results in

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I have very much appreciated the responses I've rec'd to my posts

over the last week. Just wanted to share the test results, and the

next few steps that have been planned to deal with the problems.

Also, figured you folks could let me know if it sounds like my docs

and me are going in the right direction.

2nd set of blood tests came back, and results to AB Ultrasound.

Hepatitis panel was negative. Amylase was within normal range, but

lipase was high. Hemoglobin was slightly elevated. Ultrasound

showed Fatty Liver. So, as a round up of health conditions...I have

recurring acute pancreatitis, fatty liver and my cholesterol and

sugar levels continue to rise in small increments, and I've gained

10 lbs in the past 6 months (10 lbs I didn't need to gain). GP has

scheduled me to get another set of blood tests in about a month, to

check the LFT's to see if they've raised, lowered, or stayed the

same.

I've scheduled an appt with my Gastro Doc to go over blood test

results and Ultrasound my GP has had done, and to also just bring

him up to date on fact that most of the time I really am not feeling

too good, and have had more pain & nausea over past couple of months

than in previous months of this year. I've been looking up fatty

liver on internet, and it refers to doing a biopsy to confirm the

diagnosis. My question is, if they are able to diagnose it from the

Ultrasound, then why would a biopsy be done? Does the biopsy

identify if it is " simple " fatty liver as opposed to a more serious

type of fatty liver? How often do the docs really decide to follow

up the ultrasound with a biopsy?

My GP has set up an appt with a dietician, at my request, since I

now seem to be dealing with the need to add " lo-carb " to the diet.

Already on the usual, lo-fat, lo-protein, lo-sodium, lo-cholesterol,

dairy-free diet. Obviously the basically carb diet has helped to

put the weight on, but it was the only thing left when I started

cutting the other stuff. I decided instead of trying to figure out

all the nutrition stuff on my own I would make use of a dietician to

make the learning process a bit quicker.

Also, as a side bar, not really related, my GP felt it was important

at this time for me to get a sleep study reran. Had one about 3 or

4 years ago. They said I had severe sleep apnea, but didn't ever go

any further with dealing with it. My impression of the sleep doc

was not positive. I've agreed to have another study done, by a

different sleep doctor/facility, that way I get to have a second

opinion on the matter.

Hope this finds all of you doing well, and finding much peace within

the soul.

Charmaine

[Guest guest]

Hi Charmaine; I hope your feeling better and not stressing out too

much. I just wanted to share my experience with fatty liver,

sometimes its just fat andnot too much to worry about.

Particularily if the person is a little over weight. Fat will

distribute throughout the body. I had a fatty liver also when all

this started and it was because I was " thick " to say the least; and

this is what my pancreatologist had said as well. I have lost a lot

of weight in the past few years and surprisingly enough so has my

liver (according to my last mri). So if you dont have any

conditions like hepatitis and since they didn't see any cirrhossis

or other scarring I dont think you would require a liver biopsy. I

used to assist the docs doing those and worked veery closely for

some time with 2 hepatologist at MUSC. I am still very friendly

with both of them.

I am very interested to find out what the dietician has to say. I

hope that when you get that diet that you will share it with us.

Perhaps it can be posted on the files section. I think thats the

hardest part; figuring out what we can and can not eat and

sometimes that will change on a daily basis. Its so important that

we maintain a strong nutritional status to aid in our healing

processes but it is soooo difficult to do.

Well I hope I have helped a bit, at least maybe reduced some of the

stress you felt about the liver.

Chrissy

>

> Hi all,

> I have very much appreciated the responses I've rec'd to my posts

> over the last week. Just wanted to share the test results, and

the

> next few steps that have been planned to deal with the problems.

> Also, figured you folks could let me know if it sounds like my

docs

> and me are going in the right direction.

>

> 2nd set of blood tests came back, and results to AB Ultrasound.

> Hepatitis panel was negative. Amylase was within normal range,

but

> lipase was high. Hemoglobin was slightly elevated. Ultrasound

> showed Fatty Liver. So, as a round up of health conditions...I

have

> recurring acute pancreatitis, fatty liver and my cholesterol and

> sugar levels continue to rise in small increments, and I've gained

> 10 lbs in the past 6 months (10 lbs I didn't need to gain). GP

has

> scheduled me to get another set of blood tests in about a month,

to

> check the LFT's to see if they've raised, lowered, or stayed the

> same.

>

> I've scheduled an appt with my Gastro Doc to go over <a

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onmouseover= " window.status='blood test'; return true; "

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> results and Ultrasound my GP has had done, and to also just bring

> him up to date on fact that most of the time I really am not

feeling

> too good, and have had more pain & nausea over past couple of

months

> than in previous months of this year. I've been looking up fatty

> liver on internet, and it refers to doing a biopsy to confirm the

> diagnosis. My question is, if they are able to diagnose it from

the

> Ultrasound, then why would a biopsy be done? Does the biopsy

> identify if it is " simple " fatty liver as opposed to a more

serious

> type of fatty liver? How often do the docs really decide to

follow

> up the ultrasound with a biopsy?

>

> My GP has set up an appt with a dietician, at my request, since I

> now seem to be dealing with the need to add " lo-carb " to the

diet.

> Already on the usual, lo-fat, lo-protein, lo-sodium, lo-

cholesterol,

> dairy-free diet. Obviously the basically carb diet has helped to

> put the weight on, but it was the only thing left when I started

> cutting the other stuff. I decided instead of trying to figure

out

> all the nutrition stuff on my own I would make use of a dietician

to

> make the learning process a bit quicker.

>

> Also, as a side bar, not really related, my GP felt it was

important

> at this time for me to get a sleep study reran. Had one about 3

or

> 4 years ago. They said I had severe sleep apnea, but didn't ever

go

> any further with dealing with it. My impression of the sleep doc

> was not positive. I've agreed to have another study done, by a

> different sleep doctor/facility, that way I get to have a second

> opinion on the matter.

>

> Hope this finds all of you doing well, and finding much peace

within

> the soul.

>

> Charmaine

[Guest guest]

Chrissy,

Thank you for sharing. It did indeed help.

As for the dietician, she is going to have a challenge on her hands. As you

pointed out, what my body tolerates from day to day can be rather varied.

But if I can acquire some of the knowledge about various foods, etc. it

might help...at least I hope so. If I can do things to try and keep things

from getting worse, I want to.

However, if there is some miracle diet this dietician has been keeping under

wraps I will definitely be thrilled to share it with all.

I really feel guilty about posting messages after reading your posts and

many others posts. You folks are the ones really having to tough it out and

deal with illness. I look at my few problems and think maybe I have a real

cake walk. Of course, I realize the future may find me having progressed

much further into this disease, wishing for these good ole days with it.

I truly do hope your surgery goes very well and accomplishes the help and

relief you are in need of.

Wishing you much peace, hope and strength.

Charmaine