Connection between Hepatitis C Virus & Anger?

August 9, 2007

Wow! Thank you for posting that! I've noticed some odd things going

on with me recently and they're in that list of symptoms.

Well good, I'm not crazy.... um, well maybe a little.

Ok let's face it, the cheese slid off my cracker years ago.

Gayle *loves Wayne's World lol*

>

> 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 Hepatitis C Virus 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 Hepatitis C Virus patients

without cirrhosis, all of the Hepatitis C Virus 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 Hepatitis C Virus 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 Hepatitis C Virus 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 Hepatitis C Virus, 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!

>

> HepCBC - www.hepcbc.org

>

> Tim Parsons

>

> knoxville,tn 37931

>

> x107 work

>

> www.knoxville1.com

>

> ---------------------------------

> Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see

what's on, when.

>

August 9, 2007