Hi everyone. I have not been here for about 1 year. I don't really have a good excuse for my absence. Last time I was here was first of August 2007 and I was not feeling well. I started to feel a little better, but never really felt good. In October my doctors started running test to find out what was going on. They narrowed it down to my liver and or pancreas by December. They ran more test and said that in addition to my inflamed liver and pancreas, my gull bladder was backing up bile into my liver. They took out my gull bladder and did a biopsy of my liver in April. The liver biopsy was inconclusive for AIH (Autoimmune system hepatitis) but did show stage 2 cirrhosis (I am not a drinker). They ran more blood work and finally diagnosed me with AIH. This is not anything I got from anyone or could give to anyone. My autoimmune system thinks my liver is a virus and is trying to destroy it. I am currently on a high dosage of steroids to hopefully put this disorder in remission. In the meantime, my weight is back up to 280 and I am going to TOPS to try to, if nothing else, not gain anymore weight. I will try to be better about posting, but I can't promise anything.

Hi, Sheri -

I'm sorry about your diagnosis. Hopefully the high dosage of steroids will put the disorder into remission. That is quite a challenge for you.

But please keep posting as you work at not gaining any more weight. You'll get a lot of helpful support in your efforts. When it comes to fighting weight gain, there are a lot of us experts here at Diettalk.

We are here to support you. Stay strong during your challenges.

Hi Sheri,

Welcome back. Do you remember me? We used to post in each other's journals :) I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, that sounds really difficult especially with having to take the steroids. Stay strong and hopeful, with DT support you can maintain your weight -- it won't be easy but you can do it!! :hug:

Hugs, Nausicaa.

I will be praying that the steroids put you into remission. I have had to go the steroid route and as a result gained weight and facial hair...what a combination! I also belong to TOPS. At this point just try to eat healthy and be healthy!

Thanks everyone. I remembered the support I had received on DT last year. You guys are great. I am slowly lifting from the fog that is a result of the death of my best friend as well. I just had to find a positive place to go. I am so happy to be back. If anyone is interested, I have started a blog about my best friend as a way to get my emotions out. It currently is just really sad, but I plan to add memories of our life together as well as a way to remember the good times. The link is http://grievingrememberingliving.blogspot.com/ I am just trying anything to become healthy mentally and physically right now. Any support from your guys is greatly appreciated.

Nausicaa I do remember you. You were always one of my favorite people to read about. You always seem to have something exciting going on in your life. I am so proud to see that you have hit your goal weight and are maintianing. I haven't had a chance to catch up on your journal yet, but how is your boyfriend? Are you guys married yet? I just loved reading about the romance. :)

I missed the TOPS meeting last night. I have been working in my classroom for the past few days trying to get everything ready for when school starts. My school is not airconditioned and after sweating for several hours I came home, took a shower and then a nap. When I got up the thought of stepping back outside into the heat was unbearable. I did get an email for one of the leaders today saying they missed me yesterday. That was nice to know I was missed. They are not able to meet next week because of repairs to the building, so in 2 weeks I will definitely go. TOPS has an exchange program that I found on their website. I am going to print the cards off and give it a try. Couldn't hurt. :)

Hi Sheri,
Welcome back to DT! I am so sorry to hear of all the health prombel you are going through. I wish you all the best and will keep you in my prayers.
I know how good the steroids work in many ways.

My DH had a Autoimmune system, where his spleen was killing off his paltlets think it was a virus. So I wish you all the best.

We will be here to help you all we can!
Have a great Thursday!!!
....Hugs, Millie

Hello Sheri! Do u remember me? I am so glad to see you back and am sorry to hear about your health problems. I dont have internet at home right now but will get it back sometime but i do post on here each week or every 2 so hope i see you in my journal. I often thought about you because we used to talk every day then i wondered what happened to you and im glad to see your back. TOPS is a great program. I had did well last yr losing 45 pounds in 7 months but then i had alot of stress going on and i got PG and i lost the baby and my hubby broke his ankle requiring surgery and him being out of work and it was a mess and i gained 38 pounds of it back so my oldest girl had a baby boy in january named Cayden and we both are on ww flex. In 7 weeks i have dropped 26 pounds and she dropped 18 so were on our journey now, and i am here for you on yours as well. take care my friend.

Hi Millie, Thank you for the support. I hope your DH is doing well. I go to my doctor for more bloodwork next week so hopefully there will be some improvement.

Sandy, I do remember you. I have wondered over the past year how your daughter was. I remember you had 2 daughters and one you liked the boyfriend and the other you had issues with. I am sorry to hear about your pregnancy, but glad to hear that your daughter hand her baby. I look forward to resuming our friendship! :)

Hi Sheri,
Wanted to pop in and say hi.

Yes my hubby is doing great now.
I hope your blood work will show some improvement! I will keep you in my prayers!

.....Have a great Thursday!.....Hugs, Millie

Hello Sheri! I look forward to resuming our friendship as well. My oldest girl had the bf i hated and they had a baby and are not together thankfully. My other daughter had a bf but it ended and shes been seeing Mike for 6 months now, and i do like him alot.
I have 3 boys too and their all doing well plus my baby grandson. Glad to see you doing well and will check in on you soon.

I have been busy with school starting again. I will try to be better about posting. I do have some good news though. My latest blood test came back last week. My liver functioning was in the normal range according to one enzime and only slightly elevated according to the other. I go back again on the 15th for another test. They have reduced my prednizone by 10 mg per day.

Millie, it gives me hope that your husband has recovered. I will keep you posted on my status. Thank you for your support.

Sandy, I am glad that you and your family are doing well. How wonderful to have a new grandbaby in the home. :)

Sheri

Hi, Sheri:

That's great that your liver is functioning in the normal range or only slightly elevated. Hopefully another blood test will show equally good results.

How are your Tops meetings going?

Hi JoJo, I missed three meetings in August and gained 9 lbs during that time. I have been back for about 3 weeks now and have consistently loss, but it has only been between .4 lbs and 1.6 lbs. Very slow. But at least I am not gaining right now. Thanks for your support JoJo. You have done great with your weight loss!!

Hi, Sheri:

Unfortunately it is so easy to regain the lost weight, and so difficult to lose it again. It is always a struggle! But it is so important that we keep trying. Focus on what you really want to achieve, and keep plugging along.

Yes, I've done quite well, but it is still a struggle. Guess it always will be.

Hello! Yea regaining lost weight stinks and i know as ive done it but like the above post says if you keep plugging along the weight will come back off. Hang tough my friend.

Thanks for your support. I have been had yet more health setbacks. I went into urgent care for a sinus infection and found out that my blood pressure was 210/144. I am now on 3 different medications for my blood pressure. The doctors think this is a result of the prednizone I am taking for my liver. I go back to the doctor for my blood pressure October 3rd. I feel pretty good, however I now have alot of fatigue in my muscles. A friend thinks this could be due to a change in my electrolites caused by the blood pressure medication. Hopefully this can be resolved easily.