Cirrhosis Support Group

Greetings, all and well done on such a great resource and community. I am currently so scared, I went for blood tests last week which came back with alt levels of 51 and have been referred for an ultrasound as a result. Rewind five years and I suffered depression when I came out of a violent relationship, and drank some thirty units of alcohol per day. Maybe three bottles of 13% wine or a litre of whisky. I got Pregnant and quit cold turkey there and then. I now have a two year old and a four month old. I had a relapse between pregnancies but have been teetotal well over a year, am breastfeeding etc. My doctor does not know the history of drinking but said my liver did not feel enlarged on examination. My worry is that if I had fatty liver it would surely have resolved and I drank enough to cause real problems. I am also slightly overweight and addressing this currently. I am considering not going to this scan and trying to forget about it. Am 28 years old and terrified my boys will lose their mother :'(

In a case like this it is best to remember that an ultrasound won't CAUSE any problems. It might, however, tell if there is or is not a problem and what should be done to address the issue. Either way then you will know. I find that often what we are really afraid of is what we don't know. Find out and then you an take action, and use it as a motivator.

Very true.. Thank you.

Hello Lividumlady,

Mike is right knowing the truth is easier than what we imagine.

Even though you have been sober now for over a year you can still have Fatty Liver.

Even people that don't drink have it. There can also be other causes.

Don't panic yet even if you do have more advanced disease you can still live a normal life.Many Cirrhosis Patients live a long life .Were any of your other labs out of normal range?

Get and Keep copies of all your test results.

I know you are scared we all are. Just don't let it stop you from being proactive in your health care.You've done the hard part by stopping drinking. Have the US and deal with the results when you get them. We'll be here .

Please make yourself at home. I'm sure others will be a long soon.

Thank you! This seems a very friendly board! As far as I know all the other results are normal, just this 51 reading. My doctor is wondering if there could be any link to the fact I had repeated protein in my urine whilst pregnant. It just feels like a slap in the face after giving up..

With fatty liver surely he would have felt enlargement in examination? There was no tenderness and he said it did not feel enlarged.. These things are making me think it could be more serious, but then after research I find with cirrhosis results can be normal? Am hoping at worst it's fatty liver due to my being slightly overweight ( in the period between pregnancies I relapsed slightly I ballooned five stone and am in the process of losing this..)

Five stone huh, another Brit it seems, welcome!

Mike,

You crack me up.

5 stones = 70 pounds if i remember correctly.

Lividumlady,

Often the liver will be inflamed with Fatty Live But not always. And if it is only slightly enlarged he may not be able to feel it. i'm not sure about the lab measurements there nut here 51 for a ALT level is not very high. With 15 to 41 being normal. and regardless of the cause it can take several months to a year or more for it to return to normal.

Most of the tine labs will be normal with Cirrhosis until complications occur. And even then they can be slow to change. A low Platelet count is often the first lab to change.

Losing the weight you gained should help But take it slow Rapid weight lose is hard on the liver also.

You can do it. You've already proven that you're committed.

That's reassuring. I read somewhere ibuprofen and pregnancy can affect levels also. Can cirrhosis be felt in a physical at all? Am hoping this is just a huge wake up call. But my history makes me nervous.

Hey Lividumlady!

Welcome to the group! There are no pain sensing nerves in any of the internal organs themselves so one really won't feel the cirrhosis itself--only the irritation that may be caused to other parts of the body. Once complications start to occur, such as ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen), there is discomfort and often pain but it is still not sensed by the organs, it is still the other parts of the body. Many times people feel the pain in the same area as an organ so they think their liver or kidneys or whatever are sending the pain signals to the brain.

Ibuprofen is hard on the liver and may be affecting your lab results. Talk to your doctor (practitioner?) about every over the counter meds or supplements you may be taking as some can be absolutely liver toxic.

I admire your determination to make sure your health is in order! Quitting the alcohol was a HUGE first step and I know first hand how difficult that has been. Congrats and keep it going! Setting a goal to lose weight is also a great idea and should provide you with an activity to keep your mind occupied while you get fully checked out by the professionals. Keep us informed about your test results! Again, welcome to our community! We are all neighbors regardless of distance apart!

Dennis

Yes, The Liver is any where from 6 to 12 cm so it can be hard to judge if it is enlarged.

In advanced stages the liver will often shrink. These are the main things they "feel" for:

Malignancy: Hard with irregular surface

Cirrhosis: Firm with smooth or irregular surface

Fatty Liver: Soft smooth surface

Congestive heart failure: Soft to firm, smooth surface with tenderness

Hepatitis: Soft and tender

Dennis is right the organs do not have pain nerve fibers. However the lining around them does and the excess pressure (From enlargement) can cause pain.

What does a enlarged liver feel like to the patient:

Often a boring pain just below the right rib. Like you ribs were boring a hole in your liver.

Often a fullness , like you just don't have enough room inside.

I had this "feeling" for almost a year before diagnosis.

Post edited by: mpmom, at: 09/04/2011 05:08 AM