acid, oleic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin C.

A 1994 study conducted in London by King's College revealed that Black Seed has properties that inhibit certain enzymes, which also inhibit the production of certain prostaglandins. This is more proof that the rich and complex combination of elements found in Black Seed work together for a total effect.

Black Seed has over 1400 years history of use. Many ancient books and text suggest the following traditional uses for Black Seed. But please note, that these should not be understood as cures or treatments for any disease or illness.
Now this is only some of the research that I have done. I have not actually done some testing or anything, I am just in High School. Right now, I am in the stage of gathering information.

• ANSWER:
  What's the active ingredient?
  Can it be synthesized or purified on a large scale?
  What's the target?
  What's the mechanism of action?
  What's the effectiveness compared to current treatments?

  These are the questions that must be answered before it can be used to treat anything.

  There's a reason medicine doesn't just use things like this. Until you know what molecule is doing what you don't know about any possible cross-reactions, toxicity issues, and most importantly you can't quantify everything since the amount of active ingredient isn't controlled.

QUESTION:
health questions help?
What is key to improve cancer's survival rates?

improve people's nutrition and lifestyle choices
more research into better chemotherapy drugs
programs that stress early detection and intervention
better surgical techniques to remove all cancer cells

34. What is the disease that involves changes in the nerves and chemicals of the brain leading to memory loss, personality changes, and complete dependency?

Parkinson's
Alzheimer's
Paget's
Grave's

35. Which of the following is not a disorder related to hypertension?

congestive heart failure
stroke
diabetes mellitus
heart attack

36. How is hepatitis B typically transmitted?

fecal-oral route
bacteria and its spores
contaminated blood or sexual contact
breast-feeding

37. Which STD can cause blindness in a newborn baby if it infects the baby's eyes during the birth process while producing a greenish yellowish drainage from the reproductive organs of the infected adults?

syphilis
gonorrhea
genital herpes
chlamydia

38. Which STD begins as chancres or open lesions on the reproductive organs and can invade the nerous system causing difficulty speaking, headaches, blurred or diminishing vision, seisures, problems with memory and thinking, and depression?

syphilis
gonorrhea
genital herpes
chlamydia

39. Which organ is affected by hepatitis?

brain
stomach
uterus
liver

40. Which of the following is not a form of anthrax infection?

digestive (gastrointestinal)
circulatory (blood)
skin (cutaneous)
respiratory (inhalation)

41. The lack of which of the following hormones from the pancreas prevents the body from regulating its own blood sugar?

insulin
adrenaline
testosterone
melanin

42. Which of the following bacterial STDs is the most common in the United States causing the formation of a painless lesion which may result in scarring of the pelvic organs and sterility?

gonorrhea
genital warts
syphilis
chlamydia

43. What is the cause of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy?

bacteria
virus
prion
fungi

44. Which of the following best describes symptoms of BSE (Mad Cow Disease)?

fatty plaque in the arteries leading to chest pain
loss of the ability to sense, move, and think
skin rash, digestive disturbances, and difficulty breathing
severe headache or no symptoms at all

45. Which of the following best describes symptoms of diabetes mellitus?

crushing chest pain, nausea, weakness, and fatigue
excessive urination, thirst, and hunger
flu-like symptoms, headache, and stiff neck
loss of coordination on one side, slurred speech, and difficulty concentrating

46. Which of the following could cause a non-communicable disease?

viruses
bacteria
smoking
fungi

47. Which of the following is an example of a communicable disease?

Alzheimer's disease
common cold
heart disease
diabetes mellitus

48. Which of the following is NOT a reason it is difficult to cope with a chronic illness?

financial obligations to cover treatment and care that health insurance may not cover
loss of physical independence which requires more assistance with the activities of daily living
knowledge that the person will get better with the appropriate medications
dealing with depression and grief for the diagnosis

49. When does the HIV positive stage move into full-blown AIDS?

when the red blood cell count rises above 7 million cells per cubic millimeter
when the cells have metastasized from their original location to the brain
when the heart fails to pump blood properly causing swelling and difficulty breathing
when the T-cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter

50. Which of the following is NOT a leading cause of death in the United States today?

pneumonia
heart attack
stroke
diabetes mellitus

• ANSWER:
  ask the data from the DOH

QUESTION:
health questions, not very many. I had 60 but i answered 45. Please help?
Note: I have 45 out of 60 answered, these ones i need help with...

Which of the following is NOT a reason it is difficult to cope with a chronic illness?

financial obligations to cover treatment and care that health insurance may not cover
loss of physical independence which requires more assistance with the activities of daily living
knowledge that the person will get better with the appropriate medications
dealing with depression and grief for the diagnosis

When does the HIV positive stage move into full-blown AIDS?

when the red blood cell count rises above 7 million cells per cubic millimeter
when the cells have metastasized from their original location to the brain
when the heart fails to pump blood properly causing swelling and difficulty breathing
when the T-cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter

Which of the following is NOT a leading cause of death in the United States today?

pneumonia
heart attack
stroke
diabetes mellitus

Which of the following is not a form of anthrax infection?

digestive
circulatory
skin
respiratory

The lack of which of the following hormones from the pancreas prevents the body from regulating its own blood sugar?

insulin
adrenaline
testosterone
melanin

Which of the following bacterial STDs is the most common in the United States causing the formation of a painless lesion which may result in scarring of the pelvic organs and sterility?

gonorrhea
genital warts
syphilis
chlamydia

What is the cause of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy?

bacteria
virus
prion
fungi

Which of the following best describes symptoms of BSE (Mad Cow Disease)?

fatty plaque in the arteries leading to chest pain
loss of the ability to sense, move, and think
skin rash, digestive disturbances, and difficulty breathing
severe headache or no symptoms at all

Which of the following best describes symptoms of diabetes mellitus?

crushing chest pain, nausea, weakness, and fatigue
excessive urination, thirst, and hunger
flu-like symptoms, headache, and stiff neck
loss of coordination on one side, slurred speech, and difficulty concentrating

Which of the following could cause a non-communicable disease?

viruses
bacteria
smoking
fungi

Which of the following is an example of a communicable disease?

Alzheimer's disease
common cold
heart disease
diabetes mellitus

Which of the following is not a disorder related to hypertension?

congestive heart failure
stroke
diabetes mellitus
heart attack

How is hepatitis B typically transmitted?

fecal-oral route
bacteria and its spores
contaminated blood or sexual contact
breast-feeding

Which STD can cause blindness in a newborn baby if it infects the baby's eyes during the birth process while producing a greenish yellowish drainage from the reproductive organs of the infected adults?

syphilis
gonorrhea
genital herpes
chlamydia

Which STD begins as chancres or open lesions on the reproductive organs and can invade the nerous system causing difficulty speaking, headaches, blurred or diminishing vision, seisures, problems with memory and thinking, and depression?

syphilis
gonorrhea
genital herpes
chlamydia

Which organ is affected by hepatitis?

brain
stomach
uterus
liver

• ANSWER:
  Thank-you for the brain exercise. These questions are always fun.
  1-3
  2-2
  3-1
  4-3
  5-1
  6-2
  7-2
  8-2
  9-3
  10-2
  11-1
  12-1
  13-3
  14-4

QUESTION:
Health Majors Please help! Last test on health & i am really stressed.?
These are some of the ones i dont know. I mean there are ones out of this that i do know but yeah, I am really stressed and need help. Please Please help me.

27. Which type of diabetes generally occurs in young adults and children and always requires insulin as part of the treatment plan?

type 1
type 2
type 3
type 4

28. Which of the following is NOT a warning sign of skin cancer?

crushing chest pain
a sore that does not heal
unusual bleeding or discharge
thickening or lumps

29. What is the most fatal form of skin cancer associated with moles?

squamous cell carcinoma
basal cell carcinoma
malignant melanoma
acute cell melanoma

30. What disease is caused by a bacteria and can be sent in a powdery form for bioterrorism and leads to difficulty breathing and even death?

West Nile virus
anthrax
bovine spongiform encephalopathy
stroke

31. What is the general name for all infections that cause diarrhea to occur?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Crohn's Disease
Colon Cancer
Dysentery

32. Which fat leads to atherosclerosis and can contribute to one's risk of a heart attack or stroke?

steroids
cholesterol
phospholipids
olive oil

33. What is key to improve cancer's survival rates?

improve people's nutrition and lifestyle choices
more research into better chemotherapy drugs
programs that stress early detection and intervention
better surgical techniques to remove all cancer cells

34. What is the disease that involves changes in the nerves and chemicals of the brain leading to memory loss, personality changes, and complete dependency?

Parkinson's
Alzheimer's
Paget's
Grave's

35. Which of the following is not a disorder related to hypertension?

congestive heart failure
stroke
diabetes mellitus
heart attack

36. How is hepatitis B typically transmitted?

fecal-oral route
bacteria and its spores
contaminated blood or sexual contact
breast-feeding

37. Which STD can cause blindness in a newborn baby if it infects the baby's eyes during the birth process while producing a greenish yellowish drainage from the reproductive organs of the infected adults?

syphilis
gonorrhea
genital herpes
chlamydia

38. Which STD begins as chancres or open lesions on the reproductive organs and can invade the nerous system causing difficulty speaking, headaches, blurred or diminishing vision, seisures, problems with memory and thinking, and depression?

syphilis
gonorrhea
genital herpes
chlamydia

39. Which organ is affected by hepatitis?

brain
stomach
uterus
liver

40. Which of the following is not a form of anthrax infection?

digestive
circulatory
skin
respiratory

41. The lack of which of the following hormones from the pancreas prevents the body from regulating its own blood sugar?

insulin
adrenaline
testosterone
melanin

42. Which of the following bacterial STDs is the most common in the United States causing the formation of a painless lesion which may result in scarring of the pelvic organs and sterility?

gonorrhea
genital warts
syphilis
chlamydia

43. What is the cause of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy?

bacteria
virus
prion
fungi

44. Which of the following best describes symptoms of BSE (Mad Cow Disease)?

fatty plaque in the arteries leading to chest pain
loss of the ability to sense, move, and think
skin rash, digestive disturbances, and difficulty breathing
severe headache or no symptoms at all

45. Which of the following best describes symptoms of diabetes mellitus?

crushing chest pain, nausea, weakness, and fatigue
excessive urination, thirst, and hunger
flu-like symptoms, headache, and stiff neck
loss of coordination on one side, slurred speech, and difficulty concentrating

46. Which of the following could cause a non-communicable disease?

viruses
bacteria
smoking
fungi

47. Which of the following is an example of a communicable disease?

Alzheimer's disease
common cold
heart disease
diabetes mellitus

48. Which of the following is NOT a reason it is difficult to cope with a chronic illness?

financial obligations to cover treatment and care that health insurance may not

• ANSWER:
  First of all, who made up these questions? I'm not that impressed.
  These questions have been around for awhile - you could have just searched Y!A and found identically worded questions.
  .
  While you may be stressed, if you don't know the answers to some of these, what are you doing in this class?
  Just entering all of the answers takes more time than you spent cutting and pasting them.

  27. Type 1 - the body does not produce insulin read this article: http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Diabetes/The_Double_Whammy_What_is_Type_3_Diabetes.aspx

  28 Crushing chest pain

  29. Malignant melanoma
  http://www.cancercenter.com/skin-cancer-melanoma.htm

  30. Anthrax
  https://health.google.com/health/ref/Anthrax

  31. Question does not make sense because it is not accurate but the answer has to be dysentery as the other 3 options are not infection related
  http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diarrhea/

  32. cholesterol
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Atherosclerosis/Atherosclerosis_Causes.html

  33. all of the above but if you have to chose one go with programs which stress early detection and insurance plans which cover intervention

  34. Alzheimer's followed by Parkinson's with dementia

  35. Diabetes - but there is a relationship
  http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2152

  36. Hep B is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids - read and figure out the answer
  http://www.hepb.org/hepb/transmission.htm

  37. Several can cause eye infection but the answer you want is gonorrhea
  http://www.wdxcyber.com/stds_pregnancy.html
  38. see: reference above for answer

  39. see: reference in question #36 or just think about it

  40. see: question #30 reference

  41. see: question #27 reference

  42. see: question #37 reference

  43. Mad Cow Disease - caused by watching too much Boston Legal in reruns - ok, it is thought to be a prion disease http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy

  44. see: reference in #43

  45. excessive urination, thirst and hunger

  46. this one's on you to think about

  47. You don't know this one? That's nothing to sneeze at

  48. You should be aware of the fact that you can add the rest of the answer by simply returning and adding it.

QUESTION:
Biochemistry Questions?
I need help with the following questions:

1) Which of the following statements are FALSE with respect to the prognosis and complications of familial hypercholesterolemia?
a) The outcome is likely to be poor in people with the homozygote type of familial hypercholesterolemia because it causes early heart attacks and is resistant to treatment.
b) Heart attacks may occur at an early age in patients
c) The disease is associate with cholesterol-rich deposits in skin, eyelids
d) In families with a history of familial hypercholesterolemia, genetic counseling may be of benefit, especially if both parents are affected.
e) none of the above

2) Which one of the following enzymes is NOT involved in the degradation of total dietary lipid during digestion?
A. Gastric lipase
B. Pancreatic lipase
C. Lipoprotein lipase
D. Phospholipase A2
E. Cholesterol ester hydrolase

3) One of the characteristics of each of the sphingolipidoses is the absence or deficiency of a specific catabolic enzyme activity. These enzymes are normally localized in the:
A. Golgi complex.
B. lysosomes.
C. endoplasmic reticulum.
D. mitochondria.
E. cytosol.

4) Which one of the following changes would you expect in a patient with decreased activity of lipoprotein lipase?
A. Elevation of plasma chylomicrons only.
B. Elevation of both plasma chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins.
C. Elevation of plasma HDL only.
D. Elevation of plasma LDL only.
E. Elevation of both plasma HDL and LDL.

5) Which one of the following statements about plasma lipoproteins is correct?
A. Chylomicrons are synthesized primarily in adipose tissue and transport triacylglycerol to the liver.
B. HDL particles are produced from low-density lipoprotein particles (LDL) in the circulation by the action of lipoprotein lipase.
C. Very low density lipoprotein particles (VLDL) are the precursors of LDL in the circulation.
D. HDL competes with LDL for binding to receptors on the surface of cells in extrahepatic tissues.
E. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein in HDL is important for the efficient uptake of cellular cholesteryl esters by HDL in extrahepatic tissues.

6)Which of the following statements apply/applies to eicosanoids?
a. The mechanisms by which aspirin and glucocorticosteroids inhibit prostaglandin formation in tissues are different.
b. The endoperoxide prostaglandin H2 is the precursor of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2alpha, prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin) and thromboxane A2.
c. Regulation of phospholipase A2-catalyzed hydrolysis of glycerophospholipids to yield free polyunsaturated fatty acids may provide a general mechanism for controlling PG synthesis.
d. The half-lives of many PGs are very short.
e all of the above are correct

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Cat lost his appetite when his cat friend died?
Within the past 5 weeks or so, I have noticed that my cat has been eating very little. He doesn't appear sick, he is actually overweight, which is why it concerns me even more because I'm worried about him developing fatty liver disease.

There are a number of changes that seemed to trigger the loss of appetite.

1. His cat friend passed away.

2. I had been transitioning him slowly to a healthier food than friskies. He wasn't eating the friskies either after his friend died.

3. I got a new kitten which made him very nervous.

My cat is still acting a little sad and nervous, but not acting sick. I think his nerves and some depression are to blame. I will take him to the vet if he loses any weight or continues to not eat as much or shows any other symptoms.

Right now he is eating some, but not too much. I have read that cats don't eat as much of a higher quality food that they would of a low quality food?? I also have read that they will stop eating or eat less when stressed. The kitten is kept in a separate room. He comes out about twice a day to visit. My older cat doesn't appear too stressed by it. At first he hissed, but now he's just acting quiet and observing.

Any suggestions as to what I can do to help prevent my cat from developing fatty liver disease? He's definitely not at the point for invasive treatment such as feeding tubes. He DOES eat just not much. How can I help him start eating again?

I have tried wet food, warmed up wet food and two high quality foods. I don't want to go back to Friskies because he wasn't eating that either anymore after his friend died.

• ANSWER:
  My guy did the same thing when our other cat died years ago. It was like he was lost without his pal.
  Yes, a higher quality food will require your cat to eat less to get the right nutrients. But many cats don't seem to notice this and just plain love to eat. If his appetite is down, you want to keep an eye on it (which you are obviously doing)
  For a temporary fix, you can add a bit of "tuna juice" (the packing water from the tuna) to his food. This is super-smelly, which cats love, and was the one thing that got our guy back to eating. There are also wet food products you can get from your vet that are specifically for an ill cat or a cat not eating. I believe its called science diet ad? It comes in tiny cans. I have not seen a cat turn his or her nose up at that stuff yet.
  You can also try a bit of extra attention when he' eating. Turn it into a really special "just you and him" time, where you give him extra love and attention. That can help, too.
  If nothing else, you might want to reassure yourself that he is not heading for trouble, by getting a blood count to make sure he's not getting the fatty liver disease. Even a decreased food intake over a long period of time can cause this - not just a couple day hunger-strike.
  I'm so sorry for your loss.
  Good luck to you and your kitties!

QUESTION:
Cat lost his appetite when his cat friend died?
Within the past 5 weeks or so, I have noticed that my cat has been eating very little. He doesn't appear sick, he is actually overweight, which is why it concerns me even more because I'm worried about him developing fatty liver disease.

There are a number of changes that seemed to trigger the loss of appetite.

1. His cat friend passed away.

2. I had been transitioning him slowly to a healthier food than friskies. He wasn't eating the friskies either after his friend died.

3. I got a new kitten which made him very nervous.

My cat is still acting a little sad and nervous, but not acting sick. I think his nerves and some depression are to blame. I will take him to the vet if he loses any weight or continues to not eat as much or shows any other symptoms.

Right now he is eating some, but not too much. I have read that cats don't eat as much of a higher quality food that they would of a low quality food?? I also have read that they will stop eating or eat less when stressed. The kitten is kept in a separate room. He comes out about twice a day to visit. My older cat doesn't appear too stressed by it. At first he hissed, but now he's just acting quiet and observing.

Any suggestions as to what I can do to help prevent my cat from developing fatty liver disease? He's definitely not at the point for invasive treatment such as feeding tubes. He DOES eat just not much. How can I help him start eating again?

I have tried wet food, warmed up wet food and two high quality foods. I don't want to go back to Friskies because he wasn't eating that either anymore after his friend died.

• ANSWER:
  Give him time, he is depressed b/c he lost his best friend. Was the cat that passed a litter mate? A few years ago, I was caring for my boyfriends sisters two cats, I had to have the mother cat put down b/c she was externally ill and did all I could to care for her. Squeeky the daughter cat eventually got over the depression. I gave her one on one care and plenty of love. She is a fat and happy cat and traveled all the way from California to Georgia with me. As for your new kitten, I have a 8 month old Torbie who like to hiss at the older cat and visa versa. I try and discipline the 8 month old, but figure that she's just playing with the older one. As for the fatty liver disease, I feed my cats what I can afford. I don't buy expensive food. I put down the food 2 handfuls at a time twice a day. I give friskes canned food every other day usually in the evening. Consult your vet and make an appointment, if you fear fatty liver disease.

QUESTION:
what causes cysts in the liver and is it serious?
The doctor thought i had all the symptoms of gall stones and they only found cysts in the liver

• ANSWER:
  You can be born with them - these cause no trouble at all.

  You can develop them with a parasitic infection: echinococcus causing "hydatid cysts"

  There is a strange and rare genetic disorder: Polycystic liver disease

  Mostly liver cysts are benign and don't cause any trouble. They are only really bad if they turn out to be abscesses or strange types of cancer, and not cysts at all ... however these usually do have a slightly different appearance on scanning.

  Communicate with your doctor, but do not be surprised if (s)he tells you that there is nothing that needs to be done about the cysts.

  As to what is causing the abdominal pain ... still looking?

QUESTION:
What are the causes and symptoms of Liver Cysts and Cystic Fibrosis, and what are the treatments for each?
Does anyone know how these two inherited diseases start, show and can be cured?

• ANSWER:
  Cystic Fibrosis:
  Causes and Risk Factors of Cystic Fibrosis
  In 1989, researchers found the defective gene (called delta F508) that causes CF. This gene disrupts a protein (called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator - CFTR) that causes the symptoms of CF.

  CFTR is made inside the cells (lining the glands) in the respiratory passages, and the small intestine, pancreas and sweat glands. CFTR travels to the cell's surface where it controls the flow of salt (sodium) in and out of the cell. In CF, the CFTR protein is abnormal in a way that prevents it from reaching the cell's surface. Without this flowing process, salt is trapped inside the cells. The body tries to compensate by overproducing bodily secretions such as water, sweat and mucus. These secretions then build up in the body to cause the symptoms of CF.

  Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
  The pattern of development of CF and the severity of its symptoms varies among individuals. The disease is sometimes obvious soon after birth, but some cases of CF, they are not detected for months (in infancy) or years (in childhood).

  In babies and infants, the symptoms of CF are:

  persistent diarrhea

  bulky, foul smelling and greasy stools

  pale stools

  frequent wheezing or pneumonia

  chronic cough with thick mucus

  salty-tasting skin

  poor growth

  blockage of the intestine (called meconium ileus)

  abdominal swelling

  gassiness

  vomiting

  dehydration

  In children, the symptoms include:

  frequent respiratory infections

  fever

  cough

  difficulty in breathing

  abdominal pain and discomfort

  gassiness

  fast respiration

  flaring of the nostrils

  poor appetite

  malnutrition

  poor growth

  a barrel-chested appearance

  CF can also cause other medical problems, such as:

  sinusitis (inflammation of the nasal sinuses)

  nasal polyps (fleshy growths inside the nose)

  clubbing (rounding and enlargement of fingers and toes)

  pneumothorax (rupture of lung tissue and trapping of air between the lung and chest wall)

  coughing up blood

  enlargement of the right side of the heart (called cor pulmonale)

  protrusion of the rectum through the anus (called rectal prolapse)

  liver, pancreatic and gallbladder problems

  delayed puberty

  reproductive abnormalities (especially male sterility) - Over 90 percent of all males with CF are sterile.

  Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis
  Currently, there is no cure for CF, but there are treatments for the symptoms of CF, such as lung and digestive problems, hepatic (liver) and biliary tract (gallbladder) diseases, and infertility.

  Liver Cysts:
  What are the causes of a cyst?

  Cysts can arise through a variety of processes in the body, including:

  "wear and tear" or simple obstructions to the flow of fluid,

  infections,

  tumors,

  chronic inflammatory conditions,

  genetic (inherited) conditions, and

  defects in developing organs in the embryo.

  Sometimes you can feel a cyst yourself when you feel an abnormal "lump." For example, cysts of the skin or tissues beneath the skin are usually noticeable. Cysts in the mammary glands (breasts) also may be palpable (meaning that you can feel them when you examine the area with your fingers). Cysts of internal organs such as the kidneys or liver may not produce any symptoms or may not be detected by the affected individual. These cysts often are first discovered by imaging studies (x-ray, ultrasound, computerized tomography or CAT Scan, and magnetic resonance imaging or MRI). Cysts may or may not produce symptoms, depending upon their size and location.

  The treatment for a cyst depends upon the cause of the cyst along with its location. Cysts that are very large and result in symptoms due to their size may be surgically removed. Sometimes the fluid contained within a cyst can be drained, or aspirated, by inserting a needle or catheter into the cyst cavity, resulting in collapse of the cyst. Radiologic imaging may be used for guidance in draining (aspirating) cyst contents if the cyst is not easily accessible.

  If there is any suspicion that a cyst is cancerous, the cyst is generally removed by surgery or a biopsy is taken of the cyst wall (capsule) to rule out malignancy. In certain cases, aspirated fluid from a cyst is examined under a microscope to determine if cancer cells are present in the cyst.

  If a cyst arises as part of a chronic medical condition (for example, in polycystic ovary syndrome or fibrocystic breast disease), treatment is generally directed at the underlying medical condition.

QUESTION:
STD that can cause cysts in liver, and kidneys?
Is there an STD that could cause cysts inside your body, like the liver and kidneys?

• ANSWER:
  It isn’t typical and would not happen without showing up elsewhere.

QUESTION:
Could Liver Cysts be causing these symptoms?
Over the past two years I've been going through phases where I feel pressure in my abdomen where my liver would be. This is accompanied with fluid retention, distension, and shortness of breath. After several days to a week, the symptoms resolve themselves, and I got back to normal for a little while before it begins again.

About the time these symptoms began, I had open heart surgery to replace my mitral valve, and since these symptoms are very similar (but not identical) to the symptoms that led me to seek help for my heart, I assumed they were related. After numerous tests and thousands of dollars, my cardiologist claims that there is nothing wrong with my heart and that I do not have congestive heart failure. I have also been checked for lung cancer and no evidence of that has been found either.

One of the additional tests they performed was an ultrasound of my gall bladder. When my doctor talked about the results with me, she mentioned that she saw several large cysts in my liver but said they were nothing to be concerned about.

My question is could these cysts be causing these symptoms? What ever is wrong with me, it doesn't seem to be progressive, meaning it hasn't gotten any worse over the last two years; it just keep happening and no one can figure out why.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
I was just wondering if anyone had insight on liver cysts and their correlation with medication?
I had 5 epidurals in 2 yrs, skelaxin, flexeril, celebrex, lidoderm patches and trigger point injections for a car accident. My 2004 MRi's didn't show anything. Now that I have been taking these Rxs for 2 yrs I have 5 or more liver cysts... I think the Rxs must be inter-related. I rarely drink, and don't take much other meds except for the occasional advil.
If anyone has any experience with this or can directly me to a website, advice, supplements or books on the subject would be greatly appreciated. I need to prove the Rxs are the cause of these cysts since I have never taken any of these drugs prior to the accident or had liver problems previously. Thanks any info would be helpful.

• ANSWER:
  Yes, there is a site that has really good natural product's for your liver. I will let you check out the site and read the valuable information.
  http://www.nativeremedies.com/liver-dr-hepatitis-c-treatment.html?img=507&kbid=2809

QUESTION:
Liver Cysts, Cancer, and Tylenol?
Just out of pure curiosity:

It's obvious Tylenol can cause liver damage, due to the fact it has acetaminophen. However, can long term (but not overdose amounts) use (and I mean 40 years and such) of the medication, especially on a frequent basis for ailments such as severe migraines, pain, etc cause liver CYSTS or CANCER. Quite clearly, it can cause liver DAMAGE, but specifically, what does that damage encompass?

As well, can cysts be a warning sign of liver trouble, and possible liver cancer in the future?

• ANSWER:
  If one has to take acetaminophen for long term say 40 years , he should also prepare his mind to handle such a case
  Also ,for migraine ,one need not depend on that for 40 years, you can also try to adopt the alternative methods to reduce the frequency of migraine ,thus you can reduce the dose of medicine

QUESTION:
What could cause a cyst in a cat's liver?
My 16 year old cat was diagnosed with either a tumor or cyst in his liver, as seen on an ultrasound. I've been reading it's very rare for a cat to have a liver tumor unless cancer metastasizes there from another site. No other cancer is known in this cat though. If it's a cyst, what would cause it in a cat? Can a liver cyst be caused by worms, as I heard could cause this in other animals? Or is it most likely something else?

• ANSWER:
  A tumor and a cyst aren't quite the same thing, particularly on the liver. Cysts on a cat's liver are usually benign, and treatment frequently involves removal of the cysts. However, at 16, your vet may not think surgery is wise, or he may think the condition is not serious enough to warrant surgery. Who knows what causes liver cysts; some think there is a genetic predisposition or an old age condition that is only being recognized as cats are living longer. Diet could be an issue. Some parasitic conditions can cause liver issues and cysts, and as the cat has gotten older his immune system isn't as strong as it used to be. 16 is getting up there so you need to be prepared for more age-related issues.

  Hopefully your cat has a good prognosis and will have many more wonderful years.

QUESTION:
Manageing Multiple liver cysts?
i have been diagnosed with multiple liver cysts which are causing immense pain. the surgeon doesntnwant to operate because he says they may return again(some are very large in size). The pain management consultant has me on morphine which neither relieves the pain and makes me very ill. I am on the verge of loosing my job because of the amount of sick leave i have. PLEASE HELP. Some days i cant move at all because of the pain. I am desperate

• ANSWER:
  You should be with a gastroenterologist or hepatotologist.

  Liver cysts can be three things: fluid filled, complex (meaning
  they have another substance in them, or cancer.

  Normally, liver cysts are watched to see how much they
  enlarge in size...if the doctor think it is one of the first two things
  I mentioned. If they become too large, they can damage the
  cells around them. If this takes place, the immune system of
  the body will respond to the damage and cause
  inflammation inside the liver which causes the liver to enlarge
  in size. When this is done, the doctor has an option to remove
  the cysts. However, it is a surgery. The doctor has to go in
  and take out the wall of the cyst, not just a puncture of it so
  the fluid will drain. Removing the wall helps prevent the cyst
  from healing and filling with fluid once again. Considering
  you have multiple cysts...only the largest ones would probably
  be removed and others there would be left to grow larger.
  It depends on where the cysts are located.

  I would get a second opinion. I would request a copy of
  any ultrasound, Ct scan, etc to take to another doctor. The
  pain you are having has to be addressed.

  Best wishes to you...hope this is of some help.

QUESTION:
What are my liver cysts from?. Prognosis?
I am a 52 year old male recently diagnosed with Bacterimia /Septicemia. After 8 days in the hospital I was released and I am still taking Cipro and Flagel. During my stay in the hospital I received a triple thoracic CT scan a Gallium scan. It was determined that I have over 100 small cysts spread through out my liver and a small polyp in my bile duct. They also mentioned an abcsess in the Liver lateral to the gallbladder and "uptake" into both lungs. There was no mention or concern of cysts in the Kidneys or any where else. The diagnosis at that time was that the cysts resulted from the infection. After a months treatment of antibiotics I had a MRI of the Liver. The Liver MRI shows no sign of change in the number of cysts or size. My doctors now believe that the cysts were not caused by my infection and another pathology may be present.

I am going to see my doctor for more consultations and lots more tests but it will be almost two weeks before I get the results from the next round of tests. I know that they want to look at my entire gastrointestinal tract. Recent colonoscopy and endoscopy showed no problems I have a slightly enlarged prostate and three cases of prostatitus in the last 7 years.

What I would like to know is what tests may be indicated and what possible diagnoses and treatments I may expect. I know I can't be diagnosed on line but want to prepare myself for whatever is coming.

Please help.
Thanks for your time..
Blood tests for my liver are normal. Parasitic infections have been ruled out.
Thank you for your answer. Shortly after I got your answer I received an MRI report that has the same diagnosis on it. If you are willing I would love to communicate with you to get a better idea of what I could expect and what resources are available. May God bless you and the person under your care.

• ANSWER:
  You have a polycystic liver. Poly means many.
  Cysts can be fluid filled or complex. Fluid
  filled doesn't usually cause a problem...the
  complex ones can mean they have particules
  in them or even, rarely, cancer.

  It is good that they are not increasing in size.
  If they do start to increase, they could cause
  damage to the surrounding cells in the liver.
  If this takes place, it would be best to
  discuss with the doctor about being
  evaluated for placement on the transplant
  list.
  The abscess in the liver can be drained by
  placing a tubing that comes from the abscess
  to the outside skin and then to a bag, on the
  outside of the body, to collect the contents.

  It would be very important to notify the
  doctor immediately if you develop even
  a mind fever.

  If the cells become damaged in the liver,
  the immune system will respond to this
  and cause inflammation to develop inside
  the liver, also. This usually causes the
  liver to enlarge in size. An ultrasound or
  Ct scan would show this enlargement.

  I do know that people can inherit polycystic
  kidney disease, but I'm not sure about
  the liver having this. You may want to
  talk to others in your family about whether
  they had liver problems of any sort.

  They sometimes do a liver biopsy in
  people who have cell damage...but I'm
  not sure they would do it to someone that
  has cysts there or not...I think more likely
  not.

  Wish I could be of more help...this is
  about all I can give you on this.
  Best wishes

QUESTION:
can a liver cyst cause a swelling or mass in ur upper abdomen?
i have a soft mass on the upper right of my abdomen does any one know what this is its soft and like pokes out but kinda round and hurts if i sit awhile

• ANSWER:
  Could be a hernia. At any rate you should have it checked out as it certainly doesn't sound normal.

QUESTION:
I have a 3.5 by 2.5 liver cyst, why wont my doctor remove it? It causes me severe pain.?
Its not cancerous.
He says he wants to rule out every other possibility before taking this out, meaning something else could be causing the pain. I have had a million tests already and nothing. I guess I am just tired of taking Vicodin for pain and just want a solution.

• ANSWER:
  Hey sis, why don't you ask HIM? He's your doctor. We aren't. We can only guess. He'll tell you the truth. Give it a try!!!

  I am an RN

QUESTION:
Why a 65 year old person complains of pain in the lowerback. Is it due to the lesion in the liver?
Does liver cyst or any lesion cause pain in the pelvic region or at the lumbar region? Is space occupying lesion causing the pain?

• ANSWER:
  It has nothing to do with liver . Yes space occupying lesion in spine can cause it but why not think more common cause like lumbosacral spondilitis !

QUESTION:
how do u get a cyst on the liver and what causes it?

• ANSWER:
  Check out this article for extensive and detailed info on hepatic cysts.

  http://www.emedicine.com/Med/topic2716.htm

QUESTION:
How can I find out if I have PKD(polycystic kidney disease) without the expensive genetic testing?
For about 11 years I've had a cyst in my right kidney causing it to enlarge and a liver cyst that was once drained during my gallbladder removal a few years ago.The liver cyst has filled again and my kidney cyst causes severe pain daily.Over the years,I've had ct scans,mri's and sonograms to keep track of how large my kidney has grown.2 out of 3 doctor's(including a nephrologist from the Kidney foundation)suggests I have PKD and has told me that I now need to undergo genetic testing to verify this.I have no health insurance and there is only one income in my household.Due to the daily pain,I am so limited to activities that I can do with my two children.We are so stressed that we cannot get an answer from these "specialist" and can no longer afford any more testing or ER visits.I feel like I am alone.How can i get a diagnosis when i can not afford the testing?I've been to the"sliding scale fee" clinics(they say my husband makes too much money but fail to realise we pay bills with it).

• ANSWER:
  Currently there is no cure for PKD, not with conventional medicine or (despite what you have been told) alternative medicine.

  Ultrasound (sonogram) is usually used to diagnose this especially when the cysts are active. Genetic testing confirms the diagnosis. CTs & MRIs can be used but are not ususally required. The extra imaging you have had may have been redundant and unneccessary. For now, get a hold of all your films, reports and labs -- you will need them. The main concern at this time is to prevent or control pain, high blood pressure and UTIs and well as find help.

  You may want to contact the Kidney Foundation and see what they suggest. Call to get an 800 number and check their website. They may have programs for someone in your situation, programs that will give you immediate help.

  My hope is that you can avoid ESRD (end-stage renal disease), kidney failure and transplant.

  I'm not certain if you are eligible for Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits through the Social Security Administration but it's something to investigate. You would need the medical information I suggested you acquire and any written physician statements you can get concerning the probable diagnosis. If I am able to find additional help for you, a grant perhaps, I will contact you if I'm able.

  God bless you and your family. You're in a very frustrating position but I'm sure there are others who will try to help. You're not alone!

QUESTION:
I have found out from my doctor that I have possible cyst on my liver what would cause this?
I also have an enlarged heart but I am ok because my doctor said that I do not suffer with high blood pressure or high cholestrol

• ANSWER:
  normally found in some individuals.

QUESTION:
What does it mean to have a benign cyst?
My mom just found out she has three benign cysts on her liver. What exactly does this mean? Could they turn malignant? What can she do about the pain that these cysts are causing her? She won't give me details because she's afraid to worry me, but I really want to know how bad this could get. Does anyone out there have experience with this? Any help would be very much appreciated.

• ANSWER:
  Benign cysts are just that. Benign, as in friendly. They are not malignant, not cancerous. This is good news. They are unlikely to become malignant. There are several types of hepatic cysts and neoplastic cysts are rare. As far as her pain, she can request an analgesic from her doctor if she doesn't already have a prescription for one. A treatment approach depends entirely on the type of cysts she has.

  Sit her down and tell her you're already worried. She needs to share this with you instead of keeping you in the dark about it. That causes more worry. I realize she's trying to protect you but you sound to me like you can take it. Tell her that and tell her you love her and want to help in any way you can.

QUESTION:
Simple Liver Cyst Problem?
Hi all I am a 19 year old Male from Wales in the UK, I posted on this forum back in June 2008 when I was experiencing some terrible abdominal problems. In light of these problems the doctor arranged for me to have a US scan where they found a leision of 1.2cm on my liver.

This worried me to death at first as he said that he couldn't make out what it was but it could be cancerous. He therefore ordered me to have a contrast MRI, the results of this were ambigous and he said it turned out that they could see it better on the US.

He wanted it monitored, so he arranged for another US in November 2008 which I had, this revealed that the "leision" had grown 0.1cm which isn't much but he said growth meant that he would need to do another scan a year later in order to keep an eye on it.

I had this scan as planned in November 2009 and much to my relief it had not changed a single bit in about a year which was a massive weight off my shoulders. The doctor was happy with the way everything had been and was convinced by the growth rate that it was nothing nasty. He therefore said he didn't want to see me again. I asked if it was an hemangioma and he said "they normally appear bright so if it is then it's not a typical one",

However recently I have been getting some right side pain, I think it could mean that I have a simple cyst that is causing this and I may need to have it drained, is this a plausible explanation if not is it possible that the leision really was malignant after all and I need emergency attention.

I had some fantastic advice on here in 2008.

Thanks all

• ANSWER:
  If this had been cancer, it would have gotten larger
  in size. Cysts can be fluid filled, complex (meaning
  they have a different content than fluid) or rarely,
  it can be cancer.
  Cysts are usually only watched to see if they may
  grow in size. It they start to grow in size where
  they are causing damage to the liver cells around
  them...then they can be surgically operated on
  to remove a portion of the cyst wall...the
  reason for this is because just sticking it with
  a needle to drain the fluid, the fluid may build up
  again. Most people don't know they have a cyst
  in the liver. Pain in that portion of the abdomen
  should be checked out for probable cause....
  Usually, the pain is caused by the liver enlarging
  in size from inflammation due to liver cell damage.
  I think I would request a second opinion to be
  sure this is a liver cyst problem. Only the specialist
  doctors could tell you for sure what this is...no
  one here can do that.

  I hope this information is of some help. Best wishes

QUESTION:
What Causes Nausea, stomach pain, bloating, gas, Clay colored poop, Painful bowel movements?
I have been sick for over about two weeks and been to ER twice. Every thing makes me sick. They have done a CT, and Pelvic exam. They have given me Darvocet and Phenegran. Nothing is helping and all they have found is a Cyst on my liver and one on my ovary. What do I do? They are sending me to a OB/GYN. Please help!

• ANSWER:
  there are LOTS of reasons for clay colored stools. Go here:
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003129.htm

  for me it was because I had celiac disease and it took me asking for the test myself in order to "solve" my condition.

  Edited for correct link. Sorry about that.
  The OBGYN will help you with the cyst on your liver, but you probably need a gastroenterologist for your other issue. Ask for a referral please!

QUESTION:
What causes low red blood cells (RBC), low potassium and low blood pressure?
I went to the dr. and was told I have a low RBC, low potassium, low blood pressure (was 70/50 in office) and a liver cyst. Any ideas as to what would cause these?
__________________________________________________
I don't have the exact numbers from the tests. My dr. wants copies of my old records before doing more testing. Also, I have a murmur, MVP, intersitital cystitis, and PCOS if it makes any difference. Any help is appreicated.
Sorry, should say high red blood cells (RBC).

• ANSWER:
  When our RBC are low, the body signals the
  kidneys to make erythropoeitin...this is a hormone that goes to the bone marrow and
  the bone marrow responds to it to make more
  RBC. If the kidneys are injured or not
  functioning properly, this can mean that
  it may not be about to make this hormone
  efficiently. That is one thing that can cause
  a problem. If the body is making the RBC and
  for some reason they start dying off faster or
  the patient is losing alot of blood...then the
  cell count will also go down.

  Potassium going low in the body can be caused
  by some medications. If you are on a diuretic...
  some diuretics, like Lasix, may require you take
  a potassium supplement. Some diuretics,
  though, are potassium sparing kinds, like
  spironolactone and you should not take additional potassium. It is best to ask the
  doctor to be certain of the kind you may be
  taking. Potassium can also go low in the body
  if you don't take much in on your diet.
  It is very important that your potassium be
  brought up into normal range...as Potassium,
  Sodium, Magnesium, and Calcium is what
  helps your heart to beat in rhythm.

  Low blood pressure can be coming from your
  lack of RBC and considering your potassium
  is too low.

  This will give you some idea what may be
  going on.
  Liver cysts don't always cause problems...
  However, it the cyst is enlarging in size,
  it may cause cell damaged to the cells
  around the cyst. Only film testing like
  an Ultrasound or Ct scan would let you know
  this. This should not cause a problem with
  the RBC or Potassium until the disease is
  in the very advanced stages. Cysts are
  not always just fluid filled sacs, they can
  also be complex...they can be dense and
  have particles and other things inside of them.
  Hope this has been of some help to you.

QUESTION:
Enlarged liver - what does this mean?
Before I begin my little story here's some info about me
22 y/o female, moderate drinker on the weekends, diagnosed as hypoglycemic at 17 (no explanation as to why), meds: birth control and paxil, 20 mg

On Wednesday I was admitted to the ER with severe stomach cramps. The cramps were worse on Tuesday night but I promised my bf I'd get it checked out the next day if I still felt crampy. Long story short, the nurses at my college didn't think it was anything severe but the pain in my lower right abdominal area couldn't be ignored. They wanted to make sure I didn't have appendicits. A CT scan of my abdomen showed a possible liver cyst, so they sent me in for a ultrasound to check it out. That turned up a small cyst on my right kidney (not surprising since I had nasty recurrent UTIs) and a slightly enlarged right lobe of my liver (normal = 15-17 cm, mine = 18.6 cm).
My questions for any medical professionals out there is ... what in the world does this mean? I have a follow up with a physician at my school for some bloodwork. My original bloodwork at the ER turned up normal, although my urinalysis showed some ketones (80). The kidney cyst should clear up but I have no idea what would cause a slightly enlarged liver (although I've heard Paxil can be deterimental). Any ideas??
Also, my stomach pain has cleared up and I have no other symptoms (no swelling, fever, jaundice, etc).

• ANSWER:
  kidney problems from diabetes? Avoid sugar. get the a1c test.

QUESTION:
I have a friend with a cyst located on lung,liver & spleen.Do we know what would cause this?
She has been in the hospital for about a week with no answers.They have not performed an autopsy which really confuses me.They do have her on antibiotics.Just trying to find out what is really going on.She has a problem with lying but she has been a friend for a long time.We as friends need to know if it is serious or just happens to be cysts that can be taking care of by antibiotics and she is making more of it than it is for the sympathy part of it.If you knew her you would know what I meant.we have accepted her for who she is but we are worried about her and need to know.Is it possible a std is the cause of the cyst.
No.She does not have cancer if she did it would not stop her from telling us.She is the type that looks for the attention and makes it worse than it is.Not to be mean but it is a part of her that you wouldn't understand unless you've known her for 12 years like we have.She had a bad child hood and is sadly a pathalogical liar.It would be something she is somewhat ashamed of but doesn't realize us as friends would understand and help her with.(example of lies is she told a guy she owned a house and would sell it to buy him a house.Which by the way she rents the house with our other friend who is also concerned by the way the guy found out she lied and was destroyed because he thought his life was improving for the better)

• ANSWER:
  Well any Good Homeopathic physician can help him recover from that.The most sure fire way of curing such ailments is Homeopathy(Smart Medicine).
  Please feel free to email me I will help as far as I can in Homeopathic Medicines !

QUESTION:
Liver Lesion on CT scan?
My husband has been having gastrointestinal problems (gas, change in bowel habits, constant cramping feeling in upper right quadrant) since Christmas and we always thought he just had a sensitive stomach. It's gotten progressively as time's gone on and he went to see an GI. The GI did a HIDA scan, colonoscopy and endoscopy and everything turned out fine. He issued him a prescription for intestinal spasms and left it at that. My husband didn't want that answer and went back to his family doctor who issued a CT scan. They found a lesion on his liver, unfortunately they did not say where or how big. He's going to get a MRI done now so we will know more soon. I've been trying to look into what causes liver lesions, what all it could be (cyst, tumor, etc) but only one thing keeps popping up and that's liver cancer. Does anyone have any idea or can you give me more insight? It's much appreciated.

• ANSWER:
  My husband had same tests and a lesion was found. He went in for a ct guided biopsy and it was just a hemangioma. Your husband doesn't even have any symptoms of liver cancer...

QUESTION:
Anyone experience odd behavior with senior cat?
My cat is 15 and he has CRF and a liver cyst. He lost some weight and the doctor said to prepare for the end.
I'm hand feeding him and giving him fluids, etc, but here is the odd behavior that I don't understand:
Whining/crying, restlessness, climbing and general "squirrelly" behavior. The doctor says he is NOT in pain, but he feels generally crappy.
I have read that feline dementia can cause crying and confused behavior, but he doesn't seem confused he seems restless and wanting something that I can't provide. He wakes me up 1 to 3 times during the night and follows me around sometimes.
I'm trying to come to a decision of when the end is, and knowing what this behavior means would help.
Please only answer if you've had experience with this in a senior cat. I take him to the vet regularly and I do plenty of research. He is not dying from his CRF, but rather the location of his benign liver cyst which causes the stomach to have less room for food.
Just to add a few details: Diagnosed with CRF about a year ago, we give fluid treatments several times a week, always went well but lately he resists more. Liver cyst is benign but in a "bad" location according to the doctor. His age and health make him unable to get surgery. I am spoonfeeding him Science Diet A/D (stopped eating kibble, I think it's too hard) about a tablespoon 2X a day, plus all the soft treats he wants (he won't eat anything else). I crush Potassium in the food, been doing that for a year per the doctor. At times he does look shaky, between these little "manic" episodes of restlessness as I call them. He does follow and cry directly to me, as if he wants something from me. I spent a lot of time petting/stroking his head this morning, hoping to calm him a bit. Thank you for info so far.

• ANSWER:
  First of all, I am very sorry to hear about your cat. He is without a doubt uncomfortable, I doubt he suffers from dementia. He is more likely very uncomfortable and is looking to you to relieve his distress. Does he seem hungry? I would think his appetite is pretty suppressed and what he really wants from you is just comfort. Make sure he has plenty of water available to him, and food, but more importantly, spend some quiet time with him and reassure him by petting him and talking softly. If he needs it, carry him. Good luck. My heart goes out to you and to him.

QUESTION:
Liver cyst found after ultra sound?
I had a physical on the Monday before Thanksgiving and I had all the usual blood work done. My liver enzymes were high so my doctor re-ordered the blood work and an ultrasound on my pancreas-gallbladder. The liver came back and showed 1 cyst on the liver on the right lobe. Now he wants me to go for a ct scan tomorrow. I am very scared about this cause I never was expecting this and I don't know what to think. Can anyone give me some advice about this or if anyone has had this before?

• ANSWER:
  Cysts can be fluid filled, complex( meaning they have something
  other than fluid inside of them, or cancerous (very rarely).

  They may try to be deciding what type of cyst this really is.
  The most common is the fluid filled one. They normally will
  not do much as long as the cyst stays small, in this case.
  They will wait and do an ultrasound or Ct scan again in the
  future. However, if the cysts starts to enlarge in size...
  they will watch it more closely. You see, as the cyst
  enlarges in size it can place pressure on the healthy
  cells around it and cause damage to them. It depends
  on how big it may get. They can go in and remove one
  the the walls of the cyst, so that the fluid can drain out
  into the body and be absorbed. They don't normally
  just poke a needle in it..as this can heal up and start
  to form more fluid in it.

  This is more of a wait and see. Many people develop
  cysts in their bodies as they grow older.

  It is unlikely to be cancer...but if it is and it is just in the
  right lobe of the liver and hasn't gone to another place in
  the body or come from another place in the body...they
  can do what is known as a resection, and remove that
  part of the liver. The part of the liver that remains,
  will grow back to normal size again as it regenerates
  new cells. (that depends on where it is located in the
  right lobe).

  I hope this information has been of some help to you.
  Best wishes
  A link to click on:
  http://www.surgeryplanet.com/gastroenterology/treatment-for-liver-cyst.html

QUESTION:
My cat had surgery to remove a cyst on his liver. he's ok but still has a little fever? What could be going on
The vet thinks that the cyst is non-cancerous. He is active and livley just a day after surgery. The only thing is he's running a temperature of 103.5-8 when a normal temp is closer to 102.5. They say he could still be dehydrated. He's been on 2 kinds of broad spectrum antibiotics for 2 days now. Is there anything else that could be causing his temperature to be that high?
Thanks, Jeff

• ANSWER:
  The most common causes of fever in these period are

  1) A natural inflammatory response to the stress of surgery
  2) Manipulation of a source of infection eg. Liver cyst in your cat's case.

  These are NOT dangerous and should resolve in time.

  Other causes of fever that you should be worried about generally only kick in at least 3 to 5 days after the surgery. Considering that the surgery was only a day ago and that the fever is mild, I'd say you probably do not have to be too worried.

  I suggest that you continue the antibiotics as prescribed and watch the fever for now. If the fever persists beyond tomorrow and if your cat becomes increasingly drowsy and unlike its usual self then bring him to your vet to have a look.

QUESTION:
Right abdominal pain, CT scan and ultrasound on liver and everything else.?
Woke up one morning with severe right abdominal pain below the rib cage. okay maybe I pulled something. 17 days later still dull aching pain there but very severe when I cough or sneeze. Otherwise its so to speak "there" throughout the day. I go in to the Dr. and tell him my symptoms. He goes through the routine examine, pushes here pushes there. I get blood drawn and urine sample. Calls me back later I have blood urine and liver enzymes are a bit high. Schedules me for Ct scan. Scan comes back normal. Schedules me for a ultra sound and some nuclear dye for my gallbladder to make it do funny things. I deny that but okay with the ultrasound. Go to ultrasound. Ultrasound tech opens mouth and tells me I have a liver cyst. I say uhmmmm ok? Later the Dr's nurse calls me back and tells me looks like ultrasound came back great and asks me "are you still in pain?" I tell her yes. So I ask her thats it nothing else? Nothing found? She says no. So I decide to tell her about liver cyst found on ultra sound? She says she does'nt know anything about that and will consult with the DR. Well after reading on the internet cause Im curious I see that people do get them and 95% of paitents do not experience pain. But 5% do and it needs to be addressed. Well here I am still in pain since June 26. If I strain like having a bowel movement, sneeze, cough or even bend a certain messed up way it hurts. Anyone heard of this? Is this why I had a blood in my urine? Do they bleed? Im kinda dissapointed in my Dr that they wouldnt relay the info that was found and I had to open my mouth up about the tech showing me the cyst. I dont know what to do I feel kinda helpless here. Waiting on Md to call me monday.

• ANSWER:
  When a cyst is found in an individual, that person should submit themself to medical testing to rule out any serious diseases or conditions that may be the root cause. Hepatic cysts are symptoms of a variety of serious diseases that can lead to renal failure.

  Read more: Causes of Liver Cysts | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5063213_causes-liver-cysts.html#ixzz1SQ0sow6z

  They can also be caused by parasite larvae.

QUESTION:
Why would I have an enlarged liver for a year now as well as enzymes getting higher and higher?
I have an enlarged liver with high enzymes and they are tryin to figure out the cause of this as it is making me very sick and in a lot of pain. The pain is under my right rib and will radiate up into my shoulder baldes and in my back. They said it is the capsule surrounding the liver that is causing the pain as the liver is enlarging butt he capsule is not. My liver enzymes are gettting higher as well. My doctor has refered me to a liver disease specialist because he does not know what is going on. He did how ever tell me that I may have Hep or liver cancer. I have my Hep shots and have never left to a foreign country. I dont use drugs and my husband is not infected so im sure he hasnt cheated. I just am going crazy here. I just turned 30 and feel as if my body is shutting down. I also just found out I have fibromyelgia. I have a 1 year old, 5 year old, and a 11 year old who's father was killed on July 1st 2010 by a drunk driver. The last thing I want is for something to happen to myself.

I had a c-section December 9th, 2009
I had my gallbladder out June 27th 2010
I had my tubes tied October 20th, 2010
I had a urethra dilatation on January 25th, 2011( urinating blood for 20 years)

This is 4 surgeries in a 13 months period.

I also have stomach ulcers and have been vomitting blood.
I have 2 cysts in my throid

And many other issues.

Any insight as to why this is happening please let me know~

Thank you in advance

I just turned 30 last week

I dont smoke
I dont drink
I dont do drugs

And Most of all I dont know why I am so sick????

• ANSWER:
  When the liver enlarges in size, it is usually due to liver
  cell damage. Let me explain.

  When the liver cells become damaged, the immune
  system of our body responds to this damage and cause
  inflammation to develop inside the liver. This will
  cause the liver to enlarge in size.
  There are many things that can cause damage to
  the liver cells: alcohol consumption, medication
  toxification, chemical exposure, hereditary conditions,
  viral (hepatitis A,B,C,etc) or parasite infections,
  auto immune disease, cancer/growths/tumors/cysts
  biliary obstruction/malformation/infection/surgery that
  causes scar tissue build up in the tubes,
  metabolic disorders (can include thyroid),
  fatty liver disease, and much more.

  If the cause can be found and stopped, the liver cells
  can heal and the problem can be reversed. However,
  if this is not able to be done...then the liver cells can
  start to die off and form scar tissue inside the liver.
  This scar tissue cannot be removed from the liver and
  can act like a wall there, which can block the blood
  from getting to the functioning liver cells, so they continue
  to die off and can eventually lead to blocking the blood
  flow through the liver on its way back to the heart.
  (This is known as Cirrhosis of the liver)
  http://www.medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/article.htm

  This is very important to know this...as blood not flowing
  through the liver well anymore can cause it to back up
  into the portal vein (which brings blood from all the
  abdomen to the liver) and also backs up into vessels
  not used to handling this amount of blood (known as
  varies). These varies can have weak spots and balloon
  outward and break open. They are usually found in the
  esophagus, rectal area, and belly button area. Any
  blood in the sputum or vomit or from the rectal area is
  an emergency situation. People who do develop
  cirrhosis, the liver doesn't make clotting factors that helps
  the blood to clot..so they tend to bleed and bruise very
  easily. The doctor can go in and check for varies in
  the esohagus (Endoscopy). The blood will also back
  up into the spleen and can cause it to enlarge, also.

  An ERCP procedure can show if there is a blockage
  or a narrowing of the bile ducts and the doctors can
  widen the bile ducts with the scope and instruments
  to remove any stones, growth, etc. that may be present
  http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/ercp.html

  If you have just had a child, it is possible you could of
  developed fatty liver disease, which can occur in the
  third trimester of pregnancy, rarely.

  Simple blood tests can show if your thyroid is making
  the hormone, thyroxine, well. If it is not making enough
  of this hormone..it is known as hypothyroidism and can
  add to the tired feeling you already have with your
  liver function not being good. Most liver patients feel
  tired all the time.

  These are just some of the things to take into consideration.
  It is best to wait till the liver specialist...either the
  gastroenterologist or hepatologist reviews your blood work,
  ultrasounds, ct scans, MRI, and possible liver biopsy,
  and your other health problems...before a true
  determination can be made.

  I hope this information has been of some help to you.
  Best wishes. You sure have been facing an awful lot..
  I hope that you find out soon what is wrong and that
  you will start to feel much better.

QUESTION:
My wife has been diagnoised with polysystic Fibrosis a month after her delivery.?
The size of the cyst is apporx 13cm. Initially she had the cyst at the liver - now this has reduced to 3 cm but a now a cyst has appeared at the bladder (around 14 cm). Apart from this - small cysts are present at kidney, pancreas. Please let me know the cause and cure for this.
problem

Doctors say nothing can be done - cyst can be removed only in emergency / serious condition.

• ANSWER:
  The Cyst most of the time go away on their own. It's painful but the doctor is right only emergency cases ever see a operating room. If a person had surgery for every time one of these cysts show up she would live in the operating room.

QUESTION:
hepatic cysts?
i had a ct scan of my abdomen and pelvis done and the report shows that i have 2 hepatic cysts. one cyst on the left lobe of my liver and the other on the right.
anyone know what these are and what causes them? i dont see my doctor until the 18th and i am concerned.

• ANSWER:
  Double click on the following websites to get the answers to your questions:

  http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2716.htm

  http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/Hepatic_Cyst.asp

QUESTION:
What do these symptoms mean? Right rib cage discomfort, gastritus and legs with pins and needles?
Had an utrasound done of the right rib cage and complete upper and lower pelvic ct scan. Only showed small vein mass in liver and minute kidney cyst which I was told wouldnt cause all the symptoms I have. Had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 10 years ago and am now in PT and have been in wellness for 7 years.

• ANSWER:
  I cannot for certain tell you why you have these
  problems, but I can give you some ideas.

  If the liver cells become damaged, the immune
  system of the body can respond to this damage
  and cause inflammation inside the liver which
  will cause the liver to enlarge in size. This
  could cause right rib cage discomfort.
  I would request to see a gastroenterologist
  about the liver and gastritis, if you haven't already.

  Legs having pins and needles in them, sound
  like the nerves coming from the back being
  pinched. It can also develop if the blood flow
  to the legs are not sufficient.

  Having fibromyalgia has many symptoms that
  are hard to explain...since they do not know what
  really causes it to develop.

  Kidney cysts can be fluid filled sacs, or complex
  (meaning they have something else besides fluid
  in them) or very rarely, they can be cancerous.
  They usually only watch them by ultrasound or
  Ct scan, to be sure they don't enlarge in size or
  cause damage to the kidney itself. They are
  quite common in older people. If they do
  enlarge, then they may try to take one side of
  the wall of the cyst off, and the fluid will be
  then absorbed by the body.

  I hope this is of some help to you.

QUESTION:
What causes a cyst to develop in your stomach? Can one get rid of it? If so, how?
My doctors found a cyst on the right side of my stomach. They run all sorts of tests - ultrasound, kidney, gallbladder, liver, etc. All came negative. However, they said that the cyst is nothing to worry about and that I will just have to live with it for the rest of my life. It doesn't hurt, but I sometimes feel someone had just kicked me on my stomach (tightness). So, should I just accept what the doctors said and just ignore it?

• ANSWER:
  Cysts can be removed surgically, but often doctors will wait to see if they grow larger. My niece has one in her abdomin that is huge and the doctor asked her why she waited so long to come in and be seen. Cysts should be removed when they get too large because they can burst. I think you may want to get a second opinion. Good luck to you.

QUESTION:
What are common causes for false-positive CA-125 Serum levels?
What are common causes for false-positive CA-125 Serum levels?
The CA-125 blood test, sometimes used as an ovarian cancer screening, has a high false-positive rate. Some possible conditions associated with an false-positive are fibroids, endometriosis, pancreatitis, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and benign ovarian cysts. I am looking for a COMPLETE list of ALL possible conditions associated with false-positive results. I've done a Yahoo and Google search but am not satisfied with the results. I seem to remember that rheumatoid arthritis is also associated also....for instance.

If you are able, please provide a complete list. Thank you
Denisedds....
Yes, I realize it is a long list... but that is exactly what I am looking for.

• ANSWER:
  The CA-125 is not intended to be a screening test and should never be sued as one. There may be a complete list of what may cause a false positive somewhere, but there is little need for such a list in a medical setting, as clinicians do not rely on lists. Any irritation in the abdomen can cause a positive result. It's especially inaccurate in premenopausal women (accuracy rate of about 50%); endometriosis, early-stage pregnancy or even normal hormonal fluctuations can lead to elevated CA-125 levels. Therefore a complete list can be very long.

QUESTION:
does this sound like liver cancer?
Hi,
I have been having a dull ache under my right rib cage for the past 10 months. 8 months ago when I had a CT scan, it was noted there were two tiny lucencies, too big to characterize, likely cysts. My doctor said these would not be causing the pain. I have liver function tests usually once a month, and they have come back normal each time. Recently, I have had pain in my left and right back shoulder blades, as well as my left rib cage and under my left rib cage. It is pretty much pain all over my chest. It is not excrutiating, just a dull ache, and it comes and goes. I just had an ultrasound that showed no masses, even the lucencies from the CT scan they could not find. My question is, does this sound like liver cancer to you? the tiny lucencies scared me, but my doctor said they were too small at that time to cause any pain. If this pain is so wide spread over my chest, wouldn't an ultrasound pick up anything causing this? And I also have normal liver function tests. My gallbladder also looked normal on the ultrasound. Other symptoms include sometimes pale stool, loose stool with undigsted food, and a lot of gas. I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy come back normal. Thanks in advance!

• ANSWER:
  Lucencies is an unusual term I assume it means cysts? Cysts are not cancer and cancer would have been seen and your liver panels would not be normal. However, not anything that may be wrong would be seen on ultrasound. Ultrasound views a small area a CT views a wider area and a better overall diagnostic tool and it appears nothing was seen there either. Keep going back to your doctor and tell them all of your symptoms keep a diary if you have to. Write down all medications you are taking or have taken in the past year and when you started and/or stopped. Any changes in your life, any illnesses you have had and any trips you have made. Take this and all of your medical records and get a second opinion. I’m not saying your doctor has done anything wrong and any good doctor will not mind and should welcome a fresh set of eyes on the case.

QUESTION:
What could cause a chest pain on the right side?
I woke up yesterday with a dull chest pain on the right side under my breast, it is about 1cm above the breast bone. I thought maybe i slept badly but the pain came back later several times, lasted for a few seconds each time. And again today it has been on and off. It doesn't really hurt, it is just a dull pain but it worries me. What could cause this type of pain? Could it be a cyst in my breast? Liver problem? Lung problem? I am 39, don't smoke, and not overweight. Thanks!

• ANSWER:
  I am a nursing student. I recently studied the causes of pain in the thoracic region (chest). If the pain is on the right side it is not your heart and could most likely be gallstones because that is where your gall bladder is located. You should probably get it checked out just to see.

QUESTION:
Has anyone had a cyst on their liver? Should I be worried?
I have recently been having horrible pain throughout my upper right side underneath my breast all the way around to my back. After several trips to the ER, they finally did x-rays, ultrasound, & CT scan. I was told that I had a 27x21mm (2.7cm) mass (cyst) in segment 7 of my liver. They told me that it was most likely benign but they didn't think it was causing my pain. They didn't find anything else. I am supposed to go see a family Dr. after the beginning of the year. Has anyone ever had a mass (cyst) on their liver?If so, what happened? Did you have to get it taken out? A man my husband works with had one and had to have major surgery to get it out. I am 26 and a mother of 2 small boys and am very scared. Please help! Thanks!!!

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Problems with the mirena.?
i had the mirena inserted in march 09, since then i have had pelvic pains frequently. i was told that this is normal since i just had it inserted 7 months ago. my periods are lighter and i enjoy that part of the mirena, but within the past two months, i have had severe stomach pains, first thing i did was have an ultrasound to see if the mirena moved or if it caused any cysts. there were no problems. then i went to my family dr who did tests and found out my gall bladder was the cause for some of the pains but he could not figure out what the other pains were from. well when i went to get my gall bladder taken out they said for some unknown reason my bilirubin level was high, so they did an internal xray and found nothing. they are still doing test after test on me and are finding nothing but my bilirubin is still high. then i was reading the warning signs for the mirena and see that severe pelvic pain and pain when making a bowel movement are signs something could be wrong with the mirena. now im wondering, could my raised bilirubin levels mean the mirena caused liver damage?. Any thoughts?

• ANSWER:
  No idea really. but if this all started when you got the iud, take it out
  I had awful cramps from the IUD for a month straight.. then a damaged stomach lining from taking too many IB profen.. so i was sick for another month.. all from the Iud
  I still have it in .. I stuck out the couple of months .. knowing that my body just needed to get used to the iud.
  I still have cramps sometimes that I can tell are from the IUD and not period cramps (they just feel different - worse) but its bareable
  If I was still in pain or having problems now.. about a year after .. Id have it taken out.. I still may.. just because Im so iffy about it

QUESTION:
Vicodin And The Liver?
Hello, I have a question about taking Vicodin. I have what my doc believes is a case of sciatica causing some pretty bad pain in my leg. He thinks some non-cancerous cysts in my upper left leg may be causing it but wants to "wait and see if it's acute and goes away" first. He gave me a prescription for Vicodin 5-500 of which I can take one or two pills twice a day. Right now I only take two pills a few hours before bed, as I don't like taking it during the day. I've been doing this for two months and may have another couple months before possible surgery options for my problem are looked at.

My concern is the effects of the APAP on the liver. I'm in good health aside from the sciatica thing. I occasionally drink on the weekends, but I know ahead of time and won't take the Vicodin the day before so that I have well over 24 hours between taking the pills and drinking. I never take more than the two pills a day regardless. Is that dosage relatively safe for my liver?

• ANSWER:
  i have been a pharmacy tech for 7 years and the doseage is just fine. basically, taking way too much vicodin over a long period of time can hurt your liver. and you are taking it, it sounds like, as the prescription says and you are NOT drinking with it. so as long as you don't abuse the medicine and don't take too much everyday for the rest of your life, i think you will be ok. good luck with your surgery and i hope for a speedy recovery.

QUESTION:
Alcohol, and your liver?
Hi..umm i recently started drinking this past summer. I've gotten really drunk only about 5 times. The thing is i have ovarian cysts. I got a cat scan and it said my liver looked like t had some fat around it, which you only have if your obese or an alcoholic. im not an alcholic nor am i obese. could drinking be the cause of this all? im fine now, and i feel great. Should i drink though?

• ANSWER:
  Fatty liver can also be caused by a virus, such as the hepatitis C virus. You might want to be checked for that. Many people have hep c and don't know it because they are asymptomatic for years. Fatty liver can also be caused by other things besides alcohol & Hep C. Check with your doctor. Best wishes.

QUESTION:
Can hair from cats cause bad things to humans?
Οne month now i live with two cats. And my parents are really scared of them because they've heard bad stuff about the fur of cats. They know a woman who had a cat and the doctor found her cyst at her liver and he said its because of the cat hair that went from her skin into her body. Can these stuff really happen? i sleep with the cats in my bed, and im scared now because of these things that ive heard.

• ANSWER:
  Cat hair can't cause problems. If people have allergies--which WOULDN'T cause cysts--it's due to the dander--not the hair--of the cats. I think the above mentioned doctor needs to get with the 21st century & go back to vet school.

QUESTION:
Can endometriosis be seen through a cat scan?
I am 17 years old and I've had a lot of pain as described in the Yahoo! health site on endometriosis. I've had a CT, however, that came up clean, but for a tiny cyst on my liver, which my doctor said was normal and shouldn't be causing pain. He also prescribed amitriptyline so that my brain doesn't tell my body that I'm hurting... which is a different story, since the doctor seems to like giving out medication for depression.
So, my essential question is... would my doctor be able to spot endometriosis from my CT?
Another detail: I've had two ultrasounds and nothing's turned up. Where specifically would endometriosis show?

• ANSWER:
  no. you will need a laposcopy, to see it. an ultrasound will only at best show a shadowing and a cat scan will do nothing. Your doctor sounds like a drug dealer, please see a gynecologist.

QUESTION:
Help! just had surgery for ovarian cysts a week ago and drs on vacation!!!!!?
I have been in and out of the doctors all months to figure out what's the severe sharp pain in my mid back and my right side would have spasms. First it was a kidney infection and a uti.. got my antibiotics and took that whole prescription like I was suppose to. Next day pains right back. So I go to the doctor again. And then he thought I was sinsitive in my women area and thought it was another infection. He gave me antibiotics again and ordered me to see a gyno asap. So next day I went. And he examined me and I was just really sinsitive. So he ordered a sonagram. So I went the next day and got it. And by this time the pain is unbearable and he looks and sees a lot of fluid around my right ovaries. Then he thinks I have appendicitis and he thinks mu appendix ruptured. So got rushed into surgery. Came back to it. And he told me. I had a ruptured cyst and I was bleeding internally, I'm severely constipated. My livers stuck ( not functioning like it should cause of infections) and I'm probably going to have problems with my liver and my appendix. But my concern is I'm si tired but can't really sleep. My heads killing me, and all that pain I had in my back before I went to surgery is back and worse. I'm getting so irritable and snappy at everyone and no one wants to be around. I don't like this and I just want to be better. But idk what to do cause my Dr. On vacation, and I'm so mad at his nurses for sending me back to work 4 days. Later, and I lift 120 + pound people all day. With 3 places. I have stitches including inside my belly button. Am I still suppose to be in this much pain, and tired, and enraged all the time? I need advice PLEASE HELP! !!!!!!!!

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Feeling very anxious, stressed, have ovarian cysts and acid reflux, husband alcoholic....?
Can I put anything else in the subject line.....

I feel like I have everything wrong with me at the moment and I am making myself ill I think!!

Basically my husband is an alcoholic, which he is getting help for, but over the last few months he has been a complete nightmare and has left me in a bit of a state really. He was verbally and mentally abusing me to the point where I was hiding in my own home as he wasn't letting me sleep, which is very silly!!! He has now seen the light and has apologised for things and is trying to get help, but because of his behaviour he has caused me to be very stressed and very very anxious all of the time, I can not seem to calm down. I am shaking typing this.

Also, I was diagnosed with acid reflux about 2 months ago, and am now on lansoprozol tablets twice a day. They were helping me, but now they don't seem to be, I don't know if its because I am stressed and anxious that my stomach does feel worse. My stomach feels very tender, If I press it, It makes me feel a bit nausious for a second then goes away. I have not actually been sick at all. I was also diagnosed with a fatty liver, which is just down to diet and exercise as they did a scan of my liver, gallbladder and pancreas and all came back clear apart from the liver part. But this area sometimes feels awkward to. When I first apoke to the doctor he said that these feelings are completely normal and in time they will go away (This was before I started being anxious etc though) I have not been back to the docs since. I do feel bloated most of the time. I have lost almost 2 1/2 stone over all of this, which is great as I needed to!!!

Another stress is I have ovarian cysts, I have suffered with these for the 14 years now, they dont cause any pain though, but I just want everything to go away now and for me to feel better.

I want to stop feeling anxious and I am constantly shaking on the inside not on the outside if that makes sence. I feel very on edge all the time and feel better when I walk around etc!!

I also now have a pain in my right calf that I am now starting to worry about. My lower left side also feels quite tender.

Can I add anything else to this????

Does anyone have any advice on this other than go to my GP? Does anyone else have the same kind of thing going on. I am just really worried and thinking that other things are wrong with me.

Thank you for reading this boring message

• ANSWER:
  First, I'm guessing that you're from the UK. If that's true, then I'll apologize in advance if any of my advice doesn't help since I'm from the USA and might not realize some areas where our countries are different. I'll do my best though, so please bear with me.

  Second, is there any way you can get out of the home for a while? Go visit relatives, take a vacation, etc? I won't bother telling you to leave your husband since I don't think you will anyway, but I do think you two need a break from each other and you need to go somewhere where you can rest, relax and get yourself together. It might also help your husband if he got away somewhere too....alone. I don't know how other countries do it, but here we have rehab clinics where patients can check in and get 24 hour help and constant monitoring. If he could go to one of those and you could go to a spa and get some therapy, it might go a long way towards helping you both through this. I know that some of this might be expensive...I couldn't afford to go to a spa, but if you've got the income for it, then take advantage of the help that can be given to you.

  As for the physical problems, honestly, go to a doctor and at least get a pregnancy test. Make sure you're not pregnant and if you're not, then ask for some birth control pills. I get ovarian cysts a lot and have all my life. For some reason, the pills help shrink cysts and keep them from being such a pain.

  A second thing you'll want to do is start getting out of the house and reconnecting with the outside world in a new way. Take walks, go to a wooded area or park and collect leaves or study botany or something that interests you. The point is, you need to do something that helps you get rid of stress and being in nature will go a long way towards helping you do that. With it getting warmer, this might be the perfect time to try that. If nature doesn't work for you, then get out and do something else that does interest you. Whatever works for you will be fine and begin to help.

  Third, can you get to a psychologist? There are medications that you can take to help you relax and calm down. I don't really like them myself, but if your stress levels are this high that it's causing you physical illness, you might really need at little something for a short time...just until things calm down a little. It also wouldn't hurt you and your husband to go to one for counseling. He's got an addiction and you're the one who has to suffer the consequences. It could help a lot if you could get him to go with you.

  As for the pain in your calf, just in case its something serious, have a doctor check it specifically. I know many doctors like to tell you that there's nothing wrong and send you out the door, but seriously, if you're worried, you need to insist that he check you out. You should also be on medication for the reflux. It can do a lot of damage over time and you need to take care of your stomach and esophagus now before the damage becomes too great.

  The pain in your side can be from the cysts and/or it can be from PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). I've had that too and it seems that women who get cysts are more prone to getting PID sometimes. A good antibiotic cures that up, though, so there's really no need to worry about that too much. Just get the meds you need.

  Another thing to do is change your diet. I don't know what a fatty liver does to the body, but if you put in more fruits and whole grains in your diet, you'll start feeling 100% better in about 2 weeks to a month. Grains and fruits (and veggies) help flush fat out of your system and boosts your energy levels. If you're also taking walks or doing other exercise, it'll produce endorphins in your body and you'll feel less depressed/anxious and/or worried.

  In essence, a lot of this is stuff that you have total control over. Other things, you don't have a lot of control over, but there are things you can do. Start thinking about what's good for you and go after it...make yourself happy and healthy and you'll start feeling a bit better every day. If your husband doesn't get the help he needs and doesn't stop making you feel like you're on edge every second of your life, then please think about leaving him for good. I know that will be hard, but he's not putting you first, so you've got to do it for yourself.

  One other thing...take a self defense course. Maybe you'll never need it to save your life...maybe you will. One thing it will do is get you into better shape and it will give you the confidence that if someone does attack you, that you will be able to defend yourself and survive such an encounter. Self confidence will go a long way towards getting rid of your fear and anxiety.

  Anyway, that's all I can think of for now. I hope something I said here helps you and I wish you the best.

  Take care.

QUESTION:
Feeling very anxious and have acid reflux, ovarian cysts, and stressed.....?
Can I put anything else in the subject line.....

I feel like I have everything wrong with me at the moment and I am making myself ill I think!!

Basically my husband is an alcoholic, which he is getting help for, but over the last few months he has been a complete nightmare and has left me in a bit of a state really. He was verbally and mentally abusing me to the point where I was hiding in my own home as he wasn't letting me sleep, which is very silly!!! He has now seen the light and has apologised for things and is trying to get help, but because of his behaviour he has caused me to be very stressed and very very anxious all of the time, I can not seem to calm down. I am shaking typing this.

Also, I was diagnosed with acid reflux about 2 months ago, and am now on lansoprozol tablets twice a day. They were helping me, but now they don't seem to be, I don't know if its because I am stressed and anxious that my stomach does feel worse. My stomach feels very tender, If I press it, It makes me feel a bit nausious for a second then goes away. I have not actually been sick at all. I was also diagnosed with a fatty liver, which is just down to diet and exercise as they did a scan of my liver, gallbladder and pancreas and all came back clear apart from the liver part. But this area sometimes feels awkward to. When I first apoke to the doctor he said that these feelings are completely normal and in time they will go away (This was before I started being anxious etc though) I have not been back to the docs since. I do feel bloated most of the time. I have lost almost 2 1/2 stone over all of this, which is great as I needed to!!!

Another stress is I have ovarian cysts, I have suffered with these for the 14 years now, they dont cause any pain though, but I just want everything to go away now and for me to feel better.

I want to stop feeling anxious and I am constantly shaking on the inside not on the outside if that makes sence. I feel very on edge all the time and feel better when I walk around etc!!

I also now have a pain in my right calf that I am now starting to worry about. My lower left side also feels quite tender.

Can I add anything else to this????

Does anyone have any advice on this other than go to my GP? Does anyone else have the same kind of thing going on. I am just really worried and thinking that other things are wrong with me.

Thank you for reading this boring message

• ANSWER:
  The reason you have these problems is down purely to stress get rid of that and your health problems will disappear. Drink more water and get your system moving again.

QUESTION:
why are my liver levels high?
I'm in my mid 30s and have been taking medication for thyroid issues & diabetes (because that runs in the family & have been monitoring levels as well) At the last round of blood tests taken, thyroid & A1C levels are good status. However, my liver is "slightly elevated". This is the 3rd time in a row they've come back high. Doctor sent me for an ultrasound at the 2nd one, and it didn't show any cysts or masses. Never been advised on what, if anything, can be done to reduce liver levels. She did switch from Metformin to Glipizide after the 2nd "high" reading. so I'm back to "slightly elevated". but I'm wondering if I have reasonable cause to be concerned, or I'm just being worrisome.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
There is a Cyst on my liver?
What can I do? We are in the process of researching it with the doctors. Had a CT scan yesterday. I may have had it since I was born 45 years ago. But they suspect it of causing severe abdominal pain that we though was in the stomach or digestive tract. It isn't, but it feels like it. I haven't had the pain for 18 years and then BLAM. Last year I had an attack and again yesterday. Got to find out what it was like to ride in an abulance though. I also feel like a used pin cushion.
Just found out the ct scan also indicated a tiny kidney stone. They are now thinking that was the cause of the pain instead of the liver thingy. I'm going to drink a large glass of water now.

• ANSWER:
  Since liver cysts are normally benign, treatment is generally not indicated. However, in some cases it is necessary to treat the underlying cause. Other diseases can sometimes look like liver cysts, so it is necessary to get a CT Scan & have a biopsy done if needed in order to rule out more problematic diseases.

  A biopsy can be performed and/or a sample of the cyst's fluid can be removed for analysis. Liver cysts can be surgically removed if they create problems or discomfort. Since your cyst has grown large enough to cause you pain, the doctor will most likely opt for one of the above solutions.

  The exact cause of simple liver cysts is unknown. Some experts say they may be present at birth, while others speculate that certain other conditions could be the cause:

  Caroli's disease – associated with recurrent bacterial inflammation of the bile duct, stone formation, and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts

  Congenital (at birth) hepatic fibrosis – a rare hereditary disorder characterized by scar tissue with irregularly shaped bile ducts, and associated with an impairment of renal functions

  Choledochal cysts – congenital (at birth) abnormalities of the bile ducts

  In very rare cases, liver cysts may indicate a serious, underlying condition such as polycystic liver disease (an inherited disorder associated with multiple cysts of varying size), echinococcosis (parasitic infection), or liver cancer.

  Glad this was caught. It's usually a very easy to treat condition. You will feel much better after the cyst is removed or drained. Hope this helps. Good luck!

QUESTION:
Bad stomach pains right below my ribs?
I had to go to the ER on monday because of this horrible pain it was constant and never stopped. They couldnt figure out what it was i got an ultrasound but found nothing. they did find a huge cyst on my liver. Ive had these pains before, its not gas or the food im eating. Could my liver be causing the pains? is it my liver hurting? it doesnt happen often but when it does it hurts!!!!!!!!

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
can any one give some advice?
well i ended up in hospital the other day and found i have gall stones i have to have surgery to have my gallbladder removed that's all fine a dandy i don't mind so much!
Any how when they where doing the ultrasound the tech asked have you ever lived on a farm?
too that my reply was No but i lived in farming district,
The Dr in the ER say's i have a cyst in my liver that needs further investigating.
I saw my local Doctor and gave him letter from the hospital and asked him why they asked if i grew up on a farm, He said because these types of cysts are usually caused by animals.
My question is what is the cyst called?
Is it dangerous?
will i need surgery on it?
I know you are not doctors, But maybe give me the name of cysts it's called so i can look it up.
Any info will be appreciated thanks.
Rach.

• ANSWER:
  me think's John is spot on.
  you should ask your doctor what it is and everything else.
  i would have before i left the hospital and doctor's.

QUESTION:
What could spots on the liver be?
My best friend is distraught because her sister had stage 4 melanoma last year. She was treated and things were going well. Well she found a cyst on her wrist and went to get checked again. Due to her history the doctor ordered a CT scan. In the scan they found spots on her liver and now are moving to an MRI. The MRI will be preformed tonight. My friend is worried it is liver cancer. That the melanoma spread. Could it be nothing? What other things will show up as spots on someones liver other than cancer? Just a little more information....The skin cancer was thought to be caused by excessive tanning. Her sister tanned all the time when she was younger and there is no family history of cancer.

• ANSWER:
  Stage 4 disease is metastatic cancer . . what that means is that the cancer advanced or progressed enough to begin 'shedding' hundreds and hundreds of microscopic cancer cells into the blood stream or lymphatic system . . cells that can than lodge anywhere in the body . in multiple places and begin a whole new colony of cancer cells. The most common places that the mets (metastatic cells) lodge are the liver, the lungs, the brain, or the bones but it can be anyplace including the wrist. It is metastatic cancer that is the most difficult to treat successfully because it can hide behind structures or lay dormant in the body for an undetermined amount of time. The worst thing about metastatic cancer is that those hundreds of met cells can all start to grow at the same time and within weeks or months the body is 'filled with cancer' . . that is what people mean when they say there is 'nothing more that can be done because the cancer has relapsed and all those hundreds of mets are now growing at the same rapid rate).

  There are benign conditions that can pop up on a CT . . but in general a radiologist or oncologist will look at it and recognize that it is not a cancerous lesion . .so they would not order an MRI. In your friends case the doctor is not sure what has happened but he probably suspects that it is the cancer that has relapsed . .he won't say that though until he can make a confirmation. Hopefully he is wrong and this will turn out to be nothing. My son too had spots in his liver, but those particular spots turned out to be nothing cancerous . . . unfortunately his cancer relapsed on the dome of the liver and spred via the diaphragm as well as into the pelvis. We were not able to stop the progression of disease and lost him last year.

  No one really knows what causes cancer . . even though it is suspected that sun tanning places one at risk . . some melanoma occurs in spots that never see the sun shine (vaginal) . . so melanoma can happen with or without sun exposure.

  Hope your friend hears good news and that the spots are nothing . . if it turns out to be disease she might want to consider a treatment called Radiofrequency Ablation which can target each tumor inside the liver and 'ablate' or disintegrate it. I know one young man who was able to use RFA for his liver tumors successfully. There is some strict criteria though as not every patient is eligible for this type of treatment.

  RFA
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiofrequency_ablation

QUESTION:
What could cause the pain that I have around my left ovary.?
I have an IUD so it highly doubt I could have an ectopic pregnancy. I just had an ultrasound for my liver and other areas so they may have seen something if there was a cyst. The pains been lasting about 3 days now and it hurts more when I stand. Is there anything else besides pregnancy and cyst that could be going on?

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Need some reassurance...?
I just went to the doc yesterday with horrible pain in my lower right abdomen all the way to my back. The doctor reffered me to the ER and after blood work and a CT, they came back with 3 things: a "funny" looking appendix with something white in the middle, but not going to do anything about it, a right ovary full of cysts and other material, and a liver with a cyst like thing inside of it. All of which they arent going to do anything about!
On one hand, I was relieved that maybe they didn't think it was serious enough to do anything about, on the other hand, what if it only gets worse!
We want to try and get pregnant this month, but not I'm afraid to even try in case my body gets worse and then causes complications during the pregnancy?!
I need a hug. (

• ANSWER:
  Talk to your OB/GYN doctor. He/she'd be the best one to tell you about any risks.

QUESTION:
what are the symptoms of cirrosis of the liver and what does it mean when your red blood cells are higher than
my symptoms are cramps in the abdomen, a slight fever, red blood cells are higher than my white blood cells , nausea and vomiting

• ANSWER:
  Swellin in the abdomen is a sign of a fatty liver.

QUESTION:
what are the symptoms of final stages of cirrosis with hepatis?

• ANSWER:
  Acsites, high ammonia levels causing encephalopathy, jaundice, itching, liver cancer, portal hypertension causing esophageal varicies and potentially upper GI bleeding, decreased coagulation causing bleeding problems ...

  Very nasty disease. Please see info below:

QUESTION:
symptoms of cirrosis?
what are somptoms of cirrosis

• ANSWER:
  In the early stages of cirrhosis, there are very few symptoms.

  But as healthy liver tissue is destroyed and scar tissue builds up, the liver loses its ability to function properly. At this stage, you may develop one or more of the following symptoms:

  •tiredness and weakness,
  •loss of appetite,
  •weight loss,
  •feeling sick,
  •very itchy skin,
  •tenderness or pain around the liver,
  •tiny red lines (blood capillaries) on the skin above waist level,
  •blotchy red palms, and
  •problems sleeping.
  In the later stages, symptoms can include:

  •jaundice (see box, right),
  •hair loss,
  •oedema (a build-up of fluid in the legs, ankles and feet),
  •ascites (a build-up of fluid in your abdomen that can make you look heavily pregnant),
  •dark urine,
  •black, tarry stools (see box, left) or very pale-coloured stools,
  •frequent nosebleeds and bleeding gums,
  •a tendency to bruise easily,
  •vomiting blood (see box, left),
  •muscle cramps,
  •right shoulder pain,
  •loss of sexual desire,
  •dizziness and fatigue,
  •breathlessness,
  •rapid heartbeat,
  •fever and shivering attacks (because you are more prone to infections),
  •memory loss and confusion,
  •changes in your personality (due to toxins in the bloodstream affecting your brain),
  •staggering when walking,
  •increased sensitivity to alcohol and drugs (because the liver cannot process them), and
  •more weight loss from the body and upper arms

  hope this helps:)

QUESTION:
What is it like to have cirrosis of the liver?
I have some symptoms that have me thinking I might have impaired liver function or maybe even cirrosis. If anyone has this can you tell me your story please.

• ANSWER:
  Do a search on the internet for cirrhosis. You will find out all about it. Might like to start at Wikipedia. You will learn about all the signs, symptoms, complications, causes, treatment, and prognosis for anyone having cirrhosis. Read all about it.

QUESTION:
Can a liver test be normal with cirrosis?
My grandmother was on methotrexate for RA for 20 years. She had some stomach swelling and occasional irritability. Then one day she broke her hip after falling out of her bed and had to have surgery. Before surgery, her liver tests supposedly came back normal so they proceeded with the surgery. After the surgery she was completely out of it. She could no longer read or even tell time. They took blood tests and her ammonia levels were out of whack, and they decided to test her liver via a biopsy. It showed cirrosis. She died last April from liver failure caused by methotrexate. My question is, how did her liver test show her liver was supposedly normal and then it turned out she was in liver failure. Would being put under for her surgery cause matters to be worse? Like I said, she had stomach swelling prior to the broken hip (which we didn't know...but stomach swelling is a symptom of liver failure) BUT she could still go places and knew us...after the surgery, she was never the same, and then died.
I didn't even suspect cirrosis when she had broken her hip. Our family really didn't even know much about the meds my grandma was taking. Of course now we research all meds that any of us take. But I told my mom that I think they lied to cover their butts. I think no liver test was done before the surgery. Cause she had the swelling of the stomach for about 6 months before she broke her hip and I told her to go to the doctor, but supposedly her geriatric doctor said her liver tests looked fine too.
Basically, I didnt know the symptoms of cirrosis and didn't even think her stomach swelling could be caused by cirrosis. To little to late now..but I wonder how she had all these blood tests and they were normal if she had advanced cirrosis

• ANSWER:
  Sometimes these tests can be normal or only slightly abnormal even with advanced cirrhosis. I was told that in the early stages of the disease, they are usually high, but for some reason, as the disease progresses, the test results can actually return to normal for some people. It doesn't happen with everyone, but it does happen to some.

  I was like your grandmother in that I had a lot of fluid, but mine was so bad that I could no longer breathe and had to go to the hospital to get it drained in the middle of the night. Me or the doctors had no idea of why I had all this abdominal fluid accumulating. I was told that there were only 2 things that could cause this which was liver disease and ovarian cancer, that it had to be one or the other.

  My liver function numbers were very slightly elevated, almost normal. They were so close that the doctors dismissed them as nothing and I was told they were 99% sure I had malignant ovarian cancer. For 6 weeks I thought I was dying of cancer when I went to an oncologist who specialized in gynecological cancer to find out how much longer I had to live. After 3 CT scans, he told me I had no cancer at all and my ovaries were perfectly normal. I had cirrhosis which was a shock to me because there was no reason for me having any liver disease.

  Turned out I had cirrhosis from an autoimmune disease in which my body attacks the bile ducts in my liver which destroyed it. Even though my liver function tests were almost normal, my liver was already 90% destroyed with only 10% liver function left and I had to get a liver transplant. Your grandmother would have needed one to save her life. High ammonia levels is a very common problem with cirrhosis. I battled it all the time since the liver is not functioning well and the ammonia can build up causing all kinds of problems. The sad thing is that once symptoms appear for cirrhosis, it is often too far advanced to do anything about it and the only cure is a transplant. I'm sorry that you have lost your grandmother.

QUESTION:
What could kidney pain be a symptom of ?
lupus ?

I feel tired alot, but then i dont get much calories

knee pain, but then again i walk to school every day and run

my hands and feet get cooled sometimes but that could be from times that i've overexposed them to the cold and got raynauds

my urine seems normal

though proccessing is normal

i do drink milk alot
and i switched from 7 up to water

, i know its not cirrosis

i'm male, 17

• ANSWER:
  Hi GrimmJow

  Drinking milk isnt helping the kidney (or any other body part) I can tell you that. I wont go into all the details, but if you do research on milk you'll see it's not all the hype they make it to be ( I drink a gallon of water a day). Pain is a signal the body indicates to you to assist with the internal issues (blood, organs, and/or respitatory).

  Look closely at the suggestions I make below (look at #4 especially), regardless of the health issue. If you do these steps below, you'll give the body time to heal the issue without having to digest meat. dairy, manmade chemicals, preservatives, etc.

  Here is a list of important health topics people dont realize or take for granted and thus causes issues.

  1. stress = most of it is self induced. Even thinking and actually talking about negative means you attact more negative energy. Visualize and "Feel" a healthy beautiful body (end result) and you'll have it before you know it.
  Once the body breaks down from stress then its much easier to get sick or unhealthy for that matter.

  Obviously exercise helps manages stress tremendously!

  Remember what you focus on (negative or positive) is what you will attract in your life. This universal law is called "The Law of Attraction".

  2. Lack of water. Drink a gallon of distilled water to hydrate the body and flush out the excess waste and toxins out of the blood.

  3. Nutrition = this helps heal the body and will gives it energy to work on the internal issues. Mainly raw organic fruit and vegetables. If you only ate organic raw F & V for 7-10 days and drank distilled water you would see a change in your energy and be on your way to better health. Letting the body rest from digesting meats, dairy, and processed foods would do wonders for you.

  4. clogged colon = Not eliminating the processed food and chemicals we eat every day will give anyone an illness and/or disease. If doctors we're actually taught this, our society would be much improved. DO a colon and liver cleanse to clear out excess waste and toxins in the blood. This will help heal any illness or disease.

  Best of health to you

QUESTION:
What is the name of this disease?
Around 15 years ago my husband's father passed away from a hereditary condition that is similar to cirrosis of the liver, but is more devastating. It attacks the liver and the heart. Once the person starts getting symptoms it is basically too late. However, if he has blood work done and catches it in the early stage it is treatable. For example my husband does not have the condition, but his brother does. All he had to do was stop drinking. And he is in perfect health. My husband and I can not remember the name of this disease.

• ANSWER:
  I think it is Heriditary Hemochromatosis that you are referring to. This is an absorption disorder causing iron overload in the heart/liver. A simple blood test can diagnose this.

  Treatment is simple, just taking out blood every few weeks to lower your blood iron.

QUESTION:
Cirrohsis,Liver disease from alcohol...?
What are the symptoms of an alcoholic who has Cirrosis? (sp?) Liver disease from alcoholism?

• ANSWER:
  symptoms:

  nausea, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, ascities( there is accumulation of water in your abdominal wall), varicosties(inflammation of small viens especially in your lower extremeties), and spider angioma

QUESTION:
Is it possible I have liver disease?
I am 50.
I was a heavy drinker heavy drinker until recently, and have managed to reduce my consumption and binge episodes to once a month or less.
I am now concerned that I am showing symptoms of liver disease, be it cirrosis, fatty liver, or gallstones.
The cheif symptoms are:
1. Constant abdominal distension and feeling bloated although I am a light eater.
2. Feelings of nausea, especially on rising.
3.Constant dull pain under right rib cage.
4.Pale, thin stools, and sometimes explosive dihrea.
5.Visible veins on my abdomen
6.Constant itching especially on my neck and feet.
Today I had a nausea attack and severe bloating in the afternoon (all I had to eat was yogurt in the morning)felt so bad I almost left work.
I have seen my doctor about this twice, and the liver blood blood urine tests always come back normal.
He says to lose weight and exercise more. I cant lose weight despite eating very little and I run three times a week.
I must confess that the weeks leading up to and over XMAS I did over consume alcohol and fatty foods, but not more than I usually do at Xmas.
Do you think I have a liver problem?
One friend said to stop alcohol for two months and it would completely heal itself.
I did that last summer-didnt seem to help.
If you think I need different tests please indicate so I can ask my doctor for them. I am so concerned about the bloating I want an xray!
Thanks happy new year!

• ANSWER:
  All liver patients are told No Alcohol. The symptoms of coming off of alcohol can be mistaken for a liver problem and, in some cases, can be life threatening...should be under a doctors care. He has medications that can lessen these symptoms.

  No one blood test is 100% accurate. Many things can effect the results of these tests and a comparison is done of more than one to be sure. However, in some patients, there is not an abnormal result even it they have liver disease.

  You should be with a gastroenterologist or hepatologist now.
  You definitely need further testing done to determine what exactly is happening with you.

  High Alcohol consumption over time can cause Fatty liver disease. Ultrasound or Ct scan may see this...a liver biopsy would definitely show it.
  Colonoscopy would check the colon...Pill swallow endoscopy would check the small intestines. ERCP(Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) would check the esophagus, stomach, first part of the intestines and the biliary area and Pancreatic ducts.

  Wish I could be of more help. I hope you find out what is the problem.

  Here are some links you can click on that will give you information on different tests and different things that may be the cause of your problem.
  http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/pamphlets.html
  http://www.gitract.info/

QUESTION:
home test for hemachromatosis?
im 16 and thought i had RA but i was looking at the symptoms and everything, i have a lot of irish in me and every symptom abdominal pain/problems, joint pain, fatigue, the skin rash, etc and idk who my father is so genetic testing on my parents is out of the question. im going broke seeing doctors for my ra, i took iron pills before i thought it would help my anemia i had, but after taking them(did everything didnt lay down for 1 hour) took it 1 hour before dinner, made sure my stomach was full) and still got sick. i read giving iron to a person with hemachromatosis is like giving someone with cirrosis alcohol, if i take an iron supplement and get sick it would worrent a visit to my doctor?

• ANSWER:
  Many people do not tolerate iron pills very well, but yes, I think it would warrant investigation by your doctor if you are having a lot of symptoms and if taking iron makes you sick.

QUESTION:
How to Abate Fatty Liver Disease Pain?
My sister has been diagnosed with Fatty Liver Disease. She cannot eat or she has crippling abdomen pain. She has been living on soda crackers for a week. Are there any home remedies we can do so she can eat again? She has an important dinner coming up.

• ANSWER:
  milk thistle

QUESTION:
Are cats with liver disease in pain?
My kitty Julius is 13 years old. I thought that he was acting a little weird, but I didn't give much thought about it. About 2 years ago my other kitty, Blossom, had liver disease. She was 5 years old. It took at LOT of work, and money to get her better. And it was a miracle that she did survive, even with all the work! I can't believe I didn't recognize the symptoms beforehand, but today when I look at my 13 year old's (Julius) gums, they were very yellow. Looking back on the past few days, it was kind of obvious that something was wrong with his liver, and I feel like an idiot for not realizing it before. He's very lethargic, has jaundice, and doesn't seem to eat. My mom says that he's so old now that she won't pay for the treatment again. Even if she did, I kind of don't think he would survive. His immune system doesn't seem to be what it used to be. So, I have a question: Is he in pain? Should we have him put down? I want him to be happy. But I also want to be with him for as long as possible! I'm trying really hard not to be selfish. Please answer! Also, no being mean please. My feelings are a bit on edge.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Back pain and liver disease?
I have a back pain on top right side of my back, is tht connected to liver disease or is it sign of something else. i got ultrasound of my stomach done and waiting for the results and i am freaking out tht i might have a cancer or bad liver disease.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
My dad has back pain and liver disease, but does a lot of chores. Should i help him or is it good exericse?
My dad has severe back pain due to a serious work injury that disabled him from work ten years a go. He also has severe liver disease from Hep B. He does all the chores around the house, from washing dishes to taking out the trash, to driving my sister and me to school, to cooking to mopping the floors and doing laundry. I'm 18 years old and he doesn't let my sister, me, or my mom help him out. My mom works in beauty salon so he is afraid that letting her do these chores would rain her hands our famiily depends on for money, and he wants my sister and me to have more time to do homework

i really want to do the chores now for him because i feel like it's too bad for him. If he's disabled from work, then he should he should not do this stuff either, right? But then if my sister and I do these chores for him, he would have no exercise at all. He does not move. he's 60 years old and i think he's pretty much indifferent to his health and his physical build. He is overweight, but has been finally listening to his doctor's orders to eating lighter and eating less. Should I do these chores for him, or are these chores "good" exercise? How can i make my dad exercise? Would doing these chores for him hurt his self esteem because he might feel like since he couldn't support his family financially, he's not useful, because now we don't really need his help in the house, either. When we eat in the restaurant, my dad always want to find a table in the corner because he's scared someone he knows will see him and he would have to tell them that he's unemployed and disabled. Although he's the best dad in the world, he does have one of the biggest egos in the world as well.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Would overdosing on OTC pain killers, but not have to go to the ER from it cause liver damage / liver disease?
I use to take alot of aspirin (more than the recommended amount) for a chronic pain which turned out to be gallbladder infection. Could this cause liver disease / damage? How would I be able to find out if I have liver damage / disease?

• ANSWER:
  Aspirin is safe. Even in moderate overdosages.

  Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not safe, and it very easy to overdose and destroy your liver.

  A physician can talk with you about your concerns.

  A common sign of liver disease is jaundice, the whites of your eyes turn yellow.

QUESTION:
What pain pills are least harmful to people with liver disease?

• ANSWER:
  Liver disease impacts the whole body so it needs to be judged on a case by case basis, but acetaminophen is the most commonly used pain relief. Here's an article about it; http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/21551.php

QUESTION:
What's the longest time you've had liver pain after binge drinking?
and weren't diagnosed with a liver disease?

• ANSWER:
  You probably have an inflammation and should see a doctor. Although most will tell you that since the liver is an organ, you can't feel pain from it. But if it's enlarged you might feel something - the Dr. will be able to determine this by examination.

QUESTION:
Liver disease? Can it be caused by pain medication?
How do you know if something is wrong with your liver, I have been on pain medication for about 6 years now, and i want to make sure its not affecting my liver..??

• ANSWER:
  when having a blood draw request that they do a liver function test. This blood test will show if there is any problem with your liver.

QUESTION:
WHAT OTC PAIN MEDICATIONS CAN YOU HAVE IF YOU HAVE LIVER DISEASE?

• ANSWER:
  Over the counter?
  My daughters boyfriend just died of liver disease. He tried your approach also, but it was the booze that killed him.
  Get to a walk-in clinic or emergency room. See a doctor fast.
  Don't risk almost certain death unless you have a death wish.
  People find help everyday. OTC is usually not one of them unless they have a cold.
  Good Luck.

QUESTION:
Which pain reliever is safe to use for minor aches with a chronic liver disease patient?

• ANSWER:
  if possible use liniment such as omega pain reliever, salonpas and other externally applied so as not to cause irritation on your chronic liver desease.

QUESTION:
My cat is 11 was diagnosed with liver disease now do I know when she is in pain and needs to be put down?
My cat of 11 years and my baby has been diagnosed with liver disease due to a blood panel done by the vet that determined she has very high liver emzymes. Her symptoms are: Vomiting often at least every other day, loss of weight fast, complete loss of muscle mass, low appetite, lethargy and bad breath. She doesn't appear to have Jaundice yet or be in pain. How do I know when it is time to put her down? How do I know she is suffering or in pain? Based on her symptoms how much time do I have with my cat?
She still walks around some and purs when I hold her.

• ANSWER:
  Sorry to hear this.
  Sometimes an animal can be in so much pain they don't have the strength to show it.
  Talk to your vet regarding on what to look for that is a sign she may have to be put down and choices that you have to make.
  I am an avid animal lover and I have been in your shoes so I know EXACTLY what you are going through.

QUESTION:
Anyone else have enexplained liver pain?
I have chronic liver pain that i have had for 2+years. I have had tons of ultrasounds that show nothing to be concerned with, and have slightly elevated liver enzymes. they have done MRI and cat scans, and still no answers to why i would be having PAIN. the only diagnoses they can give me is that i have "fatty liver disease" which is normally something someone would get if they were morbidly obese, or an alcoholic. Neither of which i am, not even close. I had my gallbladder removed 3 years ago, but i still feel like i am having gallbladder attacks, thats what the pain feels like: sharp, crampy, like someone is squeezing my organs and stabbing them. Its horrible and the pain can last anywhere from 20 min.-2 hours. Anyone know of anything that could cause this?

• ANSWER:
  The liver itself doesn't have nerves so most doctors don't believe patients that complain of "liver pain." However, my wife got Hep C from a blood transfusion at birth. Before she was diagnosed, she would complain of "liver pain", not a severe as your description, but similar.
  You can only get Hep C from blood to blood contact. Maybe bring it up to a doctor next time. I don't know if this is an answer to your question, but it's good information at least.

QUESTION:
Anyone had any succes with Milk Thistle in helping with Fatty Liver disease?
I have Fatty Liver disease and have almost constant pain. Looking for someunorthodox/natural treatments.

• ANSWER:
  Liver DTX Complex contains milk thistle which is shown to support the regeneration of liver cells. Also contains dandelion and turmeric which help flush out toxins and thwart free radicals.

  Lecithin is a fat emulsifier and prevents fat build-up in the liver.

  Hope this is useful and feel free to contact me.

QUESTION:
I have been diagnosed with Stage 4 liver disease and I take oxycodone as pain management. Will Oxy do damage?
My doctor tells me that I have cirrhosis, but refrains to tell me how long I have to live or really how bad it is. My spleen is huge by his estimation, though recent radiological reports said the size of my liver was "unremarkable" and my spleen was only "mildly enlarged".

I also have HIV/AIDS, which is controlled with medications and I have undetectable viral load with a recovering T-Cell count of 65 (and rising).

I have been taking 5mg oxycodone 2 pills 4 times daily for pain management, and 30mg Morphine Sulphate for "break through" pain.

Will any of these pain medications damage a Stage 4 cirrhotic liver where the level of cirrhotic activity is not known?

I have never been addicted to any medication and I have never taken a drink, never smoked and have never taken illicit drugs ever in 41 years of life.

• ANSWER:
  You need better communication with your doctor. These are questions you should be discussing with him. I would think that at stage 4, your liver has already been irreperably damaged. Pain management is the main focus at this point.

  I am very sorry and certainly wish you strength at this difficult time. It is time to get the doctor more involved with your concerns.

QUESTION:
Wife suffers from liver disease, It's killing me to see her crying in pain.?
Her hands, feet & legs in constant pain & I am powerless to help. Any advice PLEASE?
She has has been hospitalised twice & regularly visits the doc. He will only prescribe Codeine Phosphate.

• ANSWER:
  Pray to Jesus everyday. Ask him to heal your wife. He will listen and come to your rescue, but you have to believe that he is able to heal her!

QUESTION:
is low back pain a sign of a liver disease or cancer?

I have it for 2 years now.continous pain its like something I like to snap.

• ANSWER:
  Low back pain could be cancer that has spread, but if it is cancer most likely you have some other symptoms. The cancers most likely to spread to the spine are prostate cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer. If the back pain isn't helped by over the counter meds, and stays for more than a few days get it checked out. My husband had persistent low back pain and it turned out to be prostate cancer that had spread to his spine. Yours may be nothing serious, but don't ignore it.

QUESTION:
If you take hydroxycut do you have a chance of catching liver disease?
I recently started taking Hydroxycut about a week and a half ago and I started noticing pain in my upper back near my neck so I looked up some information on hydroxycut and it says some possible things to catch are liver disease. I look up liver disease and it says a side effect is Myopathy could that be the weakness in my upper back? May I possibly have liver disease?

• ANSWER:
  The only one who can best diagnose your symptoms is your doctor; however, I would recommend discontinuing use of the product to see if your symptoms go away. Unless you already had an issue with your liver, I highly doubt that you have an acute onset of liver disease. As I said before though, only your doctor can give you an accurate diagnosis. He or she may even do a blood test to check your liver function. Here are some symptoms of myopathy: General symptoms of chronic inflammatory myopathy include slow but progressive muscle weakness that starts in the proximal muscles—those muscles closest to the trunk of the body. Inflammation damages the muscle fibers, causing weakness, and may affect the arteries and blood vessels that run through the muscle. Other symptoms include fatigue after walking or standing, tripping or falling, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. Some individuals may have slight muscle pain or muscles that are tender to touch.
  Also try checking out this website as well. http://www.nutritional-supplement-bible.com/side-effects-of-hydroxycut.html

  Just to give you an idea of other things to look for. Hope this helps

QUESTION:
How much alcohol abuse does it take for the onset of liver disease or symptoms of?
My little brother who is roughly 22 is in college now and called me to get my advice cause he'd been experiencing light abdominal pain. Now I know he drinks a lot cause he's honest with me and that's a good thing. From what he tells me he drinks enough to get him drunk 4-5 nights out of the week. He's not a big guy (5'-7" and about 180) but enough to get him drunk would be about six or seven beers and maybe a shot or two. The thing is he's been doing this for about 3 months now (beginning of school year to now.) He says he hasn't noticed any yellowing of the skin,eyes or any other pain, just a slight discomfort in his abdomen and lower chest. I guess what I'm asking is is liver disease something that develops over a longer period of time or could it develop in a couple months? I've already told him that the main thing is to prevent the development of poor habits which will cause him to behave this way beyond his college years, but I just wanna gauge his risk factor at present.
Also he's in a frat and I've seen this group - it's about 30 guys who all do the same thing... So it's hard for me to say stop when his friends are also drinking that much.... What's funny is that he almost NEVER drinks when he's home, it's not an addiction just a HORRIBLE social habit - that's what bothers me

• ANSWER:
  My mother drank about a liter of vodka a day for about 15 years, she was pretty ill for the last 10 of them so I would have to say the serious damage took about 5 years, but obviously there must have been some damage before that. She died with no friends, alone and too ill to take care of herself, green from jaundice and using adult diapers at only 45 years old. The details get worse but I am still having trouble dealing with it, she passed in June and I had to sign the DNR. My younger sister is about where your brother is, and as much as it hurts me one thing I learned from my mom and her drunk friends is that they are pretty determined to do what they want, and unless he wants to change his life no rehab or anything else will help. We tried it all with my mom. Just go ahead and say good bye to him now while he still has "good days" because you don't want to see how awful he will be in a few more years. It is painful to watch a loved one kill themselves, and that is exactly what he is doing. On my mother's death certificate the cause of death is Septic Shock, all of her organs finally gave up and her body poisened her to death, and the DR said it was 100% from alcohol abuse. Hopefully you can get your parents to slam him into a rehab for AT LEAST a year... any less does no good.

QUESTION:
I have a sharp pain under my right rib cage. It hurts when I walk & move around in bed. Breathing not affected?
I do have nash disease, non alcoholic fatty liver disease. Pain started yesterday, and it is still here today. Not sure if this is related to the pain. It is not in my back and have not done any lifting or exercising. What could some of the things that might be causing this pain? Thank you and have a good day. Jan

• ANSWER:
  thats either your liver or gall bladder,and gall stones,see a doctor

QUESTION:
I have a liver disease and I am on the transplant list . I am having intense pain on the right side lower ribs?

• ANSWER:
  You need to tell your doctor. No one on here is going to be able to diagnose you or help. Good luck on getting a transplant. I already had mine. Thank God that is over.

QUESTION:
any chronic painers; liver disease people out there.?
sister has liver disease dont know what one yet, prob chirosis (spelled wrong). anyhow she has fibermyalgia and takes percocet,oxycontin for the pain. doctor wants her off the meds now ; she drank for years but quit a year ago so . anyone has liver disease and pain, what kind of meds do you take for pain? all testing being done right now, im just trying to ease her fear cause she has alot of pain. only if you are in this situation or know someone please answer. thanks

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Vicodin abuse question regarding liver disease?
I have been taking vicodin since 2005 everyday. I take only half a vicodin a day for pain. Is this a sufficient amount and time for contracting liver disease?

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Liver pain, bile taste in mouth?
I just need some direction. I have had gall bladder removed for these symptoms 2 years ago and it did not help. Now? Its worse. Liver pain (or pain in liver area), nausea when I have bile taste in mouth (comes and goes) dizziness (seen an ear specialist for but came to no conclusion except excess ear fluid). I also am only 36 but my cycle is getting further apart and less in duration. I googled my symptoms "Liver pain and bile taste in mouth" and found tons of Chinese (I think) herbal sites talking about "Qi" which I do not understand. Does anyone have any recommendations? When I had my gallbladder removed, I was diagnosed with fatty liver disease and my liver enzymes were elevated prior to surgery but that's about it. I do not drink but do struggle with weight on and off. Any thoughts or helpful advice would be appreciated. I did begin taking Milk Thistle as I read it helps clean the liver out and I also have an appointment with my physician early next week.
Just looking to see if anyone has had similar symptoms and ahd have received diagnosis or if anyone knows of a way to get rid of bile taste and liver pain (pain meds do not work).

• ANSWER:
  Ask your doctor for an upper GI
  Sounds like they might have missed
  a stone in the liver ducts.

QUESTION:
Temporary Home Remedy for Toothache - But I have Liver Disease?
Is there any temporary home remedy for toothache that I can try to numb the pain (aside from using alot of Orajel)? The problem is that I have liver disease and taking any prescription painkillers (like Tylonel or Ibuprofen, etc) hurt my liver further. So I can't take them. I would be grateful to any helpful suggestions.

• ANSWER:
  Try using some hydrogen peroxide on a cue tip. Hold the cue tip on the cavity. This should work with most minor tooth aches.

QUESTION:
Ultrasound and blood test no unusual results for liver damage/disease?
I have had a blood test and ultrasound and both show no signs of liver damage/disease, i got these tests because i had dark urine, light stool and a pain on my right side (which is still kind of there) the doctor claimed the pain must be muscular. Now if i still have dark urine and a bit of a pain on my right side should i still be concerned of it being a liver problem???
The ultrasound also checked Kidneys/Spleen.

• ANSWER:
  No. Both you and doctor should be concerned enough to have your gall bladder and kidneys checked out as well.

QUESTION:
did my mum die in pain from liver failure?
i found my mum dead last week in bed . she has been an alcoholic for many years, and i just want to know the honest answer if she died in pain. the coroner put liver failure, alcoholic disease and cardiac arrest but im only 23 and i dont really understand what happened to her in the end.can someone help put my mind at rest.

• ANSWER:
  Your mother probably died while sleeping more of a massive heart attack complicated by her liver. Alcoholics can have multiple organ failure and pass away. Her liver would not have suddenly hurt, if she was not hurting before she passed away no. I am truly sorry for your loss but do take comfort in that she probably did not suffer. Someone I was with who was an alcoholic had a heart attack and died suddenly, they didn't have any pain, their heart just stopped. It was very shocking but not painful for them. Your mom was probably the same way. I will pray for your comfort.

QUESTION:
What disease or illness can cause you to have severe liver pains, swelling, and fatigue?
It's been almost a couple of years now that I've had severe abdominal pains to where now I have located it to be in my liver area and there is much heat and swelling coming from this area. I have seen a doctor and have had blood test done and found out my liver is having a hard time, but that was several months ago and now the pain is back twice as bad as before. Now I cannot lay on my right side without feeling burning and stabbing pains, the right side of my abdomen is swolen and warm to the touch, and I am always feeling tired, having no appetite at all.
I've been put on pain medication a long time ago..about three years since an injury from work. I've started off with Motrin in high dosages and have since moved up to medicines such as percocet and morphine pills.
I feel as though the doctors at the hospital are not helping me, but instead are doing me more harm. I have done my own research and have found out that many of the drugs I take can cause major damage to my organs.

• ANSWER:
  Those pain meds you are taking are very hard on the liver. You need to try and get off them. Go to another doctor and get a second opinion.

QUESTION:
A disabled needs opiate pain management with methadone and or morphine for liver pain in China to live their.?
This person started pain management in the U.S. in March 09 after the pains got so bad becoming bed bound due to liver disease crying in bed. This person is still in pain but is able to walk who is looking for a opiate pain management doctor and hoping for dental in plants to replace the removable dentures and acupuncture therapist to lessen pain. In Hangzhou or Dalian or Shanghai or Beijing or Hong Kong where ever pain management doctors can treat major pain for cancer patients and others with major pain problems. Would like to know the best pain management for opiates and fine hospitals

• ANSWER:
  Check with the medial society. There is also a board of medical directors who could give you names of doctors in that particular area.

QUESTION:
Liver pain? or what is it?
HELLO. I HAVE BEEN FEELING THIS SHARP PAIN ON MY UPPER RIGHT SIDE. USUALLY GOES TO MY RIGHT BACK SIDE. IT FEELS WEIRD LIKE IF I HAD GALLBLADDER STONES. I DON'T HAVE A GALLBLADDER ANYMORE. IDK WHAT THIS PAIN COULD BE. LAST YEAR IN OCT, MY DOC SAID I HAD A FATTY LIVER. I WONDER IF I HAVE SOME TYPE OF LIVER DISEASE BECAUSE I WENT BACK TO MY DOCS AND I HAD BLOOD TEST. MY TEST CAME OUT LIVER FUNCTION ABNORMAL. IM SO SCARED!!! WHAT CAN IT BE?
BY THE WAY...I DONT DRINK OR TAKE TYLENOL.

• ANSWER:
  A fatty liver can be causes by a number of different things: alcohol consumption,
  certain medications...like steriods, diabetes, insulin resistance, pregnancy, weight gain, high cholesterol/triglyceride levels, hereditary conditions, mal nourishment, and others.

  If the fat is inside the liver, it causes pressure inside...since the liver is surrounded by a membrane capsule. The fat can build up that it pushes the nucleus of the liver cells out of place. If a person stops the alcohol, or loses weight, or controls their diabetes, or stops medication that causes it...then the liver cells may heal and the fat disappear.

  However, if this doesn't take place...the liver cells can start to be very damaged. When the cells of the liver become damaged, the immune system of the body responds to this and causes inflammation to develop inside the liver, also. This can cause the liver to enlarge in size. It can be seen on either an ultrasound or Ct scan.
  This is then not to be just Simple Fatty liver disease...it has progressed to steatohepatitis. Steato means fat, hepat means liver, and itis means inflammation. It is then more serious.

  Inflammation, if it isn't treated and the cause stopped...can lead to death of the liver cells and scar tissue forming inside the liver that blocks the flow of blood through the liver, on its way back to the heart, and also blocks the flow of blood to the other liver cells and they will die also.
  It is very important that this patient be with either a gastroenterologist or hepatologist now. That he follows any instructions the doctor may give them about how to reverse it before the cells die off.Once the cells die and scar tissue form...it is a progressive disease,known as Cirrhosis of the liver.

  There are different blood tests that the doctor does:
  1) the liver enzymes show if there may be damage to the liver cells.
  2) the liver functions tests show if the cells are able to perform the 500 plus functions the liver does to keep the body well
  3) the liver viral testing show if a virus has entered the body and is using the liver cells to replicate itself
  4) the auto immune tests to see if the patients immune system are destroying its own bodies cells
  5) cancer testings like alpha fetoprotein tests.

  I would get in touch with your doctor and be sure he knows all the symptoms you are having. I would tell him every drug you have taken...this includes over the counter meds, vitamins, minerals, herbs, herbal teas, supplements, and prescriptions prescribed by other doctors. The medications goes through the liver first, to be broken down, before going to the rest of the body. Medications has to be adjusted accordingly, if the liver function is slowing down.

  It is wonderful that you don't drink and take tylenol. These are the two main things that worry doctors who have a liver problem...cause they can cause even more damage if they are not stopped.

  I hope you have simple fatty liver and that it can be reversed. Best of wishes to you. It is very hard to wait for testing to be done and to hear the results...

  Here are a few links you can click on about
  fatty liver disease:
  http://www.medicinenet.com/fatty_liver/article.htm
  http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060601/1961.html
  http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/fatty-liver.html
  http://www.gastro.com/Gastro/liverdisease/fatty_liver.aspx

QUESTION:
I am on pain medication that contains acetaminphen how much does it take to hurt your liver?
How much Acetaminophen needs to be in your body before it starts to damage your liver, Sure it takes time , but how long before damage develops. And how do you know that you have acute liver disease, from this drug - what are the signs??

• ANSWER:
  I have chronic liver damage and regular jaundice through taking acetaminphen and other pain meds (not sure which caused the damage!). I only took them at the specified dose and hardly ever drank alcohol....but I still got the damage. The first I knew of having the damage was that I went very yellow! It was only after tests that the cause was discovered.

QUESTION:
Do you ever get pain in your liver after a few drinks?
I am 27 years old male, I do drink but not excessively. Probably just slightly over the recommended 21 units a week although I did have a few mad binges when I was younger.

Occasionally, I experience liver pains the next day after having a few drinks which is quite worrying. Anyone else get this? Is it a symptom of liver disease starting?

And yes, I am thinking about going to see a doctor but just wanted to get some opinions from other people in case anyone else gets this.
PS the liver pains are only usually just there when I drink a stronger drink then lager, like wine or spirits. Is it possible that it is just my liver working hard to break down the alcohol and that is it?
Stopping drinking is simply not an option but I will obviously endeavour to have a break and cut down ALOT. Thanks for the advice.

• ANSWER:
  Yeah, you might seriously want to consider cutting back on your alcohol consumption...and if you can, perhaps give yourself a break from alcohol altogether for a period of time.
  Being an Aussie, believe me, I know the wrath of binge drinking (began when I was 13...Drinking is basically a sport where Im from!!!!). Fortunately I never experienced the liver pains but I have many friends who did.
  You're 27 y/o...you dont want to be f'n up your body at that age. You're young. Too young. Your liver is a vital organ. While it is able to regenerate itself, it can still suffer ir-repairable damage.
  Consider the pains a warning sign that something aint right! Listen to your body, and address these concerns as soon as possible...that doesnt mean you necesarily have to give up drinking altogether (that alone can be a frightening thought to many), but give your body a break...
  Cheers!

QUESTION:
Does it sound like I have liver disease/dysfunction?
I am a 16 year old girl. I am taking the antibiotic rifampin. I am on my second course of it, currently have been on it for about two weeks. In the past few days I have been experiencing pain on the right upper side of my body, it feels like it's inside my rib, where the liver is. I have also been peeing *a lot* and I've been really, really tired and weak. Rifampin can cause liver disease/dysfunction and I'm really worried I have it.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
What are the symptoms of liver disease?
I have slight pains when I drink right under the right side of my rib cage, but when I'm alcohol free I'm perfectly fine... Could I have liver problems?
And the pain isn't really that bad, probably a 2 out of 10 to rate it, like it doesn't hurt to the point I can't stand it, it is just annoying. But like I said I haven't drank in weeks and I've been fine since. I was just wondering if there might be something wrong.

• ANSWER:
  You & alcohol may not mix well together then again it may just be indigestion. I doubt it's liver disease, it would hurt a heck of lot worse. I do know someone who died of liver disease & I do know that alcoholics die of it & that jaundice (yellowing of the eyes & skin) is a sign you have it. Hope you don't. Check out this site: www.ask.com/Signs+Of+Liver+Problems. Good Luck to You!

QUESTION:
my dad had really bad back pain / is his liver okay ?
My dad always had a bad liver since he was young
He goes to the bathroom a lot / USED to drink a lot of alcohol

I read somewhere that back pain is a sign of liver disease
Yesterday my dad came home from work and he had severe back pain (whole back was uncomfortable) I asked him if his stomach hurt and he said it was fine..

note * his job involves a lot of moving *

The same thing happened 2 months ago and after a few days he was fine. The incident 2 months ago was worse..he couldn't move his back at all b/c of the pain. Does this pain have anything to do with his liver? Im starting to get really worried about him..

The pain is kind of on/off - if it was a severe problem with his liver .. would the pain be constant?? Please give me any feed back, Thankyou!

• ANSWER:
  It sounds to me like garden variety back pain. Lower back is most common. After some rest the symptoms subside. If it were liver problems, he would be discolored and getting worse. Relax!

QUESTION:
What do doctor's test for with prenatal tests?? Can they detect liver damage/disease with the prenatal tests?
Hi,
I had some prenatal tests done a while ago, since I'm currently pregnant. I was wondering what kind of things are doctor's testing for with those tests?? Since, I had blood drawn (3 tubes) when they analyze the blood would they be able to detect liver damage or liver disease or would they have to be looking for that specifically? Like would I need to have asked them that I am concerned that I could possibly have liver damage or liver disease to get them to look for that, or would it be so obvious when analyzing my blood, that they would have detected it during the prenatal tests? Hope this question isn't too confusing, just that like I said, I do have a concern as to the condition of my liver becuz I used to take alot of pain killers due to gallbladder attacks that I used to get years ago (before finally having it removed a couple years ago). I mostly used to take Tylenol Extra strength for the pain, but if we didn't have Tylenol, I'd take any pill that was labeled pain killer

• ANSWER:
  If you liver was too bad they would have been able to tell from the blood test.

  General prenatal test include the following:
  Alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP)?
  This is a blood test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein in the mothers' blood during pregnancy. AFP is a protein normally produced by the fetal liver and is present in the fluid surrounding the fetus (amniotic fluid), and crosses the placenta into the mother's blood. The AFP blood test is also called MSAFP (maternal serum AFP).

  AFP screening may be included as one part of a 2, 3, or 4-part screening, often called a multiple marker screen used. The other parts are:

  hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (a hormone produced by the placenta)
  estriol - a hormone produced by the placenta
  inhibin - a hormone produced by the placenta

  Blood is usually drawn from a vein between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy (16th to 18th is ideal).
  The blood sample is then sent off for laboratory analysis.
  Results are usually available within one to two weeks or less, depending on the laboratory.

QUESTION:
Are these symptom for liver disease?
I think my grandfather has liver disease. He has the symptom such as

- Pain or discomfort in the abdomen and lower torso
- Feelings of nausea and a lack of appetite
- Weakness
- Yellow and jaundiced skin

I'm unable to confirm that. He is so stubborn and refused to go for a check up. Can anyone specialize in this give me an answer? Thanks

• ANSWER:
  Hi Ronald,

  I can see that you've been supplied with the best information by so many people. Yes definitely these are the symptoms of liver disease but again we are all not expert in this issues. The best thing to do is to take your grand to the hospital for a full medical examination to confirm everything.

  You can also search for more information on the net but again I want to remind you that whatever you found on the internet is for guidance only.

QUESTION:
What are symptoms of liver failure/disease/problems?
I ask because I've been taking Tylenol almost daily for pain in my foot and then again nightly (sleep aid form) almost consistently for the last four years and I was just recently told that it could be damaging to the health of my liver.
I'm 17, by the way.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
fatty liver disease in guinea pigs?
I have a 3 year old female guinea pig who stopped eating and drinking 4 weeks ago. She has been to a Vet who specializes in guinea pigs. I have been syringe feeding for 4 weeks and medicating with antibiotics, pain meds, gas reducing meds, and bowel and appatite stimulants. She is not getting any better and the Vet says it's because of the fatty liver disease and once under control she will get better. Will she get better? This has become very, very expensive. I don't want to give up on her but I need to know if this will ever end. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

• ANSWER:
  Part of the problem is that guinea pig pellets have an extremely high fat content that can contribute to the development of fatty liver disease in guinea pigs. In addition to the pellets, you should try feeding your lil cavy an assortment of veggies and a few fruits (apples are particular favorites I've noticed). Also, include some timothy hay, (available at most pet stores) for them to eat. This lower nutrient diet will help prevent further problems with your pig's weight. I know right now she isn't eating on her own, but try offering her some of these veggies and fruit. Don't overdo the fruit, it can cause diarrhea in too heavy a quantity, but it may entice her to eat.

  That's an awful lot of meds for such a little girl, she may also be overmedicated. My best advice to you is to try for a little while longer, but love her while she's here. The average age I've seen guinea pigs live to is usually 4 or 5 years (though i've seen one that lived to be 8). With fatty liver disease there really isn't a definitive timeline of recovery. They either do or don't. I'm sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad tidings, but I think it's important to be honest with you. This is a common condition among cavs. Good luck, and I applaud you for being such a good pet owner and caring about your pet so much.

QUESTION:
Do you think a doctor would prescribe me a narcotic-pain killer to me?
I'm 14, and broke my ankle a few weeks ago. Now its in constant pain, and he's telling me to use tylenol. Tylenol not only doesn't work for me, it makes my stomach hurt really bad. (no history of liver disease in family or anything) Pain gets so bad that I want to punch the first person I see right in their face. Do doctors tend to not give teens good pain killers because they think we'll abuse them or something?

• ANSWER:
  When I started passing kidney stones at 15, my doc had no problem narcotics because I needed them. I am sure that they are a bit cautious, but if you're in pain, they will prescribe what they think you need to find you some relief.

  Talk to your doctor again, and explain the severity of your pain and how it's affecting you moods and lifestyle. And that current treatment is not working. Be frank and open.

  Take care

QUESTION:
Is it safe to take darvocet with a fatty liver?
i was diagnosed with fatty liver disease but i have back pain and take 2 darvocets almost every night is it safe?

• ANSWER:
  From the information sheet about Darvocet:-

  If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Darvocet: - liver or kidney disease

  Check with your Dr.

QUESTION:
hi all, I just want to let you all know I have a fatty liver disease (I do not drink nor have HEP)?
and my levels are elevated and keep climbing Higher. I am due to get another lest in 3 months time and if it is Higher then it will be time to see a specialist at a hospital. now what I want to ask is can you get a lot of back pain with this disease? cause my lower back is in constant pain and if I go for a jog I make it worse, is this because of the liver that is enlarging? Please help. and if my liver does shut down will it cause more back pain? Please help.
well Ginny the reason for this is becasue with fatty livers your liver becomes enlarged and it puts pressure on your back and yes I have scaring in my liver which may lead to shut down and death.
answerthis medical mistery yea right. I do have a fatty liver thanks, all due to junk food. so there

• ANSWER:
  Are you doing much exercise? Usually if you're not used to it you are susceptible to back pain. I don't think fatty liver and back pain are related aside from the fact that people with fatty livers tend to do less exercise.

QUESTION:
Have any of you, ever has a dog pass away from Liver Disease?
Last night, my sweet little Angel Gigi, passed away, due to Liver Disease! She fought so hard, to stay alive. The only reason I did not put her down, was because the vet kept telling me, that we had caught it on time, and that she would have her good days and bad days, but eventually she would be back to normal, and it would take months. The vet never even brought up putting her down. For the last few months, of weekly vet visits, many various medications, tests, syringe feeding her every 3 hours, 24/7, she lost the fight. Being with her 24/7, my heart is breaking. This past Saturday morning, I took her back to the vet, because she was very weak, could not stand, she was very wobbly, could not keep any food down whatsoever. Her temperature had dropped to 96.8! I asked the vet, if she thought maybe, we needed to put her down, as I had asked her many times before, so she would not have to go through the pain anymore, and every time I asked her, she told me, that she wanted to try something first, to see if we could get her a little better. So me trusting my vet, who I have been going to for years, and never had a problem with, I took her advice. She treated Gigi and I brought her home. She basically slept the whole day, other than the time I was feeding her and having to hold her up to go to the bathroom. The next morning when I got up, (she was next to me in her bed), and when I checked on her, she had already passed away. I did not hear any commotion, from her, during the night, that would make me wake up! I feel now, like I let Gigi down, and she suffered all alone, because of me, and that I could have prevented it, but trusting my vet, I followed her advice, and now Gigi is gone! If only I would have woken up, I could have taken her to an ER Vet and had them put her down, so she would not have to suffer in pain, which I'm almost positive she did! I can't help but feel that it's all my fault! Her suffering was definitely not necessary. Have any of you ever lost a pet to Liver Disease and how did everything turn out? Thanks!
This is my Special Angel Gigi!
http://i20.tinypic.com/35bck86.jpg

To My Love GIGI: RIP My Little Special Angel! I miss you already and things are just so empty, and very lonely, without you here. You will remain forever in my heart! I love you so much! I'm so regretfully sorry, if I let you down! That was definitely not my intention! My tears are flowing for you!!!

What would you have done differently, if you were in my position, just curious?

• ANSWER:
  I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. Thankfully I have never lost a dog this way, but I did loose one to kidney failure. I too trusted the vet and put several thousand dollars into trying to help my dog. I kept being told one more fluid treatment could give her another couple of good quality years. Then it was one more, one more. I loved that dog with all my heart. It was the first dog I had ever owned. I wanted to give her those 2 more years, but me too. I had never been suspicious of the vet. I had been going to him for years with cats. Sadly I should have been.

  When my vet passed away another vet took over his clients. It took me 2 years and many people telling me that I had been taken for a fool that got me to ask my new vet what chance Missy had. I knew he had the records for all of my previous animals too. He looked at the ultrasounds we had done and said the poor girl never had any chance and he was surprised she lasted the 2 months before we had to euthanize her because she was in such a bad way.

  I don't think you did anything wrong at all. You trusted a vet that should have known your dog was dying. The only thing I would do different to what you did was after what happened last time with something like this I would always get a second opinion. Vets are human and they can make mistakes. I know mine conned me for as much money as he could get out of me. I pray this was not the case for you.

  RIP Gigi. I will pray to Sierra to find you at the Rainbow Bridge and keep you company until you are in your mama's arms again.

  I'm so sorry for your loss Chi Addict. Sending a hug and a prayer from one Chi lover to another.

QUESTION:
Does laying on your right side increase pain in your liver? HELP!?
First off, i would like to say that I don't drink to the point of where I am ruining my health. I don't have any severe form of alcoholic liver disease. But there is one thing that is bother me, from time to time, I feel a pain in my right side, that has been attributed to me laying on my side too long. Does that increase pain in my liver or just my side? I'm not worried or nothing, just wondering.
Again, I don't vomit blood, I don't have alcohol hepatitis, i'm not jaundice, I don't have a loss of appetite or nothing, I'm just wondering why my side hurts from time to time, and if it increases pain in my muscles or liver.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Dieing of alcoholic liver disease?
My dad is in the last stages of alcoholic liver disease. He knows and everyone around him knows that he won't make it through it. I'm just wondering how someone dies from this and if they feel pain and such. Do they suffer is what I'm asking really.

• ANSWER:
  There is palliative care to make sure they don't suffer. They will be given drugs to make sure they don't suffer and have the best quality of life possible until the inevitable happens.

QUESTION:
What is a good diet for someone with liver disease?
This is the third time in a year I have had rapid onset of stomach pain with right upper quadrant tenderness. Happens after drinking coffee and eating late breakfast at about noon. I can feel periodic stomach pain and liver associated pain a leading up to episode. Symptoms last about a week with headache, fatique, extreme right upper quadrant pain that feels like it is in a spasm and real tight right over liver with stomach pain. When I eat it usually gets real bad where I can't move and is relieved when I drink water. I have had a number of scans from the Doctors and they turn up clear. I have also noticed bitter taste in mouth this last time. I don't eat very well. Lot's of coffee, ice cream and fatty, fried food. Need to eat more fruits and vegetables. My blood work usually shows up with elevated liver enzymes.

• ANSWER:
  Sounds like gall bladder symptoms, or pancreatitis. Low fat, no fried stuff. No alcohol. Elevated liver enzymes are to be taken seriously. Liver disease is an ugly way to die.

QUESTION:
Does anyone have stomach pain associated with NAFLD?
Does anyone have Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and have intense stomach pain. It is not a common side affect of the disease. Wondering if anyone has been dealing with this. Looking for help and information on dealing with it.

• ANSWER:
  If you have been diagnosed with NAFLD and are having intense stomach pain, I doubt very much if NAFLD is the reason for you having all this pain. I believe it is the result of something else. You are right. It is not common to have pain from this disease. I have never heard of anyone having pain from it myself. I had cirrhosis and never had any kind of pain in my stomach or liver or anywhere else for that matter.

  You should really get an endoscopy done to maybe determine what is happening there. I don't believe liver disease is going to be the cause.

QUESTION:
Does anyone have Non Alchoholic fatty liver disease?
I was wondering if anyone with this disease has experienced right sided pain and pressure so bad it is almost debilitating? I have had my gallbladder out and my doc ordered a CT scan and blood tests and says I have this disease(probably a mixture of my high triglycerides and years of taking motrin and other meds for rheumatoid and meds from when I broke my neck). But he is telling me that this disease doesn't cause pain. I have looked it up and some sites say it can. Just wondering if anyone else has had severe pain like that and were you told what pain meds you could take that Won't damge your liver? and were you told you couldn't drink again. I only drink 3-4 times a year so no biggie but wondered if it's an absolute no-no.

• ANSWER:
  I am 21 and I too have this disease and have had my gallbladder out. They found mine becasue I was having a lot of pain and I am always sick to my stomach and my gastro doc said thats all part of it. I was told tylenol and to avoid ibuprophen. Mine also suggested weight loss of course but yeah I tried and its sooo hard if you have the money give weight watchers a shot, I did it online for 3months had success but then had to have foot surgery and gained it all back plus some. well good luck and take care.

QUESTION:
Ultrasound shows I may have Cholongitis or other liver disease yet sent home?
I recently had an ultrasound after severe pain and nausea done that revealed that my liver is functioning normally, but is abnormal, and could be diseased, giving me symptoms such as pain, nausea and fever. I went to the hospitals E.R for this.
He thinks it is either Cholongitis, or Parynchemal Liver disease, which would explain my symptoms perfectly according to him.
Both conditions require being admitted to hospital and treated promptly.

However even with this full report, the E.R doctor that ordered the ultrasound said that it's not a big deal, and to follow it up with the GP. He said he does not think it was a liver issues, simply because I do not drink or do recreational drugs.

I am still unwell and in pain, a week later, and the E.R are not interested in treating me further, they offer pain and nausea medication and keep telling me to wait until my GP appointment.

Will the GP do anything? Please help.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
i was told by my doctor to wait but he thinks i have liver cancer or a disease attacking my liver,?
i have pain supprisingly behind and below my ribs on the left, i have trouble breathing, it seems like theres air build up, really bad pain, i can feel it pulsate. I know this probably isnt my liver, but the pain is unbearable at times and if i dont get enough sleep it does this regularly.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Liver disease or hypochondria and either way what's your advice?
I've been a heavy drinker for 10 years, maybe more, I come form a long line of alcoholics and I have a pretty high tolerance of the stuff..so no in the gutter moments and so far no health problems. I decided recently to give up just coz I think sooner or later I'm gonna have problems, Since I have I have become "aware" or my liver. Not quite pain but sort of I can feel it's there. From time to time I get a gritty kind of sensation under my right ribcage. Now, to be honest I've started noticing little pains all over my abdomen, both sides and on my back. Actually sensations..not real pain.. " Was that a pain I felt ?" kinda thing.

So..my question is..should I go get my liver checked. If I do and it's ok..I'm likely to start drinking again. If I do and it's is liver problems is there anything the doctor can do that just living well and not drinking won't cure.
Ava's answer has got me worried. I started taking iron tablets two years ago. I had to have an operation for a fractured shoulder. I was convinced I'd die on the table so I made the doctors check everything before I'd agree to a general anesthetic. They only problem they found was mild Vitamin B deficiency so I've been popping becosule ever since.

C'mon does no one think I'm just a hypochondriact ??

Ava - I hope your husband gets well soon.

• ANSWER:
  "C'mon does no one think I'm just a hypochondriac ??"

  OK, I think you're just a hypochondriac!

  Seriously though, the only tests to accurately determine liver damage from drinking is a needle biopsy (ouch!) or a specialized ultrasound test called a "fibroscan". A simple ultrasound may show a "bright" or echogenic liver, indicating some fibrosis, but will not give a clue as to how bad it is.

  The blood tests for liver enzymes only show how angry/irritated your liver is at the moment, and these rise and fall depending on how soon blood is drawn after drinking. If you've been on the wagon for more than a couple weeks these will show normal, even with considerable liver damage, and will only be out of whack if your liver is nearing total failure.

  I looked at the becosule you've been taking and it doesn't seem to contain any iron... B-vitamins are a very good thing to be taking if you drink but you shouldn't need them if you stay on the wagon. No one should ever take iron unless they have a proven deficiency or are a vegetarian or something. Iron is a powerful pro-oxidant and very bad on the liver if you drink.

  There are supplements that will help regenerate your liver... Lecithin being the key one, and SAM-e is also good. A newer form of polyunsaturated lecithin called PPC (polyenylphosphatidylcholine) Brand names PhosChol and HepatoPro, or Essentiale Forte or Lipostable/oral in Europe is an incredible liver protectant and restorative agent... PPC has been shown to prevent liver damage in drinkers, reverse moderate fibrosis of damaged livers, and even protect against carbon tetrachloride poisoning in animals.

  If you do fall off the wagon, (or perhaps for your family who still drinks), PPC is the single best thing you can do to protect and heal your liver. Please look into this supplement further.

  Good Luck with your new life, and do look after your family if they are still drinking. You could set a fine example for them.