Re: No diagnosis-questions

[Guest guest]

I'm curious - is Dr. Yao on the 4th floor of 325 Parnassus? Has he been there

long? I've never run into him. Perhaps my doctor's days and his don't overlap.

Mine is Dr. n s. You could ask for a consult with her, too. She has a

youtube on autoimmune liver disease that's interesting.

Yes, if you have a flare-up while on meds, dosage is increased. I think the

wording would be more like " dosage is lowered as medication brings the 'flare'

under control " .

No, I don't think that flares are more intense each time, even with meds. I

haven't heard that to be so. My previous doctor told me that when medication is

stopped and a flare occurs, getting it under control is harder each time,

perhaps impossible. Of course, I may have misunderstood him, or his information

may be outdated; I can't be sure that statement is true.

Harper

[ ] No diagnosis

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hello Everyone. I am new to this board. I wanted to learn more about

AIH

> > and other liver diseases and hopefully receive feedback from others

> > based on their experiences.

> >

> > At this point it is unclear what I have. Since mid Sep 2010 I had

> > significantly elevated liver function tests (LFTs) (ALT peaked at

> > 1,800), with jaundice, tiredness, digestion problems. By most

measures

> > it was a pretty severe acute hepatitis. By November the ALT had

fallen

> > to 260 and I have been asymptomatic, but in December the LFTs went

back

> > up again (ALT=750). I am still feeling normal. Hep A, B, C, E, or G

> > viruses were all negative, and a rather large list of autoimmune

> > antibody tests also came up negative. Liver biopsy showed fair

damage to

> > liver, but no cirrhosis (yet), and was otherwise inconclusive in

> > identifying the cause. So were the ultrasound and CT scans earlier.

My

> > liver specialist initially thought I may have an " uncommon form of

AIH "

> > and wanted to put me on Imuran, but later ruled out AIH due to lack

of

> > specific autoimmune indicators. He also ruled out other autoimmune

> > diseases like PBC, and ruled out tumors. At this point, he is unable

to

> > diagnose. Interestingly, I had a more mild elevated ALT episode 10

years

> > ago also (ALT peaked at 400), which returned to normal after about

four

> > months. At that time, all hep virus and a various antibody tests

were

> > also negative. Since then my LFTs have been all w/in normal range.

> >

> > So a few months ago my liver got nailed with something that caused

> > significant liver inflammation and short-term jaundice (but no liver

> > enlargement or pain at all). From what little I know, I think I may

have

> > AIH simply because of what happened 10 years ago, although it is

unclear

> > whether the two events are really related.

> >

> > I would greatly appreciate any feedback or observations you may have

on

> > what I wrote above. Does AIH manifests itself with periodic

flare-ups

> > that get worse with each flare-up? And in-between flare-ups, do the

LFTs

> > return to normal or do they chronically remain elevated?

> >

> > Thank you.

> > Lazsas

> >

> > (male, 47, in N. Cal.)

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Dr. Yao's office is at 350 Parnassus, 4th floor... I don't know how long he's

been there since I'm new to this whole liver problem...

I'll check out the youtube clip. Thanks Harper!

> > >

> > >

> > > Lazsas, I wish I could answer your questions.

> > >

> > > In terms of your episode ten years ago: many things can cause

> temporary liver number elevation. As you say, your current problem and

> the one ten years ago might be unrelated. Most of us with AIH don't see

> our numbers return to normal without the intervention of medication --

> if then.

> > >

> > > It sounds as if you're seeing a hepatologist who talks well with

> you. Is that the case? You might want to get a second opinion, as you're

> in a puzzling situation. My hep is at UCSF; she seems to relish puzzling

> situtions!

> > >

> > > I hope you're able to get a clear diagnosis soon. Until then, I

> suggest you avoid alcohol completely and that you inform your hep before

> you take any medication at all, even simple things like OTC cold

> remedies. Also get clearance before using any unusual herbal teas. You

> might want to ask at your next appt what your hep suggests you use for

> minor pain relief, should you need it. For example, my hep tells me to

> avoid aspirin and okays reasonable amounts of Tylenol. This advice

> wouldn't fit everyone.

> > >

> > > Have you had Hep A and B vaccines? If not, you might want to do so.

> My doctors strongly recommended it; they advised it for my husband as

> well, to give me further protection.

> > >

> > > Be sure to keep current on all vaccines -- depending on your age and

> health, that might include flu shots, pneumovax, tetanus, and shingles

> (herpes zoster) in addition to Hep A & B. I mention shingles because those

> of us who take immunosuppressants for AIH are particularly vulnerable to

> shingles, yet the vaccine's use is questionable once we begin taking

> those immunosuppressants.

> > >

> > > Not everyone with liver disease develops cirrhosis; I'm glad to hear

> that you have not.

> > >

> > > Many of us like Dr. Palmer's book, " Guide to Liver Disease " .

> It's a mainstream publication directed toward people new to liver

> disease. If you can't find it locally, Amazon has it for under $20.

> > >

> > > Best wishes.

> > >

> > > Harper

> > > AIH dx 2000

> > > CD dx 2002

> > > female, 67, northern CA like you - SF and Sea Ranch

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > [ ] No diagnosis

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hello Everyone. I am new to this board. I wanted to learn more about

> AIH

> > > and other liver diseases and hopefully receive feedback from others

> > > based on their experiences.

> > >

> > > At this point it is unclear what I have. Since mid Sep 2010 I had

> > > significantly elevated liver function tests (LFTs) (ALT peaked at

> > > 1,800), with jaundice, tiredness, digestion problems. By most

> measures

> > > it was a pretty severe acute hepatitis. By November the ALT had

> fallen

> > > to 260 and I have been asymptomatic, but in December the LFTs went

> back

> > > up again (ALT=750). I am still feeling normal. Hep A, B, C, E, or G

> > > viruses were all negative, and a rather large list of autoimmune

> > > antibody tests also came up negative. Liver biopsy showed fair

> damage to

> > > liver, but no cirrhosis (yet), and was otherwise inconclusive in

> > > identifying the cause. So were the ultrasound and CT scans earlier.

> My

> > > liver specialist initially thought I may have an " uncommon form of

> AIH "

> > > and wanted to put me on Imuran, but later ruled out AIH due to lack

> of

> > > specific autoimmune indicators. He also ruled out other autoimmune

> > > diseases like PBC, and ruled out tumors. At this point, he is unable

> to

> > > diagnose. Interestingly, I had a more mild elevated ALT episode 10

> years

> > > ago also (ALT peaked at 400), which returned to normal after about

> four

> > > months. At that time, all hep virus and a various antibody tests

> were

> > > also negative. Since then my LFTs have been all w/in normal range.

> > >

> > > So a few months ago my liver got nailed with something that caused

> > > significant liver inflammation and short-term jaundice (but no liver

> > > enlargement or pain at all). From what little I know, I think I may

> have

> > > AIH simply because of what happened 10 years ago, although it is

> unclear

> > > whether the two events are really related.

> > >

> > > I would greatly appreciate any feedback or observations you may have

> on

> > > what I wrote above. Does AIH manifests itself with periodic

> flare-ups

> > > that get worse with each flare-up? And in-between flare-ups, do the

> LFTs

> > > return to normal or do they chronically remain elevated?

> > >

> > > Thank you.

> > > Lazsas

> > >

> > > (male, 47, in N. Cal.)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I was wrong on the address; it's 350 Parnassus. Above Starbuck's.

Here are some of my favorite AIH resources. The last one listed is a youtube on

autoimmune disorders. The two speakers are UCSF's Dr. Bass and Dr. s. Dr.

Bass retired last month. The NIH site used to be available in the UCSF waiting

room, but I haven't seen any printed material there for quite a while.

If I get a bit of time, I'll look up Dr. Yao on the UCSF site.

Best wishes.

Harper

AIH dx 2000

CD dx 2002

[ ] No diagnosis

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hello Everyone. I am new to this board. I wanted to learn more about

> AIH

> > > and other liver diseases and hopefully receive feedback from others

> > > based on their experiences.

> > >

> > > At this point it is unclear what I have. Since mid Sep 2010 I had

> > > significantly elevated liver function tests (LFTs) (ALT peaked at

> > > 1,800), with jaundice, tiredness, digestion problems. By most

> measures

> > > it was a pretty severe acute hepatitis. By November the ALT had

> fallen

> > > to 260 and I have been asymptomatic, but in December the LFTs went

> back

> > > up again (ALT=750). I am still feeling normal. Hep A, B, C, E, or G

> > > viruses were all negative, and a rather large list of autoimmune

> > > antibody tests also came up negative. Liver biopsy showed fair

> damage to

> > > liver, but no cirrhosis (yet), and was otherwise inconclusive in

> > > identifying the cause. So were the ultrasound and CT scans earlier.

> My

> > > liver specialist initially thought I may have an " uncommon form of

> AIH "

> > > and wanted to put me on Imuran, but later ruled out AIH due to lack

> of

> > > specific autoimmune indicators. He also ruled out other autoimmune

> > > diseases like PBC, and ruled out tumors. At this point, he is unable

> to

> > > diagnose. Interestingly, I had a more mild elevated ALT episode 10

> years

> > > ago also (ALT peaked at 400), which returned to normal after about

> four

> > > months. At that time, all hep virus and a various antibody tests

> were

> > > also negative. Since then my LFTs have been all w/in normal range.

> > >

> > > So a few months ago my liver got nailed with something that caused

> > > significant liver inflammation and short-term jaundice (but no liver

> > > enlargement or pain at all). From what little I know, I think I may

> have

> > > AIH simply because of what happened 10 years ago, although it is

> unclear

> > > whether the two events are really related.

> > >

> > > I would greatly appreciate any feedback or observations you may have

> on

> > > what I wrote above. Does AIH manifests itself with periodic

> flare-ups

> > > that get worse with each flare-up? And in-between flare-ups, do the

> LFTs

> > > return to normal or do they chronically remain elevated?

> > >

> > > Thank you.

> > > Lazsas

> > >

> > > (male, 47, in N. Cal.)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >