Is there a relationship between dairy product and autoimmune liver disease?

I have autoimmune Hepatitis. While I handle Dairy fine. If I overdo any fatty food, and dairy can be rather fatty, it will feel a bit sore, and achy, and swell in that area from enlargment of the liver, so I did cut down on my cheese addiction, ice cream addiction, and anything dairy.

To give you hope: We have pushed the Autoimmune hepatitis into remmision though, I have a great Rhuemotologist, she is handeling it, because Ialso have Lupus, and it just works for her and I. I take Milk Thisle an over the counter Liver clenser that is safe, in fact she asks me every visit if I am still taking it, lol. And I take a perscription drug called actigall, generic name Urdisall 9sp may not be correct). At one point I did do some cytoxin IV chemo to calm that and a major flare of Brain Lupus. It helped. My Dr had told me I was six months away from Chemo for the Autoimmune Hepatitis (I was), and about a year away from a transplant list, maybe. My liver counts were heading up... 600's. Im happy to report they are all normal.

While I do eat what I want I take my meds as told, Im stubborn, But I kinda like my liver ,so in this case I listen. I eat well, and load up on veggies, fish, fish oils Omega 3 or 6 essential supplements, the milk thistle, probiotics, Green tea supplements, coQ10, Calcium w/ magnisium. No multivitamins... too much vitamin A, which can harm our livers, if I do take a multi Vitamin, it is only 1x per week.

I live your life, I know it well. Have for about 10 years. I eat lowfat cottage cheese, which I like better, I eat regular yougurt daily, cook with olive oil, a good oil, or coconut oil (I am a paaionate cook), I eat many fruits and veggies, eat nuts, little fried foods, dont like them except a few fires now and again. I do a lot of fruit smoothies with low fat smoothies, and added fiber. I tend toward cheeses with lower fat content. (just look at the lable for % of daily fat, drink soy mild, mainly protien, you get used to taste, if I drink milk, its 2%. Still love ice cream, and allow 2-3 x a week in smaller servings.

But you do need the mild thisle which can be found among vitamines, and if you can get your doctor to do so 350 mg of actigall a day 3x a week, it has saved people from death and transplants. I have lived with it for over a decade. I have had remmissions and flares, and in last 5 yrs more remmisons. The last flare last year, I belive was part of the nasty Lupus flare, it happens.

I do co-own an autoimmune/lupus support group on Yahoo. though much is about Lupus, I talk about my poor liver, and have info about liver issues. and am always open to liver issues. I do almost all teh research, I am the main owner, and we have pwople with all kinds of autoimmunes. We talk about our lives, living within the confinds of our illnesses, and go into daily life, and if you like or dislike religion we go there too, religon is always tagged religous contact. Your welcome there. We have about 50-60 memebers, but can have about 3,000-6,000 posts a month, we have become family. every question is answered. I even get liver questions from those with undiagnosed autoimmune hepatitis. so it comes up.

Also I do not know if it has happened to you, but it happens to me often, I test positive foe Hep A, B, C all the Time... My UCLA dr and my regular rhuemotologist said when that happens tell them you had a quantitative test, and that it has come back negative about 6 times... They know Im educated and assertive, so tell the idiot dr's that I do not have hep A< B OR C and leave me alone. so if it happens to you, ask for a quantitative test.. to put it to rest. I will find some links on autoimmune hepatitis, give you my personal email, and my groups link.

I wish you all the Luck. I know your scared, looking for help and answers. I know this Knowledge is power. remeber you are not contagious (my husband of 16 yrs would be ill with this), it is controlable with proper care, and people can help and support you.

My best
Chris

christibro40@yahoo.com

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