Well, the Ambien wasn't it. It was somewhat of a long shot but it definitely was not the reason for my liver numbers continuing to increase. As you recall, two weeks ago the alkaline phosphatase was 1147, a week ago, it was 1198, and this week, a stunning 1900. What the hell? My bilirubin is just 1.2 but that alkaline phosphatase is just unreal.
What is left? Well, I take 650mg of sodium bicarb each morning and night and I received that when I was in the hospital. I am taking 75mg of iron which should not be a problem and I am taking 5000 units of Vitamin D which also should not be an issue. Finally, I am taking 40mg of lasix every morning but lasix is given to people with kidney and liver failure all the time so it should not be the cause.
What is going on? Why won't these liver number come back to earth? They dropped so nicely when I was in the hospital that we were sure it had to be something different that was going on at home compared to the hospital but we can't figure it out. The TPN formula and rate is the same, the fluids are similar. I am actually taking fewer medicines that I was in the hospital. I am not jaundiced and don't feel ill in any fashion other than the fatigue and abdominal cramps (left side, not liver side).
So, I am trying to find out if there is a hepatologist (liver doctor) I should see or my GI doc or what. This is just starting to be crazy. Every week my liver acts up is another week I am delayed for surgery. Another week I don't eat. Another week of the isolation not eating brings with it.
Think about it. Someone gets a promotion? Go out to eat to celebrate! Daughter graduating from High School? Senior Luncheon! Someone having a birthday? Cake and ice cream! Leaving work early for drinks? Lets have some appetizers with that! Not eating kinda puts a damper on the celebratory, recreational, or social activity of eating...
The food craving for this week is nuts. I don't like many nuts but pistachios along with cashews (not really nuts but a seed) are the foods that have been running through my mind. There are other things but those two have been the regular visitors this week. I still get small amounts of juice (vented through the PEG tube) and the occasional otter pop but nothing of substance.
Are you taking the bicarb by pill or iv? Same as in hospital?
ReplyDeleteBicarb by pill and wait an hour to allow it to be absorbed and then empty my stomach contents. In hospital was through iv.
ReplyDeleteI talked to Hermik and she suggested one possibility is that when you get IV bicarb, your liver is essentially bypassed. It doesn't have to do any work to metabolize the bicarb. When you take it orally the liver has to work ahrder and may not efficiently metabolize the bicarb. She is not a doctor, just a pharmacist, maybe you could ask your doctor if a switch to IV bicarb is in order.
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