Following my first post I have gone back over my husband’s discharge notes and I have just realised they have used phrases such as suggestive cirrhosis or indicative of am I reading too much into those terms because it now seems to me that they are not 100% sure.
Thanks
It is my understanding that the only for sure way to diagnose cirrhosis is a liver biopsy. (that may had changed, science is always coming up with new tests) Other wise it is a preponderance of evidence type of diagnosis. All of the tests looked at in total.
I so hope you get some answers soon! Support and hugs to you and your husband. 
I was diagnosed with cirrhosis by scans and bloods alone (and not a fibro scan). The first mention of a liver biopsy came 3months after my transplant when they thought I may be rejecting. I was informed that biopsy is also not 100% as it needs to 'hit the right spot'. I think sometimes they can be 100% sure quite early (especially if it advanced) and others they have to wait and see. I would take it as positive if they are not yet sure, at least for the time being, as hopefully not too advanced, but make sure they keep an eye on him, scans at least every six months and regular bloods. And no alcohol, healthy diet and exercise. If it is cirrhosis he may be able to stop/slow it, and if it hasn't got that far he may be able to reverse some of it.
Keep looking forward and be positive, with even the worst case scenario they is hope, as many in this forum can vouch for.
Hi thanks for your advice. Hubby issues drinking at all his last drink was 12th May. He doesn’t have a problem not drinking they were surprised at the hospital and said he wasn’t dependent on it. Which is a great help, I am making sure he doesn’t get too much salt and trying to get him to eat he doesn’t have a big appetite and never had really.
It is the lack of information and the wait for an appointment with the gastro clinic that is driving me mad.
Thanks again x
The words 'suggestive of cirrhosis' in his discharge notes indicate that they weren't sure of the extent of the damage & a liver biopsy should be performed. The gastroenterologist he sees at the clinic will most likely suggest this after reading the discharge notes. If he doesn't then you should. Knowledge is power.
Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide To Hepatitis and Liver Disease:
"It is very important to understand that the liver is a master of camouflage. Even people with severe liver disease and cirrhosis may have normal imaging studies. This is a key point to remember, and it bears repeating. Sonograms, CT scans, and MRIs can look totally normal at any stage of liver disease. That is why doctors have come to rely on the liver biopsy as the gold standard for evaluating liver disease."
"…blood tests and imaging studies may give some important clues, but don't always determine exactly what is wrong with the liver. Also, they may not help in assessing the degree of inflammation or damage that has occurred. A liver biopsy is the only test that can accurately provide this information."
"Microscopes have the capability of greatly magnifying the liver cells—allowing abnormalities to be seen that could not otherwise have been detected by the physical examination, the blood tests, or the imaging studies. The size of the biopsy is approximately 1 to 3 centimeters in length and approximately 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. This represents about 1/50,000 of the total mass of the liver. Because most liver diseases affect the entire organ uniformly, this tiny sample is usually representative of the entire liver and provides a complete story. It is unlikely that this specimen would look better or worse than the rest of the liver, but it can happen—though very rarely. This uncommon occurrence is known as a sampling error."
Hi Bs1524,
You could call the doctor's office and ask them to clear up why they aren't sure if he has cirrhosis. My guess would be that they just don't know yet.
We live in the US and my husband's cirrhosis was mostly diagnosed by long term blood work showing issues with his liver. His liver doctor uses an Ultrasound for determining how "hard" [scarred] his liver is. Biopsies don't seem to be used much here to determine cirrhosis.
Best of luck to you both,
Mary
Here in the states Drs don't do biopsies blood work, ultrasounds, ct scans can detect diseases of the liver. My Dr say liver biopsies aren't necessary, they can do more harm than good. They can cause infections, bleeding, etc. Biopsies aren't necessary.
Whilst a CT scan can identify there are changes in the liver it isn't sufficient to tell at a cellular level what has caused these changes. There are many causes of liver disease and often it does take a biopsy to establish cause (particularly in the case of the auto immune conditions etc. etc.). Biopsy is part of the jigsaw of tests which often need to be done to establish cause and allow appropriate treatment to start.
The US Mayo Clinic says this with regards to diagnosis and tests:-
Finding the cause and extent of liver damage is important in guiding treatment.
Your doctor is likely to start with a health history and thorough physical examination. Your doctor may then recommend:
Blood tests. A group of blood tests called liver function tests can be used to diagnose liver disease. Other blood tests can be done to look for specific liver problems or genetic conditions.
Imaging tests. An ultrasound, CT scan and MRI can show liver damage.
Tissue analysis. Removing a tissue sample (biopsy) from your liver may help diagnose liver disease and look for signs of liver damage. A liver biopsy is most often done using a long needle inserted through the skin to extract a tissue sample. It is then analyzed in a laboratory.
Auto immune diseases can be detected through bloodwork, as I have, I also have non alcoholic cirrohisis, heriditary hemachromotosis, I stay so exhausted, nauseous, fatigued, I never knew how bad liver disease takes an effect on your body. I hate it!
Advice please
Recent fibroscan, need advice please.
Advice please
