Remission

[Guest guest]

But once your levels stabilize, you will start to feel a lot better.

, this is what my doctor said, too. Supposedly once our livers have a

chance to recover from the trauma they've been through and once we find a

good level for the meds, we should feel better. I want to believe that, but

as of yesterday, my levels are looking their best yet but I still feel like

dog doo. Go figure.

Janelle AIH

Seattle

[Guest guest]

Elena,

What does the doc think about your normal enzymes? Does he think you do in

fact have AIH or the enzymes a result of medication? I've been thinking

about your situation and so happy for you.

Roxanne

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kaye,

I hope your symptoms take a turn for the better, and SCRAM! Such a

perplexing illness...

>From: Kaye Gillis <kgillis@...>

>Reply- onelist

> onelist

>Subject: Re: [ ] Remission

>Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 12:33:37 -0400

>

>From: Kaye Gillis <kgillis@...>

>

>:

>

>My symptoms seem to come and go whether my enzymes are up or not. I get

>feedback that the symptoms may actually be from the meds rather than the

>disease. Everyone seems to be effected differently. I know my symptoms

>are

>more severe and last longer than they did this time last year. They seem

>to

>get progressively worse yet I have read from several members that they are

>rather asymptomatic. I hope you will be part of that group.

>

>Kaye - AIH 0hio

>

>emily simpson wrote:

>

> > From: " emily simpson " <esimpson7@...>

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I was just wondering, for those of you who are or have been in remission

> > (wonderful word!), do the symptoms of AIH go away? My doctor told me

>yes,

> > but I'm skeptical because I don't recall ever reading anything like that

> > here. Hoping he's right!!!

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kaye,

I hope your symptoms take a turn for the better, and SCRAM! Such a

perplexing illness...

>From: Kaye Gillis <kgillis@...>

>Reply- onelist

> onelist

>Subject: Re: [ ] Remission

>Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 12:33:37 -0400

>

>From: Kaye Gillis <kgillis@...>

>

>:

>

>My symptoms seem to come and go whether my enzymes are up or not. I get

>feedback that the symptoms may actually be from the meds rather than the

>disease. Everyone seems to be effected differently. I know my symptoms

>are

>more severe and last longer than they did this time last year. They seem

>to

>get progressively worse yet I have read from several members that they are

>rather asymptomatic. I hope you will be part of that group.

>

>Kaye - AIH 0hio

>

>emily simpson wrote:

>

> > From: " emily simpson " <esimpson7@...>

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I was just wondering, for those of you who are or have been in remission

> > (wonderful word!), do the symptoms of AIH go away? My doctor told me

>yes,

> > but I'm skeptical because I don't recall ever reading anything like that

> > here. Hoping he's right!!!

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Sorry its taken so long to get back to you. Im so glad

for you (and me) that you had no problems with

pregnancy. As far as my labs returning to normal, it

did so by itself. The doctors seem to think its to do

with coming off some meds I was taking.

Take Care

Elena

--- Ceallachqn@... wrote:

> From: Ceallachqn@...

>

> Hi Elena,

> Yes, I am thrilled to have my daughter. She is the

> highlight in my life! I

> am only on 3 1/2 mgs. of prednisone right now. I

> went through my 20's

> thinking I would never have children. I was on

> Imuran and prednisone and had

> unstable liver function. I also have lupus and had

> a bad flare in 1997. I

> was 40 mgs of prednisone then. I became pregnant in

> June of 1997 and had a

> great pregnancy. No problems for me or my baby.

> You never know...try not to

> worry too much about the baby thing....for me it

> just happened and it worked

> out. I think that is the best way. There are so

> many things that I have not

> done....I no longer work, I never finished college -

> kept getting sick, I

> have given up a lot of activities...I used to love

> to dance but I haven't had

> the energy for that since I was 24. Waaa waaa waaa.

> I really sound like a

> sob story here. I have gained in other ways though.

> I am way ahead of my

> peers in terms of spirituality and understanding

> what other people are going

> through. Psychologically I am much better off than

> a lot of my peers.

> Chronic illness has a way of making you face your

> fears and shortcomings. At

> any rate, I am really lucky to have my daughter and

> to have a husband who

> understands and supports me.

>

> I am curious, how did your labs get back to normal

> without medication? Did

> they just all of a sudden get better or what? I

> have never really had liver

> pain as you describe. Sometimes I have an ache in

> my right side up high, but

> it usually goes away if I rest. It sounds like you

> have symptoms without

> having elevated enzymes. Of course, I guess that

> should not surprise me. I

> had symptoms without elevated enzymes as well, but I

> attributed it to the

> lupus.

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Roxanne,

The doctors think its one of two things. The first

that the AIH became inactive or my normal enzymes are

due to coming off medication. I wish I knew which one

it was!

I guess im just happy to be healthy. im going to

retest in a month.

Elena

--- CREE8V1@... wrote:

> From: CREE8V1@...

>

> Elena,

>

> What does the doc think about your normal enzymes?

> Does he think you do in

> fact have AIH or the enzymes a result of medication?

> I've been thinking

> about your situation and so happy for you.

>

> Roxanne

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

:

My symptoms seem to come and go whether my enzymes are up or not. I get

feedback that the symptoms may actually be from the meds rather than the

disease. Everyone seems to be effected differently. I know my symptoms are

more severe and last longer than they did this time last year. They seem to

get progressively worse yet I have read from several members that they are

rather asymptomatic. I hope you will be part of that group.

Kaye - AIH 0hio

emily simpson wrote:

> From: " emily simpson " <esimpson7@...>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I was just wondering, for those of you who are or have been in remission

> (wonderful word!), do the symptoms of AIH go away? My doctor told me yes,

> but I'm skeptical because I don't recall ever reading anything like that

> here. Hoping he's right!!!

>

>

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Elena,

I was going through old medical records the other night and saw that my

labs were totally normal just six months before I was diagnosed with stage

IV cirrhosis and grade 3-4 inflammation. I don't know what that means, but

apparently labs can be deceptive. Now my labs are almost all normal so I

find myself wondering if I ever had AIH at all - though I've been through

every test known, I think, and they all confirmed it.

Under any circumstances, if you're free and clear now, that's terrific. I

just hope it stays that way for you. Makes me wonder if you might have had

that EBV we talked about once before, that can cause liver inflammation and

confused liver disease diagnosis?

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

Hi geri,

I also wondered whether I had the EBV virus,

especially with the fatigue I had and also a friend

had the virus at the time. I therefore had the Mono

test and it came out negative.

I dont think I have cirrhosis, as my biopsy from 3

months ago said mild inflammation with no scarring.

So the fact that my enzymes are back to normal after

being high for just 2 months is still a mystery to me.

However, to this day I still have tenderness when i

put pressure on the right side over my liver area. And

also have a dull ache over my liver area even while im

writing this E-mail. Maybe my enzymes are up again, I

dont know. I think I will wait about a month until

testing them again.

I hope you are well

Elena

--- Geri Spang <spangs@...> wrote:

> From: Geri Spang <spangs@...>

>

> Elena,

> I was going through old medical records the other

> night and saw that my

> labs were totally normal just six months before I

> was diagnosed with stage

> IV cirrhosis and grade 3-4 inflammation. I don't

> know what that means, but

> apparently labs can be deceptive. Now my labs are

> almost all normal so I

> find myself wondering if I ever had AIH at all -

> though I've been through

> every test known, I think, and they all confirmed

> it.

> Under any circumstances, if you're free and clear

> now, that's terrific. I

> just hope it stays that way for you. Makes me

> wonder if you might have had

> that EBV we talked about once before, that can cause

> liver inflammation and

> confused liver disease diagnosis?

> Take care,

> Geri

>

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Elena,

You mentioned that you have a dull ache over your liver area a lot. I have

it all the time too. It radiates into the back and up to my shoulder

sometimes too. Sitting for any length of time, unless I sit on an angle,

inevitably makes it worse. Sneezing and yawning really hurts. Terrible

feeling isn't it.

SueB.

----------

> From: Elena P <brit71@...>

> onelist

> Subject: Re: [ ] Remission

> Date: Thursday, 15 July 1999 0:50

>

> From: Elena P <brit71@...>

>

> Hi geri,

> I also wondered whether I had the EBV virus,

> especially with the fatigue I had and also a friend

> had the virus at the time. I therefore had the Mono

> test and it came out negative.

> I dont think I have cirrhosis, as my biopsy from 3

> months ago said mild inflammation with no scarring.

> So the fact that my enzymes are back to normal after

> being high for just 2 months is still a mystery to me.

> However, to this day I still have tenderness when i

> put pressure on the right side over my liver area. And

> also have a dull ache over my liver area even while im

> writing this E-mail. Maybe my enzymes are up again, I

> dont know. I think I will wait about a month until

> testing them again.

> I hope you are well

> Elena

>

> --- Geri Spang <spangs@...> wrote:

> > From: Geri Spang <spangs@...>

> >

> > Elena,

> > I was going through old medical records the other

> > night and saw that my

> > labs were totally normal just six months before I

> > was diagnosed with stage

> > IV cirrhosis and grade 3-4 inflammation. I don't

> > know what that means, but

> > apparently labs can be deceptive. Now my labs are

> > almost all normal so I

> > find myself wondering if I ever had AIH at all -

> > though I've been through

> > every test known, I think, and they all confirmed

> > it.

> > Under any circumstances, if you're free and clear

> > now, that's terrific. I

> > just hope it stays that way for you. Makes me

> > wonder if you might have had

> > that EBV we talked about once before, that can cause

> > liver inflammation and

> > confused liver disease diagnosis?

> > Take care,

> > Geri

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks Luanne,

I'm glad to hear Ty is doing so well...and it's good to know I may have this

to look forward to as well! These messages are insane! I couldn't check

them yesterday, and now there are over 200!!! Have fun reading!

>From: BBNLU@...

>Reply- onelist

> onelist

>Subject: Re: [ ] Remission

>Date: Sat, 17 Jul 1999 21:19:31 EDT

>

>From: BBNLU@...

>

>Hi ,

>As to your question of remission.....Ty's labs have been good now for about

>1

>month and all his symptoms such as the itching,being tired all the

>time...have all gone away...I hope you find as much success....

>Sorry this answer took so long but I'm having trouble keeping up...so much

>work to do...

>Luanne Ty's mom

>

>---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

As to your question of remission.....Ty's labs have been good now for about 1

month and all his symptoms such as the itching,being tired all the

time...have all gone away...I hope you find as much success....

Sorry this answer took so long but I'm having trouble keeping up...so much

work to do...

Luanne Ty's mom

[Guest guest]

Luanne,

It sounds like you're feeling a bit tired out lately. Hope all is well.

I just changed to digest form. I can't handle the massive number of posts

but I want to read them all. By the time I answer those I want to answer,

what I have to say will be ancient history.

Take care of yourself!

Geri

[Guest guest]

,

About spontaneous remission, from what my Hepatologist told me recently, it

can happen. However, I don't think it's that common. Besides itching, do

you have edema and other symtoms of liver disease like jaundice and

elevated labs? Hope your doctor isn't doing the laparoscopic biopsy with

just flimsy indications of liver disease!

I think that if doctors were to put together a " hit list " I'd be on it, but

I am beginning to wonder if they aren't too hasty to do some of these

invasive procedures? I realize that biopsy is the only way to confirm

cirrhosis - or is it? I honestly don't know. However, what other

procedures could be done first before taking more drastic action? These

procedures can be risky, and especially for those of us with a tendency to

bleed or a vulnerability to infection. I don't want to sound like a

world-class cynic but it occurred to me that there are some conditions that

can be identified by CT scan, ultrasound, etc., but those are done by a

technician at a diagnostic lab and the doctor only gets paid to interpret

the results. On the other hand, medics get paid big bucks to run those

micro cameras, viewers, tubes, and so on up and down our various orifices.

Just one of the irreverant thoughts that have crossed my mind a few times.

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

Dear Ann:

In my case, I'm in 'medication induced remission' defined by normal LFT's.

My illness started with a big bang in late 1994 early 1995 and I was

seriously ill for about 6 months. I was started on prednisone 3 months into

it and by six months my LFT's were almost within normal range. I was weaned

off of the prednisone by October, but had a recurrence in Feb. of 96 and was

restarted on the prednisone and have been on it ever since. My LFT's were

all over the place until they finally stabilized in about October of 97.

They have been normal (except GGT) since. I must remain on prednisone for

life. Recently I attempted to start a new drug (cyclosporine) to see if I

could wean off of the prednisone, but so far I've had some problems with it

and am not sure if I'll be able to take it for any length of time.

I have a lot of problems that are mostly related to the prednisone (blood

sugar, weight and edema, etc.). I still get tired very easily and usually

have to take a short nap in the late afternoon. I tried to work part time in

1997, but couldn't handle the stress. There are some problems that it is

uncertain whether it's the drugs or the disease itself. My last biopsy

showed that although I'm in remission, the disease continues to be 'active,'

so I assume that there is still damage being done. My hepatologist told me

that I was probably looking at transplant in 5 years or so. I'm hoping that

if I continue to stay in 'remission' that I will never have to have one.

Hope this answered some of your questions. Take care!

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

For Kathy (Seattle) & others " in remission " -- How long did it take you to

get to " remission " ? How do they define it (LFTs stay within normal range?)

Even though technically in remission, do you still have any symptoms

(fatigue, etc.) or are you pretty much " back to normal " ? Do you continue to

take any medications? Have you had any relapses? Sorry for the string of

questions, but I am trying to learn as much as possible about the range of

experiences people have had in dealing with AIH over the long run. Any

feedback would be a great help. Thanks! Ann

[ ] Digest Number 295

Even though I'm technically in 'remission,' I still get LFT's every one or

two months.

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

____________________________________________________________________________

___

____________________________________________________________________________

___

[Guest guest]

Ann,

I was just diagnosed back in July so I don't know how much help I can be, but

my experience has been that once I started the Prednisone and Imuran my LFT's

were back to normal in less than two weeks and have stayed that way. I am

now going down on my dosage of Prednisone by 2.5 milligrams a week and he is

checking my levels every four weeks at my appointments. I am feeling fine

except for the side effects of the Prednisone. I have major low back pain

ever since I started taking it along with the yucky moon face and skin break

outs, but my doc said those things should start getting better once the dose

goes down. The only thing I'm afraid of is getting a flareup by going down

on the dose of Pred. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

So I guess you could say I was " clinically " in remission with the meds after

two weeks and I hope to stay that way.

Audra

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathy,

I usually just listen in on the posting but when I read this one it sounded

so much like myself. My illness started around the same time and went

through the same thing with weaning off the Prednisone. What bothered me was

the result of your biopsy. I have only had one. I have often wondered what

was really happening while I was in " remission " I have never been told about

maybe having a transplant in 5 years (kind of scary) My Doctor said that I

will be on Prednisone for life. I still get tired also and have problems

with my weight etc. If my numbers are still normal why do I still feel

tired?? I feel like such a " light weight " sometimes when I feel bad because

if Im in remission I shouldn't??

Thanks for listening!

Athie in Ohio

Re: [ ] RE: Remission

> From: KATBERCOO@...

>

> Dear Ann:

>

> In my case, I'm in 'medication induced remission' defined by normal LFT's.

> My illness started with a big bang in late 1994 early 1995 and I was

> seriously ill for about 6 months. I was started on prednisone 3 months

into

> it and by six months my LFT's were almost within normal range. I was

weaned

> off of the prednisone by October, but had a recurrence in Feb. of 96 and

was

> restarted on the prednisone and have been on it ever since. My LFT's were

> all over the place until they finally stabilized in about October of 97.

> They have been normal (except GGT) since. I must remain on prednisone for

> life. Recently I attempted to start a new drug (cyclosporine) to see if I

> could wean off of the prednisone, but so far I've had some problems with

it

> and am not sure if I'll be able to take it for any length of time.

>

> I have a lot of problems that are mostly related to the prednisone (blood

> sugar, weight and edema, etc.). I still get tired very easily and usually

> have to take a short nap in the late afternoon. I tried to work part time

in

> 1997, but couldn't handle the stress. There are some problems that it is

> uncertain whether it's the drugs or the disease itself. My last biopsy

> showed that although I'm in remission, the disease continues to be

'active,'

> so I assume that there is still damage being done. My hepatologist told

me

> that I was probably looking at transplant in 5 years or so. I'm hoping

that

> if I continue to stay in 'remission' that I will never have to have one.

>

> Hope this answered some of your questions. Take care!

>

> Kathy (AIH)

> Seattle area

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathy,

Wow - It sounds like " remission " means your LFTs look good on paper, but you

still have a lot of problems and are still on medication. Did you already

have cirrhosis when you were first diagnosed or has it developed since then?

How high were your LFTs? What dose of prednisone have you been on when in

the " remission " level? Boy, I have a lot of questions, but it is just

invaluable to get this kind of feedback. Thanks so very much. Also, thanks

to Audra (good to hear of your quick response to the drugs!) and anyone else

who responds to my original questions. It's truly a great help!

Ann

Re: RE: Remission

[Guest guest]

Could you please define tremors. I get the shakes now and then and

never could figure out why. My hands shake. Lynn aih

KATBERCOO@... wrote:

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Subject: remission

> Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 13:13:23 -0700

> From: " Joe Mooney " <mooneyjo@...>

> <KATBERCOO@...>

>

> Kathy; I am currently in " medication remission " . My lft's are in

> normal limits and have been for several months We are weaning me off

> Prednisone and I am taking 6mp (a derivative of imuran) .I am down to

> 5mg of prednisone. I have not had a biopsy yet. Iam kind of scared of

> one .I had two 20 years ago when I first started having problems. Now

> I worry about a flare up when I try to get off the Prednisone. Does

> anyone else have trouble with tremors also? Lee, Oregon

> --------------------Kathy; I am currently in " medication remission " .

> My lft's are in normal limits and have been for several months. We are

> weaning me off Prednisone and I am taking 6mp (a derivative of imuran)

> .I am down to 5mg of prednisone. I have not had a biopsy yet. Iam kind

> of scared of one .I had two 20 years ago when I first started having

> problems. Now I worry about a flare up when I try to get off the

> Prednisone. Does anyone else have trouble with tremors also? Lee,

> Oregon

[Guest guest]

Lynn wrote:

>

> Could you please define tremors. I get the shakes now and then and

> never could figure out why. My hands shake.

I have had tremors in my hands since I first began to be sick. They

have never stopped and depending on how stressed I am, they can get

worse. My neurologist says they are essential tremors. He gave me two

different kinds of medication to try to stop them (it's embarassing

sometimes), but I couldn't tolerate either. One was beta blocker and

the other a narcotic tranquilizer.

Nina Campell

PBC

[Guest guest]

Dear Ann:

My first biopsy showed severe fibrosis. I had another one 9 months later and

it showed early cirrhosis. I've only just recently learned that the second

one showed cirrhosis. Both showed 'chronic active hepatitis.' My GI didn't

level with me about the results. He had told me that the fibrosis was worse,

but that there wasn't cirrhosis. When I went to the hepatologist at the

University of Washington, he told me about the findings. It's been almost 4

years since the last biopsy, and he told me that it has probably progressed

since that time, but that he felt that another biopsy wasn't warranted. He

said 'we already know that you have cirrhosis.'

My LFT's during the worst part of my illness were:

AST-2530

ALT-2730

Alk/Phos-279

LDH-577

Bilirubin-57

An interesting note is that I noticed that a GGT was never taken during my

first year. Or if it was, it was not noted on my 'flow chart.'

I was started on 30 mg. of prednisone in 1995 and first achieved remission at

15mg. in late 1997. I've been slowly tapered down to 8 mg, but have been

unable to get below that without serious withdrawal (unbearable pain in the

'spleen' area, etc).

Hope this answered you questions. Tell us about you. Have a great Sunday!

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Just took another look at my (only) biopsy report from November 1997. Each

time I've looked at it, it's made more sense, thanks to the knowledge this

group has given me. Also, took another look at the CT scan that was done when

I was hospitalized.

It (CT scan) showed " mild fatty infiltration of the LEFT lobe of the liver. " I

wonder if my current doctor even has read that report and I also wonder if that

explains the LUQ pain? The liver does, after all, have two lobes, right and

left, though the left lobe is smaller. All that my LV Hepatologist has said

about the left lobe is that the liver shrinks when there's cirrhosis so it's

not surprising that it's not prominent on that side.

The biopsy, on the other hand, shows " marked distortion of the hepatic

architecture with broad bands of fibrosis, ductular proliferation and

inflammation in portal tracts and fibrous septa. There are regenerating

nodules of hepatocytes with focal diffuse inflammation and ballooning

degeneration. Occasional normal appearing interlobular bile ducts are

identified. The inflammatory infiltrate is composed of a mixture of cells,

including plasma cells, lymphocytes and eosinophils. Neutrophils are also seen

associated with degenerating hepatocytes... the PAS stain demonstrates

hepatic glycogen... the extensive fibrosis and regenerative activity are

highlighted by the trichrome and reticulin stains. These findings are

consistent with cirrhosis in the setting of chronic hepatitis. There is

ongoing hepatocyte damage with moderate to severe inflammation... the viral

serology is negative for hepatitis. The anti-smooth muscle antibody is

positive (1:40). If other possible etiologies have been excluded, the probable

cause is an autoimmune process. "

Several people have asked about the significance of fatty liver and about

fibrosis. It sounds to me like they never considered any possibility for the

cause of the fatty liver and fibrosis except autoimmune hepatitis. I know that

I was lucky to get such a rapid diagnosis after I found the right doctor. I

spent a month with the " wrong " doctor who read labs that clearly showed

elevated LFTs and then wrote a summary saying that he saw no evidence of

cardiopulmonary problems. Duh.

My labs two weeks after the biopsy but before I started taking meds were:

AST - 194

ALT - 165

Alk P. - 179

LDH - 251

Total Bilirubin - 4.0

Indirect Bilirubin - 2.2

GGTP - 97

My cholesterol at that time was, incidentally, 239 (scale of 140 to 200) and

this was when I was the most sick and pre-meds of any kind.

None of the above were nearly as elevated as yours yet they set off alarms all

over the place with the doctors who were treating me at the time. Actually,

almost every test they ran (51 in all) were abnormal, either high or low

depending on the test. Compared to so many others I've read here, my labs

don't sound that bad but maybe it's a combination of factors. I also didn't

have an enlarged spleen though there was gross enlargement of my gallbladder

and bile ducts, and the " Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatograpy with

Biopsy " showed that both

were

okay. My new doctor

told me that the above test is like an ECRP except that they also scope the

pancreas and they don't when they do an ECRP. Scary to realize that there are

GI specialists who can look at identical tests and one sees nothing to worry

about and another rushes to get me on the transplant list. I am so grateful

for my remission.

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

Just for the record my hands shake also. Would like to see if anyone

has had a doctor they are seeing say what it may be from..

Jody

--- Lynn <CEN32195@...> wrote:

> Could you please define tremors. I get the shakes

> now and then and

> never could figure out why. My hands shake. Lynn

> aih

>

> KATBERCOO@... wrote:

>

> >

> >

> >

> ----------------------------------------------------------------

> >

> > Subject: remission

> > Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 13:13:23 -0700

> > From: " Joe Mooney " <mooneyjo@...>

> > <KATBERCOO@...>

> >

> > Kathy; I am currently in " medication remission " .

> My lft's are in

> > normal limits and have been for several months We

> are weaning me off

> > Prednisone and I am taking 6mp (a derivative of

> imuran) .I am down to

> > 5mg of prednisone. I have not had a biopsy yet.

> Iam kind of scared of

> > one .I had two 20 years ago when I first started

> having problems. Now

> > I worry about a flare up when I try to get off the

> Prednisone. Does

> > anyone else have trouble with tremors also? Lee,

> Oregon

> > --------------------Kathy; I am currently in "

> medication remission " .

> > My lft's are in normal limits and have been for

> several months. We are

> > weaning me off Prednisone and I am taking 6mp (a

> derivative of imuran)

> > .I am down to 5mg of prednisone. I have not had a

> biopsy yet. Iam kind

> > of scared of one .I had two 20 years ago when I

> first started having

> > problems. Now I worry about a flare up when I try

> to get off the

> > Prednisone. Does anyone else have trouble with

> tremors also? Lee,

> > Oregon

>

>

>

===

Jody Compton

Dance like no one is watching. Love like it will never end.

In search of answers..

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[Guest guest]

Lynn,

The docs did the same " test " on me. He said that when the brain is being

affected by the unmetabolized toxins and you hold your hands out, then after

a few seconds they are shaking (alot) then it is time to be evaluating for

encephalopathy. Regular tremor, where the hands just shake for no reason can

be pretty normal. As some of the other posts have said, it can be a

hereditary thing.