Scans: A few weeks ago i had a echo done... - British Liver Trust

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Willbn profile image
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A few weeks ago i had a echo done after experiencing ruq pain from excessive drinking.

The echo was clear and showed no fat or at least it was not mentioned.

A week later still having pain, combined with extreme anxiety.. I pushed for a CT scan which showed I had a fatty liver.

What strikes me as odd is that the echo didn't show fat but the CT scan did, does that mean it would be really mild fat on the liver? My gp says it does but if I followed his advice I would not even be diagnosed since he send me packing with good blood results. I know none of you are able to diagnose me but I do believe many of the forum members are very knowledgeable about these things so I just look for some advice on why this happened. In 3 months I have another visit with my hepatologist, just try to educate myself in the mean time.😊

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Willbn profile image
Willbn
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AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK

Ultrasound scans/echo is probably the cheapest of all the scans and as you've found out isn't the most reliable for picking up early changes in the liver. The CT scan is much more accurate and has identified the fatty change in your liver. Liver bloods are also not the most accurate things for diagnosis of early change as it's only when the liver is inflamed or starting to show damage that the liver bloods would start to indicate leaks of enzymes etc. from damaged tissue.

Now that you know you have this change in your liver it is time to address it and a 3 month time scale is quite good as if you've chucked the booze in that time and living a healthier lifestyle then hopefully you'll see significant change in those 3 months.

If your liver is just a bit fatty then you've maybe dodged a bullet and you will have the opportunity to turn this round before the fatty build up gets to a level where it actually does start damaging liver tissue.

The British Liver Trust has excellent pages on alcohol and the liver and also on non alcohol related fatty liver - guidance from both will be suitable for you going forward.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

All the best and good luck.

Katie

Willbn profile image
Willbn in reply to AyrshireK

Thanks Katie for your reply!😊

Hopefully the elastography will come back with no damage done.🤞But I must say this has been a massive eye opener for me since I've never been this scared in my life and I will treat my liver and body with good food from now on and no more alcohol... I still had some symptoms which cause me some concern like very light stools (all resolved now) and a sudden appearance of acid reflux (never had this before) but I hope all will be positive next week.

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK in reply to Willbn

Just replied to your post about the kombucha - I would suggest getting rid of that too. Potential for more harm than good.

Katie

Willbn profile image
Willbn in reply to AyrshireK

Ok, thank you. I will😊

Willbn profile image
Willbn in reply to AyrshireK

I had a talk yesterday with the doctor who did my elastography and she said they compare the liver to the kidney when they do a echo/elastography and if the image of the liver is more white than the kidney they assume you have a fatty liver. So it's very subjective.

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