Hepatitis C :: Heroin Addicted - Elevated Enzymes Means Active Virus?
Jun 4, 2016
I'm a recovering heroin addict. For 7 or 8 Years I used heroin and participated in Many high risk behaviors, mainly sharing of needles and reuse of my own needles. I was tested last week to get on Accutane, and they said my test came back reactive and I had to go for a second test to see if I have the active virus. They also told me my liver enzymes were high. My question is, is with elevated enzymes, is that indicative of active virus? I'm going crazy waiting for results. And is there anything that could've made my levels high besides an active virus? And if I have the active virus, I've had it for at least 3+ years, because I haven't used or participated in that behavior or drank in 3 years, so what will be done to treat it?
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Been feeling lightheaded and brain foggy and a bit sick recently with some stomach grumbling and pain. Went to the doctors who did repeat blood tests over the course of 8 weeks and have said my enzymes are slightly up which could be the result of mild fatty liver. My question is does this sound related? He's also just tested me for celiac, but told me in the beginning that I could be fighting a virus. I'm worried that the 3 diagnoses he's given are so different I don't know what to believe, also does this mean I should be less worried about the tests because they are low enough to be anything?
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I Know that she is highly contagious for that matter .. but can this be cured?
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I gave up smoking about 2 1/2 years ago and have been addicted to NRT lozenges ever since. I started on the 4mg, went down to the 2mg, then onto the 1mg.
I promised myself that if I could give up smoking, it was better to use NRT, unfortunately (in some ways) I now find NRT much better than smoking and find it difficult to give them up.
Ironically, they are expensive, so you can end up spending a lot on them. I went back to a give-up smoking group but they were more concentrated on the smokers than me with my addiction, so that didn't help.
I wish there was another grade down from 1mg, e.g. 1/2mg followed even by 1/4mg, to help those who can't come off the NRT eventually do it. I'm sure that would help in my case.
However I feel that once you're on NRT no one really wants to help any further, after all it's safe and it's making profits for the drug companies.
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Having read some of the experiences others have had withdrawing from Mirtazapine I thought I would post my own. I hope it may be of use to others. I recently was re-prescribed Mirtazapine,after three years of not taking it. I took one 15mg tablet, felt like I'd been hit over the head with a riot shield and fell out of bed with severe restless legs syndrome. I decided there and then "there is no way I am going through all this again", and stopped it right there.
Previously, I had been prescribed Mirtazapine for severe anxiety and depression. This medication caused restless leg syndrome, and caused me to put on 3 stones in weight. Despite being previously a fit and active person. I became lethargic, and fatigued easily, needing to rest after evey 20 minutes of moderate activity, not to mention the dreadful hangovers I would have all morning. I persisted in taking it for nearly 5 years because I looked forward to the sedative effect it has. I even looked forward to it at night, despite the dreadful side effects, because I felt it helped me escape the world into sleep. Personally I think Mirtazapine is addictive and I was addicted.
I eventually decided enough was enough and decided to get my life back.
My GP was of little use when it came to advice for tapered withdrawal, though damn quick to prescribe the stuff in the first place. I determined an action plan of my own. I was aware of the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms of suddenly stopping, as I had previously, on occasion, run out of money and couldn't afford my prescription. Dizziness, extreme anxiety, nausea, insomnia, sweating and flu like muscle and headaches are all in store for any one who stops this medication abruptly. I tapered Mirtazapine over approximately 3 months by, cutting up 30mg tablets. 1st week I took 3/4rs of a tablet, then 1/2 plus an 1/8th second week, then 1/2 plus 1/16th for the 3rd week and so on. Eventually I was taking 1/16th of 30 mg (or less) per night for the last 2 weeks after which I felt no withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. The doses are approximate as cutting these tablets is accurately is difficult.
All of this took a lot of focus and bloody-minded determination. I find it surprising that the manufacturers don't provide decreasing doses for people wishing to stop taking their product without discomfort. At the moment I have decided to cope with life without Mirtazapine, or any other chemical horror. It can be very difficult at times, but vastly better than being a Drs. corporate guinea pig/junkie. I would say though, that for people who are severely depressed, Mirtazapine or other medications could be helpful if used for the short term, but please be aware of the very real side effects and problems with these substances. Ask yourself very carefully if you think you need this, despite what your Dr. may say. These drugs should be a last resort, not first port of call. They most certainly are no magic cure, and have serious "side effects" that should not be underestimated.
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I had a medical issue that created anxiety and panic for me, my doctor prescribed 0.5 mg 2 or 3 times a day. I did that for about a week to get me through the crisis. For a 2 day period during this week I probably took 4 of the 0.5 mg tablets but then cut it back to 2 a day. Fortunately after a week, my health issues were resolved and I stopped taking the Xanax. Not sure if it was my imagination or not but after 3 or 4 days of not taking I get very nervous and started again. I have been taking for the past 7 days a 0.25 tablet and as little as one at night but a max of 2, I also split the tablet so sometimes I take 1 and 1/2. I want to stop completely, I assume my usage would be considered low but I am scared and tend to let things bother me. Any advise as to how to proceed so I stop as quickly as possible. I do not want to get addicted, that is a great fear, plus my wife does not know and would probably leave me if she knew I was taking
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I was recently informed by my primary care doctor that my liver enzymes are nearly twice their upper limit.
I scheduled to get repeat blood work done, but I was given the impression that those enzymes are most commonly elevated by binge drinking or large doses of Tylenol.
I am a young man and have not had any alcohol in the past year (and nothing more than a glass of wine in the past 4 years) and have not taken any Tylenol (or any pain killer) for the past 6 months.
I do take allergy medication daily (Zyrtec, occasionally Benadryl), but that has not changed since my last round of blood work, in which my liver enzymes were fine.
1) Besides disease, why could my enzyme values be so high?
2) What other tests/steps would have to be preformed to determine whether or not I have an illness?
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trying to heal my gut in which probiotics has helped a lot already after a week. Which digestive enzymes should I go for, if I want to improve mainly on my fructose absorption and maybe also other plant foods. Any brands?
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Heroin is something that no-one journey is the same,the effects it has on your life may be same but to go though and come out the other side clean..yes in fairy land. Yes you can, but to get there is more than any words could describe. Its hard work the ones with family's supporting them may be a help but to most its just a suicide mission. I went though it dragged my family with me,but to no avail it wasn't cos I couldn't care less it was a matter of survival for me I couldn't cope with normal everyday duties. My Dad died and instead of being with my family I ran away it couldn't be true it was a lie I just wouldn't except it .
My world was shattered and no-one around to help -depression sunk its teeth in and wouldn't let go. That was 2 years 9 months ago ,today I am street drug free,on a maintenance regime with a network of out-reach programs with all the aspects of my life being worked on, its hard work, not for the faint hard it its got to come from you the one its destroying to take control, if I can have a life I want one that's got a future to look and plan for.I have been the lowest any human-being could get and crawled out of the huge hole I put myself in. that's the point"ADMITTING IT WAS YOU " no-one else. I wish you luck,and I give you hope,that you too can do what I did .its staying clean thats the hard part ,one step at a time and no matter how long it takes that no interest do it in time for you not to a time-table. Thankyou for reading ,hope it helps one person that'll do for me.
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I'm really scared to try detox again but I'm going to try the Thomas recipe. I just don't know how its going to work as its both me and my husband doing it at the same time. We have been on heroin for over a year now and I swear this stuff is the devil. We at one time were up to 2 grams a day a piece now we are at between a gram to a half a day between both of us. Its time! If not one of us are going to die. I've heard the Thomas recipe is good but its the Valium part. We don't want any Rx drugs at all and Tylenol pm,s don't work for him. Maybe nyquil?
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I'm 16 weeks pregnant and ive been on heroine since I was 17 I am now 19...my parents stopped talking to me since I became a drug addict, the father of my child pushed me down the stairs when when I was 12 weeks because we were fighting about keeping the baby (he didn't want me to keep it) I had nowhere to go except my friends house with her boyfriend they are also on heroine and her boyfriend is constantly trying to get with me and I don't want to tell her because she will kick me out..., I work part time at a restaurant but I don't make enough to be on my own. I want to stop using but its so hard. I really love my baby and want him or her to be healthy.
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I have been a heroin addict for 5 years, it was a half gram a day, sometimes more, I recently decided I don't want to live like that anymore, so I decided to try suboxone to first break the junkie routine I had established, and immediately began tapering. For example, I took 8 mgs day 1, 4 mgs days 2 and 3, 2 mgs 4-8. My plan is to keep cutting in half every four days, until day 16, being my last dose, am I crazy? I feel OK, and like I would probably be fine if I had jumped today, but that's probably the half life messing with me?
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I've been on methadone for about a week now, use to be a heroin junkie. Anyway, the last several days I've noticed that my joints have become very achy and stiff. They started me off on such a small dose of methadone (for me) 30mg, and I got to go up 5 mg a day except for the weekends. I thought initially that this joint stiffness must be some withdrawals bleeding through but all the heroin should have been out of my system by now, so i know this isn't withdrawal.. This seems to be the only side effect I'm getting from the methadone.. Has anyone else ever had joint aches or stiffness due to methadone?
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I am a Heroin addict of 7 years. I have been clean on and off for the past 2 Years. I have been on 50mg of Methadone Maintenance. I did not find out I was pregnant until today I am 12 weeks. In the 12 weeks I was clean 30 days then used for one night then got clean for 18 days and then I've been using hard for this past past week and a half. I am not going to pick up again. I am on methadone but I am going into rehab to detox the methadone as soon as I am in my second trimester. So I only want to know if any other women have been through this same thing. Used during first trimester and stayed clean the rest of the pregnancy. Is your child healthy? Are there any complications? Because of my use would it be smarter of me to abort because I honestly don't know the damage I have done? I will not have an addicted baby to ANYTHING! And I also don't want any complications. Please give me any advice. I am already taking prenatals, eating extremly healthy, proper hygiene, and dr check ups are scheduled. I will take care of this child the best that I can. I am just anxious to know if the damage I caused from using early in pregnancy is already done?
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Can someone explain what a 6.7% uptake means in regard to a thyroid scan? I took a radioactive pill 6 hours prior to the scan. Hyperthyroidism is suspected, which was the reason for the scan.
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I got bloodwork done at the rheumatologist in March and the CRP and ESR levels were high which means inflammation. I got more done in May and its still high. My dr. says there's nothing i can do about it because the location can't be indicated for the inflammation. what do i do now? I need to lose about 30 lbs do you think this will help?
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So, if your pee is clear are you in the clear? Are you hydrated? Or is there more to it?
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I am a 71 year old male. About 14 years ago, I had a high rating on a PSA test, which lead to a twelve needle biopsy. The results were rated as a Gleason 8 tumor. My urologist said the type of prostate cancer I had was very aggressive and that we needed to take some action. At that time, I was told my options were radiation and/or surgery. Prostate cancer had occurred in both of my Grandfathers. My father had not come back from WWII so I had no information on him. However, I had done some research into what I would do if prostate cancer visited me. I opted for a radical prostatectomy. Both my urologist and the pathologist believed that the surgery got all the cancer, and saw no value in radiation. As it turned out, I have never had much of anything to speak of on any subsequent PSA tests. Oh joy and rapture. I am alive, and doing well with one exception. Prior to the cancer diagnosis, my wife and I had a very active sex life. We had been married for over 25 years and had engaged in some form of sex on an average of twenty or so times a month. When my wife learned of my cancer, she asked for a divorce. Following the surgery, I was impotent and of course could no longer ejaculate. On the advice of a crusty older nurse, God Bless her, I learned that I could masturbate to a sort of semi erection and achieve an orgasm. However I entered a period of depression and when I finally found my way out of it, I could no longer achieve an orgasm. Following a discussion with my urologist, I tried some injections directly into the penis that was supposed to result in an erection, but it was not satisfactory, and the whole idea of sticking a needle into my penis was not very appealing. My doctor then recommended an Osbon penis pump which cost a couple of hundred dollars. When I tried the pump, it sucked my scrotum into the pump cylinder and slammed a testicle into the pump cylinder. It hurt so bad I threw up. The pricey Osbon pump ended up in the garbage. So here I am. My libido has always been very high and seems to be getting higher as I age. I am still very attracted to women and, have no interest in a sexual relationship with men. I don't really care for the company of men all that much and never have. Between the internet and satellite TV, I am bombarded with pornography. While I do watch a fair amount of porn and sexually explicit shows on TV, it does nothing to assuage my libido. I hate sleeping alone, and I hate the notion of nothing but platonic relationships with women. Over the years I learned how to do a satisfactory job of performing oral sex, however, even the ladies of my age still want sexual intercourse in their lives and to be honest, I would not be interested in a women who did not want sex. I have been so lonely for female sexual companionship that I have met with several prostitutes, and it is nice to be able to touch and talk with an attractive nude woman, but then I have to go back to my empty lonely place. Is there any way that I could reestablish the ability to have orgasms? Does anyone have an ideas or information as to how I could achieve an erection and failing that, how do I shutdown my libido?
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I Have A High Pulse Feeling In My Tummy Does That Mean My Little Ounces Got The Hiccups
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I am 33 years old and have just been diagnosed with having OA Thyroid, but have symptoms of UA Thyroid. I have always struggled with my weight and bloating (from having food intolerances), but have recently gained a lot more weight than normal, despite eating sensibly, walking everywhere (as I don't drive) and swimming.
I have days where I feel really thirsty and have to drink lots and lots of water, unable to concentrate, have a husky voice and morning coughing/ gunk on my chest, rapid heart rate, anxiety, feel achey and exhausted all the time. I also have Fibromyalgia (was diagnosed in 2005). I used to work full time for 17 years, but recently had to reduce my hours to part time, where I constantly felt ill...and I have now had to leave work altogether.
What I don't understand is how I can have the symptoms of UA but be OA. The Doctor has prescribed me 5mg of Carbimazole to take 3 times a day. No Propranolol yet, but I have taken these before as I used to suffer with high blood pressure.
I am worried that I am going to gain even more weight on this medication, when I have already gone up nearly two dress sizes from being so ill. Is this medication usually only given for people with OA? Will the effects be reversed in my case, where I have UA? Are there many of you out there who have the same symptoms as me and who are taking this medication and if so, what has happened in your situation?
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I'm a female in my early 30s and in May this year, out of the blue at work, I became lightheaded to the point I thought I might faint. I suddenly felt sensitive to light. I tried eating some fruit thinking I was low in blood sugar but it didn't help. It didn't go away after a day or 2 so I went to the doctor who said it was probably an inner ear virus that would go away on its own after about a week. Sure enough after about 4 days I felt better.
Then, in July the same sudden on-set of dizziness occurred but this time after a week it hadn't gone away. I would not describe the dizziness as traditional vertigo where the room spins but a more general light headedness that made me uncomfortable but not to the point of nausea.
I went back to the doctor who gave me every blood test under the sun, a 24 hour urine test and an ECG. Tests for those were all clear. In the meantime my symptoms were evolving. I was now getting a racing heart along with my light headedness and my dizziness was getting worse.
I went back and saw a different doctor who thought I might have BPV (benign positional vertigo)and sent me off to a specialist physiotherapist to be tested for this. The physio tests came back negative for BPV but he thought it might be some nerves in my neck being affected and started treating those.
Meanwhile, I was not getting better, in fact I was getting worse. The dizziness was constantly hovering in the background and my dizzy spells would flair up several times a day and last for around 1.5 - 2 hours. During this time I couldn't concentrate and was worried that I was going to throw up or pass out (although I never did). I would get light sensitive, a racing heart, tingling in my left arm and hand and sometimes the feeling that I couldn't get enough air/chest tightness. I couldn't trigger these attacks with head positioning - it just seemed random when they would come on.
I started to think that I had anxiety although I thought this would be out of character for me. One day driving home I had such a severe attack that my whole left arm felt numb, my left hand was tingling, I thought I was going to have a heart attack, I could barely concentrate enough to drive and burst into tears when I got home. I started to get afraid to leave the house in case I had an attack but had to as I work full time.
I went back to the doctor and got a referral for an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist. The doctor also advised me it was probably not anxiety as I didn't have all the symptoms of that. I had to wait a couple of weeks for the ENT appointment during which time my symptoms persisted although I didn't have a major attack like the car incident again. Just these dizzy spells, racing heart, restricted breathing for 1.5-2 hours at a time. Interestingly enough, I had to fly for work at this point and the plane trip didn't seem to make any major difference to my condition.
The ENT sent me for a neurology/balance test along with a MRI to rule out brain tumour or MS. Another 2 weeks later I went back to see the ENT and get my results. Tests were all clear. By now I had spent $1000 on medical treatment.
The ENT advised me that I most likely had an inner ear virus and that there is nothing I could do to treat it and just had to wait for it to go away on its own. He said it could last up to 6 months. He advised to keep active - go walking, do gardening etc and get the balance system to re-adjust itself while waiting for the virus to go away.
All of the above occurred over a 3 month period. It's now been nearly 5 months since the symptoms started in July. I can still feel the light headedness hovering in the background ready to strike most times, and am living with a nearly constant anxious/nervous feeling in my chest which flairs up to a racing heart at least once a day. I'm only having the random dizzy attacks every few days now and it seems to be getting less frequent with time. I still get flair ups if I get carried away with being too active like bending up and down a lot washing the car. For a couple of hours afterwards I feel dizzy but it goes away. When I do have a dizzy attack it is less severe then it used to be as well.
Apart from the feelings of anxiety that this experience has triggered in me (which I still don't know if they are side effects of the inner ear issue or anxiety related to anticipation) it has also made me somewhat of a hypochondriac which never used to be the case. I'm hyper-sensitive to my body now and any sharp pain or cramp scares me and I think the worst eg. pain in leg = blood clot. I'm hoping once I get back to feeling normal again this hypochondria will go away too.
This worst part of all of this is that because you look normal on the outside, not sick, people don't understand how bad it really is to live with. Even my original doctor didn't seem to understand the impact it was having on me and my ability to perform my normal functions like doing my job.
I look forward to the day, which hopefully is in the not to distant future, where I feel normal again. I hope this post has helped give hope to others who may be in the same situation. It feels like it will never end, but it will get better, slowly, but it will.
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