Carol--
I had the same problem with plaquenil and always LOSE fluid on steroids. Part of that is that the treatment for autoimmune liver disease is steroids and when your liver is bad, you retain water called ascites. Lasix and lactulose (spelling?) are usually prescribed together in liver patients because studies and experience has shown that just lasix alone will not removethe fluid from certain liver problems. I can direct you to a site where you can get lots of info.
Also, I got MORE fluid on lasix, but it goes away with HCTZ. Like Bill says these drugs are different types of diuretics lasix usually more for the liver and HCTZ often with the kidney, one's a loop diuretic and one is another kind, I was told. So it's important they figure out where the fluid is coming from. I have liver disease and lasix and aldactone are common combination but I have kidney problems too. Kidney problems are common with liver disease.
Here's a link to what I could find on ascites--it can become infected, so while many of us have some water around the belly/organs, it can get serious. This is from the liver failure support group--there are lots of people there with varying degrees of problems from NASH to transplant and IMKindly provides lots of good info you can't get anywhere else.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/liverfailure/messages?msg=1125.7
lactulose is a drug that binds ammonia and is given to some liver patients. there is a new study about probiotic yogurt being potentally as effective as lactulose(they are still studying it) so I always have some every day.
Autoimmune liver diseases are not usually just liver diseases, but more like autoimmune vascular/liver diseases and can affect parts of your body outside of the liver because blood flow is messed up (everything goes through the liver). If you cant take steroids, will they let you take plaquenil or something else? Plaquenil helps me alot, I had a lot of fluid build up in a few days when I stopped it. I had no idea it was doing so much. I didn't know it but plaquenil is prescribed for some rare liver conditions, though in lower doses than we take.
I really hope you feel better. IMKindly can answer a bunch of questions if you have any and even if it isn't liver, she has some medical stuff about the different types of edema and their causes and the different diuretics, esp. from a liver standpoint.
Love, Marji
Ills--Sjogrens-Lupus cond., AI polygland. dysfunction 2, hyper/hypopigment, scoliosis,kyphosis,stenosis, deg.,O.A.,spine surgeries, salivary/lymphectomies, NASH, COPD, RLS, UT/GI bleeds, hystero, brain/nerve damage,TB
Meds--INH,Plaquenil, Evoxac, Metformin, Synthroid, HCTZ, HRT and Lidocaine patchs, Voltaren gel, Klonopin, Vicodin, Restasis, Albuterol, steroids