Following My Post on Fatty Liver, More Perplexed

[Hanc]

Hi,

I posted a while back that I was having an Ultrasound done on July 2nd, due to a binge of 10-12 pints for 6months a day after my Mum's passing. The Ultrasound was done by a Hepatologist who talked me through it, but some things have left me perplexed (nothing new for me ). He said my liver was fatty (as I suspected), that my kidneys were fine and that the liver was slightly more echogenic/brighter than the kidneys, suggesting fatty liver. He said the liver was normal size, no course echotecture or nodules, no obvious focal parencymal noted, also my spleen was of normal size and echotecture. Then he said something that scared me, that my gallbladder was well distended. When I voiced my worry he said that this was perfectly normal and is why they make you fast before an abdominal ultrasound, so no bile enters the gallbladder and it distends making it more easy to see gallstones, sludge and the thickness of the gallbladder wall, all of which he said were fine. He then proceeded to tell me again that most of the Western world have fatty liver and with my cholesterol being still high I had more chance of dying of a heart attack. He sent the report to my G.P, who concurred with all of his findings. Then today I get an appointment letter from the Hospital saying I am to attend for a fibroscan on 5th August, when I rang the Hepatologist's Secretary, she said it was my G.P who had referred me for the fibroscan not the Hepatologist and did I want to cancel the appointment. I said no as fibroscan referrals and appointments are like hens' teeth here. But my question is is 5 weeks of abstainence enough to give a reliable liver stiffness reading and why would my G.P send me for one after the Ultrasound was passed by the Hepatologist who gave me a fibroscan reading last october 2017, which was 3.9 Kpa? By the way my bloods are fine. This has left me very perplexed to say the least. Any suggestions, information would be much appreciated.

[Dikymint]

Your Dr May have requested both appointments at the same time. The hospital has sent you their next available tome slots. It is worth going, you have nothing to lose.

Best of luck. Richard

[Hanc in reply to Dikymint]

Thanks Richard, that's what I figured, was just wondering on the timing of the fibroscan the 5 weeks has got me worried surely not enough time to let the liver heal?

[Hidden in reply to Hanc]

Hanc. Calm down stop worrying, go for the scan, wait for the results. Have a list of questions prepared for afterwards and write down the answers. In my experience the more interested the medical team can see you are, the more they will keep you informed. And you obviously are concerned and want answers or you wouldn't be on here asking the questions. In the meantime stick to healthy eating and no booze. Stay calm and enjoy life.😎

L x

[Hanc in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your kind reply Laura009 and the good advice, they are very much appreciated.

[Hidden in reply to Hanc]

You're very welcome ☺

[Hidden]

Hi Hanc,

I wonder if your GP just wants to keep an eye on things and feels another fribroscan a year later is a reasonable way to do it.

I think it sounds like your GP just wants to keep on top of things, not that he/she is worried about anything.

You could just call his/her office and ask.

Best wishes,

Mary

[Hanc in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mary, that could be it.

[Hanc]

Thanks for the kind replys and information everyone, it's that the 3.9 Kpa reading was before my 7 months heavy daily drinking and I will only have stopped 5 weeks until the next Fibroscan, this has what has got me really worried.