New guy here this site is amazing so much better than anything I've found. I have a question and as this seems to be a very informed group I hopping for help. I quit drinking after many years of heavy abuse for no reason other than I wanted to quit for myself. I went for blood test and all were clear I requested an Ultrasound and with my history got one. I was told it was all clear by my GP but when I reviewed the report it stated my liver had a slight course ecotechture what does that mean fibrosis ? Cirrhosis? Why would I be told it was clear. Thank you for you time
HI Boone, & congratulations on moving towards better health.
A slightly coarse echotexture on ultrasound in an X heavy drinker can be distressing to see in your ultrasound report, but with no other findings consistent with advanced disease (enlarged spleen, enlarged portal vein, enlarged caudate lobe), this isolated observation must be taken with a grain of salt.
Ultrasound isn't particularly good at specificity regarding fibrosis, though it usually can detect cirrhosis when this is present when multiple clues like those mentioned above are present at the same time.
Normal, or rapidly normalizing labs is certainly optimistic. Labs can normalize, even with advanced disease, but they typically are out of whack for several months into recovery when the liver is badly damaged.
If you're truly through with alcohol, your doc is probably right in saying "no worries mate". Most X-Drinkers do remarkably well when they get clean before more ominous symptoms (jaundice, ascites, acute alcoholic hepatitis or GI bleeds) occur.
This said, if you ever consider testing the waters with alcohol again, an advanced diagnostic like fibroscan might be wise. Mild to moderate fibrosis is something you can live a normal life with, and can even resolve over time, but a return to alcohol with a questionable finding like a coarse echo on ultrasound would be unwise.
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Thanks for your reply all other findings were clear as far as I know portal vein blood flow was good and the spleen was normal size. The report stated the liver had a smooth contour and I specifically asked them to check for cirrhosis so I hope they would have seen it if present. I'm just paranoid of the results as I'm 37 years old with two small kids I hope to be a better father too from now on. Again thanks for your time
My bloods were good though my liver enzymes were 5 points above normal. Everything else was good except cholesterol which was a bit raised.Bad cholesterol moreso than good. I am of slim build so was taken aback. My GP ordered an ultrasound which described a 'somewhat coarsened' liver (I drank heavily for a few years before my son was born and then after my twins were born for another few years. I also had pregnancy induced hepatitis (cholastasis as it is known now I think. Sometimes found in multiple pregnancy. Not proud of the fact I drank when my babies were young). I abstained for 20 years but the last 4 or 5 years haven't been good.
I checked "somewhat" haha in dictionary (re 'somewhat'- coarsened liver); it can mean a little bit or slightly (I was trying to find the least possible bad description lol). My GP is sending me soon hopefully for some scan to see if my liver is fibrous. I am so scared as have looked all this up and cirrhosis rears its head in my readings.
My portal vein function is normal but I'm worried that if it's the start of cirrhosis - oh paranoid me it could be downhill from now on even though I'm never drinking again.
Yours sounds fine, with bloodwork good and liver good as said by GP. He doesn't seem worried. I really wish you well. I'm quite terrified being yet to see the Hepatologist for scan for fibrous findings. All the best to you.
You will find many here who understand completely where you are coming from. There are people on the forum with just about every cause, stage and knowledge / understanding of liver disease.
I wish I could have had the opportunity that you have, of turning my life around and becoming aware with enough time to change things when it comes to alcohol. Sadly, I found out too late and after being very ill for 14 months had a transplant.
So keep up the good work and learn from the forum and the British Liver Trust website about how to keep your future free of the worries of liver disease. Have plenty of exercise, a good balanced diet (paying attention to sugar and salt), a sensible attitude to alcohol and you cant go wrong.
Thank you so much for the reply I sure hope I've stopped drinking in time it's really terrifying to think you can have no symptoms at all and still be causing such damage. I have taken to heart the healthy eating message and have already lost weight. As for not drinking I'm 110 days sober and never going back to my old ways. Thank you and congrats on the transplant and new found health
It sounds like slight fibrosis, if it’s minor they said “clear” as the liver can regenerate, latest thing is to drink 4+ cups of coffee or tea, caffeine drinks don’t work (so it’s not the caffeine!) and eating a good well balanced diet. Hope things keep improving.
Try google NHS liver fibrosis, it’s a great site and you know the information is accurate.
Thanks for the site tip. The British government seems to be much further ahead of Canada in promoting liver health. This site has been great I have always been a coffee drinking so mabey that helped at least I hope so.
Personally with results like yours I really wouldn’t worry to much you have taken the first and hardest step in realising your alcohol consumption was not good so give yourself a massive pat on the back and enjoy life with your young family
Thank you for your response I have read though your posts and must say you are an inspiration to me with your positive outlook. I truly hope you get better soon I'll keep u in my thoughts. Ashamed that I drank myself into my situation as so many others have problems that are not their fault. All I can do is not drink and follow your advice and enjoy every second I have with my family I really don't want my kids to be affected by poor choices I made befor they were born.
Don’t be so hard on yourself as we all do things without realising what consequences they might bring I know i have,like I said your doing something about it and nobody can ask any more than that
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What do you guys use for medium pain relief?
From stable to hospice
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After informed advice guys.
Liver pain from alcohol...
