Has anyone had Ascites disappear, but then return?

[wildlifegal]

Hi all,

New to the forum. Ascites was what brought me to the doctor in the first place in April. I had already been diagnosed with fatty liver two years prior. I was told to loose weight. I did. 30 pounds. Sadly I never had any follow up.

My doc did lab work, and imaging. For sure liver was not a happy camper. She did nothing else for me but refer me to a specialist. Just had that appointment early June.

I had been researching like mad and asked the original doc in April to prescribe me a diuretic, spironolactone as my ascites was nearly unbearable. She didn't know anything about it, but was fine writing me a prescription. I tinkered with the dose. Gradually going up until I got some relief. I had gradually gotten up to 300 MG and the ascites seemed to be gone! I quit drinking as soon in April. I eat an obsessively healthy diet with liver healthy foods. I take Milk Thistle, NAC, and Schisandra as well as other researched vitamins. I pay for blood tests out of pocket every 2 weeks to keep track of progress. All my numbers have improved a lot. Some are still out of normal range but all headed in the right direction.

When I see the specialist, he orders more tests. Likes that my blood work is getting better. But knows my liver has still taken a hit. Cirrhosis has not been ruled out. (My intuition is that I do have it.)

He took me off of the diuretic cold turkey. All was fine for a week and a half but then the ascites has returned although not as bad as what sent me to the doc in the first place. I'm sad as the return of the ascities as it really felt like a set back. Also the ascities really sucks. Uncomfortable and limiting.

Has anyone else had this happen? I want to go back on the diuretics to stay on top of things so it doesn't get worse. I also don't want to risk infection or breathing problems with all of that fluid hanging around.

Sadly my next follow up with the specialist isn't until mid July. I'm going to call on Monday and be a pushy patient and request a new prescription. Not sure what I will do if they deny me.

Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences you would like to share. I'm very happy to have found this forum.

[Bootandall]

Hi wildlifegal,

Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry I don't know about the ascites, I have had only a minimal amount. I am taking prescribed diuretics for edema. Maybe the specialist wants to tinker with the dose too, without written records that is the responsible thing to do. Be patient and hopefully you will be able to work together on the best course of treatment. Be sure to tell them everything you are taking. Trust your instincts. You will find lots of support and information here 😊👍.

[wildlifegal in reply to Bootandall]

Thank you for your help and support! I hope your edema is doing well.

I am super honest with my doc. Confessed right away that I had been a heavy wine drinker and that was likely the cause of my liver problems. I also gave him a printed list of all of the herbs and supplements I am taking with dosages. I think my frustration stems from having to wait another 4 weeks before seeing him again. I shouldn't complain though. I know many people have long waits for doctors and tests. In the overall scheme of things my wait is not that bad.

[Popel]

Hi there.welcome to the forum I believe milk thistle is bad for the liver for people with cirrhosis also that’s an extreme amount of spiron .i was put on that amount and although it worked initially it started to affect my kidneys so ended up on a smaller amount and furusamide but by that time my cirrosis was to far advanced for diuretics to to do anything. Asities is a horrible condition to go through as many here will testify but always try and be positive as hard as that is sometimes.wish you well.paul

[wildlifegal in reply to Popel]

Thank you for sharing your story. May I ask what the symptoms of your kidneys being affected? Yes the dose of spiron did seem high. I am not someone who even likes to take any pharmaceutical, but was so desperate with the ascities I was willing to take as much as seemingly needed.

I will be patient and hopeful.

[Popel in reply to wildlifegal]

Hi again. When doctors prescribe diuretics they do it with the best of intentions. I happened to be on the same amount which even shocked my pharmacist as he usually hands out much much lower prescriptions but there are different reasons for taking diuretics and not just for asities all I’ll say is to question the amount and ask maybe for a less aggressive diuretic maybe. I happened to have my transplant just in time I suppose .as soon as I was drained I would swell up just as quickly or so it seemed. Just as my kidney results were getting worse.but don’t worry I was on them for over a year.paul

[Popel in reply to wildlifegal]

I will add that I needed to drink plenty of fluid. But had no symptoms from my kidneys.they only got that from my blood work .also I was getting gynocamastia from the spiron which was another reason for me to change medication.

[davianne]

Hi wildlifegal, and welcome, Popel is right, Milk thistle will damage your liver, so stop taking it. I had mild ascites at the start of my cirrhosis journey, but went on it's own without medication. Try and keep away from Dr Google, he will scare the pants off you. For all your information, go to the British LIver Trust website. There are lots of pamphlets there to answer all your questions.

Take Care

David

[wildlifegal in reply to davianne]

Thanks David. Yes Google is a scary wasteland of misinformation more often than not. Sadly it is all we have sometimes. I do make a concerted effort to only pay attention to "trusted" sources. I'm very glad I came across the British Liver Trust. A great resource!

[Bootandall in reply to wildlifegal]

Also keep in mind that there are advances being made in the treatment of causes of liver disease (Hepatitis is one major cause) as well as liver disease itself, it's a fast-breaking field and info becomes quickly outdated

[Aroseamongthorns]

My liver enzymes went up and I took Berberine and Milk Thistle and they returned back to normal. I don't know why anyone thinks it is harmful to the liver?😊