@adah No, I was never told I did not have HE. HE was what brought my cirrhosis to light, although prior to having my first episode I had other cirrhosis symptoms that the doctors did not connect to cirrhosis -- low platelet count, shaky hands, recently diagnosed diabetes, leg cramps, and edema. The HE episodes were thought to be neurological so I went to a neurologist. He was the one who said he thought the problem was my liver, at which point I was sent for a CT and that confirmed cirrhosis. A couple of the HE episodes had put me in the hospital and he suggested they test my ammonia level, which of course turned out to be high.
I am very thankful that it was diagnosed when it was because it turned out I had malignant lesions in my liver and if there had been more or if they had been larger, I could have been eliminated from being a transplant candidate.
JK