What were the first main symptoms of y... - British Liver Trust
What were the first main symptoms of your liver condition?
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As a consequence of an unusual LFT score, I was referred to a gastroenterologist who diagnosed genetic haemochromatosis. Up to that point, I was free of symptoms that pointed directly to the liver. However, 2 years later, I had a GI bleed and this led to a diagnosis of cirrhosis and eventually liver cancer. Up to my transplant two years later, I was largely symptom free. Mike
In addition to lethargy I was regularly falling over which resulted in me falling down a flight of stairs and being admitted to hospital. There, I was diagnosed with cerebral haemhorrage.
I went for my first breast screening and the lady asked about red spots I had on my chest and said I should mention it to the Dr. Happened I had to see nurse the same week, otherwise to be honest as I'd had the spots for nearly two years and had also pointed them out to another Dr as they were also appearing on my legs and tummy who'd said they were nothing to worry about, I really wouldn't have bothered. Nurse called Dr in who said he wanted bloods done for LFTs straight away.
I saw a GP 22 years ago with joint pain and headaches (I'd recently lost my Mum, had nursed her through bowel cancer). Among loads of tests he tested for AMAs , which were +ve, so he sent me to a liver consultant and rheumatologist. They thought all was fine,- lfts okay, all ultrasounds, other blood tests etc okay - annual lfts were suggested, but after 12 years I was told to stop, as I'd never get anything.
PBC was never originally mentioned, and the GP and liver man were really down-playing things, saying I'd probably never get anything.
6 years ago, a new-to-me GP in a new area was checking out my wrist strain, and panicked on noting the old AMA tests. I saw another Consultant, who labelled me 'pre-symptomatic PBC' even though this is not considered a formally accepted diagnosis, and I don't fit the strict diagnostic criteria for PBC, in that I still only test +ve for AMAs, with all lfts and other tests, ultrasounds etc clear.
The diagnosis is a trial with insurance companies, and I think this diagnosis has caused me more pain and stress and grief than actually having a proper illness, diagnosis would have. As far as I know I still don't have anyof the obvious PBC symptoms, although as I learn more about PBC I wonder if I am developing some - although lfts are still way, way, off being worrisome.
Yellow look, raised lft & enlarged spleen.
Can't remember symptoms too well, was always going to doctor for tiredness, lethargy, nothing specific. The story is in 1973 I had baby, had massive blood transfusion. Did not know they did not test blood then. Afterwards always unwell, doc never understood. In 1991 the blood service came to my works and asked for volunteers to give blood. I gave blood. Week later opened envelope to read 'thanks but no thanks, go and see your GP' - Result HCV - (doc apologised) end 2012 diagnosed with Liver C.
I went to the Dr to have a routine cholesterol blood test ( it runs in the family) my cholesterol was exstremely high that when they found out about my liver problem
I went to see Doctor as I had not been to see a doctor for years, thought it time (at 59 years) to have cholesterol etc. checked, I was feeling less like an 18 year old, but I put that down to the fact I was no longer 18!! My Dr. is also a haematologist, he noticed an oddity and sent for more bloods, and diagnosed probable PBC, symptoms came crashing in over next few months, (Fatigue, Hepatic Encephalopathy, G.I. Bleed, Itching, Asceites) I am now on liver transplant list, (PBC) so from no symptoms to having been on transplant list for 4 months spread over just over 12 months. With just about ALL the regular symptoms I believe the term is aggressive.
Blood test for unrelated matter.
Close to Christmas 2005 had indigestion with nausea and right sided abdo discomfort / pressure (who doesn't have indigestion around Christmas). Could not sleep, pain getting worse. A night call doctor prescribed an anti-emetic almost immediately felt better. Next day thought I looked a bit jaundiced. Saw my GP, after tests I had gall stones. Had my gall bladder removed but blood tests did not return to normal. After numerous attempts to clear bile duct of "sludge" over the next few years was eventually diagnosed with PSC. Didn't particularly feel tired until after being told following a clinic appointment that my "numbers did not look good". Was on the transplant list within 3 months and had a transplant within 5 months of the final clinicappointment .
Redness of the hands, broken veins on the nose. Doc thought I was a heavy drinker and they picked up unusual LFTs. Hardly drank so they checked for and found HCV.
Vomiting blood
At age 2 my parent's were painting I put my hands in the paint whilst there were not looking worried I had swallowed some they took me to hospital the doctor noticed a enlarged liver at the age of 13 was finally diagnosed with carolis disease
High enzyme level in liver shown in blood tests. Pains in all joints.
Although I had mild pain I would never have gone to the drs about it. I was lucky though as during a stay in hospital with my baby they offered me a blood test. Then the abnormal lft results eventually led to diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. I think there should be much more awareness of possible causes of sometimes mild symptoms.
Failed the initial screening at my regular blood donor session, suspected anaemia. Went to see GP who ordered blood tests which threw up an irregularity. No symptoms before that. Referred to gastrointestinal clinic, waited 4 mths for appt @ was then told I had cirrhosis. major shock!
My hubby had general tiredness, irregular bowel habit, little to no libido and nosebleeds all initially put down to depression due to everything else going on in his life then seemingly out of the blue he vomited blood and in hospital was diagnosed with advanced cirrhosis & portal hypertension with varices. That was April 2012 - tomorrow (17 June 2014)being admitted for assessment for liver transplant.
Forgot to add - life long t-total - probably Auto Immune Hepatitis cause though not typical in its behaviour.
Sounds a similar pattern to my experience, but by accident I was diagnosed by my Dr. who is a blood specialist... Good luck with the assessment. let us know the results, Which hospital is it? NewCastle ?
Answering on behalf of my husband, investigations following on from a burst gastric ulcer.
Lump in stomach.
My birth liver showed no symptoms as the problem was genetic from birth and was unknown and only showed up when my kidneys kept forming stones for many years.
Transplanted Liver showed problems at approximately 18 yrs after first transplant and had blocked portel vain and was transplanted 2 yrs later.
Routine blood tests
Blood tests
Weight loss, found out through a blood test..
Went to the doctors, was having occasional severe pain from waist to shoulder front and back lasting anything from from 20 minutes to 2 hours, after which i felt exhausted with an ache like a herd of cattle had stampeded through me, it sounds dramatic but i thought i was having a heart attack, it was subsiding and i fell asleep, this happened 3 times in the next ten days so i saw my doctor who gave me antacid tablets, they didn't work so got stronger ones again no luck, he wanted to give me different ones but i thought i might be getting an ulcer so i suggested that perhaps the pain should be investigated so he sent me for a scan, the results were fatty liver disease a lump on the liver and one on a kidney, whoever read the scan say the lumps are cysts, i left the surgery advised to lose weight, no future appointment, my mind is in a turmoil, should i be asking for more tests ? i don't smoke and been lifelong T Total, but am grossly overweight. What should i be asking my doctor ? can anyone help. i have started a diet. Thank you.
other symptoms: discomfort at bottom of center of ribcage, closer to where gallbladder is and nausea/lack of appetite, but not vomiting were first symptoms. After that, extreme fatigue esp. in the afternoon.
I collapsed in the street, blood tests followed and I spent 2 weeks in hospital and came out with a diagnosis of cirrhosis,probable AIH (as I am tee total.)
Low back pain (lumbar-sacral radiating to abdominal pelvis.
My family were picked at random for a whole series of health checks by the National Statistics office (?OPCS). That was c.1990. My GP was informed that I had a raised cholesterol and also raised GGT. After initial questions from my GP as to how much alcohol I drank (virtually none) he referred me initially but immediately to the local hospital. A liver biopsy at the time showed fatty liver - this has now progressed to NASH Cirrhosis. My nursing friends suggested I was referred to Kings - which my GP did. I had had intermittent but severe right sided abdominal pain since the age of 14 (1964) but not certain if that was related to the fatty liver.
Chronic Fatigue, Itching, dry eyes, and stomach swelling..
ex alcoholic routine bloods and dull ache ( thought ache was from gallstone, took bladder still have ache)
Cirrhosis .drugs and alcohol .Symptoms were -Ascites hepatic encapholopathy, peripheral edema, dehydration & vomiting .waiting for hepatitis C. Treatment. Havn't drunk alcohol for two years. No varices at present, bloods are fine. Feel fine, just taking one day at a time. 😀
Massive abdominal swelling and chronic fatigue, fluctuating liver enzymes ( all ignored by GP). Diagnosed by ultrasound for unrelated symptoms.
Been drinking heavily for several months, with occasional short, even heavier binges. Began sweating profusely, then tiredness, weakness, joint pain, loss of appetite and weight, then short-lived visible symptoms: brusies, skin rash on chest, darkening of patches of skin on backs of hands and on the genitals, red palms and thinning hair. Some liver enzymes raised after drinking heavily (but fell-back when I wasn't drinking). Then ultrasound showed fatty liver. Not diagnosed with cirrohsis, but fearing I have it.
First I new about it was when I had a variceal bleed.
indigestion and what I thought was a lump - it turned out to be a huge cyst
a lot of lose stools then one day woke up like the micheling man,the beginning of a very bad trip.
A lot of lose stools then one day woke up like the micheling man,beginning of a bad trip.
My stomach hurt when I ate. I went to the doctor for this. I thought I had an ulcer. My blood tests came back abnormal. So they sent me for an ultrasound. It turned out I had a large hiatal hernia..... But they also found I have cirrhosis. No symptoms really. Maybe a little tiredness but never too tired to have fun or go shopping.
Went to hospital with food poisoning thhey did ct scan about 5 months later started having nausea
I had elevated ALT & AST levels. After lots of vials of blood, I was dx with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, & fatty liver.
The first signs I had were persistent abnormal LFTs recorded at clinics investigating some issues I had with my kidneys. The referal to the gastro team came following an unexplainable rise in cholesterol levels of all things. In conjunction with this was a high pANCA level that didn't correlate with any associated vasculitis antibody markers. I suppose the first noticeable symptom was fatigue, but I couldn't initially say this was liver related, however, I certainly could later.
I also have persistent abnormal LFTs (108 ALT 54 AST) for 7 months...no alcohol in that period, but was a weekend drinker for 15 years before that. Can I ask what you were diagnosed with? I have been reading and getting tests done but only thing so far is dilated bile ducts...worried it could be much worse as they have not returned to normal.
I went 7 or 8 years without a formal diagnosis. The initial suspicion was PSC, but none of the usual signs showed up on ultrasounds, biopsies or MRCPs. Eventually was diagnosis with Cryptogenic cirrhosis after a biopsy in 2013. Crypotogenic basically means of unknown cause. However, the transplant finally gave the answer, after all that time it turned out that it was PSC afterall. So, it's interesting that you mention dilated bile ducts. Now, try not to jump to the conclusion you have PSC, lol, there are other things that can cause those too. When is your next appointment? Have you been referred to a more specialist team at your local hospital yet or are you still just being seen by your GP?
Vomiting blood and black stools
Felt very unwell for months. Hard to describe. It wasnt like a flu but it was equally as bad as the worst flu imaginable in severity. I knew something was wrong. I felt like my body was failing. I had this incredible feeling that I was going to die soon. Just an inner part of me that knew something was wrong.
Move to a new Gp, showed up in new patient blood tests.
Routine blood test at age 60 medical and they found almost pure alcohol!
No symptoms at all.
Gave up the booze right away and 30 months on still no real symptoms apart from often feeling tired.
Cirrhosis confirmed but not "sick" (touch wood)
Other symptom :-Dark tarry explosive diarrhea
In hospital recovering from an acute kidney infection and urosepsis, an ultrasound detected an enlarged liver and spleen. It was about a month after investigations started that jaundice slowly appeared...then overnight full blown cirrhosis took over. It had been a long time coming it seems, too late to fix, I had my transplant in January.
Responding re: husband. Besides the Itching, Nausea and vomiting I checked off - which were the first signs (besides stomach "issues"), following those initial symptoms but also pre diagnosis was edema in feet/ankles, pallor and bloating (ascites), lack of appetite.
