Bonjour

[ryanski16]

Enzymes normal, ultrasound found "hepatic echotexture mildly coarsened, without definite nodular contour, so I'm a bit worried, being 87 yrs old.

[Kristian]

Have you had any feedback from your doctor about these results? To me it doesn't look too bad but its always worth asking for that professional opinion. When cirrhosis sets in, the surface of the liver changes from being smooth to being nodular, with either small or large nodules being evident on ultrasound. So, with no nodular appearance, cirrhosis is unlikely. A coursened hepatic echotexture can arise with some fibrosis or some fatty infiltrations, so a "mildly coarsened echotexture" would probably indicate that there was a little bit of fibrosis or a little bit of fatty infiltration of your liver. Although at 87, thats not too surprising to me.

Hope thats a bit more reassuring, but do have a chat with your doctor as they'll be able to explain things much better than we could here.

[ryanski16 in reply to Kristian]

Thanks, Kristian. Reading a bit further this evening in HU I see someone whose enzyme levels were too high, then normal, then high again. My AST was 67 in November and the ALT 40, then normal--bilirubin normal. Does that say something about the liver or about the reliability of the blood work--or perhaps the competence of whoever does the reading. Not encouraging, but I live in the US and quality health care is rare, especially in DC where I've been living for 11 yrs--lead in the water, filthy air, etc.

In answer to your question, I've changed docs--the first saw the high readings in November and said/did nothing--but had further bloodwork yesterday (Friday) and won't hear anything before Monday earliest. Again, thanks.

[AyrshireK]

I don't think I would be overly concerned at 87 years young. Your liver has had a life time of well 'life' so it's bound to be a bit wrinkled - U/S is saying 'mildly echo textured' so hasn't got the full on cirrhosis tag attached. Carry on what you're doing and I am sure you'll be grand. There isn't going to be a lot of medical input that will make much difference I wouldn't have thought. Carry on living life to the full.

All the best, Katie

[ryanski16 in reply to AyrshireK]

Katie, those are charming and much-welcomed comments. Yes, at 87 not only the liver shows the marks of time. It's just that I led a very active, healthy life, which included a couple of glasses of wine at dinner, until last May, when I was hospitalized for a month in Paris (nothing to do with the liver), and since then my immune system is going a bit nuts. Thanks very much!

[AyrshireK in reply to ryanski16]

My hubby got struck down with auto-immune cirrhosis at age 51, previously fit and healthy, working hard and very fit and active long distance walker. For him his life literally went upside down almost overnight with end stage symptoms. All they are doing for him just now is monitoring and treating the symptoms that spin off from his cirrhosis. We make the absolute most of the good days and write off the rubbishy ones. If you are relatively symptom free carry on living life to the full.

Loads of love, Katie

[ryanski16 in reply to AyrshireK]

Dear Katie,

Nothing short of heartbreaking, your story. I am very sorry. As I mentioned I was hospitalized in Paris last May for what may have been post-infection delirium (hallucinations, violence, you name it) though never definitively diagnosed. Had to learn to walk again, really skinny, little muscle tone (thank goodness for the years of 1,800-meter swims, arduous hikes, lots of activity), strong meds in and post-hospital. The effects of whatever that was continue and so do ills I never knew. I prefer Europe, have lived there, hiked there, had friends and family there and now mourn those days of not realizing how old I was. And like you two--I'm divorced--I try to toss the rubbishy days. I wish you both good fortune and years to come.

Much love,

Marianna