CT scan upcoming

[scutmike4]

Could use some positive vibes on the diagnosis front. CT with and without contrast tomorrow morning. I hope to have some answers but who knows? Hopefully I get good news! Endoscopy and colonoscopy will follow a week and a half later 😕. It’s all such a whirlwind.

[Hidden]

Hi

I hope everything goes well. I didn't get results straight away with CT scan but I did with colonoscopy and endoscopy. Has your Dr given any idea of what's what? Take care Lynne

[scutmike4 in reply to Hidden]

No idea what’s what bc blood work is normal. But I’ve got liver like symptoms (RUQ pain, back pain, prior mildly elevated LFTs, HE like symptoms, spleen area pain, sleep, history of alcohol combined with extended prescribed medications). I’m in the states so I believe my results shouldn’t languish. Thanks for the well wishes!

[Bootandall]

Sending you good vibrations! I know you have been struggling with this, wishing you peace of mind my friend.

[scutmike4 in reply to Bootandall]

Thanks very much Boot

[Candy12]

Not sure where you are , But you won’t get results straight away in the UK so try not to worry. The CT scan itself is nothing to worry about I’ve had annual tests with contrast for the last few years (kidney not liver). It’s done in minutes. Hope all goes well. I had the other tests too, but I did get told everything was okay, except for the test for celiac that was sent away and I got results later. Hope all goes well.

[scutmike4 in reply to Candy12]

Thanks Candy. I’m stateside, so I shouldn’t have to wait that long. I’m hoping it comes out clear!

[scutmike4]

Unremarkable (normal) CT of liver and spleen!!! Liver is 16.3 cm long, which is just at the upper range of normal I think, but everything else is unremarkable!!!! My favorite part was “portal venous phase shows homogenous enhancement of liver and spleen.” Homogenous is music to my ears. 🤗

Next up is the endoscopy and colonoscopy. Hoping for more good news!!!

Never fear though... no matter what my alcohol abstinence will continue. Thanks you all for your kind words and support. With normal bloods and a normal CT, a lot of the liver concerns may be ruled out here. Gonna keep on with my good diet and exercise.

[HermioneGranger in reply to scutmike4]

That's great. You must be so relieved! Enjoy the holiday weekend with some peace of mind.

[scutmike4 in reply to HermioneGranger]

Thanks so much! Love the screename. I’m just going to pretend it’s the real Hermione if that’s alright with you 😜

[HermioneGranger in reply to scutmike4]

Please do! Ms. Granger is kind of my spirit animal... Lol

[Hidden in reply to scutmike4]

That’s great scut 👍.

What the heck does homogeneous enhancement of liver and spleen mean?!

So your portal vein is OK? It took years - well I was ill for years - before a thrombosis was found in my portal vein by either a CT or MRI scan - can’t remember which -HE rules OK 😁. That was my downfall - actually it was my upfall 😁 - you can guess what I mean - the opposite of downfall 😁 - and meant I got on THE list very quickly (once it was decided I could survive the TP lol).

Anyway good luck to you. (Unfortunately I haven’t seen your historical posts - glad I got than right and not the other word which would not have been funny 👎🏻).

All the best Mike (?)

Miles

[scutmike4 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Miles!

Homogenous, as far as I understand it, means that the liver’s tissues appear uniform (which is normal). Visible scarring and fibrosis would make it’s texture seem uneven (heterogenous).

I’m still having some mild HE like symptoms, and liver disease like pains (RUQ and right shoulder) but I’ll manage them as they come. If it continues I’ll again raise it with my GI and GP. In the meantime, I’m treating it like I have fibrosis, and will be on a strict diet with exercise and no alcohol, in the hopes that it will improve and any undetected fibrosis will reverse.

The only thing that made me pause was that my liver was 16.3cm long, which is just 0.3 cm above what a lot of websites say is the upper limit of normal, 16 cm. I’ll ask my GP and GI about it.

-Mike

[Hidden in reply to scutmike4]

Hi again Mike

Thanks for the explanation- I suppose if I wasn’t so lazy I could have googled that ☹️👎🏻, sorry!

What have they told you to do try and avoid or ameliorate HE symptoms. My experience (this not my advice to you 😁 ) was I was told to make sure I went to the loo to do a number two (he he it rhymes - I’m just a child at heart😁) at least 3 times or preferably more (ye gods!) a day - of course you can’t achieve that without some sort of medicine, e.g. lactulose and rifaximin. Also told to drink 2 and 1/2 litres of water a day (harder than it sounds - for me at least- it was at first anyway!

The above is an example of how not to structure sentences - oh well I have written them now!

Good luck Mike 👍

Miles

[scutmike4 in reply to Hidden]

It’s great advice Miles! I will say I’ve been trying to up my loo game. Unfortunately, my body likes to store and evacuate it all in the morning hours. I end up going like twice in the mid to late morning, and then my HE like symptoms last until mid afternoon before abating.

If it is HE, it would do me well to take a two before bed also rather than letting toxins build all night, but my body just won’t go later in the day. I’ll keep at it though.

Yay poo talk. 💩

[Hidden in reply to scutmike4]

Lol it has to be spoken about unfortunately when it comes to HE. My really bad HE ALWAYS happened over night.

Re #2s I was prescribed laxatives! Then when that didn’t work, and the lactulose didn’t work, and the Rifaximin didn’t work I was prescribed Enemas to self administer ☹️. Hope you’re not eating when you read this 😁

Byeee