High Ammonia levels in Hep C - help?

Question

My father was diagnosed 5 years ago with Hep C and just now he has started throwing up all of his meds. He is at the point where he is tired of going to the doctors and gettting a run-around. He takes Lactulose but now he is throwing it up as well. He is not confused or yellow but what other signs do I need to look for. Here my doc is closed and if I tell him to go to ER he refuses at which I undertand! Help

Answer 1

if your father has hcv, he really should be seen asap. high amonia levels are due to either the liver and/or the kidneys.it could be a product of waste from eating foods high in protein, ie, red meats.The liver converts ammonia to urea, which is excreted into the urine by the kidneys. In the presence of severe liver disease, ammonia accumulates in the blood because of both decreased blood clearance and decreased ability to form urea. Elevated ammonia levels can be toxic, especially to the brain, and may play a role in the development of hepatic encephalopathy. high amonia can simply mean he is not taking his medication as well, is he more swollen now compared to when he was taking his lactulose? if he is not yellow, but turns yellow, it could indicate anemia, liver cancer or bilirubin build up.
with hcv there are many bi-directional diseases-that is, diseases that are secondary to the hcv. it sounds as though maybe his kidneys are involved.

hcv resides in all tissues and organs, not just the liver. when an organ is diseased, it causes the other organs to work harder and in turn it eventually damages them as well.

your fathers vomitting could be from anything. the flu, the 24 hour bug has been going around as well, but it could be something more serious.

i understand your fathers frustration with the medications. he obviously needs these to sustain a longer life.

you did not say if he was ever treated with antivirals. do you know what stage and grade his liver damage is?

depression runs rampant with hcv because not only does the virus pass the blood brain barrier, the toxins your fathers liver is unable to process also build up causing an upset in how the brain regulates the chemicals and how they communicate. this is one reason why he is so "tired" - aside from the physical lethargy he is experiencing. if i were you, i would call the ent's directly, explain your situation- and see if they can get him to go to the emergency room. if you explain that he is tired of the mascarade and you feel he is depressed and not thinking clearly, they may be able to take him without his consent.

i feel for you both. hcv is not something people plan on getting and it certainly is debilitating-mentally, physically, emotionally and i completely understand why your father is so tired of the run around. i put up with it for almost 27 years-17 of it was misdiagnosed as simple "major depression". the last ten i spent telling my doctor there was something wrong....finally i got lucky-i fired my doctor, saw a new one, explained to the doctor that a person doesn't become depressed for no physical reason, ended up getting referred to a gastrointerologist and was on treatment within three months after diagnosis.

unfortunately, sometimes you have to take matters in your own hand....if there is an inkling of hope for your dad, it might begin with finding a new gastro. if he isn't seeing one now, chances are he is getting the run around....

last but not least, the newest treatment seems to be a positive for those with hcv, infergon (not sure of the spelling) and ribavirin. they are in phase 4 studies and are still looking for participants (a good way to get your meds for free)
meanwhile, call committment to care (shering plough)-1-800-521-7157), you will of course have to tell them your father is not on meds this time, but they might be able to help gear you in the right direction (they are awesome towards people calling who aren't on their meds)-be prepared to answer questions they may have for you.

good luck, prayers and hugs,

Answer 2

Vomiting is worrisome if it continues, especially if it also has blood or any coffee-ground type material. In any case, keep him hydrated with liquids. I'm very sorry to hear about your father, and the throwing up might or might not be due to the Hep C's affect on the liver but I would still go to the doctor and see what the lab work shows.

Hepatitis C causes liver inflammation and eventual liver cirrhosis. Signs of cirrhosis are a slight tremor of the hand (asterexis), dark blue veins on abdomen (caput medusae), and fluid in the abdomen (ascites) to name a few. Lactulose gets rid of the rise in ammonia (because the liver is no longer able to convert it to urea for excretion). If any of these signs exist, the disease is progressing and he should be assessed further.

Good luck.

Answer 3

The high ammonia levels can and will make him nauseous. He needs to go back to his doc to see if he can get some type of anitmetic. Like phenergan. This will help with the nausea. He absoultly needs his medication and he needs the lactulose. The lactulose pulls the ammonia from the GI tract. Please have him follow up with his doctor. Do what ever you have to. You may put a call into his doc's office, tell them that he is vomiting. The doc may then order somthing for him.

Good luck, god bless

Answer 4

Blood ammonia stages are something that would desire to be monitored with any liver affliction. Ammonia is a classic byproduct of protein metabolism. Protein is broken down via intestinal micro organism. A wholesome liver has no difficulty changing ammonia to urea and urea is filtered out of the blood and excreted in urine. yet while the liver is impaired, it somewhat is unable to transform ammonia into urea and the point of ammonia, it somewhat is poisonous, will boost. This situation of extreme ammonia stages is mentioned as hyperammonemia and it somewhat is considered in acute liver failure that may comprise a situation mentioned as hepatic encephalopathy. have you ever observed any differences on your pal's habit, sleep kinds or temper? Your pal's breath would scent musty or extremely candy, his palms would have a tremor, he would have some difficulty concentrating. those are all consequences of extra advantageous ammonia stages. There are drugs, like bonzoate and phenylacetate, that decrease serum ammonia. Lactulose, an basic laxative, is extensively utilized to get rid of extra ammonia from the bowel. "what degree of Hep C does the affected person would desire to have photos?" -- while the liver can not convert sufficient ammonia into urea to maintain ammonia stages interior ordinary. "we havent talked thoroughly to the wellness care expert yet" -- is this individual extra advantageous than a chum? Do you have DPOA? He would would desire to nominate one and he would want an strengthen Directive. I strongly advise one. yet in the previous you submit from now on questions, communicate to the wellness care expert. Write down all your questions and concerns as they ensue to you the two and then once you spot the wellness care expert, conceal the record and get each and every thing spoke back, each and every thing addressed and in in words your pal knows. Get nicely suited spellings for unfamiliar words. For any drugs/remedies, your pal would desire to comprehend what they're for and what he would desire to assume interior the way of hazards, advantages and area consequences.