"There's a myth that anyone who has a liver problem has brought it on themselves" This quote is from a Crohn's disease patient living with a blocked portal vein hoping for a liver transplant (Independent 31st Oct 2010)

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Hospital

The liver function blood tests that were taken at clinic yesterday, Monday, have come back with the ALT (one of the inflammation markers) spiking at a shocking 660.  (It was in the 20s' until December when it crept up into the 70's.  So I have to pack a bag and get myself into Salford Royal hospital asap, which is going to be first thing Wednesday morning now, as I cant get organised before then.  Dr Al warned me I might be in 'for a few days', as I think he wants to get a biopsy done while I'm there undergoing tests.

That's all I know for now.

Sunday 27 January 2013

Undetectable

Hepatitis B viral load results are back and continue to be undetectable on the reduced dose of Tenofovir.
Appointment tomorrow, Monday, with Dr Al to get a refill prescription and discuss anything that needs discussing.
One of the liver function inflammatory markers has suddenly spiked, though still within range.  I've not had my liver function checked since October, so will ask him to run the usual Liver Function blood tests just to see if anything else is a bit different.

Friday 18 January 2013

MRI and blood test results

After much nagging and cajoling from Dr Caravan's secretary and Mr O'Blimey's secretary the MRI report (MRI done on December 11th) was finally written up on January 9th!
Compared with previous scans and looking at the liver, gallbladder, billiary tree, adrenal glands, pancreas and kidneys, the summary is ....... "No evidence of residual or recurrent disease"  Great news for the start of 2013.
Latest set of blood tests show my kidney function is improving slightly.  Still waiting for the latest viral load result to come back from the lab,(sent 20th December) which will show if taking half the recommended dose of Tenofovir (which the above kidney function test shows my body prefers!) is keeping the virus suppressed.  Update later, when this result is back.
I have a clinic review with the surgeon at the beginning of February to review the MRI report - which will take about 30 seconds and conclude with 'see you in 6 months'.  And a clinic review with the hepatologist in mid-Feburary which will hopefully conclude with 'see you in 3 months for a refill prescription'.
Here's hoping the weather has turned a bit milder by then.  Snow today in Bollington, with ice forecast tonight as temperatures drop again.  I shall be skidding and sliding down the road at 7am tomorrow, hope I can do my 'rounds' of home calls without getting stuck.