In 2007, I lost my precious mother to auto-immune liver cirrhosis. She never drank and was quite embarrassed when she was told of her condition. I watched her suffer those 2 years, and especially the last two weeks.
I started having some of the same symptoms she had been having about that time also. These symptoms included elevated liver function tests (LFTs), jaundice, pain and burning in the liver area, swollen spleen, bowl incontinence and constipation, unexplained dry heaving and vomiting, itching, weight gain, and hair loss.
Being the investigative person I am, I continued to research these conditions to try to find out what was going on since the doctors seemed just as perplexed. The allergist said I had a fungal infection. The gastroenterologist said I had fatty liver. The endocrinologist said I was insulin resistant. The psychologist said I had cluster anxiety. And, my GYN said I was over weight. All I knew was I was mimicking my mother's demise, and I surely didn't want to die in my 60's of autoimmune liver cirrhosis.
I can remember being 19 years old and hearing my mother speaking of her bilirubin and biliverden being elevated. And, for 20 years, her blood work always came back with elevated liver function tests. But, the doctors did not know why, could not figure out why, and perhaps was so perplexed they didn't care any longer.
She, too, had countless doctor visits for elevated LFTs, jaundice, pain and burning in the liver area, swollen spleen, bowl and urinary issues, drying heaving and vomiting, itching, fungal infection, weight gain, and hair loss. And, those last 2 weeks in her coma made me feel so helpless, ignorant, and angry!
During her illness, I spent many hours on a computer researching to try and dig out the underlying cause of her problems. Mystery Diagnosis was my favorite TV show, and I prayed someone would be on that matched her condition. Watching her recover from having fluid drained off her abdomen, and chest cavity kept me digging. I figured since the medical profession couldn't figure it out, perhaps the holistic aspect of healing was were the key would be found to unlock this puzzle.
When I was a little girl, my two best friends' grandmother used to go to the herb doctor. We would giggle to see her come out of the office with a brown paper sack full of dried weeds and grass. But, as it turned out, Granny Culberson prompted me to start researching holistic alternatives.
Milk Thistle was popping up everywhere, and I started using it because I was beginning to have jaundice, weight gain, and burning in my liver area. I did notice some easing of symptoms, and talked my mom into trying it. She did improve to some extent, but I think, for her, it was just too late.
Milk Thistle is said to have liver cell regenerative properties, and was the only thing that eased my symptoms. Quickly, my body would let me know if I missed a Milk Thistle, and the need for higher dosage increased. But, I did feel better. I topped myself out at 1000 mg per day.
Burying my sweet mother was the hardest thing I have ever done, and I felt I had failed her to some extent. Being a Christian, I adhere to the "our days are numbered" belief, but I just didn't want to believe that this was her day. I was angry at the doctors.
Part two...next! Stay tuned to theglutenfreebeginner.blogspot.com!
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