Hepatitis C Blood Ammonia

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

metspitzer - 20 Mar 2009 02:52 GMT

I struck up conversation with the secretary at the lab that draws my
blood tests. She knows I had Hep C. I have been clear since 2005.

She says her husband has Hep C and second stage cirrhosis. He is
taking lactulose for his ammonia levels. She insists that the do
either MRIs or CAT scans (I can't remember which) regularly. She says
he is seeing a gastrologist and the gastrologist has said he can't do
treatment. I know that I don't always keep my facts straight, and she
never cited a reason, but is there a reason you can't treat Hep C from
second stage cirrhosis?

Also, should a second stage patient be having trouble with ammonia?

She has said that he has back pain and the pain meds make the
lactulose less affective. That stuff worked wonders on me. :)

Reply to this Message

Paul - 21 Mar 2009 13:47 GMT

On Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:51:28 -0500, metspitzer <kilowatt@charter.net>,

>I struck up conversation with the secretary at the lab that draws my
>blood tests. She knows I had Hep C. I have been clear since 2005.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>She has said that he has back pain and the pain meds make the
>lactulose less affective. That stuff worked wonders on me. :)

If cirrhosis is too advanced, the treatment can be lethal. If someone
is needing to take lactullose for ammonia, they are in a very advanced
stage of liver damage. If they did start treatment, it's unlikely
that they would be able to stay on it very long and it might even kill
them. Hopefully he has been for a transplasnt assessment or is about
to be.

Reply to this Message

Brian - 21 Mar 2009 16:41 GMT

>I struck up conversation with the secretary at the lab that draws my
> blood tests. She knows I had Hep C. I have been clear since 2005.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> She has said that he has back pain and the pain meds make the
> lactulose less affective. That stuff worked wonders on me. :)

Some doctors will treat HCV patients with late stage cirrhosis. I know a
couple of people that had moderate cirrhosis,they were treated and cleared
the HCV. Now they are in much better shape. In fact their cirrhosis has been
reversed to some degree. Some doctors deny that this is possible but they
are uniformed,ignorant or just not willing to take the risk. Here's a link
to Dr. Cecil's website. He often treats cirrhotic patients,and with pretty
good success.

http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/

Reply to this Message

Paul - 24 Mar 2009 00:54 GMT

On Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:41:19 -0400, "Brian" <brian@home.com>, in
message ID <_tidnSRgtr8xl1jUnZ2dnUVZ_rXinZ2d@insightbb.com>, in the
newsgroup alt.support.hepatitis-c wrote:

>>I struck up conversation with the secretary at the lab that draws my
>> blood tests. She knows I had Hep C. I have been clear since 2005.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
>http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/

I think it does depend just how advanced it is though doesn't it?

Isn't it decided on compensated vs. decompensated?

Sure thing that moderate cirrhosis is often treatable. It may well be
possible sometimes if cirrhosis is more advanced but all sorts of
things can start going wrong at that point - things that will often
lead to drastic dosage reductions thereby reducing the chances still
further. Certainly, more frequent blood testing is advisable so that
the treatment itself doesn't end up being the trigger for death. Also,
I feel that an element of lady luck may be needed sometimes too.

Reply to this Message