Hi

I know I have been quiet here for some time, but I'm still around. I am a little confused and concerned of late. In November I started gaining weight, fatigue increased, Liver enzymes up times 5 since previous July, viral load up times 3. The doctor did a lot of blood work, abdominal ultrasound, and really didn't tell much. He did want me to go back to a specialist, but for what? It is now June. I went to the doctor yesterday for the first time since October. Weight is still going up, retaining fluid, bp is going up. Now for the bad news. for the last eight years or so my life has revolved around work with disabled adults. 16 months ago I got out of residential and into day programming in an attempt to control the number of hours I work. As usual my performance evals were great. I got a nice raise, then in April the bottom the fell out. Due in part (or in whole) to my behavior changes(I was not aware), my staff decided that I was suddenly inncompetent or on drugs. They called HR to complain about me. No one would tell me what was up. To some extent they still won't. They said that I was forgetting things, acting weird, exhibiting inappropriate behavior. I was floored. I knew I was very tired, I knew I was slower to process things, I knew my family had some concerns, but I had no idea that I was presenting strange behavior at work. I had to call my boss and tell her that I did not have a drug problem, I had a health problem. I still am having trouble determining what kind of behavior I am exhibiting and why. My mother (a nurse) says that at times I appear drunk or even belligerant(sp?). My kids are worried and my husband can't read me. I finally talked to my doctor about all this yesterday. He seemed very concerned. He is running more labs. He has worked with me professionally as well as seeing me in the office. He knows the quality of my work. I am finding it more and more difficult to function. My work has never been effected before. I am really freaked out because I don't realize that I'mbeing wierd. I ask the same questions repeatedly, can't rember where I'm going when I drive, pass out, slurr words, and loose everything I touch. I am hoping this is not related to amonia. I will find out soon. Has anyone ever experienced this or heard of it. This is different than the brain fog and fatigue that I have experienced in the past. This is making me nervous. Any response would be appreciated.

Thanks
Restless

Hi

I know I have been quiet here for some time, but I'm still around. I am a little confused and concerned of late. In November I started gaining weight, fatigue increased, Liver enzymes up times 5 since previous July, viral load up times 3. The doctor did a lot of blood work, abdominal ultrasound, and really didn't tell much. He did want me to go back to a specialist, but for what? It is now June. I went to the doctor yesterday for the first time since October. Weight is still going up, retaining fluid, bp is going up. Now for the bad news. for the last eight years or so my life has revolved around work with disabled adults. 16 months ago I got out of residential and into day programming in an attempt to control the number of hours I work. As usual my performance evals were great. I got a nice raise, then in April the bottom the fell out. Due in part (or in whole) to my behavior changes(I was not aware), my staff decided that I was suddenly inncompetent or on drugs. They called HR to complain about me. No one would tell me what was up. To some extent they still won't. They said that I was forgetting things, acting weird, exhibiting inappropriate behavior. I was floored. I knew I was very tired, I knew I was slower to process things, I knew my family had some concerns, but I had no idea that I was presenting strange behavior at work. I had to call my boss and tell her that I did not have a drug problem, I had a health problem. I still am having trouble determining what kind of behavior I am exhibiting and why. My mother (a nurse) says that at times I appear drunk or even belligerant(sp?). My kids are worried and my husband can't read me. I finally talked to my doctor about all this yesterday. He seemed very concerned. He is running more labs. He has worked with me professionally as well as seeing me in the office. He knows the quality of my work. I am finding it more and more difficult to function. My work has never been effected before. I am really freaked out because I don't realize that I'mbeing wierd. I ask the same questions repeatedly, can't rember where I'm going when I drive, pass out, slurr words, and loose everything I touch. I am hoping this is not related to amonia. I will find out soon. Has anyone ever experienced this or heard of it. This is different than the brain fog and fatigue that I have experienced in the past. This is making me nervous. Any response would be appreciated.

Thanks
Restless

I have experienced all or nearly all of this. It was before I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia. As you know, the liver is responsible in large part for blood sugar balance (yes, its the isles of langer hans or whatever in the pancreas that produce--or fail to produce--insulin, but its the liver that stores sugar, creates glycogen, restores sugar to the blood, converts it to fat, protein to glucose, etc. etc.) So, liver disease can lead to remarkable and regreatable blood sugar fluctuations.

I had to cut out all sugars and simple carbs and convert to frequent, small, protein centered meals or snacks, to get my blood sugar, insulin and glucagon back in balance, at which point all the symptoms disappeared within severl days. Amazing. They come back with a single hot fudge sundae, or if I go too several hours without food--especially protein or very slow (very high glycemic, complex) carbs.

See if a glucose tolerance test can be included by your doc. A five hour test is best, but the three hour test is okay, too. Just have someone there to drive you home, or call a cab. IF you are prone to hypoeeglecemia (or hypERinsulinemia), you will not be safe to drive after drinking that sugary test solution.

Ask your doc what he (or she) thinks about this.

Hope you are helped by this.

sean

Thanks
The doctor did say something about checking my blood sugar. I do think that the symptoms of "drunkeness" that people report to me increase after meals. I did not understand the conection between glucose and liver function. Thank you agian. This at least makes me hopeful that I may regain some control before I wind up losing a job that I love. I will talk to my doctor again when my labs come back.
Restsless

Low blood sugar can indeed cause those problems. In the beginning, in addition to the things Sean mentioned, I had to cut out all fruit and even vegetables with starch or natural sugar. I snacked on a lot of celery sticks and cheese.

I've seen the brain thing in a lot of people who do not get sufficient rest. Myself included.

Hopefully your doc will keep at it until he gets to the bottom of what is causing those symptoms.

I was just browsing because my brother told me last night that his doctor said his liver enzemes were high and he probably had HepC. He was just diagnosed with hypothyroid last week. He was experiencing quite the same symptoms you are. Slurred speech especially, I thought he was drunk, but he hasn't drank for years. Before I was diagnosed with hypoT, I slurred my words, talked like an idiot. Maybe you should also check your thyroid.