Repeated Blood tests for liver

[Dinky123]

My Husband used to be a heavy drinker. He stopped drinking completely 3 years ago. He was told that he had a fatty liver, no one tells him what the results are, he is just told to come back for another blood test in 3 months again. This has been ongoing for the past year.

My husband also has itchy skin. Sometimes he itches all over. He has also been coughing for about 6 to 8 weeks but whenever I tell him to go to the Doctor he gets upset and annoyed with me, telling me to let it be.

I am extremely worried about him and wonder if all of this could be connected.

He seems to have lost his sparkle and interest in life and I just want him to get help.

Has anyone else had similar symptoms?

[AyrshireK]

Has he actually ever asked for the results? They are his tests and he is allowed to ask for an explanation of what they are and what they mean and if they are deranged he should be seeing a specialist for his liver. If his bilirubin level is elevated at the same time he has this maddening itch it could indicate some worsening of his liver condition. He should really be seeing a hospital specialist regarding his liver - even if he has stopped drinking his liver might not be healing as desired.

Has he had any imaging done recently such as an ultrasound, his liver needs to be monitored by means other than just bloods as LFT's can actually normalise in advanced liver disease if the liver is 'coping'.

A persistant cough of any duration also needs attention though how you encourage him to get this checked without any friction I don't know. Liver conditions can affect lung health and there can be other issues at play too so it is better to get any long term cough checked.

I think your hubby needs to have a few questions answered especially if his mood and character are changing too. Is he open to having you attend appointments with him, sometimes the additional pair of ears is good for deciphering all the med speak etc. If he is and lets you speak to doctor you can explain your observations. I attend every and all appointments with my hubby as he struggles to hear, understand and communicate and often medical staff use me as a sort of go between to explain back to hubby what has been said etc.

Hope you get some joy and you can help hubby get the most out of medical appointments and urge some additional follow up.

All the best, Katie

[Dinky123 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you for your very helpful reply Katy. He is the most infuriating man, but I love him dearly. I have told him to ask why he is needing repeated blood tests on his liver and that he has a right to know what their findings are. He said that he will try and get a telephone consultation with his Doctor tomorrow, if he has time!!!! I said that he should make time. I sometimes think that he is afraid of what he might find out.

I think it is an excellent idea, me going to his appointments with him, but he is dead against that idea too.

I am actually so annoyed that he is doing nothing and am worried sick about him.

He is only 61.

[shuu in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Ayreshirek,

I've read your many replies in this group and am impressed by your knowledge. My ultrasound ordered by doc came back with very few words; a "somewhat" coarsened echotexture on US for liver. No portal hypertension bloodflow normsl, other organs normal ecxept for gallstones in gsllbladder. Am at a loss even though have scoured dictionary meanings, is Somewhat.... slight? Is it Overall? Is it a bit worse than slight? I have been hoping for the lesser of evils but it seems an extremely ambiguous term, perhaps avoiding the obvious.... Sorry the echotexture is very coarse but I don't want to tell it straight out.... signed Radiologist.

I have higher than usual cholesterol, bad cholesterol worse than good, gallstones and sludge. Yuk. My build is slim. I'm 61. The meaning of "somewhat" is baffling. Bloodwork nornlmalish except for raised GGT . Drank heavily 5/6 yeRs. Abstained 20 plus. Not drinking now. any advice on somewhat appreciated. xx

[AyrshireK in reply to shuu]

I would make sure you are seeing a consultant and get them to fully explain the terms used.

I am not a medic just been accompanying hubby to every and all appointments and learning as much as I can about the liver since 2012 when hubby was diagnosed with cirrhosis. They do like their ambiguous terms in radiology report like my hubby has 2 lesions 'suggestive of' haemangioma - that to me meant they could/maybe/perhaps are haemangioma and gave us a scare thinking 'what if they are not?' - checked with Edinburgh consultant who checked their CT scans and they are happy that they are haemangioma ..... phew.

Somewhat coarsened I think says there is some change to the texture of the liver - this can be due to the gall bladder issue, or linked with the high cholesterol or the high cholesterol can also be linked with the gall bladder issue since it is the bile stored in and released by the gall bladder which breaks down fats. Could just be Non-Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease - fatty change or a creeping bit of fibrosis. It is up to the doctor to decipher and tell you what the scan indicates.

Just for comparison - Terms used in hubbies (who has known cirrhosis) US reports say "irregular liver with coarse echo texture, consistent with known cirrhosis", "The liver has a coarse echo texture with a lobulated contour in keeping with cirrhosis.", "Liver appears markedly coarse in echo texture and irregular margins, consistent with cirrhosis of the liver".

Hope that helps,

Katie

[shuu in reply to AyrshireK]

Drats, i wroth a long msg and thank you and it's gone. will try & retrieve xx

[shuu in reply to AyrshireK]

I will try again Katie. Thanks so much for answering. I chose you because even tho you are not a medic you have a wide range of knowledge because of your research into your husband's disease. My GP ordered an US based on her clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis due to my high alcohol consumption. Had she ordered a diagnosis due to another disease that causes a "somewhat" coarsened liver on US it too could have been consistent with cirrhosis or whatever else her clinical diagnosis was looking for though I am not naive and realise it will be what it is. There could be variables though maybe not. Yours has been the most helpful hypothesis so far and for that I'm grateful. You have been a huge help. I have my blood tests to take also when I see the Hepatologist for my fibroscan. Maybe she thought something wasn't right, hence the scan, maybe she is uber conscientious. Whatever the case you've helped immensely as you have helped others on this site in so many ways. I've followeď your informative posts and replies. Youve made me realise we are all individuals with individual symptoms. I truly thank you and wish you and your husband hope for the future and good wishes. My 1st cousin passed with Pancreatitis so that too has been on my mind.

You have my gratitude and my sincere thanks as you've alleviated some stress, just in my knowing we are all different.You also answered incredibly promptly. Thank you.

With much love to you both,

Shuu and my family xx

[grace111]

you may want to dietry adivce for you husband as fatty liver can be reversed.here is a link i hope its helpful. wishing you well. britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...