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retrofade

I alluded to this in a different thread

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On 11/23/2022 at 4:41 AM, retrofade said:

A couple of people here know what's been going on with me lately, but I figured I'd post something here as well. 

I went to the hospital on Wednesday of last week with leg soreness and bloating issues. Long story short is that after multiple tests (and a whole ton of blood being taken for said tests), a CT, an MRI, and an ultrasound... it turns out that I have cirrhosis of the liver. Doctors aren't exactly what caused it a of yet. Whether or not it was autoimmune or if my copious drinking until February 2020 (when I quit) has come back to haunt me. 

The leg weakness played in a bit with that because the bloating was making it difficult to eat, and so my electrolyte (it's what plants crave) levels were all screwed up. I had also been sick with some kind of stomach bug a few weeks ago, and the week before that as well. The working hypothesis there is that my muscles suffered from some sort of autoimmune attack, and it went after my leg muscles. Still waiting to get tests back on whether or not the liver problems were caused by the same thing. I legitimately was so weak that when I went to urgent care, one leg gave out in the parking lot, then again when I was being taken to an exam room. 

At the end of the day, I'm staring at having to make some pretty serious lifestyle changes. As of right now, I'm hobbling around with a walker (happy almost 40th Birthday, retro) for the time being until I get some muscle buildup in both legs. I'm also looking at a likely liver transplant within the next 5-7 years. A couple of people have already volunteered get tested to possibly be live donors. I'll be visiting GI specialists as well as my PCP within the next couple of weeks if I can get in. 

I was released from the hospital on Thursday evening because there wasn't really anything more that they could do other than wait for more test results to come back. My legs are getting a little bit stronger, but are still nowhere close to where they need to be. Bloating from my enlarged liver has gone down substantially over the last few days as well, so that's a relief. 

I have two morals of my story.

  1. Take care of your body. It's the only one you're going to get (unless we make it to the singularity).
  2. When your wife/SO asks you to go to the doctor (like mine did for a month), you should probably just do it. If I had, I wouldn't be hobbling around with a walker like I'm 87 years old. 

Damn, so sorry to hear about this. Wow, you’re in my prayers. 

Having had late stage Lyme Disease for 25 years and almost dying from it a couple times in the early 2000’s, here’s my 2 cents on your situation, and you probably already know a lot of this.

1. Many docs do their jobs well. If you have something hard to diagnose or a very serious situation and your life is on the line, your doc will only offer you the broad and general established standard of care options. Many think those are the only options available. The truth is there are almost always many more options available that are having solid success, but haven’t yet made the slow process of being accepted everywhere. So there’s a lot of fvcking hope for you. 

2. I was having liver issues when I was taking too much Tylenol with heavy antibiotics and other things years ago. I started taking Milk Thistle, and it was amazing. My liver function went back to normal. My liver has been fine since even during my years where I made Rush Limbaugh look like a Vicodin lightweight. With all that Tylenol, like 10 to 12 grams a day which is an overdose, the MT protected it. 

3. If even just 30 to 40% of you liver is in decent condition, you can remove the damaged part and it’ll grow back to 100%. 

4. Your body has the stem cells to repair everything in your body, even a severed spinal chord. The problem is the stem cells die on the journey to the damaged site or not enough make it. The younger you are, the more the stem cells make their journey. For years, researchers have been trying to figure out how to aid them in making it to the damaged area. They can now do it, but not without causing other problems. 

Currently, the only growth factors available is Recombinant Growth Hormone (rGH) which I take a shot of every day. Yes, it’s the same exact thing that the athletes abuse. My pituitary gland is fried, so I can’t make any naturally. If I didn’t take the shot, I would fall apart like a 110 year old man over a year. After my PG failed, I had to have knee surgery, back surgery and eye surgery in one year and was able to stop it with rGH therapy thank goodness. 

Since your liver has the dreaded C, you’re most certainly going to have very low Insulin Growth Factor 1 levels (IGF-1). Much of your IGF-1 is made in the liver. With low IGF-1, your bone density will drop……instead of listing everything, you’ll feel like an old man with weakness, tire easily, muscle density breaks down, it’s tough. 

But you can go on rGH therapy and the new studies I was just reading show that it dramatically helps the liver with C heal and produce more IGF-1. Most benefits of rGH therapy take 6 months to a year to really kick in. So short term studies aren’t going to show a lot of progress. If you take a GH Stim Test, your major medical or prescription insurance WILL cover it probably at 20/80, you pay 20%. I have mine shipped from the WalMart Specialty Pharmacy in Florida. 

5. I haven’t checked, but there is certainly other research and treatment options that are showing promise that you might be able to try. I’ll look around and see what I can find. 

You can PM or call me any time if you have any questions about rGH or anything else. 

 

 

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Sorry to hear about all of that Retro, hope you improve quickly.

Also thanks for sharing the story. People need to hear about what others experience to get them to watch their own situations.

My own story was my parents had serious health issues in their 40s including cardiac issues, but were treated and recovered. Some relatives also had serious midlife medical issues that caused early deaths.

It made me realize over 3 decades ago in my early 30s that I needed to take care of my body especially since I worked in a high stress position.

I started going to my primary care for a full annual physical/workup along with implementing some lifestyle changes.

The annual physicals caught a serious medical situation for me about 6 years ago that I was able to treat early and avoid it getting worse.

I have a younger sibling who tries to tough out everything, the tough guy bit. Not taking care of himself when younger is now catching up with him medically in his 60s.

Everyone should heed Retro's advice: take care of yourself (lifestyle and regular doctor wellcare/physicals). There is a lot in life to experience and enjoy but life is also short. You want to ensure as many good health years as possible.

 

 

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On 11/23/2022 at 7:41 AM, retrofade said:

A couple of people here know what's been going on with me lately, but I figured I'd post something here as well. 

I went to the hospital on Wednesday of last week with leg soreness and bloating issues. Long story short is that after multiple tests (and a whole ton of blood being taken for said tests), a CT, an MRI, and an ultrasound... it turns out that I have cirrhosis of the liver. Doctors aren't exactly what caused it a of yet. Whether or not it was autoimmune or if my copious drinking until February 2020 (when I quit) has come back to haunt me. 

The leg weakness played in a bit with that because the bloating was making it difficult to eat, and so my electrolyte (it's what plants crave) levels were all screwed up. I had also been sick with some kind of stomach bug a few weeks ago, and the week before that as well. The working hypothesis there is that my muscles suffered from some sort of autoimmune attack, and it went after my leg muscles. Still waiting to get tests back on whether or not the liver problems were caused by the same thing. I legitimately was so weak that when I went to urgent care, one leg gave out in the parking lot, then again when I was being taken to an exam room. 

At the end of the day, I'm staring at having to make some pretty serious lifestyle changes. As of right now, I'm hobbling around with a walker (happy almost 40th Birthday, retro) for the time being until I get some muscle buildup in both legs. I'm also looking at a likely liver transplant within the next 5-7 years. A couple of people have already volunteered get tested to possibly be live donors. I'll be visiting GI specialists as well as my PCP within the next couple of weeks if I can get in. 

I was released from the hospital on Thursday evening because there wasn't really anything more that they could do other than wait for more test results to come back. My legs are getting a little bit stronger, but are still nowhere close to where they need to be. Bloating from my enlarged liver has gone down substantially over the last few days as well, so that's a relief. 

I have two morals of my story.

  1. Take care of your body. It's the only one you're going to get (unless we make it to the singularity).
  2. When your wife/SO asks you to go to the doctor (like mine did for a month), you should probably just do it. If I had, I wouldn't be hobbling around with a walker like I'm 87 years old. 

+++++ man. So awful to hear this if you need help at all lmk happy to do so. Stay strong man. Happy to see if I’m a match too if needed. 

 

 

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Sorry to hear about this Retro, you're one of the good ones and I enjoy reading your posts on here. I'll be praying for you and your family through this difficult time. 

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On 11/23/2022 at 4:41 AM, retrofade said:

. Doctors aren't exactly what caused it a of yet.

 

Hopefully moderating the Barkboard didn't cause it. That could cause extreme liver and brain damage just having to read what's posted on there.

In all seriousness, I hope you get better. You're a great guy, and we all want you healthy for a long time.

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On 11/25/2022 at 1:20 AM, GoDogs22 said:

 

Hopefully moderating the Barkboard didn't cause it. That could cause extreme liver and brain damage just having to read what's posted on there.

In all seriousness, I hope you get better. You're a great guy, and we all want you healthy for a long time.

Haha. That place just gives me ulcers. 😂

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That was a pretty tough read, Retro.  Sorry to hear you're going thru all of this.  I have my own issues with long-term autoimmune issues, but am not going to take away from your situation here by delving into that...

Trite to say, but you gotta stay positive and believe that your life-style changes, along with some good modern medicine, etc., will make a significant difference.  That's my hope for you anyway...

Appreciate all that you do here.  Given your circumstance, is sort of all the amazing, but if it means you're someday away from the board a bit more and that your health then improves, well, I think we'd all miss you, but certainly understand... and definitely be glad for you...

Take care... 

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On 11/25/2022 at 9:21 PM, utenation said:

@sactowndog was saying a GOP cesspool? 

Yep, it is. Then they shout you down, call you "leftist", "communist", "globalist" or whatever else when they don't like your responses. Or the newest thing is calling people pedophiles and/or groomers because of some new law in Tennessee. I had to temp ban someone today for telling another member to go kill themselves. I'm sure when he gets back in a few days, it'll be more of the same abuse towards me that's been going on for the last 7-8 years. I had a few of them tell me that my wife and I are terrible parents because we're giving our daughter puberty blockers/delayers for a medical condition that she has. They automatically made the assumption that we were doing it so that my kid could transition.

Oh, and if they really don't like what you say, then they just take one part of what you said, and then post a drinking gif with it. 

For example...

Comment: "Why do so many Republicans support politicians that promote fascism?"

Response: "fascism"

Happy Hour Drinking GIF by Saturday Night Live

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On 11/25/2022 at 7:54 PM, retrofade said:

Yep, it is. Then they shout you down, call you "leftist", "communist", "globalist" or whatever else when they don't like your responses. Or the newest thing is calling people pedophiles and/or groomers because of some new law in Tennessee. I had to temp ban someone today for telling another member to go kill themselves. I'm sure when he gets back in a few days, it'll be more of the same abuse towards me that's been going on for the last 7-8 years. I had a few of them tell me that my wife and I are terrible parents because we're giving our daughter puberty blockers/delayers for a medical condition that she has. They automatically made the assumption that we were doing it so that my kid could transition.

Oh, and if they really don't like what you say, then they just take one part of what you said, and then post a drinking gif with it. 

For example...

Comment: "Why do so many Republicans support politicians that promote fascism?"

Response: "fascism"

Happy Hour Drinking GIF by Saturday Night Live

Obviously the GOP is everywhere but I kinda figured some of that Cali liberal stuff would hold its own but I’m not an expert on Fresno/ FSU demographics and obviously out of staters on that board. 

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On 11/25/2022 at 7:16 PM, utenation said:

Obviously the GOP is everywhere but I kinda figured some of that Cali liberal stuff would hold its own but I’m not an expert on Fresno/ FSU demographics and obviously out of staters on that board. 

 

Central Valley gave the world Devin Nunes and Kevin McCarthy. That should tell you everything.  But yes, the Barkboard is pretty much an alt-right cesspool.  Where denizens feel confident calling liberal educators gr**mers and pe**philes, and tell them to commit suicide. It's clearly a place of compassion and empathy. 

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On 11/25/2022 at 7:42 PM, GoDogs22 said:

 

Central Valley gave the world Devin Nunes and Kevin McCarthy. That should tell you everything.  But yes, the Barkboard is pretty much an alt-right cesspool.  Where denizens feel confident calling liberal educators gr**mers and pe**philes, and tell them to commit suicide. It's clearly a place of compassion and empathy. 

A Trumper friend of mine says he thinks the country will split because much of this shit is about core values.  We shall see. 

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On 11/25/2022 at 10:42 PM, GoDogs22 said:

 

Central Valley gave the world Devin Nunes and Kevin McCarthy. That should tell you everything.  But yes, the Barkboard is pretty much an alt-right cesspool.  Where denizens feel confident calling liberal educators gr**mers and pe**philes, and tell them to commit suicide. It's clearly a place of compassion and empathy. 

Meanwhile they all claim that they're devout Christians. 

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