Cirrhosis Support Group

Jim's home and sleeping sound. Going through all the doctors note and the changes in his medication. Apparently, no alcohol is helping his blood pressure, too. He's down to one medication. He's been on as many as four medications just to control the BP. She did lower the Fentanyl which I still blame for most of his problems. Jim's frightened the pain will return and an unhappy camper. Tried to tell him they have one more step up dosage if need be but 50 mcg is too much!

The big change was....stop the Xifaxin. Keep the lactulose. Reasoning was his ammonia was low! 16. Low ammonia, no need for the extra meds. Duh....could it be low because the extra med is working? Keeping him on it and the lactulose until we see the hep doctor in 2 weeks.

Too low? that is weird. Atleast you don't have to worry about H.E. for a while

I think I'd keep him on it until the Hepa takes him off. I take both, can't do without the Xifaxin because the lactulose doesn't make me go more than once a day, that's at 3 doses a day. We already tried no Xifaxin and just lactulose and I had a bad HE spell. The Xifaxin kills any bacteria in the stomach, not just regulate the ammonia level.

I would be very cautious messing around with xifaxin. My mom went off it after leaving the hospital since we have insurance issues and could not get it...she went right back in without it, that is where her handwriting got all wonky and just little scribbles or numbers. I have to order it from Canada and I am so grateful cause without it she would not be here.

Did not mean his ammonia was too low but so low he did not need additional management. I got a 90 day supply from the manufacturer so going to stay on it until he sees the other doctor.

Your hep is the doctor that should tell what to do about medicines concerning the liver. I'm not seeing my transplant surgeon for my heart!

I agree. Let the Hep make those decisions......

Better safe than another bad HE episode.....

Jackie;

First off - THRILLED he's home! He's aware of things now? Maybe now things can calm down a little bit?

Was it the Hep that changed it? I agree with the others unless the Hep doctor changes it, aint broke don't fix it.

I hope things are better for you now...

Nope...just the hospitalist. She said she spoke with the hep doc. He's so different man, Booky. He's the man prior to the one that got sick in March. He's the man that looked at the front door and said we needed curtains on the tiny windows.....because he's on a portable toilet in the front room. He is SO clear headed. I only thought he was back a few weeks ago.

No no, not a hospitalist! Wait until you see the hep! Sorry, just no good memories of my first hospital visit.