"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)

Friday 1 June 2018

Update 2018

 Two years since the last post, how neglectful.

My liver is still scanned every 6 months and shows no sign of cancer.

My Hep B remains undetectable.  However the Tenofovir proved toxic to my kidneys and was changed to Entecavir. I've been on that a year and kidney function seems stable. 

The osteopenia of 2016 progressed to osteoporosis.  After much thought and discussions with the helpline nurses at the National Osteoporosis Society I agreed to take Risedronate a bisphosphonate which should slow the rate of bone turnover and density loss.
I no longer take a calcium supplement as the artificial dose was leaving too much calcium in my blood serum, so I make sure i get enough from diet.  I still supplement Vit D3.

My Autoimmune hepatitis  No more 'flares' but am still stuck on the maximum dose of Azathioprine immunosuppressant my body can process (but with lower than acceptable lymphocytes)  and low dose steroids (Prednisolone) to control the liver inflammation.  Apart from the bone loss, part of which is age, the only side effects of the steroids seem to be bruising and muscle tremor.

I retired in March 2017 and finally got my pension sorted in May 2018!  

I still walk dogs for the Cinnamon Trust adding Lucy and Mitzi to Buster who I have now walked for 2 years

Lucy rides in the stroller as she is 15 and has arthritis



In December we fostered Khia, a 13 year old Springer spaniel who has now become a permanent resident