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Hi Walt,
I'm glad to see you are back up and running again. I missed your BB.
My roommate is 59 years of age, has been a fairly heavy drinker most of his adult life. Several months ago, his belly started to get bigger. He thought it was because of drinking too much beer. He put himself on a weight loss program using Slim-Fast. That didn't seem to help with the large belly so he cut way back on the beer drinking. His mother came to visit at Christmas and was very alarmed at the amount of weight he'd lost. He hadn't lost very much weight but was starting to look thin in his upper arms, legs and neck and looked gaunt. He said it seemed like all his upper body mass was dropping to his belly. Now I know it was muscle wasting.
He finally went to the doctor last Tuesday. His belly was now huge, his arms and neck look emaciated and he's very tired.
I did a lot of searching on the internet last week starting with your BB archives. I thought it might be cirrhosis so I research that and everything I came up with said to use Milk Thistle. I read reports that Milk Thistle can reduce the swollen belly back down to normal size within an 8 week period. Yes, I know it may or may not happen in his case, but it certainly was encouraging. He has NOT had any vomiting of blood that I read about.
His blood tests came back on Thursday. His doctor said his bloodwork looked pretty good with the exception that he was anemic. He had an ultrasound done on Friday. The doctor said it showed that he had an enlarged liver. Now he'll be getting a referral to a gastroenterologist who will probably do a biopsy. Unfortunately, he has an HMO and
it's been a battle just to have the ultrasound done in a timely fashion.
My roommate has stopped all drinking. I got the Milk Thistle that he has been taking since last Thursday morning (he's taking 3 caps a day at 250 mgs. each cap). His doctor recommended that he eat a lot of red meat (that was last Thurs. after getting the blood work results). He is also taking 3 grams of Vit. C, a mutliple vitamin, Omega 3 fish oil capsule, zinc, and a potassium/calcium tab. He has stopped adding salt to his food. He also has high blood pressure which he has had for years and is taking Lotensin 20mg, and Coreg 6.25 mg.
He feels better as a result of the above. He lost 5 pounds over the weekend and his belly has gone down somewhat.
He also has been having diarhhea. The meat he has been eating is lean and he has had almost no fats.
He's not sure what he should be eating. It looks to me like it's cirrhosis of the liver, given his drinking history but of course, I don't know this for a fact. I'd really appreciate any input you could give. I've read that the liver is capable of considerable regeneration. If this does turn out to be cirrhosis, what do you think his chances are for a full recovery?
Thanks for your willingness to be here for people!
In Reply to: Dr. Stoll: Need advice for roommate who has liver problem... posted by Mary on March 05, 2002 at 13:41:06:
Hi Mary,
I'm only guessing from the symptoms, but your roommate sounds like he has liver failure. My dad had the same symptoms. He died from sclerosis of the liver.
Maybie since your roommate has stopped drinking and is willing to take herbs, he can prolong his life.
In Reply to: to Mary Re: Dr. Stoll: Need advice for roommate who has liver problem... posted by katie on March 05, 2002 at 15:34:13:
well, eating lotsa red meat will probably make things worse, since his liver is mostly shut down....
he should instead go on a liquid FAST, taking in a lot of veggie juices, with lotsa dark leafy greens like spinach, and some beetroots, 2 quarts per day (not fruit!!) he may loose more weight, but it will be temporary, just shedding off diseased tissues.
In my practice I tell this kind of people to go on a parasite program IMMEDIATELY, like the Hulda Clark program.
w/out this step, everything else you may try will not work.
then, after 10 days or so, start with liver cleanses, one every week, until he doesnt get any more stones out for at least 3 cleanses in a row.
I had miracle "cures" just buy following these 3 crucial steps.
In Reply to: Dr. Stoll: Need advice for roommate who has liver problem... posted by Mary on March 05, 2002 at 13:41:06:
What's the mechanism behind the belly blowing up when there's a liver problem? I know this to be true but was wondering what the mechanism is that causes it.
In Reply to: Dr. Stoll: Need advice for roommate who has liver problem... posted by Mary on March 05, 2002 at 13:41:06:
Hi, Mary.
He has cirrhois with ascites until proven otherwise!
He absolutely must never touch alcohol again if he wants to live. It may already be too late.
I would suggest alpha-lipoic acid, selenium and milk thistle (see the liver archives) as well as the castor oil packs! I would also suggest he find an enlightened physician who would know how to use true "liver function tests" rather than the "liver death tests" he undoubtedly has had done up to now (also liver archives).
Walt
In Reply to: Re: to Mary Re: Dr. Stoll: Need advice for roommate who has liver problem... posted by ricky D.C. on March 06, 2002 at 03:52:19:
Absolutely right, ricky!
I made no mention of this since he so obviously is not being managed correctly already.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: to Mary Re: Dr. Stoll: Need advice for roommate who has liver problem... posted by ricky D.C. on March 06, 2002 at 03:52:19:
Hi Ricky,
Thanks for your input. What do you mean by "stones"? From the liver (never heard of this) or from the gall bladder?
I'm checking into the Hulda Clark program.
My roommate has an HMO and he doesn't have a lot of money so he is definitely handicapped so far as to what doc he can see. I doubt seriously that he will be able to consult with an enlightened doctor because of the money situation. UNFORTUNATELY, "good" docs, the ones that could really help him regain his health are mostly available ONLY to the wealthy.
I just hope that he will get well. He certainly seems motivated. He just doesn't know HOW to help himself and neither do I which is why I've spent time doing research.
Several friends have been suggesting that he do this, that, and the other, which is causing him to get PO/d. He is not the type of individual who will do a search on the internet or read books in order to self treat or at least gather helpful information so that he can take charge of his health. He tends to rely on his doctor's advice even
though he is distrustful of mainstream doctors.
I must admit, the idea of using castor oil packs causes apprehension. Years ago, my L elbow had been bothering me. I decided to take the "bull by the horns" and do something about it. I got an Edgar Casey book that recommended the use of a warm castor oil pack applied to the elbow. I awoke in the middle of the night with such intense pain that it caused me to go to the emergency room. It took me a week of trying acupuncture and then going to my family doc who prescribed Orudis. Within a day, the pain had subsided. I would never try this again UNLESS I was under the care of an enlightened physician, providing I could afford it.
I detest this medical system of ours. Thirty years plus of insurance companies paying doctors outrageous fees. As far as I'm concerned the insurance companies "trained" docs and vets for that matter, to expect higher and higher amounts of money from patients via their insurance companies. About 30 years ago I worked for a couple of vets in a large metropolitan area. As I recall, an office visit costs $5.00. Now if you take your pet into a vet, you're lucky to get out of their spending $75 to $100.
Then there are the lawyers and their lawsuits! BUT if traditional docs would police their own ranks instead of looking the other way when a bad doc does damage to a patient, maybe there wouldn't be nearly as many lawsuits. I met a woman (an LVN) who lost her arm up to and including the elbow because of a doc's gross error/negligence. UNBELIEVABLE!! And it happens a lot!
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!! And patients are at the mercy of this terrible medical monopoly.Worst of all, there are still so many people, many who are very well educated, who still believe they are receiving the best care available. IF THEY ONLY KNEW! Fortunately, more and more people are realizing what trouble we as citizens are in with respect to health care.
Sorry, didn't mean to go on about this. I just see what's happening to people and it makes me angry!
Thanks for your advice. If I may ask what part of the country do you practice in?
In Reply to: Re: Dr. Stoll: Need advice for roommate who has liver problem... posted by Curious on March 06, 2002 at 04:27:08:
Hi, Curious.
IF you live up to your name, you need a good health-care book.
Look up ascites.
Basically, the scarring (definition of cirrosis) blocks the outflow of blood from the liver and that causes the back pressure to squeeze serum through the blood vessel and cellular walls. That fluid accumulates in the peritoneal space.
Walt
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