Ileostomy and high liver counts

[Outlander5]

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm 46 young lady with ileostomy and very high liver function test I had fibro scan (4.3) and now going for MRI. I suffer from swollen tummy,back shoulder pain, fatigue itching and what I call morning sickness that lasts all day most smells set me off. I do eat small amounts yet find my tummy bloats out and I feel as if its difficult to breathe little bit like pregnant when end stage. I do have B12 injections due to ileostomy. Does anyone know why I would still need MRI if fibroscan results were ok. Xx

[AyrshireK]

Fibroscan is no good for seeing what is actually going on in your body whereas MRI is the top scan going. Your fibroscan result is saying you have no fibrosis in your liver (that's all fibroscan does - liver density and fat content) but with elevated liver numbers the fibroscan isn't revealing the full picture. MRI will focus on the liver, the blood vessels and various ducts around the liver and perhaps explain why you are having deranged liver bloods.

Katie

[Outlander5 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you for your reply. I'm grateful as I not very clued up with liver problems. I wasn't even aware that my liver function tests were high for so many years. Only recently been brought up as of symptoms I'm having. Usually my health problems are connected to the stoma. However the high LFT has been from same time I had stoma so didnt know if were connected. But thanks again for your time. X

[Kristian]

Hi Outlander,

MRI is much better to see what is going on than the fibroscan. Something is obviously not quite right so its good that they are following up to check. Indeed, having an MRI to rule out, or try and confirm potential causes of abnormal findings is not that unusual.

There is a liver disease that is closely associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease called PSC. MRI is the best way to check if any of the tell tale signs of that disease are present. Fibroscan could not identify that. The MRI will also be better able to identify any other abnormalities in your liver, once again a fibroscan wouldn't be so good at that either.

Fibroscan is good at telling you if you have fat in your liver or various degrees of fibrosis. However, it's not that helpful in identifying the underlying cause. So, MRI is a much better tool for that.

So, lie back relax and hope that as the radiologist is telling you to hold your breath, Smooth FM ( which seems to be the radio station of choice to play down the headphones) dont start playing "Every breath you take" by the police! Yes, that is exactly what happened the last time I had one 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

There's a few of us here now that have, or have had PSC. So, if it does turn out to be that, and you have any questions, always feel free to ask.

[Outlander5 in reply to Kristian]

Thank you so much. It really is so good of you to explain things. Feel less stressed now I have had two lovely people taking time to reply. I will have a tiny look about PSC knowing my luck its sure to be my beautiful "winnie the poo" stoma. I have many complications , operations all connected to my little friend. His such a s#*! Bag.... I'm to have another blood test again tomorrow and MRI next Sunday so I can chill little now I have bit of advice and not scared myself stupid on Google... Thank you again xx

[Kristian in reply to Outlander5]

It can be quite confusing and also difficult to diagnose sometimes. Try not to scare yourself further when you read up on google. There is lots of info there that is quite out of date now so shouldn't be relied on. If you want up to date info go to the PSC Support website pscsupport.org.uk/ .