Liver pain and early signs of jaundice...appointment not until January

[Misg]

Hi there. I have been having right upper abdominal pain which radiates to my back (which feels like inflammation) dark urine, pale/gray stools but no jaundice since august. I have had two LFT tests since which came back normal apart from globulin (slightly elevated) and an ultrasound scan which just showed a bit of fat around my liver.

I have not got a diagnosis i don't drink alcohol and have been coping since and my gastro appointment is in January which is so far away. I can't help but think there is so much damage being done by it being inflammed for so long.

Basically I am asking for advice if I should wait or push and see if i can get an earlier appointment? And what i should do to eleviate the inflammation as i feel this could be causing alot of damage. Thank you!

[Kristian]

If these are relatively new symptoms or a recent flare up and you are concerned then my best advice would be to go and see your own local doctor again in the first instance. It may be something quite simple and easily resolved. I'm sure they'd rather check you out to be on the safe side. Let them then make the decision with your input to see if its necessary to try and bring your other appointment forward.

[Misg in reply to Kristian]

Thank you for your reply. I've gone to the doctors so many times these past three months and feel like I have a hit a brick wall. My doctor says he can't give me a CT and have to wait for gastro appointment and with the gastro appointments there are no available times apart from January near my area...I'll go in and wish for the best. Thank you for the advice.

[Sampalmer3010 in reply to Misg]

You need to call the gastrio department and insist on an earlier emergency appointment, they have them. Tell them your situation has changed and need to be seen soon. If that fails contact the consultant secretary and ask to speak to consultant. This is your health there are no brick walls. In the NHS unfortunately the resources are limited. You need to push hard! Good luck!

[Misg in reply to Sampalmer3010]

Thank you so much for this advice. I was very confused on what to do next as I thought I had ran out of options. I'll be calling them today. I wish I had known this earlier as this has been going on since summer. Four months of liver inflammation is very dangerous. Thank you very very much for your advice. Wish you all the best.

[broomhall79]

Hi I've misigill Ive recently had been suffering with the same symptoms I have cirrhosis from alcohol I've been sober for over three years now if had pain under my right ribs and my stools were black and sometimes pale and my wee is brown and smells like poo I've went straight to my doctor who sent me for n endoscopy just to make sure I had no internal bleeding with my stools being that colour it was all clear yet my wee is still the same I've also been sent for a liver scan to see what's going on i was given some very useful informatio on here about my wee being how it is it could be down to your liver being how it's not working how it should has a knock on effect on the other organs ie your kidneys I suggest you go to your doctors and be firm and tell him you want a full Mot because there's obviously something going on inside .I hope it all goes well and you get the help you need keep me posted all the best Xx

[Misg in reply to broomhall79]

Thank you I will do. My urine varies in colour but is nowhere near how it used to be before august which was clear but mildly yellow. Most of the time now orange. But what has truly worried me is my sleeping pattern. I wake up every 2-3 hours which is a big sign of liver problems/disease i hear and it wasn't like this a month ago so I'm definitely going to be firm with my doctor and push for a diagnosis. They have taken enough of my time and the symptoms are just getting worse. Thank you for your reply and wish you all the best too and I will keep you posted.

[Hidden]

when did urine and bowels change if just recently... then you should push a sooner appt or go to doctors as these can be signs of increasing problems with liver.

have you been referred to a liver specialist if not this is what I would asking for. best wishes cazer.

[Misg in reply to Hidden]

My urine and bowels changed three days after the pain and have remained till today. My sleeping pattern has recently changed I wake up every 2-3 hours for no reason at all and I have read that's a sign of liver problems.

Thank you for your response and all.

[GrittyReads]

Being fobbed off in this way is unacceptable. I believe GPs have an obligation to refer certain cases immediately. I saw my GP last December with what I thought were mild symptoms (pain in lower abdomen, mild bowel habit change and some bloating). I was concerned as there is a history of bowel cancer on both sides of my family, but he decide I possibly had ovarian issues. Within a week I had full blood tests (via surgery) and a full ultrasound, plus transvaginal, at my nearest big hospital - this was just before Xmas - and then a colonoscopy at hospital 3 days after Xmas (no festive food for me).

If my under- funded rural GP practice can order up that treatment, then anywhere can.

Check it out, I'm sure they have to act within deadlines, and your symptoms should not be being ignored.

[Misg in reply to GrittyReads]

Thank you for this. I am not going to wait for another two months. Knowing my liver is that enlarged to the point I am in pain should be worrying enough but not much has been done in 4 months. I am definitely going to take everyones advice on here. Thank you!

[fizzy42 in reply to Misg]

Hi I hope you've heard something by now? Its so worrying when appointments don't arrive and your left just waiting, worried and in pain.

My GP referred me to a Hepatologist for cirrhosis, I'm now on a waiting list for an appointment! Will be lucky if I'm seen by spring most likely. Takecare and hope you hear soon

[Misg in reply to fizzy42]

Hello, thank you for this. I have called in and all they could give me was an appointment a week earlier than january so after christmas but I'm still going to push for an earlier appointment for gastro as I have got alot of things going on with my overall health and I'm quite worried it could be cancer. My doctors dismiss it because I am 21 but my symptoms show that could be it but I am hoping not. I will do another post if there are any changes. I wish you all the best and hopefully you'll get an earlier appointment. Thank you.