Noah's day in Pitt w/ Pulmonology

January 31, 2007

Noah will be scheduled for a sleep study.

The pulmonologist did say however, that she feels that he probably is

suffering from hepatic encephalopathy. She said she recommended that I

trot myself down to the hepatology office and ask Amy for a standing

lab order for LFTs and bile acids and ammonia. She said that HE many

times does not show up on lab tests though. But that that should not

prevent the patient from getting treatment. She said she can only help

rule out the sleep end of things and write up a report with her

feelings on HE and hope that they take them into consideration.

When I went to ask for the lab order, Amy asked if this " woman " had

ever seen an HE patient...so I take it that they did not like what I

was bringing to the table. (Don't shoot the messenger!) So, here's to

advocating! I just hope that something good can come from today.

The chronic cough may be coming from an enlarged uvula that hits the

back of his tongue. Amy said they could cut that down a bit...was that

a joke? Seriously...I could not tell! Has anyone heard of that? The

uvula is not infected or anything, we just grow them big. LOL! (BTW,

my husband has that annoying cough too, so Amy did suggest ---this was

a joke---if he sleeps with his mouth open to cut that. LOL! And that

kitchen scissors would do.)

What does HE mean to you all who have been through this? To me it

means a treatment so that he can function? Does it mean more? ESLD?

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