Advice : I have liver fibrosis and doing... - British Liver Trust

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carefull1 profile image
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I have liver fibrosis and doing well as per blood tests etc. But recently started to notice changes to my finger nails. There are vertical ridges for 3 weeks now and noticed a black line on left thumb nail. Can anyone relate to this. By the way recent routine blood test showed mild deficiency in b12. Should I see GP? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance to you wonderful people.

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Thehermit profile image
Thehermit

Lack of vitamin B12 is quite common with liver issues and you may need to supplement. The nails maybe known as Terrys nails ( think that,s how it,s spelt!) also a sign of liver issues if you want to look it up. Maybe pay your doctor a visit and get your B12, thiamine sorted out?.

carefull1 profile image
carefull1 in reply to Thehermit

Thanks. Nails r not white. They just got vertical ridges in them. What about black line in left thumb nail. Is this Terry nail?

in reply to carefull1

Defo not Terry's. All nails would be pale with a little fine dark bit at the tip below the white bit that grows or we clip.

Yes GP should put you on a script for B12. I was given them & Consultant told me to remain on them. One a day 100mg for me.

carefull1 profile image
carefull1 in reply to

Some one told me I might need injections

in reply to carefull1

Only if you're very low in B12. They can start you off with injection then oral tablet. Ridges vertical are usually age related but can indicate a deficiency in B12 or magnesium.

Get your GP to check the black bit if you didn't injure it could be signs of something more urgent. But not having seen it & no expert I don't mean to cause undue concern.

tinkabell3 profile image
tinkabell3

Hi carefull1, I would advice you to see a gp as soon as possible, our fingernails can tell us a lot about our heath and anything unusual should always be checked out.

This is advice I was given when training to do manicures. X

carefull1 profile image
carefull1 in reply to tinkabell3

Thanks tikabell3, I will try to get app with GP. Hard to get one soon for nails. I will update.

broomhall79 profile image
broomhall79

Hi I have cirrhosis and was in n appointment at the time with my hepatologist when he noticed that my finger nails were curved over and that the tips grew all the way round so when I clipped my nails I had to clip the sides as they were growing outward anyway he asked me how long have they been growing like that and sent me to get an X_RAY there and then of my chest stomach the lot because he said it could of been something serious to do with the liver or the heart and many other things but luckily the xray came back fine I was put on multivitamins and still on them to this day and my nails still grow the same way if I was you I'd get them checked out for peace of mind and to rule out any underlying problems . Ps good luck 🤞everything's okay

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