Early signs of ascites?

[M8118]

For those who developed ascites from portal hypertension, I'm interested to know about personal experience in term of early signs. Any symptoms that should have caught your attention earlier? What finally led to determining it was ascites?

I received an obscure diagnosis of obliterative portal venopathy (non-cihrotic portal hypertension) following a biopsy a couple weeks ago. I've been feeling horrible all month - reduced appetite, swollen/bloated feeling after eating, nauseous, occasional shortness of breath and chest pain, occasional point tenderness under both right and left ribs.. and exhausted.

More work-up is in process following the biopsy, including an ultrasound to see if there are any clots. And I realize some (most?) of the discomfort could easily be stress and anxiety.

But I've recently become concerned that it could all stem from the start of ascites. I've noticed slight umbilical and inguinal hernias over the past couple of months, which I know (combined with other symptoms) could be another sign. I'm a very lanky guy, so even slight fullness after a meal can create a notable protruded belly. And I've actively been trying to gain weight over the last month (fighting the lack of appetite) which has meant lots of continued small meals during the day, which I also realize could be the cause... so I hope the ~4 pounds gained in a month has been real weight and not retained water.

Any insights are welcomed and appreciated.

[davidh1965]

Hi

I was recently hospitalized after firstly being told by my GP that I had food poisoning, and then potentially liver cancer which when investigated turned out to be liver cirrhosis stage 4 or ESLD. The discovery of ESDL was basically a by-product of a bad case of ascites coupled with the food poising / diarrhoea which just wouldn’t clear up. Can’t help with any diagnosis, but more than happy to give you the symptoms that led to the build-up. Keep in mind some of these could be related to the cirrhosis.

a) Really bad diarrhoea (a genuine case of food poisoning, norovirus caught from wife) Then over the next 8 weeks

b) Pronounced oesophagus on my abdomen / chest (you could trace it through the skin)

c) Feeling very tired / lethargic, sleeping most of the time when not at work

d) Loss of appetite

e) Rapid weight gain for no reason (10lb in 4 weeks with little calorie intake)

f) Swelling and hardening of stomach also tender to touch. (most obvious)

g) Others tell me a yellow jaundice look (basically looking like s**t as it was described to me)

Looking back I should have been more forceful with my G.P. for a referral to an expert, the signs were there but given the 5 minute slots they work under, if you don’t push you won’t get! It took me 10 weeks to see a consultant who immediately hospitalised me and fitted a drain to remove 8 litres of fluid. By the time it gets to this stage you will know there is something very wrong. I was lucky given the ascites was also infected and it could have been much worse.

Regards