By the way...
My cat scan on that lump came back negative; so I have this sizable, very hard lump on my collar bone and my doctor can't tell me what it is but he says it's not cancer. Otherwise, since he was pulling vials of blood, he ran my bi-annual bloodwork and my liver tests are still coming up very abnormal. I don't "feel" like I have a sick liver but my bloodwork sure tells me I do. He says there's nothing to do right now other than to keep an eye on it but that makes me mighty uncomfortable. He says living most of my life as obese as I was caused the damage but I dunno... I suspect it all has to do with the surgery and malabsorption - anyone else testing out abnormal with liver or kidney when getting bloodwork done?
Mine is coming back OK. You need to REALLY watch the amount of Tylenol you take with impaired liver function! The best thing to do for liver healing and regeneration is a high protein diet, so there is no conflict in needs there.
I don't really think that chocolate is a culprit, but maybe you could convince yourself that M&Ms cause liver damage... ??? 
heh... nice try joy... rofl... I'm soooo glad to hear the lump is benign. My husband has a huge one on his shoulder. He also had a big one near the bend of his elbow. They are cysts. The doc told my husband most of the time they are just cycts that are not cancerous. He just popped the cyst out after numbing the area and that was that. But the fact he has another one really big on his shoulder is disconcerting. The doc couldn't tell him why he got it. I think its an internet investigation. Haven't done that yet. I'm sure we can pull up something! I'll peek around IN REGARDS TO YOUR LIVER: Take Milk Thistle!!!! go get it today Ms. Maureen... I use the Milk Thistle drops from the vitamine Shoppe. I hear more and more about the benefits of Milk Thistle and have posted before... here... this comes from the University of Maryland!:
Milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) has been used since Greco-Roman times as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver problems. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries physicians in the United States used milk thistle seeds to relieve congestion of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Today, several scientific studies suggest that active substances in milk thistle (particularly silymarin) protect the liver from damage caused by viruses, toxins, alcohol, and certain drugs such as acetaminophen (a common over the counter medication used for headaches and pain; acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, can cause liver damage if taken in large quantities or by people who drink alcohol regularly.)
Many professional herbalists recommend milk thistle extract for the prevention and/or treatment of various liver disorders including viral hepatitis, fatty liver associated with long term alcohol use, and liver damage from drugs and industrial toxins such as carbon tetrachloride.
theres more: Here is the link check it out:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm
Precautions
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.
Side effects from milk thistle happen only rarely, but may include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, rash or other skin reactions, joint pain, impotence, and anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction that causes throat tightness, shortness of breath, and, possibly, loss of consciousness.) The last two reactions listed are extremely rare.
Milk thistle should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Possible Interactions
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use milk thistle without first talking to your healthcare provider.
Similar to its ability to protect against damage to the liver from alcohol and acetominophen, as discussed in the Overview, milk thistle may also protect against liver damage from the following medications:
Antipsychotics : This group of medications used for schizophrenia includes butyrophenones (such as haloperidol) and phenothiazines (such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, and promethazine)
Phenytoin : a medication used for seizures
Halothane : a medication used during general anesthesia
Plant Description
Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean, but is now widespread throughout the world. This stout thistle usually grows in dry, sunny areas. The stem branches at the top, and reaches a height of 4 to 10 feet. The leaves are wide, with white blotches or veins. The flowers are red-purple. The small, hard-skinned fruit is brown, spotted, and shiny. Milk thistle is easy to grow, and it matures quickly, in less than a year.
What's It Made Of?
The active ingredient, or liver-protecting compound in milk thistle is known as silymarin. This substance, which actually consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin also keeps new liver cells from being destroyed by these same substances, reduces inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has potent antioxidant effects.
Most milk thistle products are standardized preparations extracted from the fruits (seeds) of the plant. Most preparations are standardized to contain 70% to 80% of flavonolignans (silibinin, silychristin, and silydianin), collectively known as silymarin.
Available Forms
Capsules of standardized dried herb (each capsule contains about 120 to 140 mg silymarin)
Liquid extract
Tincture
Silymarin phosphatidyl choline complex
The silymarin in milk thistle seeds is difficult to absorb. The more concentrated the solution of silymarin, the more easily it is absorbed and the more readily it enters the bloodstream. Standardized capsules are the most concentrated form and, therefore, should be used whenever possible. Silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex may be absorbed even more easily than regular standardized milk thistle. In clinical trials, the silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex has worked better than silymarin by itself for treating liver disorders. A key element in cell membranes, phosphatidylcholine helps the silymarin attach easily to the cell membranes. This may keep toxins from getting inside liver cells. Alcohol extracts may be less effective and, therefore, should likely be avoided.
How to Take It
Pediatric
Adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 to 25 kg), the appropriate dose of milk thistle for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.
Adult
Recommended dose: Generally 12 to 15 g dried herb (200 to 400 mg silymarin) per day or silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex 100 to 200 mg two times per day.
For liver protection: 120 mg silymarin (about 2 capsules), two times daily
To treat liver damage (from alcohol, drugs, or chemicals): 120 mg (about 3 capsules), three times per day
IN REGARDS TO YOUR LIVER: Take Milk Thistle!!!! go get it today Ms. Maureen... I use the Milk Thistle drops from the vitamine Shoppe. I hear more and more about the benefits of Milk Thistle and have posted before... here... this comes from the University of Maryland!:
Milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) has been used since Greco-Roman times as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver problems. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries physicians in the United States used milk thistle seeds to relieve congestion of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Today, several scientific studies suggest that active substances in milk thistle (particularly silymarin) protect the liver from damage caused by viruses, toxins, alcohol, and certain drugs such as acetaminophen (a common over the counter medication used for headaches and pain; acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, can cause liver damage if taken in large quantities or by people who drink alcohol regularly.)
Many professional herbalists recommend milk thistle extract for the prevention and/or treatment of various liver disorders including viral hepatitis, fatty liver associated with long term alcohol use, and liver damage from drugs and industrial toxins such as carbon tetrachloride.
theres more: Here is the link check it out:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm
Precautions
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.
Side effects from milk thistle happen only rarely, but may include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, rash or other skin reactions, joint pain, impotence, and anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction that causes throat tightness, shortness of breath, and, possibly, loss of consciousness.) The last two reactions listed are extremely rare.
Milk thistle should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Possible Interactions
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use milk thistle without first talking to your healthcare provider.
Similar to its ability to protect against damage to the liver from alcohol and acetominophen, as discussed in the Overview, milk thistle may also protect against liver damage from the following medications:
Antipsychotics : This group of medications used for schizophrenia includes butyrophenones (such as haloperidol) and phenothiazines (such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, and promethazine)
Phenytoin : a medication used for seizures
Halothane : a medication used during general anesthesia
Plant Description
Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean, but is now widespread throughout the world. This stout thistle usually grows in dry, sunny areas. The stem branches at the top, and reaches a height of 4 to 10 feet. The leaves are wide, with white blotches or veins. The flowers are red-purple. The small, hard-skinned fruit is brown, spotted, and shiny. Milk thistle is easy to grow, and it matures quickly, in less than a year.
What's It Made Of?
The active ingredient, or liver-protecting compound in milk thistle is known as silymarin. This substance, which actually consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin also keeps new liver cells from being destroyed by these same substances, reduces inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has potent antioxidant effects.
Most milk thistle products are standardized preparations extracted from the fruits (seeds) of the plant. Most preparations are standardized to contain 70% to 80% of flavonolignans (silibinin, silychristin, and silydianin), collectively known as silymarin.
Available Forms
Capsules of standardized dried herb (each capsule contains about 120 to 140 mg silymarin)
Liquid extract
Tincture
Silymarin phosphatidyl choline complex
The silymarin in milk thistle seeds is difficult to absorb. The more concentrated the solution of silymarin, the more easily it is absorbed and the more readily it enters the bloodstream. Standardized capsules are the most concentrated form and, therefore, should be used whenever possible. Silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex may be absorbed even more easily than regular standardized milk thistle. In clinical trials, the silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex has worked better than silymarin by itself for treating liver disorders. A key element in cell membranes, phosphatidylcholine helps the silymarin attach easily to the cell membranes. This may keep toxins from getting inside liver cells. Alcohol extracts may be less effective and, therefore, should likely be avoided.
How to Take It
Pediatric
Adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 to 25 kg), the appropriate dose of milk thistle for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.
Adult
Recommended dose: Generally 12 to 15 g dried herb (200 to 400 mg silymarin) per day or silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex 100 to 200 mg two times per day.
For liver protection: 120 mg silymarin (about 2 capsules), two times daily
To treat liver damage (from alcohol, drugs, or chemicals): 120 mg (about 3 capsules), three times per day 
Joy may be right about the Tylenol and products with Acetaminaphine. I had abnormal liver tests for about a year or so, but my last two tests have been fine. I cut out all tylenol products, but still take Vicodin for my back and that does contain some acetaminaphine. For headaches, I take Advil. My doctor and I both think my liver improved after stopping the Tylenol. That also includes cold and allergy products. I don't know if you drink alcohol, but that also goes straight to the liver since you have no duodenum. I read on a website that if you are going to drink, make sure you only do so with food.
Great news on the lump!!!
I haven't had one lick of advil or mortrin or any of that since i had surgery. My doc scared me too much about it. But I've been hearing more and more people say... oh i took one just once in a while wont hurt. Is that true? If so... man once in awhile I would LOVE to take one for head pain and other things. How dangerous did your doc say it was? I WAS ok'd to take baby asprin each week for stroke and migrane prevention, but my surgeon was NOT thrilled about it. So she scared me and I reduced the amount I take. (I have hemologic migranes) they mimic strokes where i get full right side paralysis. I take daily medication, but since I'm older she said to take asprin. Which I couldn't so we compromised on baby asprin. St. Josephs specifically. 
sooo.... let me know about that advil. How dangerous is it really? I hardly think that one every so many months would give us a bleeding ulcer in that old tummy, especially if I can take baby asprin more often than that, albeit, its a super small dose...
sooo.... let me know about that advil. How dangerous is it really? I hardly think that one every so many months would give us a bleeding ulcer in that old tummy, especially if I can take baby asprin more often than that, albeit, its a super small dose... Elizabeth,
My surgeon knows nothing about me taking the Advil - haven't seen her since the day after surgery. I made the decision to take Advil on my own so I can't recommend it as I don't even play a doctor on TV. An emergency room nurse was telling me that they see a lot of young girls who try to OD on Tylenol, live because they get their stomachs pumped, but have long-term liver damage. She told me about one girl who suddenly died two days later from the liver and kidney damage, even though she walked out of the hospital looking just fine. This nurse is a bariatric patient and she won't take Tylenol. I figure that an Advil every few months isn't going to do nearly the damage to my pouch that the Tylenol was doing to my liver. The other factor in my case is that the prescriptions I'm on already contain Tylenol so taking Tylenol for headaches and other aches and pains was putting me over the top. Since stopping the tylenol for aches, pains and headaches, my liver has completely recovered so I'm taking my chances with Advil. Would buffered aspirin help in your case?
C.
I know exactly what you mean about taking the tylenol way too much. Since I suffer from these darned migranes, around that time of the month I start popping tylenol to fight off the symptoms and the small headaches that I start to get and I KNOW its killing my liver. I've been hearing SOO much about this lately. I am in total agreement with you, I think our chances of getting a bleeding ulcer for taking advil once in awhile is way less of a risk than damaging the liver on that crap. I bet it does more damage than all of us know. You know those pharmaceutical companies would never ever tell. Whats buffered asprin? I'm only allowed the st. josephs coated baby since its such a small amount... is that just coated aspirin? If so if its a small amount I can. anywho... this acetaminophen thing is getting scary.
Elizabeth M 
I think I've posted before that my brother is a biochemist and he says it's poison. He wouldn't take Tylenol on a bet. Buffered aspirin usually has a calcium carbonate compound mixed in that makes it less harmful to the stomach. Vets usually recommend buffered aspirin for dogs with arthritis so that they don't have stomach issues.
Thanks guys, you're the best. Elizabeth, I'm going to look into that Milk Thistle, didn't know anything about it - will be interesting to start taking it and then see how the blood results come back next round. Joy, you are too much! I'm still trying to visualize bugs swarming all over those M&Ms to stop me from eating them (that was someone else's idea - Connie's??? - some time ago, still hasn't worked!!!) - this is one strong addiction, I've never had it so bad as this... Connie, I think I've taken Tylenol or anything like it maybe once or twice since my surgery; I just don't take the stuff. As for drinking, I'll have an occasional glass of wine but not much at all. I think my best bet right now is to try that Milk Thistle! Thanks friends! M.
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