Guest guest Posted March 13, 2002 Report Share Posted March 13, 2002 , Thanks for sharing that. I don't agree with diagnosing someone as sick or mentally ill either. It is not our place. I do require that the atmosphere stay kind on this list. You are right, returning anger and stabbing comments to Mike is not right. Two wrongs don't make a right. I hope everyone will learn something from this. I hope we can be compassionate even to those that " tick us off " . Mike has stopped sending the objectionable emails, I think we should stop calling him " mental " . Sometimes I wonder how these things get so heated. Maybe its that " anger " that is so often associated with Hep C. Thanks, [ ] Is There A Connection Between Anger and Hepatitis > C? > > > > <A HREF= " http://www.hcvadvocate.org/200011/page5.cfm " > > > http://www.hcvadvocate.org/200011/page5.cfm</A> > > > > We've Got Hep C and We're Mad As Hell! > > > > Is There A Connection Between Anger and Hepatitis C? > > > > By Joan King > > President HepCBC > > > > I don't know about you, but I've never run into a group of > > " unreasonably " angry people in my life like some of those I have > > encountered in Hep C support groups, both " live " and on the internet. > > Don't get me wrong. Some of these people are my best friends, but I > > can't but help feeling there is some sort of physiological connection > > there. And to be fair, I'll even include myself. Have you felt > > yourself reacting in a way that you know is illogical? I sure have, > > especially before treatment. I did a search on the internet to see > > what I could find. Indeed, I found several sources that linked anger > > with a diseased liver, and the sources were both holistic and > > medical. The holistic view is that anger is a negative emotion that > > can get stuck in the liver, especially a liver that isn't functioning > > well. > > > > The medical point of view is that hepatic encephalopathy, or brain > > and nervous system damage caused by liver disorders, can cause > > changes in consciousness, behaviour, and personality. It can even > > cause coma. It can also cause forgetfulness, confusion, > > disorientation, delirium, dementia, loss of memory, intellect, > > reasoning, changes in mood, decreased alertness, daytime sleepiness, > > progressive stupor, decreased ability to care for oneself, loss of > > small hand movements, muscle tremors, seizures, speech impairment, a > > strange musty odour to the breath and urine, and, well, you get the > > idea. An EEG will show characteristic abnormalities, and blood tests > > can confirm this phenomenon. No, it's not your imagination. > > > > No wonder we're angry! The severe symptoms are usually experienced > > only with cirrhosis, but two research groups have recently reported > > that HCV can affect the brain in people with less advanced disease, > > even with mild fibrosis. This disorder was not just related to > > hepatic encephalopathy. In an Austrian test comparing 58 healthy > > subjects to 58 subjects with HCV patients without cirrhosis, all of > > the HCV patients showed a " subclinical neurophysiological > > impairment. " So maybe my observations aren't a figment of my > > imagination. The other study, done in the UK, reported that those > > with HCV scored worse in " physical and social functioning, energy and > > fatigue, and other measures, " and ruled out any effect of previous IV > > drug use. Interestingly, the researchers found that patients with > > mild Hep C were slower in memory tests, but just as accurate as > > healthy subjects. A test was done in the US on both HCV positive and > > negative drug users, and those with Hep C scored higher for > > depression. > > > > So what causes the anger? Is it all physiological? Maybe some of it > > is related to dealing with a possibly deadly disease. It may be > > related to the fatigue or depression caused by Hep C. > > > > What is the mechanism that allows the brain to be affected in liver > > disease? In the case of people with cirrhosis, the liver can no > > longer convert ammonia, so it collects in the brain. Ammonia is > > produced by the body when protein is digested. The blood no longer > > circulates through a diseased liver where it would usually be > > filtered and detoxified. Toxins can damage the brain and spinal cord. > > Encephalopathy can be triggered in people with stable liver disease > > by several things: loss of blood, too much protein, electrolyte > > imbalances, especially low potassium levels caused by vomiting or > > diuretics (eat your bananas!), draining of abdominal fluid, anything > > that causes alkaline blood pH, low oxygen levels in the body, > > medications such as barbiturates, tranquilizers, surgery, or any > > illness. > > > > There is a theory that hepatitis C virus may actually invade our > > central nervous system. Some brain cells normally die and are > > replenished by circulating monocytes (a type of white blood cell), as > > many as 30% a year. These monocytes can possibly by infected with Hep > > C and make their way into the brain, attacking the brain cells and > > causing neuropsychiatric symptoms. Scary! But this is just a theory. > > Post-mortem tests are now being done in London on brain tissue. > > Researchers also suggest that the virus may hide in the brain, where > > it is safe from attack by antiviral therapy. There seems to be no > > relationship between the severity of hepatitis and the cerebral > > symptoms. > > > > All this sounds very discouraging. So what can we do? If we are > > constantly exploding with rage, we will alienate our family members, > > friends, co-workers.... First of all, when we are dealing with our > > friends with Hep C, we can try to be patient. We can show this > > article to our significant others, and hope they will understand > > better. People usually are more prone to anger than usual when taking > > interferon. Information can help arm us. Then we can start to take > > action. > > > > Watch your diet: > > > > First of all, don't drink alcohol! Watch your proteins, especially if > > you have cirrhosis. A high protein diet may cause increased levels of > > ammonia. Try to get your protein from vegetable rather than animal > > sources. Keep your blood alkalized and blood sugar levels stable by > > eating a high carbohydrate, low fat and protein diet. Eating bananas > > and whole grain foods promote relaxation and sleep. Foods with soy > > protein and eggs lead to alertness. > > > > Eat your biggest meal in the early part of the day to avoid > > restlessness and insomnia. It's good to keep a journal to see how > > your eating habits relate to your emotions, moods, and physical > > health. Avoid preservatives, additives, colours and illegal drugs or > > legal drugs, or at least use the smallest dose possible. Sugar is a > > drug which leads to fat storage. Fructose may be a better choice. > > Eliminate white flour products, fried foods, processed or fast foods, > > pasteurized and homogenized dairy products, antibiotic and hormone > > fed animals, addictive substances of all types, and chlorinated or > > fluoridated water. > > > > Alter your lifestyle: > > > > Smoking by the patient, or even smoke in the atmosphere, will > > increase measured levels of ammonia. Did you know that one cigarette > > smoked 1 hour before a blood test will increase the blood ammonia? > > > > Avoid all toxins, antacids, any medication with ammonium, and if > > possible, sedatives and tranquilizers. Things like chiropractic, > > acupuncture, yoga, breathing exercises, visualisation, and/or > > meditation can help ease your stress levels. Just like your mother > > said: Get as much exercise, fresh air and sunshine as you can. > > > > Calming audiotapes or CDs can help, and there are some good ones with > > > > positive self-talk. It's important to maintain a positive, happy > > attitude. Try stress-reducing herbs such as chamomile, thyme, > > lavender, lemon balm, calendula, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and > > St. 's Wort, (there are warnings about taking St. 's Wort > > with other anti-depressants) in reasonable amounts, and after > > consulting with your doctor. > > > > Channel your anger into something positive, like letter campaigns for > > more clinical trials, and volunteer work. > > > > Get medical help. At present there is not much the medical profession > > will do to help with subclinical neuropsychiatric complications of > > HCV, since many doctors do not recognize them as such. If, however, > > you are suffering from clinical (more serious) encephalopathy, your > > doctor can be of immense help. What can a doctor do to treat > > encephalopathy? Lots! Blood loss can trigger brain fog. The doctor > > can stop blood loss from gastrointestinal bleeds with endoscopy and > > cauterization. To get rid of the toxins like ammonia that collect, > > the physician can prescribe laxatives, such as Lactulose, and enemas. > > A reduced- or no-protein diet may help, but this is not for everyone. > > Tube feedings may be necessary, and Neomycin can reduce ammonia > > production by intestinal bacteria. If the Hep C is " cured " with > > interferon or interferon plus ribavirin, this stops the inflammation > > and fibrosis, and, of course, the brain fog. (It can even clear up > > early cirrhosis.) Yes, the side effects are uncomfortable, but so is > > end stage liver disease. Even if you don't get rid of the virus, the > > interferon can slow the progression of cirrhosis. Brain function > > seems to normalize with antiviral treatment. In the meantime, the > > doctor can prescribe antidepressants for those on treatment, where > > absolutely necessary, since the treatment itself can cause emotional > > disorders. Successful transplantation will take care of brain fog, > > but the anti-rejection medications can cause mood swings and anger. > > Get counselling. > > > > One last note: Please, if you notice any change in your mental state, > > or in any of your neurological functions, call your doctor. Hepatic > > encephalopathy can rapidly become an emergency condition! > > > > Reprinted by permission - HepCBC - visit their website: > > www.hepcbc.org > > > > References: > > > > HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY > > http://members.aol.com/HCVWD/he.html > > > > HCV and Brain Dysfunction, by Jules Levin > > http://thelab.upmc.edu/UTSO/A/ammonia.htm > > > > Hepatic Encephalopathy > > http://accessatlanta.adam.com/ency/article/000302trt.htm > > > > Healing Sounds > > http://thelab.upmc.edu/UTSO/A/ammonia.htm > > > > Healing the Liver (Anger) > > http://www.theflow.org/qigong/liver.htm > > http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ > > > > From Martial Arts of China presents Chi Kung Issue 1, 1991, Page 17 > > Courtesy > > of Shaolin Brand > > http://infinite.org/library/pages/SBMACCK-17.html > > > > PROMOTING HEALTH AND VITALITY THROUGH FOOD > > http://community-2.webtv.net/essentialhealth/EMOTIONALHEALTH/ > > > > Your Body's Wisdom, by Teshna Beaulieu, DC > > http://www.newvis.net/f99-9.htm > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.