POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: fearless on July 25, 2006, 10:24:47 pm
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As some of you may recall I have recently developed an intolerance to alcohol that has been getting worse over the last 6 weeks or so - I now vomit after only 1 drink and generally feel unwell and nauseas all the time.
I raised this with my doctor last week and he took some blood for testing. The tests results came back on Monday and showed that two of my liver enzymes were raised - I can't recall the exact name of the two enzymes that were raised but from what I recall (I was a little dazed at the tiem as my doctor was running through what the results showed) the docotr indicated that the enzymes which were raised were not the usual ones associated with my meds (Kaletra and Truvada). He discussed a number of possibilities - fatty liver, gall stones, Hep C, or an unyet undiagnosed underlying problem with my liver that my pills had exacerbated. He took some more blood for testing and gave me a referral for an ultrasound of my liver, gall bladder and kidneys.
I had the ultrasound this morning and the person conducting the ultrasound said everything looked fine although I will have to wait for the final doctors report. So now, once again, I play the waiting game, thinking the worst, untill I go back to the doctors and get the other results back.
I'm so sick of being sick. Each time I have one of these setbacks it plays havoc with my mental health and self esteem. I feel like I am a failure, that I am vulnerable and weak and just not good enough. I'm so so sick of it. I just want to feel well. I just want to feel normal. I don't want to play this game anymore. :'( :'( :'(
Little Steve
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Hey little guy.
I'm here for you. This is exactly how I was feeling last year. Tired and sick with a memory that played games with me, and completely frustrated. I reached out to you and you helped me....lots. Thanks for that. And now I'm here for you. As are we all.
This is what this friggin' HIV/AIDS things is all about. IF it isn't the virus, it's the meds that bring you down and everyday you have to confront it. EVERYDAY. The hardest thing I do everyday is just waking up. I don't want to. I force myself out of the bed. I force myself to eat. I force myself to exercise. Then I just hope everything else will fall into place for the rest of the day. If it doesn't, then my mind begins playing tricks with me again.
So what's my point? I'm just here for you. That's all. I love you.
robert
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Lil Steve it is Eldon. I am sorry to hear about you being sick all the time. Maybye it is time to quit driking all together. Hope things turn out well and you start feeling better. Don't give in to it. Stay strong, get plenty of rest, and eat healthy meals.
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Steve, I echo Eldon's idea in purhaps stop pushing the liver anymore and drop the drink equation out of your regimen. I for one, get depressed when I drink so that just compounds my problems. I hope you start to feel better and hold on "its the waiting game" that we get to do ever so often... Be Well!!
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Hi Steve
Don't start to panic about this, it is going to be o.k.! I totally understand, it gets so OLD feeling bad and feeling sick. You just want to be your 'old' self, and be normal. Believe me honey, we all do. Many of us have learned that we just can't drink much anymore, it's just not worth being sick for. Ask the Nashville gang -- I drank too much on our first night there, and went around "green" all day the next day....it's going to be a challenge for me to not overdo it in Montreal.
You're not alone in this, remember that. You're loved and cared about by lots of people all around the globe, that's pretty BIG when you think about it. It still astounds me every day. Let us know what you find out.
Love & hugs (but no alcohol!)
Alan
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Hello Steve,
I wish there was something that I could say to ya that would make you feel better, I know how much this is troubleling you. I can read it in your post. A doctor, I am certainly not, so there is so much I don't know or understand, and I can't give you the answers, But try not to think the worse. Let the doctors do their tests, and lets see what they come up with. Back in 1998, I had elevated enzymes, since that time, they had returned back to the normal ranges. Try not to stress out on this, I understand the waiting game. Hang in there, and know that we're here for ya. Let us know what those results are when you receive them.
Take care of yourself/ Try to get some rest------Ray
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Thanks Robert and thanks Eldon,
I know Robert, I know.
I rarely drink anyway Eldon (just with my recent birthday everyone wants to go to dinner and/or have a drink) and have no plans for having a drink anytime soon. But, it is not alcohol causing the problem - the drink just made me aware of it. Now I just feel sick all the time.
Being sick and not knowing why is driving me crazy. I'm worried it is Hep C or some other problem that I am/was not aware of. I'm racking my brain going over everything and everyone I have touched in the last few months, everything that has changed. I was kinda hoping it was fatty liver and that I could do something about it through dietary change.
I'm scared and fucked up and over it. I just want to feel good.
ps thanks Alan and Ray
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Little Steve,
I feel your pain man. I hope the test results show nothing more than a simple probelm with a simple fix.
Like so many others here, I can certainly relate to being sick of feeling sick all the time. :-*
I wish you the best and hope you will keep us informed of the results and how you are doing.
Take care my little short Buddy ;)
Mike
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Hey Steve,
I know where you are coming from as far as the liver scare. Been through 3 sonograms, an MRI and going in for my second catscan in September. All in less than a year. They keep saying everything is okay.......well then leave me the fuck alone I say?
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Hi Little Steve,
I am sorry that you are going through this bad patch right now. Going in rewind about all the possible causes might make you worry more than you need to, I know that's what it does to me. Try not to fret too much over what is past and future... today is big enough to handle.
And you know what? Being vulnerable is ok. I am slowly learning to accept that after HIV put this huge dent in my ("fearless") armor. Take good care of yourself and let us know how you are.
HUGS
Pat
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Hi Stephen
I hope you're feeling MUCH better today !!!
Paul
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Hey Steve,
Lordy honey, I wish there were something I could say or do to make things better.
It sucks, I know. Just when things are going OK in one way, something else pops up and says, "surpise."
I wish I had advice or an answer to give. I don't. All I can say is I will keep you in my thoughts and will be focusing positive energy your way.
(((((((BIG HUG)))))))
Mark
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Steve,
I am sorry to hear you are having troubles right now. I too have recently had problems lately with alcohol. After drinking one beer I get violently ill. This is a far cry from the twelve pack I use to be able to polish off. After just one beer I get hot flashes and I seem to just get hotter and hotter....and I am not talking sex hot! Then the nausea sets in. I've had to go to the hospital because of it. The doctors say I have diverticulitis and somehow the alcohol seems to give me an episode... It's supposedly nothing serious, but it does suck. I am not on meds yet.. different scenario than yours I know.
I don't know Steve it sounds like you might have to go back to the green... how long do you have clean now? Wish I had some....
Take care man and I wish you the best!
Thomas
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Every blood testing my doc does liver evaluation; a couple of my drugs are hard on the ol liver; and I still have my few beers, but no hard stuff; so far so good. As much as I used to drink, it's a wonder I have a liver. Don't know anything about fatty liver, but hep c is treatable and severity of treatment depends on which one of 6 types of hep c. "Being sick" from one thing or another becones common place with most of us, but some things would happen with or without HIV; something I've learned just getting older, we weren't built to live for ever. Not very encouraging is it, never was, just a fact. Be patient, dealing with a major organ, they will find the cause and hopefully a solution.
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Hi Little Steve,
I love that picture of you two on the elephant! That is on my list of things to do...someday.
I have had liver issues for a while, it seems to come and go depending on what meds I am on. My liver was so large in 2002 it was pushing my stomach over to the other side. I've had CT scans, ultrasounds, blood work every since I went on Crixivan which I think was in '94. The doctors have never found any problems, other than the meds effecting the liver.
Since starting on Reyataz last month, my values are up again. More blood work, CT scan, and nothing was found, so they think it is the Reyataz.
Try not to worry. Abnormal liver values for hiv+'s on meds is fairly common. Just be aware of your values, and when starting a new med or changing meds make sure the doctors know about your liver tests.
Christine
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I hope you can find out what the problem is so you can start feeling better soon.
Thinking Of You,
Dan