Hello,
I was wondering if people diagnosed with cirrhosis would kindly advise what their symptoms of HE were/are, in particular in relation to medication they have been prescribed.
I’m taking long term medication, and now get a fuzzy head ( like elastic bands) and concerned this is a form of HE.
not been diagnosed with cirrhosis, but am going for a fibroscan in a couple of weeks. Do have fatty liver, and feel cirrhosis has been missed, hence the fibroscan
Hello 👋 Did your doctor say if the blood thinners you're on could cause that funny feeling in your head?
It doesn't seem to have assured you that your blood tests are normal but, if you had liver disease or anything going on with the liver at all, blood tests would show it! I know for a fact. l have cirrhosis and l have a sh**t ton of blood tests every six months, they wouldn't draw so much if they didn't show anything.
Thank you for the response Bootandall.
The doctor didn’t seem to think headaches are being caused by the blood thinners. - he has changed them recently but to no avail I’m afraid. Know googling symptoms isn’t the best thing to do, but I have read several posts that say liver disease/cirrhosis can cause people to have sensitivity to medication and their side effects, as the liver does not remove toxins effectively as it does for people with normal livers.
In addition to the headaches, I have recently started experiencing a dull ache where the liver is, and a little muscle loss in my legs. And unfortunately my anxiety is quite high at present
It's a bugger of a thing. I was diagnosed by my children who called 999. I had no symptoms in my thinking. I was 163 years old could not operate my diabetic tester I went walkabout in the hospital loads of symptoms but not to me I was away with the fairies. Unfortunately it's a not well known disease to the average doctor. It has a devastating result (no driving etc). I currently feel fine. Take riflaximin twice daily. Lactose when necessary (less than 2 stools daily. Soft). See if you can get a blood test for ammonia level.
Thank you Heslinhones. Sorry to hear about your symptoms and diagnosis, but good that you are feeling fine.
Yes an ammonia test might be the way to go.
I am not sure if HE is the same in everyone, I think some things are but not all. For me very forgetful, not the usual, ‘walk into a room and don’t know why you are there’, it is different to that, its hard to describe. I can’t say words or finish any sentences, I cant remember anything. I can be awful snappy, frustrated, annoyed. It happened once out of the blue but since then I see a change in myself and I know, my doc checks my ammonia and sure enough it has gone up. The thing is I also have the menopause fuzzy, mashed brain but that feels different. Most of the time I am ok, I take rifaximin and lactulose everyday. I notice it gets worse if I haven’t been eating properly (not enough fruit, veg etc..) or have not had my lactulose regularly (it sometimes makes me very sickly).
I am on Rifaximin, Furusomide, Aldactone, Carvedilol, Ursofalk and lactulose.
I am on a similar list of medications: rifaximin, lactulose, carvedilol, triamterene and vitamin d.
Same observation regarding diet, it really makes a huge difference in how I feel in general but also tummy bloating and pain.
Tom maybe your anxiety is causing distress in the stomach area? The liver is very near to the digestive organs (pancreas, gallbladder, stomach) and pain in the gut and stress headaches can both be caused by anxiety and/or diet. I appreciate you being so worried (I'm American, haha) but maybe you can try eliminating trigger foods such as red meat (bacon, deli meats are harder for me to digest) and animal fats (cream cheese, cheesecake, etc) and see if that helps. Also sulfites in processed foods and msg can cause headaches. I hope this helps! x
Thanks Bootandall.
Yes, could be anxiety related, but generally my diet is pretty good. Hardly eat red meat or processed food, and try to eat a lot of fruit, veg, fish and drink quite a lot of water.
God willing the fibroscan is fine and the headaches are not liver related.
Hepatic encephalopathy 
Hepatic Encephalopathy 
Hepatic Encephalopathy 
