Is that Cirrosis. Please help

[Taz1990]

My ALT is 1349 and AST is 972 and it was higher 4 days ago. I didn't have drink for 5 days before the test. I am a heavy drinker for last eight years and having liver problem for last 6 years.

[andyhawaii123]

Best of luck to you Terry. I can tell you SSDI is much easier to get approval. It can be approved in weeks or months, as opposed to SSI which can take years (because you paid for the SSDI coverage every week) SSI is more a form of disability welfare for people who never paid in, or paid very little in.

Also remember, upon approval your benefits are paid from the date of your original claim, if it does take a while, you would receive a lump sum payment equal to all benefits payable from your original file date. Medicare coverage is given only to SSDI recipients as well (effective one year after  your benefits start.

Wishing you the best.

Andy

Wishing you the  

[terrywillbeok]

thank you , andy.
I have been working since i was 18, i am 36 now. but i dont think i can work 2 jobs 12 hours a day now. and i kind of worry about the insurance costs . anyway thanks again for those nice and helpful information!

[andyhawaii123]

Hi Terry,

I worked for many, many years in business as well a decade in the US Merchant Marines (Lt.Cmdr.- Retired). I collect Social Security Disability Income Insurance benefits (It is known as SSDI -Not SSI), Part of the Social Security deductions on your paycheck pay into the insurance fund, and when considered having a Life Long Debilitating Condition the pay a benefit based on your lifelong earnings. Part of the Benefit is Medicare Part A, Part B (which you pay $104. a month for) and my plan includes Silver Script 100%, No-CoPay Part D prescription coverage.

So, that's how I get Medicare and a percentage of my average lifetime earnings every month.

Andy

[terrywillbeok]

hello andy, how can u have medicare when if u are not 65+.

[Livelife777]

Hi Taz.    If I were you I would want to get into Tx sooner then May.  Not to scare you but your #s are relatively high.  I was kinda in the same boat a few years ago and understand what your going thru.
At this point you need a good Hepatologist and as Andy has said one at a Liver Center would be your best bet.  Perhaps if you can give us your locale we can assist you with that.
You have Hep C and you were also drinking.  That's a bad combo as it will accelerate your liver damage.  Until you get treated for the virus you can't change that aspect, but you must not drink.  Usually it takes 6 weeks of abstinence for the liver to settle down from the alcohol.  You will likely not be able to drink ever again.
Until you get a good Hepatologist and find out whats going on with your liver you want to watch any drugs you take.  This would mean over the counter and also street drugs.  Certain ones will damage your liver even further and could be caustic.  You need to do some investigation and read what substances create havoc with the liver. Everything we eat or drink is processed or filtered thru the liver.  It is an amazing organ and can regenerate if the damage or scarring is at a minimum.  Once its past a point of to much damage it will not reverse.  Therefore you need to walk the straight and narrow until you know what if any damage has occurred,
If you need our help we can advise you as we have all walked in your shoes.  You may want to get a copy of your labs and calculate your "Meld Score". If you type in Meld calculator it will give you the formula.  This kinda gives you an idea of where your at regarding seriousness of this disease.
Know we are here for you Taz.
.....Kim

[andyhawaii123]

Hi Taz,

I'm with Terry regarding the Hep C. I started the treatment on 1/8. I had a little nausea for maybe a day or to and am now completely side effect free. I have to run a 24 week course due to the severity of my Cirrhosis.

At first I was scared to death that my insurance would not cover the drug. It cost $1,125.oo US PER PILL. The first 28 daily pills I received from UCSD Pharmacology had a $32,000.oo US price sticker. I have Medicare from the Federal Government, and they approved 24 weeks, thru June, without any fuss at all. I was really surprised (after racking up over $865,000.00  medical bills with them last year). But as I said them approved it immediately.

Please note. University Liver Centers have specialist NR's and Pharmacists who do nothing but file insurance claims for these types of businesses. That's one reason I suggested you seek out a Liver Center Hepatologist. They are fully prepared to handle you case with top notch expertise....Even if it is hard getting that first appointment.  It is well worth the wait to get the Specialized Medical Professions they provide. I have an entire team at my disposal. And they truly understand what you are going thru.

As always, I wish you, and Everyone the Best  

[terrywillbeok]

dont need to worry too much , ur ultrasound is normal right? and  It is a new pill that cures Hep C, take it once a day for 12 weeks with no side effects. just dont think too much long way to May.

[Taz1990]

Hi there, Thank you for the response and sorry that I couldn't reply earlier. I had Liver ultrason and other blood work done in ER. ALT is 921 AST is 383 AP is 183 and T Bill is 2.0. I have no Idea what are those number means but it lower than before and Ultrason has no sign of Cirrhosis as per doctor at ER. No other test were done. I also diagnosed with hep C last month. The doctor talked to liver specialist and said I am not in danger if I don't do drugs or drink. Does liver enzymes get high due to acute hep C? I told doctor that my alt and ast were in high 300's after abstinence from alcohol and drugs of two weeks and it went up after I drank. The liver specialist can't give me an appointment before May. They can't give me any specific reason why enzymes were high. Doctor said it is a complex issue it could be both, but HCV result is 305. I am really worried and do not no how to wait until May. Please advise and thank you.

[shemarie09]

Hi,

Andy is right. Liver damage can be reversible. I had a patient with similar case too. Amazingly he's okay now. First is to correct your lifestyle then 2nd is to target your cells directly. Only nanotechnology can do that and the only supplement that I researched that has nano technology is the hepasil of usana. It will not only target the signs and symptoms like what synthetic medicines will do, but it will help our cells to fight the disease. Our body is composed of organs, our organs is composed of tissues, and our tissues is composed of cells. Therefore it is really important to target the cells. What country are you in? Usana is an international company & has 21markets all over the world. If your interested to know more let me know and i'll be glad to help.

-Sherielyn

[andyhawaii123]

Taz, Just wanted to add, if you have your lab results, a MELD (Model of End Stage Liver Disease) score can be calculated. It is based on Prothrombin Time (the time it takes for your blood to clot) which is equated to an INR number, and your Bilirubin Level and Creatinine Level.

The INR, Bilirubin and Creatinine numbers are plugged into the MELD calculation and you get a number starting at 6 (least severe) to upwards of the high  20's, 30's or even the 40's. those numbers extremely high numbers are individuals only days from Transplantation. The Meld Score is the exclusive factor used but the National Organ Donor Allocation system to determine the next candidate.

I have Cirrhosis, but have been able turn things around and bring my MELD score from a high of 24 to a current 7. But I will always have a Cirrhotic scarred liver.

Nip it in the Bud as soon as possible is my best and only advise.

Wishing you and Everyone the Best.

Andy

[andyhawaii123]

Hi Taz. It has been my experience that Liver enzymes are a tricky indicator of any type of stage of liver disease. Then jump up and down, and if you've been drinking Heavily, It can take much more time for them to settle. For that reason Liver Enzyme numbers raise flags for further testing, but then may come back down. Therefor my doctors have always looked at the numbers over time, and runs specific tests that more accurately pinpointing the corresponding problem/condition.

I have End Stage Liver Disease, Cirrhosis. Usually if the liver forms Fibrosis and impairs Liver function and blood flow, other secondary conditions exist (Ascites, Portal Hypertension, Edema, Jaundice, Versace Veins, Etc.).

I can only say that the first best treatment of Liver Disease is removal of the primary cause, which simply means removing the alcohol from the equation.

If you have been having "Liver Problems" for years, get checked out by a Hepatologist,  preferably one associated with a Liver Center. If you are still in the progressive stages of Liver Disease, but are not End Stage with fibrotic scarring of Cirrhosis, you can still reverse the damage done. The Liver is amazingly regenerative, to it is scarred from Cirrhosis. If you turn things around before the scarring your odds of greatly improving over time are very good.

Not knowing or acting on this matter will only allow the Disease to Progress further. If you "think" you're developing cirrhosis, that in and of itself is enough to get to the Hepatologist ASAP.

I wish you the best, and pray that things aren't quite as bad as you fear.

Andy