Anyone had a liver problem before?

robgilmo

Sat here three weeks now with a right barsteward of a pain in my side, doc first thought it was a muscle problem, or a hernia, now my bloods come back today or tomorrow to rule out liver problems, anyone ever had a painfull liver before?

Phil_aka_Pip

No, but I'm working on it. hic.

hang on, isn't your liver at your front?

robgilmo

Nope, right side , just behind lower rib, apparently.

cosmiccarrot

Had a similar problem for months on and off, went for tests to no avail then bang one day, extreme pain on one side, rushed to A&E... kidney stone! Turns out they grow in the kidney then break off then go down the narrow tube to you bladder (don't know the tech name) it's that stage the real pain kicks in.

If the tests don't reveal anything, ask the doc for a scan for possible kidney stones. Hope you feel better soon.

tone1

I had left side rib pain a few years ago... Had an MRI which was all clear... Turned out to be Costochondritus that was causing the pain in the ribs 

robgilmo

cosmiccarrot said:

Had a similar problem for months on and off, went for tests to no avail then bang one day, extreme pain on one side, rushed to A&E... kidney stone! Turns out they grow in the kidney then break off then go down the narrow tube to you bladder (don't know the tech name) it's that stage the real pain kicks in.

If the tests don't reveal anything, ask the doc for a scan for possible kidney stones. Hope you feel better soon.

I had kidney stones before, but that was pretty sudden, 10 minutes of feeling really ill then rolling around on the floor for 4 days, but it could well be stones if I have had them before.

robgilmo

tone1 said:

I had left side rib pain a few years ago... Had an MRI which was all clear... Turned out to be Costochondritus that was causing the pain in the ribs 

Its not that I dont think, its in my side just below my ribs, hopefully its just a muscle thing but waiting on the test results is a bit crappy.

Dominic

The only human liver problem I have had is finding a good Chianti to go with it

kennedydream1980

I had something similar last weekend, although the pain was in the middle of my stomach just below my ribs, then it moved to my right side just below my ribs. I rang the CHOC 24hr helpline and I was told if it got any worse that weekend to head up to A&E as there was a possibility it could be appendicitis. I still have the pain although it hasn't got any worse, I'm actually at the doctors this afternoon to see if they can shed any light as to what it is.  

robgilmo

Fingers crossed its nothing serious, my doctor is fairly sure its a muscle pain but I had my bloods tested last week and when they came back everything checked out Ok except they couldn't test my liver for some reason, so Im waiting on the results from a second test, so its either liver or muscle, Im hoping its the latter!

mikeyrob73

your gall bladder is also in that general area, the pain i had from mine before it was removed kinda radiated all around that region so may be worth getting that checked as well 

JezWynd

Lots of liver problems in the past inc Hep A,B and C, cirrhosis, fibrosis etc. I used to get an ache in my right side, esp after certain foods (and drink) - Dairy and spicy food would set it off. Aching joints are another tell. I was lucky, I lived with Hep C for more than twenty years without knowing I had it; it was the cure that really did me in, never came back to 100% after a year on interferon and ribavirin.

skunkwerx

I've got one but its not painful. Its just coated in fat, so a 'fatty liver'. Its underperforming so I need to cut my fat down, a lot... I just can't seem to. 

Been 3 years since that diagnosis, I really need to get on it. 

Grunfeld

skunkwerx said:

I've got one but its not painful. Its just coated in fat, so a 'fatty liver'. Its underperforming so I need to cut my fat down, a lot... I just can't seem to.

I could do with a bit of edumakation on this as it happens but I currently have the dim and average understanding that fatty liver isn't so much affected by dietary fat as by dietary sugars/starches and, umm, alcohol.  

Anyone know?  A qualified drinker perhaps?

cj73

My "qualifications" have lapsed but I thought it was dealing with excess alcohol that impeded the livers ability to process fats so it stored them for later...or something like that.  You can also get non-alcohol fatty liver issues so who knows?

Blaendulais

The mainstay of treatment is weight loss.  About 1/20 may progress to cirrhosis.  @skunkwerx go for it! Good luck

Sporky

A chigger might have laid eggs in you. 

skunkwerx

Aye my specialist is actually a gastroenterologist, who discovered it by mistake, in a way. 

He brushed off alcohol as a cause because I drink maybe, 3 bottles of wine a year or so. 

In my youth I'd get drunk every weekend. But just tipsy drunk, not mental. My youth being 18-20, I'm now 30. 

So he tested for hepatitis which can cause it. Negative result. 

He settled on it being because I'm a fat fuck. 

He also mentioned though that there is a correlation between Coeliac Disease (which I have and is the reason I see this Dr), and a fatty liver, or atleast an underperforming one.

My Coeliacs took around 5 years to diagnose, despite my constant efforts and complaining, so maybe that had an impact too. It caused a narrowing of my spine, osteopoenia (if I've spelt that correct), because while my body was retaining all of its fat, I wasnt taking in any nutrients. My intenstinal villa were completely atrophied. 

Which isnt unheard of but it seems like I went the opposite way to most coeliacs. 1 of many symptoms is weight loss. Unfortunately I got all the shit symptoms (pun intended) and not that one! Lol.  

Thankfully the osteopoenia has now gone (Though I do have my doubts), but I obviously went gluten free, consumed a lot of calcium tablets that actually upset my tummy (im sure of it) so just started drinking lots of milk, and being continously gluten free too, the intestines villi grew back, i took on nutrients better in general, and  my spine grew back to normal width/density/whatever its measured in! 

So after testing for the obvious causes, alcohol and hepatitis, the next thing to try is weight loss (fat loss really). 

Which because it requires effort on my part, is the hardest stage. 

The Doctor did explain to me that if its just because its fat/im fat, then it will likely take years, I think he gave an example of 10, for the liver to actually become scarred and permanently damaged. So I have time. (Not great for motivation though). 
He obviously insisted I start now, because why risk it. 

That was 3 years ago... 

Im still 212lbs. At least I'm consistent I guess. 


Sorry I can't give any science or biology and dietary expertise though. 

I'm just winging it with the diet, at least to just try and cut my fat for next Aprils appointment, and then go from there. 

robgilmo

Cool, good luck man, losing weight isnt as easy as people make out, but I think once you start and see the results it gets easier. Ive been trying to shed some for ages now and just dont seem to be getting anywhere, I think I need to start getting strict with myself just to get over that first hurdle and get it all rolling forward.

ToneControl

I thought pain was more likely from gall bladder and plumbing around your liver

skunkwerx

robgilmo said:

Cool, good luck man, losing weight isnt as easy as people make out, but I think once you start and see the results it gets easier. Ive been trying to shed some for ages now and just dont seem to be getting anywhere, I think I need to start getting strict with myself just to get over that first hurdle and get it all rolling forward.

I know man, its hard as hell! I have a bad habit of eating a big old bowl of cereal around midnight... which needs to stop, but it just tastes so damn good. 

Did you get your results mate?