Tipps

[Annie2402]

I have liver cirhossis and following 5 variceal bleeds at one time was emergency admission to A&E then few weeks in hospital I needed drained every 2-3 days anything from 11 - 15 litres at a time. Was decided I was a candidate for tipps which I had year ago. Have not required drainage once since then and apart from very slight ankle swelling am on minimum diuretics. Unfortunately side effect has been low grade HE which has not improved with lactulose rifaxamin. Has anyone else had Tipps and if so has caused some HE and have you tried any other treatments to help with the grain function. I now cannot work as concentration levels are so poor and memory is shocking. I forget words although I know what I am trying to say. Makes me feel bit thick so have tendency not to do much socially

[alfredthegreat]

Hi Annie. I didn't have TIPPS so sorry don't know much about it. I'm post transplant now and after having cirrhosis with a couple of sessions of HE I understand how you feel. Even now my short term memory is not the best and my reasoning can be 'foggy'. Hopefully you will hear from a forum member soon who has had TIPPS treatment. All the best. Alf

[Hidden]

Hi Annie

Like freddythebig I didn’t have TIPPsS either but loads of HE episodes requiring hospital treatment and non hospital treatment- just get on with it type of thing! Have you been told to target going to the toilet 3-4 times a day - for poos that is. Well that’s what a lot of us seem to have been told - I certainly was. It’s a difficult target especially if you are taking prescribed painkillers like Codeine which give you constipation As I understand it! Also have you had any guidance on fluid intake - I was told 2.5 to 3 litres a day. I hope you have been advised these things if not maybe ask Consultant about them? We of course cannot advise you since we aren’t doctors etc so we’re only recounting our own experiences 👍😁. Sounds like you are building your own experiences as well.......

All the best

Miles

[Smyally]

Hii Annie. I had the TIPPS procedure in 2016. Was warned before I had it that there was a chance of developing HE but I was desperate to get my Varical bleeding under control. Low and behold I developed HE within days of the procedure, my stent became blocked. I take rifixamin and lactulose to keep symptoms under control. Some days I feel woolly headed and forget my sentences halfway through. My movements and responses are slower too, that’s why I was advised not to drive. Like Miles I have been advised to drink about 3 litres a day and go to toilet 2-3 times a day. Because my stent became blocked the bleeding came back and is now under control by beta blockers. I have met other people though who have had the TIPPS and it was very successful for them. I don’t do a lot socially because of tiredness. Please don’t let it make you feel like you are thick, because you are not. It is just part of a chronic illness that you have and you have already been through a lot. I’m sure your friends are doing there best to understand what you go through and wouldn’t want you to stop socialising because of it. Take care xx

[Meteocal1]

I had tips as well to stop the esophageal bleeds. It was a life saver and I also had to cope with some HE. However my mild HE suddenly stopped and in my last ultra sound it shows my tips are clogged, yet my varices, have also stopped developing.

Maybe you should ask your doctor about reducing the outflow.

[Annie2402 in reply to Meteocal1]

Thanks for this. My consultant has offered to narrow my tipps but following my bleeds when it was touch and go I have an absolute fear of thus happening again. Just had a tipps check last month and pressures are all good and it's working well so not keen on changing that.