Brain Fog, possible HE, Cirrhosis lethargy

[Lola1977]

Hello all, first time poster. I’ve not had blood drawn yet as with Covid I’d like to stay away from hospital settings as much as possible living in a cramped room somewhere in Brittany, France. I’ve been alcohol free for a year after a good 20 years of abuse floating this way and that, 45 year old woman no kids not much family.. was hoping to really feel the physiological effects of sobriety by now and there have been some improvements namely a bit of weight loss, able to walk for longer periods of time (!), easy walk up the stairs…I’ve still got extremely bad brain fog, which to be fair I can’t drive so not too harmful for others, and just 2 days ago after obsessively poring over sobriety pages and podcasts came upon the symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy and ammonia which is good for my hypochondria 😆I don’t have any pains in the area but I do get bloated quickly, the fog is still the shroud of Turin and I’m pretty sure it’s just brain damage from now on. I suppose my question is has anyones mental fog improved since treatment with lactulose or rifaxamin? Either or? Other meds? I was taking l tyrosine and glutamine and have since stopped both and the fog has worsened. Or not I can’t really tell. Thank you for any insight or shared experiences this along with Covid been a lost and lonely nightmare.

[Lola1977]

Having obsessively looked up all related posts it looks like I’m not alone 😛 I guess deep down I’d like to hear from people who’ve somewhat recovered in the brain. Thank you.

[Ewife]

Hello It's important to see a Doctor as soon as possible really to rule out these things. If you did have HE this can sometimes be a medical emergency. However, you may not have anything wrong with your liver, so no point barking up the wrong tree either. A lot of Liver disease symptoms are not as simple and straightforward as they appear on Google or podcasts etc, and people fall into a trap of becoming convinced they have these ailments the more they read about them. Visit a Dr and explain your concerns. I hope they will be able to put your mind at rest. You've done the right thing by going abstinent, well done conquering that one on your own in a pandemic!!

Wish you all the best,

Ewife

[kensimmons in reply to Ewife]

Ewife is correct.

1. You mentioned that you diagnosed yourself after surfing the internet. All of sudden you put two and two together and you diagnosed yourself. That is common and it is not liver disease, it is simply your brain playing tricks on you. Lockdown isn't helping either, without contact with people our minds can start playing games.

2. In the less likely event you do have HE first off if you really had it badly you would not be able to sit, read and type as you have done. So if you have it, it's not a bad case. If you do have it after all then it can be treated with pills and drinks. It's not pleasant (you may need to get to the bathroom quickly sometimes) but it then goes away and a lot of people can stop taking these drugs forever or until it comes on again. But it is, in the vast majority of times, not permanent at all. You can, to be crude "discharge" it out with these medicines.

Only a doctor, and I am not one, can give you a diagnosis, a correct one not a google diagnosis, so go see one and stop stressing out until you get an accurate plan. But don't put off seeing one, the earlier you catch it the better it will be.

See a doctor, don't worry for now and good luck!

[Lola1977]

Thanks all I’m sure it’s a pain to hear repeated posts like this. I’ll have a better idea after a couple doctors appointments and proceed from there. Again, thanks for the responses makes one feel less lonely.

[Ewife in reply to Lola1977]

Don't feel a pain.....sometimes we know what we need to do really, but it helps to hear others say it too. Hope you get seen quickly and are feeling better soon.Best wishes