POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: krh on July 25, 2006, 06:56:01 pm
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Hello:
I've been reading this site for a few years now and thought I'd finally post. I was hoping to speak with others who have been having liver issues (or fatty liver) either on meds or not. I'm getting worried here about what this might mean for me in the future and ability to take meds.
My situation is this. for a couple of years I was taking viramune and truvade with great results and no side effects for a year and a half. Last year I had a surge in my liver enzymes where I had to stop all medications.
Currently I am still off my meds for about 9 months now and luckily my tcells are about 540 and my VL is about 22,000. Thats the good thing, and a surprise, as I had a VL of 500,000 and tcell=280 when I first started meds about 2 1/2 years ago.
Anyway, since I have stopped my enzyme levels have now always been elevated AST=59/ALT=119, where they had been normal. I also have an annoying fullnes in my upper right abdomen region constantly. My Dr. says its fatty liver (we did two abdominal scans) I drink a beer or two a week on the weekends.. No HEP A/B/C/. I don't do drugs. Not really taking any scripts except for the occasional viagra and sleeping pill.
I thought at this point my liver would have healed itself or getting better.. but the liver enzymes are not going down but seem to be creeping up. My Dr. isnt the most communicative and said I would ust have to live with it with no other explanation as to what may be causing it, or if the viramune cause it.. As I am not the type to wait I'd liek to know what to or other peoples experience. I am afraid that this could limit my ability to take drugs in the future or my lifespan.
Anyone else?
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hey krh,
I'm just starting down this very same track. I've developed a total intolerance of alcohol and had elevated liver enzymes on my last lot of blood work (different ones to you though I think).
I just got back from a liver ultra-sound this morning. The ultra-sound operator told me that I did not seem to have fatty liver or gall stones although I have to wait for the official report next week. I'm waiting for HepC results to come back but I would be totally surprised if that was the case. It is all happening rather qucikly and I was in a bit of a daze when at my doctors on Monday, but I thought in my case he said that he did not think if was my drugs (Kaletra and Truvada) as it was different enzymes in my liver that were raised (I may have got this wrong though). He did raise the possibility that my pills, however, have exacerbated some underlying liver problem that I had not previously been aware of.
He also left me with the impression that if it was fatty liver that a change in diet could change this relatively easily.
sorry I could not be of more help, but at least you're not the only one with liver problems.
steve
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Anyone else?
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Hey KRH,
I have the usual elevated enzymes as a result of my meds. But they have never been too high or a real problem - except when I took a statin to lower my cholesterol.
Then the proverbial manure hit the fan and things went quite a bit haywire. But, when I dropped the statin, things went back to normal.
You and your doc have pretty much ruled out the usual culprits. Has he any idea what may be going on?
HUGS,
Mark
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Not yet. I will prob be going to a liver specialist. I am hoping it is something not serious