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Nash Study March 2023 clinic visit

After a visit to his primary care doctor, Earl had one of his diabetic medications eliminated. This is great news. His blood sugars have been in the 130 range since then and we're pretty happy about that.  With this visit, we discussed his blood pressure which hasn't been real low but is trending down. Next visit may see a cut in one of his anti hypertensives also.   We are now titrated up to 1.7 mg and we will continue to monitor his blood pressure and blood sugars closely.  The lab report from the primary care doctor shows improvement in all his liver markers and this makes us think he isn't on a placebo. Next visit is scheduled for May 1 but the clinic may call to schedule an April visit to see if we can get back on the original dose schedule.  
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Month 6 of NASH study

 As we enter our 6th month of the clinical NASH study here in Las Vegas, we're seeing much progress.  As of today, Earl's been taken off one of his diabetic medications, Glipizide.  We can now proceed next week with an increase in his dosage of Semiglutide injection. His blood sugars are taken twice a day and as needed. We will continue to track these results and report them to the clinic staff and doctor.  He has lost a bit more weight but slowly.  He'll be scheduled for another ultrasound soon and we may see some liver improvement. We're pretty excited!
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Month 5 of Nash Clinical Trial

January 9, 2023 At month 5 visit, Earl's weight was down to 179 lbs.  Semaglutide was increased again to 1.0mg every week. Blood sugars remain stable with one low episode at 62.  He still reports feeling full and forgetting to eat. I have been reminding him to eat and his appetite is much smaller than it used to be. The trial combines the injection with the oral meds to study the effects of weight loss on the liver alone and/or in combination. We aren't sure about the oral meds but we do believe the Semaglutide is not a placebo. Earl reports a metallic taste after the injections and his weight loss suggests the real thing. Next clinic appointment Feb. 6 2023.
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Month 4 of NASH Clinical Trial

December 5, 2022.  I've been giving Earl the injections every Monday and he's taking the daily oral meds. It was decided by the clinic doctor and staff to increase his dose of Semiglutide based on stable blood sugars and weight. He's now getting .50mg every week. Blood sugars have been ranging from 110 to 180 with one random low at 67. His weight is down to 182. He reports no adverse effects other than feeling full halfway through meals. He gets a doctor exam every month and a phone call. Blood pressure and pulse have all been within normal limits. Next visit is January 9. 
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November 14, 2022 First thing on the clinical trial agenda is physical exam with initial parameters. Weight and waist circumference were noted. Earl started with a weight of 186.5. The trial was explained as a blind trial. No one in the clinic is aware whether the trial drugs are the real thing or placebo. We were given instruction on injection and oral med. The injection is Semiglutide. We were instructed about the dosing diary. the beginning dose was .24mg. This is to be given once a week for 4 weeks. We started on a Monday. The oral meds are Cilofexor/Firsocostat 30mg/20mg. No adverse effects noted so far. I'm tracking Earl's weight, vitals and blood sugars to be sure all is ok with him.  
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September 20, 2022 Earl and I begin this journey with some hope that we can find a way to control the effects of his NASH, which is a liver disease which we believe was caused by a childhood case of hepatitis.  This is an acronym for non alcoholic steatotic hepatitis which is a chronic inflammation of the liver. He is at stage 4. Next would be liver failure.  We entered the world of clinical trial with a visit to the Sierra Clinic. From this visit we were sent to various diagnostic appointments to assess his acceptance into the study. first was an ultrasound then a liver biopsy on October 18.   Earl passed all the criteria and was accepted into the program in November 2022.  
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