Guest guest Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thank you Abijann! Lots of hugs and kisses to everyone. Lyncia From: abijann <no_reply > Subject: Review of Cirrhosis To: livercirrhosissupport Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 6:08 PM The liver is an organ that does over 500 functions. There are many things that can cause liver problems: (1) Alcohol consumption, being sensitive to alcohol. (2) Medication toxification. ..most all drugs go through the liver first to be broken down before going to the rest of the body. (3) Chemical exposure...many people are exposed to hazzardous and toxic chemicals where they work or at home. (4) Hereditary disease...This can be Hemochomatosis which is the body holding onto iron. disease which is the body holding onto copper...Alph1- antitrypsin deficiency where there is an absence of this specific enzyme in the liver. (5) Auto immune disease like Biliary Cirrhosis, Sclerosing Cholangitis (6) Fatty liver disease that can be caused by alcohol consumption, weight gain, high cholesterol/ triglyeride levels, diabetes, hereditary,malnutri tion, certain medications, insulin resistance, and others. (7)Biliary obstruction (gallstone, infection, pancreatic stone) or malformation where they are twisted or strictured in nature. (8)Cardiac disease (9)Parasitic infections (10) Viral infections like Hepatitis A,B,C,etc. (11) Glycogen storage diease where there is an inability to properly utilize sugars. (12) Inherited cystic fibrosis.... or Biliary atresia where the bile ducts are absent or injured causing bile to back up into the liver. There are also others. No matter what the cause, the progression of this disease may be as follows: The liver cells become damaged or stressed. If the cells are damaged, the immune system of the body responds to this. The immune system usually is there to protect the body from anything foreign coming into it...but it also cleans up when there is damage done. It causes inflammation to develop in the liver. Normally, inflammation develops to stop the problem from going into other areas of the body...but, in this case it causes more pressure inside the liver since the liver is surrounded by a membrance capsule. The liver will go from being a smooth, soft organ to an enlarged, spongy one. If the cause can be stopped and the inflammation treated so that it reduces and goes away... the liver cells may heal. However, if this cannot be done (and in some cases it cannot) then the liver cells will die off. When the cells die off, scar tissue is formed inside the liver. This scar tissue can block the flow of blood (that contains nourishment and oxygen) from getting to the cells that are still alive and they can die, also. It is a progressive disease that cannot be reversed. (Known as Cirrhosis of the Liver) You can not bring dead cells back to life. Even though the liver cells try to regenerate new cells to take the place of those gone...these new cells, because of the scar tissue, bunch up into one area in different places on the liver...up against the scar tissue. This is what forms nodules or lumps on and in the liver. Not only does this scar tissue stop the blood from getting to the cells, it also blocks the flow of blood through the liver on its way back to the heart. As the cells die off...scar tissue forms. The cells have fluid in them...this fluid is now gone. The liver will start to shrink in size and take on a hard texture. When the cells die, the functions they do for the body, start to deteriorate. The liver cells do over 500 functions to keep the body well, as I mentioned before. Some of these functions is to convert a non soluble form of Bilirubin (lipid) into a soluble form to flow with the bile to the intestines to help digest and absorb the fats we eat. Now the Bilirubin stays in the blood and causes the whites of the eyes and skin to turn yellow (Jaundice).. . the Kidneys will try to remove it from the blood and it will then darken the urine. Why? because Bilirubin is a pigment... a brownish/yellowish/ greenish substance that colors things in our body. If the bile doesn't get to the intestines.. .then the stools will appear white/gray light colored and may float on top of the water because the fats are not emulsified and absorbed into the body for the body to use. Another function is the making of a protein known as Albumin. Albumin is a protein that keeps fluid inside our vessels...it also carries bilirubin and other molecules around the body. Since the Albumin goes lower in the body, the fluid can now leak out and cause a build up in the abdominal area known as Ascites. Another function is the Making of Factors to help the blood to clot. Since the factors are not being made efficiently, the patient may bruise very easy or bleed very easily. Remember this when a patient may start to throw up blood in their vomit. It is an emergency that has to be taken care of right away. This will help you to understand about your Liver Function Tests that the doctor has done. They check the Bilirubin, the Albumin, and also the INR (clotting times). The liver cells make enzymes. There are many different enzymes in the liver. What do these enzymes do? If some consumes Alcohol, the enzyme known as Alcohol dehydrogenase will break it down into Acetaldehyde. ..then another enzyme Aldehyde dehydrogenase will break it down into acetone. It will them be further metabolized until it is just carbon dioxide and water. But, Alcohol isn't the only cause of liver problems. If the cells of the liver become damaged...the breaking down process doesn't get completed and can damage the liver cells themselves. Most people know that the doctor tests for certain enzymes in the liver. They check the ALT because it is " mostly " made in the liver and the AST (which is also made by other organ cells, but helps with the ALT results). When the cells become damaged, these enzymes start to leak out of the cells and it ends up in the blood can causes the levels in the blood to show as being higher. This will help you understand better about your blood testing for LIVER ENZYMES. This is for those who are new to the group and trying to understand this disease. It is a help when they come to read more information on the web. When the Liver is dying. The liver does start to shrink in size and become hard. The Blood that once flowed through the liver, is now being backed up in the portal vein, in the liver and under the liver. The blood in the abdomen normally flows to the portal vein and through the liver on its way back to the heart. It no longer can do this...the blood now goes into vessels that the body makes (collateral vessels) or into smaller vessels that are located in the esophagus, rectum, or abdominal area. Why does the blood back up into these vessels...because of the pressure inside the portal vein...(Called Portal Hypertension) . These vessels can have weak spots and balloon outward and break open and bleed. Any bleeding is an emergency situation. Remember, the liver is no longer able to make factors to help the blood to clot and the patient can bleed very easily. The Liver cannot make the Albumin anymore efficiently. As I mentioned before...this causes fluid build up in the Abdomen. Even though the fluid can be removed by a procedure known as paracentesis. ..it will still build back up because the liver is still not making enough Albumin. However, it gives the patient relief from the pressure of this fluid pressing on the stomach and other organs of the body and helps them rest better. The liver takes all toxins that come into the body or made by the body and converts them into a non toxic form that the body can dispose of. The Alcohol example above proves this. Some people don't know that toxins can be made by the body. When we use protein in our body, the byproduct is Ammonia. The liver takes this ammonia and converts it into urea to be disposed of. Because the liver can no longer convert this ammonia...it stays in the blood and goes pass the blood brain barrier and into the brain and causes confusion, disorientation and a number of other things, also. ( Like sleep pattern changes and tremors. ) The doctor give a drug, like lactulose, to try and bind this ammonia and remove it from the body. This conditions is known as Encephalopathy. It is very serious if it is not treated because the patient will eventually end up in a coma if not treated. The blood brain barrier protects the brain from alot of things, because it cannot cross this barrier. Ammonia, street drugs, sedatives, barbituates, alcohol, etc., can. I hope this information has helped the new ones here. Don't be afraid to study more on your own. Remember that this information is provided to you by a caregiver and not a medical professional. Always check all things out with your own doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Congrats, Granma! Love, Bobby long life, old age, everything good-Apache prayer ________________________________ To: livercirrhosissupport Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 5:38:41 PM Subject: Re: Review of Cirrhosis Thank you Abijann! Lots of hugs and kisses to everyone. Lyncia From: abijann <no_reply@yahoogroup s.com> Subject: Review of Cirrhosis To: livercirrhosissuppo rtyahoogroups (DOT) com Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 6:08 PM The liver is an organ that does over 500 functions. There are many things that can cause liver problems: (1) Alcohol consumption, being sensitive to alcohol. (2) Medication toxification. ..most all drugs go through the liver first to be broken down before going to the rest of the body. (3) Chemical exposure...many people are exposed to hazzardous and toxic chemicals where they work or at home. (4) Hereditary disease...This can be Hemochomatosis which is the body holding onto iron. disease which is the body holding onto copper...Alph1- antitrypsin deficiency where there is an absence of this specific enzyme in the liver. (5) Auto immune disease like Biliary Cirrhosis, Sclerosing Cholangitis (6) Fatty liver disease that can be caused by alcohol consumption, weight gain, high cholesterol/ triglyeride levels, diabetes, hereditary,malnutri tion, certain medications, insulin resistance, and others. (7)Biliary obstruction (gallstone, infection, pancreatic stone) or malformation where they are twisted or strictured in nature. (8)Cardiac disease (9)Parasitic infections (10) Viral infections like Hepatitis A,B,C,etc. (11) Glycogen storage diease where there is an inability to properly utilize sugars. (12) Inherited cystic fibrosis.... or Biliary atresia where the bile ducts are absent or injured causing bile to back up into the liver. There are also others. No matter what the cause, the progression of this disease may be as follows: The liver cells become damaged or stressed. If the cells are damaged, the immune system of the body responds to this. The immune system usually is there to protect the body from anything foreign coming into it...but it also cleans up when there is damage done. It causes inflammation to develop in the liver. Normally, inflammation develops to stop the problem from going into other areas of the body...but, in this case it causes more pressure inside the liver since the liver is surrounded by a membrance capsule. The liver will go from being a smooth, soft organ to an enlarged, spongy one. If the cause can be stopped and the inflammation treated so that it reduces and goes away... the liver cells may heal. However, if this cannot be done (and in some cases it cannot) then the liver cells will die off. When the cells die off, scar tissue is formed inside the liver. This scar tissue can block the flow of blood (that contains nourishment and oxygen) from getting to the cells that are still alive and they can die, also. It is a progressive disease that cannot be reversed. (Known as Cirrhosis of the Liver) You can not bring dead cells back to life. Even though the liver cells try to regenerate new cells to take the place of those gone...these new cells, because of the scar tissue, bunch up into one area in different places on the liver...up against the scar tissue. This is what forms nodules or lumps on and in the liver. Not only does this scar tissue stop the blood from getting to the cells, it also blocks the flow of blood through the liver on its way back to the heart. As the cells die off...scar tissue forms. The cells have fluid in them...this fluid is now gone. The liver will start to shrink in size and take on a hard texture. When the cells die, the functions they do for the body, start to deteriorate. The liver cells do over 500 functions to keep the body well, as I mentioned before. Some of these functions is to convert a non soluble form of Bilirubin (lipid) into a soluble form to flow with the bile to the intestines to help digest and absorb the fats we eat. Now the Bilirubin stays in the blood and causes the whites of the eyes and skin to turn yellow (Jaundice).. . the Kidneys will try to remove it from the blood and it will then darken the urine. Why? because Bilirubin is a pigment... a brownish/yellowish/ greenish substance that colors things in our body. If the bile doesn't get to the intestines.. .then the stools will appear white/gray light colored and may float on top of the water because the fats are not emulsified and absorbed into the body for the body to use. Another function is the making of a protein known as Albumin. Albumin is a protein that keeps fluid inside our vessels...it also carries bilirubin and other molecules around the body. Since the Albumin goes lower in the body, the fluid can now leak out and cause a build up in the abdominal area known as Ascites. Another function is the Making of Factors to help the blood to clot. Since the factors are not being made efficiently, the patient may bruise very easy or bleed very easily. Remember this when a patient may start to throw up blood in their vomit. It is an emergency that has to be taken care of right away. This will help you to understand about your Liver Function Tests that the doctor has done. They check the Bilirubin, the Albumin, and also the INR (clotting times). The liver cells make enzymes. There are many different enzymes in the liver. What do these enzymes do? If some consumes Alcohol, the enzyme known as Alcohol dehydrogenase will break it down into Acetaldehyde. ..then another enzyme Aldehyde dehydrogenase will break it down into acetone. It will them be further metabolized until it is just carbon dioxide and water. But, Alcohol isn't the only cause of liver problems. If the cells of the liver become damaged...the breaking down process doesn't get completed and can damage the liver cells themselves. Most people know that the doctor tests for certain enzymes in the liver. They check the ALT because it is " mostly " made in the liver and the AST (which is also made by other organ cells, but helps with the ALT results). When the cells become damaged, these enzymes start to leak out of the cells and it ends up in the blood can causes the levels in the blood to show as being higher. This will help you understand better about your blood testing for LIVER ENZYMES. This is for those who are new to the group and trying to understand this disease. It is a help when they come to read more information on the web. When the Liver is dying. The liver does start to shrink in size and become hard. The Blood that once flowed through the liver, is now being backed up in the portal vein, in the liver and under the liver. The blood in the abdomen normally flows to the portal vein and through the liver on its way back to the heart. It no longer can do this...the blood now goes into vessels that the body makes (collateral vessels) or into smaller vessels that are located in the esophagus, rectum, or abdominal area. Why does the blood back up into these vessels...because of the pressure inside the portal vein...(Called Portal Hypertension) . These vessels can have weak spots and balloon outward and break open and bleed. Any bleeding is an emergency situation. Remember, the liver is no longer able to make factors to help the blood to clot and the patient can bleed very easily. The Liver cannot make the Albumin anymore efficiently. As I mentioned before...this causes fluid build up in the Abdomen. Even though the fluid can be removed by a procedure known as paracentesis. ..it will still build back up because the liver is still not making enough Albumin. However, it gives the patient relief from the pressure of this fluid pressing on the stomach and other organs of the body and helps them rest better. The liver takes all toxins that come into the body or made by the body and converts them into a non toxic form that the body can dispose of. The Alcohol example above proves this. Some people don't know that toxins can be made by the body. When we use protein in our body, the byproduct is Ammonia. The liver takes this ammonia and converts it into urea to be disposed of. Because the liver can no longer convert this ammonia...it stays in the blood and goes pass the blood brain barrier and into the brain and causes confusion, disorientation and a number of other things, also. ( Like sleep pattern changes and tremors. ) The doctor give a drug, like lactulose, to try and bind this ammonia and remove it from the body. This conditions is known as Encephalopathy. It is very serious if it is not treated because the patient will eventually end up in a coma if not treated. The blood brain barrier protects the brain from alot of things, because it cannot cross this barrier. Ammonia, street drugs, sedatives, barbituates, alcohol, etc., can. I hope this information has helped the new ones here. Don't be afraid to study more on your own. Remember that this information is provided to you by a caregiver and not a medical professional. Always check all things out with your own doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Oh Bobby, she is so beautiful and even at two pounds trying to nurse.......just like her daddy........her dad was 11 lbs at birth. hehe Thanks Lots of hugs and kisses to everyone. Lyncia From: abijann <no_reply@yahoogrou p s.com> Subject: Review of Cirrhosis To: livercirrhosissuppo rtyahoogroups (DOT) com Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 6:08 PM The liver is an organ that does over 500 functions. There are many things that can cause liver problems: (1) Alcohol consumption, being sensitive to alcohol. (2) Medication toxification. ..most all drugs go through the liver first to be broken down before going to the rest of the body. (3) Chemical exposure...many people are exposed to hazzardous and toxic chemicals where they work or at home. (4) Hereditary disease...This can be Hemochomatosis which is the body holding onto iron. disease which is the body holding onto copper...Alph1- antitrypsin deficiency where there is an absence of this specific enzyme in the liver. (5) Auto immune disease like Biliary Cirrhosis, Sclerosing Cholangitis (6) Fatty liver disease that can be caused by alcohol consumption, weight gain, high cholesterol/ triglyeride levels, diabetes, hereditary,malnutri tion, certain medications, insulin resistance, and others. (7)Biliary obstruction (gallstone, infection, pancreatic stone) or malformation where they are twisted or strictured in nature. (8)Cardiac disease (9)Parasitic infections (10) Viral infections like Hepatitis A,B,C,etc. (11) Glycogen storage diease where there is an inability to properly utilize sugars. (12) Inherited cystic fibrosis.... or Biliary atresia where the bile ducts are absent or injured causing bile to back up into the liver. There are also others. No matter what the cause, the progression of this disease may be as follows: The liver cells become damaged or stressed. If the cells are damaged, the immune system of the body responds to this. The immune system usually is there to protect the body from anything foreign coming into it...but it also cleans up when there is damage done. It causes inflammation to develop in the liver. Normally, inflammation develops to stop the problem from going into other areas of the body...but, in this case it causes more pressure inside the liver since the liver is surrounded by a membrance capsule. The liver will go from being a smooth, soft organ to an enlarged, spongy one. If the cause can be stopped and the inflammation treated so that it reduces and goes away... the liver cells may heal. However, if this cannot be done (and in some cases it cannot) then the liver cells will die off. When the cells die off, scar tissue is formed inside the liver. This scar tissue can block the flow of blood (that contains nourishment and oxygen) from getting to the cells that are still alive and they can die, also. It is a progressive disease that cannot be reversed. (Known as Cirrhosis of the Liver) You can not bring dead cells back to life. Even though the liver cells try to regenerate new cells to take the place of those gone...these new cells, because of the scar tissue, bunch up into one area in different places on the liver...up against the scar tissue. This is what forms nodules or lumps on and in the liver. Not only does this scar tissue stop the blood from getting to the cells, it also blocks the flow of blood through the liver on its way back to the heart. As the cells die off...scar tissue forms. The cells have fluid in them...this fluid is now gone. The liver will start to shrink in size and take on a hard texture. When the cells die, the functions they do for the body, start to deteriorate. The liver cells do over 500 functions to keep the body well, as I mentioned before. Some of these functions is to convert a non soluble form of Bilirubin (lipid) into a soluble form to flow with the bile to the intestines to help digest and absorb the fats we eat. Now the Bilirubin stays in the blood and causes the whites of the eyes and skin to turn yellow (Jaundice).. . the Kidneys will try to remove it from the blood and it will then darken the urine. Why? because Bilirubin is a pigment... a brownish/yellowish/ greenish substance that colors things in our body. If the bile doesn't get to the intestines.. .then the stools will appear white/gray light colored and may float on top of the water because the fats are not emulsified and absorbed into the body for the body to use. Another function is the making of a protein known as Albumin. Albumin is a protein that keeps fluid inside our vessels...it also carries bilirubin and other molecules around the body. Since the Albumin goes lower in the body, the fluid can now leak out and cause a build up in the abdominal area known as Ascites. Another function is the Making of Factors to help the blood to clot. Since the factors are not being made efficiently, the patient may bruise very easy or bleed very easily. Remember this when a patient may start to throw up blood in their vomit. It is an emergency that has to be taken care of right away. This will help you to understand about your Liver Function Tests that the doctor has done. They check the Bilirubin, the Albumin, and also the INR (clotting times). The liver cells make enzymes. There are many different enzymes in the liver. What do these enzymes do? If some consumes Alcohol, the enzyme known as Alcohol dehydrogenase will break it down into Acetaldehyde. ..then another enzyme Aldehyde dehydrogenase will break it down into acetone. It will them be further metabolized until it is just carbon dioxide and water. But, Alcohol isn't the only cause of liver problems. If the cells of the liver become damaged...the breaking down process doesn't get completed and can damage the liver cells themselves. Most people know that the doctor tests for certain enzymes in the liver. They check the ALT because it is " mostly " made in the liver and the AST (which is also made by other organ cells, but helps with the ALT results). When the cells become damaged, these enzymes start to leak out of the cells and it ends up in the blood can causes the levels in the blood to show as being higher. This will help you understand better about your blood testing for LIVER ENZYMES. This is for those who are new to the group and trying to understand this disease. It is a help when they come to read more information on the web. When the Liver is dying. The liver does start to shrink in size and become hard. The Blood that once flowed through the liver, is now being backed up in the portal vein, in the liver and under the liver. The blood in the abdomen normally flows to the portal vein and through the liver on its way back to the heart. It no longer can do this...the blood now goes into vessels that the body makes (collateral vessels) or into smaller vessels that are located in the esophagus, rectum, or abdominal area. Why does the blood back up into these vessels...because of the pressure inside the portal vein...(Called Portal Hypertension) . These vessels can have weak spots and balloon outward and break open and bleed. Any bleeding is an emergency situation. Remember, the liver is no longer able to make factors to help the blood to clot and the patient can bleed very easily. The Liver cannot make the Albumin anymore efficiently. As I mentioned before...this causes fluid build up in the Abdomen. Even though the fluid can be removed by a procedure known as paracentesis. ..it will still build back up because the liver is still not making enough Albumin. However, it gives the patient relief from the pressure of this fluid pressing on the stomach and other organs of the body and helps them rest better. The liver takes all toxins that come into the body or made by the body and converts them into a non toxic form that the body can dispose of. The Alcohol example above proves this. Some people don't know that toxins can be made by the body. When we use protein in our body, the byproduct is Ammonia. The liver takes this ammonia and converts it into urea to be disposed of. Because the liver can no longer convert this ammonia...it stays in the blood and goes pass the blood brain barrier and into the brain and causes confusion, disorientation and a number of other things, also. ( Like sleep pattern changes and tremors. ) The doctor give a drug, like lactulose, to try and bind this ammonia and remove it from the body. This conditions is known as Encephalopathy. It is very serious if it is not treated because the patient will eventually end up in a coma if not treated. The blood brain barrier protects the brain from alot of things, because it cannot cross this barrier. Ammonia, street drugs, sedatives, barbituates, alcohol, etc., can. I hope this information has helped the new ones here. Don't be afraid to study more on your own. Remember that this information is provided to you by a caregiver and not a medical professional. Always check all things out with your own doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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