Six monthly check-up

[jacobsmum24]

Good evening all

Hope you are doing well and having more good days than bad.

I have been to the Liver Unit today for my routine scan which seems to be scheduled for every six months now.

I think the news was mostly good - my liver is less inflamed, no signs of anything unpleasant developing and spleen is normal. Portal vein back flow has resolved and blood flowing in the right direction. Not exactly sure I understand what this means but hopefully reduced risk of bleeding varices and Carvedilol doing it's job ? Bloods checked and results on Friday. Provided all is stable, shouldnt need rechecked for six months which is so much better than the weekly tests I had to endure initially.

One negative is that according to Sonographer, I have gallstones. They were recorded on last scan but nobody actually told me. It does account for the occasional right side pains I get which I had put down to liver capsule pain.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. Just need to give up fat, chocolate and cheese to help gallbladder 😱

[Peter_Plymouth]

6 months between clinics is a good sign. It’s about as far out as they go and must mean they’re very happy with the results and don’t expect any sudden changes.

Enjoy the gaps and look after yourself. Speaking from experience when I had a gall bladder the pain induced by too much fat soon cures you of any desire for chocolate etc lol

[jacobsmum24 in reply to Peter_Plymouth]

Thanks Peter. I need to research diet a bit more and think I may get a referral to the dietician but there is nothing will come between me and the occasional Cadburys Creme Egg (other chocolate eggs are available lol).

Were your symptoms so severe that you had to have your gall bladder removed ?

[Peter_Plymouth in reply to jacobsmum24]

Yes - combination of stones restricting bile flow as well as pain. And when the pain does hit it’s like nothing else felt before. I’ve been told by some of the female members on this forum that it can be more painful than childbirth. Obviously I have no experience of this lol but I was so pleased when it was removed!

The surgery can be straight forward and if you have no other complications then it can be done via keyhole surgery. If they offer you this choice take it as recovery is so much faster.

Feel free to DM me if you want to ask anything more detailed.

All the very best - Peter

[Hidden]

Good morning jacobsmum24,

This all sounds very positive.

I have attached a link to gallstones information from the British Liver trust site.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

I hope this is useful.

best wishes,

Trust9

[jacobsmum24 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you x

[Hidden]

Thank you Jacobsmum for your latest update highlighting the improvements which all sounds good.

Try not to get to concerned about the gallstones as I had my gallbladder removed in 2016. I do however recommend eating less fatty and oily foods as this does increase various pains.

My fingers are crossed that things keep going in the right direction and look forward to reading your next update.

Please take care in the meantime

Trish

[jacobsmum24 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Trish. I have had a couple of painful episodes mainly after eating out when I have had fried foods. I assumed it was liver capsule pain as I didnt know I had gallstones ! Won't really miss things like chips and dont eat a lot of full fat dairy or bacon/sausages etc. but chocolate could be an issue 🤣🤣🤣

[Hidden in reply to jacobsmum24]

Hi again

My first uktrascan highlighting multiple gallstones was in 2010, unfortunately the results went missing and as I'd heard nothing I thought the pains I was having was normal....lol. Then a second scan was requested 6 years later and emergency op was carried out!

Please try not eat fried foods even after the op as you'll start suffering with a very bad stomach! I'm guessing your current pains could be caused by your gallstones and the fatty fried foods your eating wont be helping.

My operation was a sucess and the 3 tiny key hole incisions have almost totally faded now. I do occasional have a small amount of chips... I mean once every 2 or 3 months and still eat small amounts of cheese to protect my bones but otherwise I do try my best to eat healthy but it's tough sometimes!

Take care x