Expert: Tonja Wells - 9/18/2006

Question
I am a 43 year old male, and I believe I have something wrong with my liver, like it's clogged or something.  The problem initially began 12 years ago from taking heartburn medication (prilosec and reglan).  I developed chronic fatigue and cognitive difficulties which felt to me to be the result of impaired blood flow to the brain.  This would get worse from lying down, especially on my back.  Then 4 years from today I got very sick from over indulging in alcohol (I was binge drinking 3 times a week at the time).  I noticed a violent sensation in my uppper abdomen.  Over the next 4 months I lost 40 pounds despite eating 2500 calories per day, putting me at 120 pounds ( I'm 5 foot 10 inches tall).  I finally stopped the weight loss by eating large amounts of onions and garlic.  But ever since, I've been unable to gain weight, even on a 3000 calorie diet.

I wish weight loss was my only problem, but it's not.  Other problems are:

Cold - especially my head.  I have to wear a winter hat if the temperature is under 95 F.  If I don't, it feels like I'm going to have a stroke, and I go into a stupor which I fix by either sweating in a hot bath or running.

Eating hampers my circulation - especially fats and proteins, meat is the worst.  After eating I get burning in my extremities, strong fatigue, and I lose blood circulation to my eyes causing them to shrink in size (sometimes it can be very painful).  As a result, my eyesight is disintegrating rapidly (need new glasses every 4 months), and my eyes are very light-sensitive (can't watch TV).

Sleeping - causes me to lose blood circulation to my head affecting my eyes and brain.  It's worse lying down (lying down causes liver pain too) so I sleep sitting up, and I wrap a heating pad around my eyes to improve the circulation to them (it helps with the shrinking).

Can't process proteins - I believe this because I have to eat spirulina or else I get tremors.

Chronic thirst - require sips of water every 15 minutes.

Can't eat foods or take supplements that have indigestible powders (tablet binders, mineral supplements, baking powder).  They run through my blood clogging my liver, making me thirsty, and I can taste them coming out of my tongue.

Lately, my intolerance of food has gotten much worse.  I can't eat beans or tofu now, and I'm down to 108 pounds.  My feet also go numb easily.

I started eating raw dandelion greens and they seem to help.  My blood circulation is better when I sleep, and I have less liver pain.  I've noticed after I eat them that I get slight pain or burning in my chest, back, and left shoulder blade.  It feels as though I'm trying to pass a stone from my right lung to my left lung (don't know if that's good or bad).  I also take a mixture of herbal tinctures that helps.  It's burdock, red clover, and yellow dock.

The doctors have done CT scans of my abdomen and lots of blood work, but the only thing they can find wrong with me is that I have an elevated bilirubin of 4.5.  I've also been to a lot of naturopaths and accupuncturists.  Nobody's been able to turn this around or even tell me what's going on.  Do you know of any other herbs that could help me.  Thank you.

Answer
You seem to have a lot going on. Without blood work it I would be challenged to know where to start, esp since you have been to so many different doctors and ND's.  For elevated bilirubin you might look at doing some heavy metal detoxing.

Are you using enyzmes to break down the proteins?

Have you had your thyroid check with T3 and T4?

Do you have low cholesterol with low SGOT and SGPT?

I would find someone in your area who knows what they are doing.

You might call Tree of Light to see if they can refer you to someone in your area.
800-41-NATUR

I would really need a lot more information and that would require coming in my office as you have tried SO MANY  different avenues that have not worked.

This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to
diagnose and treat diseases.  If you have any health problems consult a
health practitioner before embarking on any course of treatment