Hepatic Encephalopathy
In this article
- What Is Hepatic Encephalopathy?
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Getting a Diagnosis
- Questions for Your Doctor
- Treatment
- Taking Care of Yourself
- What to Expect
- Getting Support
Symptoms
There's a lot of variety in the way HE affects people. Not everyone has the same symptoms. For some folks, they may be very slight, or come and go.
In some cases, the effects of hepatic encephalopathy start slowly and then get worse bit by bit. But sometimes they hit you hard all at once.
There are some mental signs to watch out for. For instance, you may:
- Get confused
- Forget things
- Feel nervous or excited
- Notice a sudden change in your personality or behavior
- Speak or act inappropriately to others
- Not feel interested in things
- Get cranky
Of course, when it comes to changes in behavior, sometimes you're the last one to realize that something is off. So if you've got a long-term liver disease, ask your family and friends to be on the lookout for shifts in your personality. Tell them to be honest with you if they see your mood has changed or you're just not acting like your old self.
You may also notice some changes in your sleep patterns. You could feel sleepy during the day or stay up late at night.
Some physical changes can start creeping in too. You may notice that:
- Your breath smells sweet or musty.
- It's hard to move or use your hands.
- When you hold out your arms or hands, they shake or flap.
- Your speech sounds slurred.
- You feel slow or sluggish when you move your body.
Getting a Diagnosis
It may be hard to notice hepatic encephalopathy at first. Your family or friends may see changes in your behavior or movement before you do.
If you have a liver disease or had one in the past, your doctor may ask you if anyone has told you about changes in your personality. He'll examine you for signs of the physical symptoms that go along with the brain disorder.
He may also give you a blood test to check for high levels of ammonia. That's a sign that your liver is not clearing it from your bloodstream the way it should. Too much of that toxin can build up in your brain and lead to HE symptoms.