Hello again. Further to my last post, l am really not happy with the way l have been diagnosed. I said before, my liver issue was noticed on an ultrasound scan during a routine spleen check, as it's enlarged and has been for around 2 years as far as l know, together with low platelets. I spoke on phone with Hepatologist who said this uneven textue had been noticed and best case scenario it would be fatty liver, worst cirrhosis. I was put in touch with specialist nurse who ordered bloods etc and was told that the specialist sonographer that did fibroscans had retired and its a specialist job, so likely no fibroscan. Then suddenly, l get the letter, 4 days in advance of appointment for the fibroscan and when l arrived it was the same specialist nurse from the Hepatology department that was about to do the scan. I was shocked. I was the pronounced with kpa24 and F4.
I have since read that cirrhosis can't be diagnosed just on a fibroscan result. I have no symptoms apart from red palms. Nurse said bloods are "lovely" . I am considering asking for a 2nd opinion.... I am yet to see a consultant, no appointment set as yet. I have abdo ultrasound on Wednesday.
What are your thoughts? I just feel unsettled with this life changing diagnosis bring given so quickly on one result.
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Rozy64
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Obviously your initial ultrasound did show that the liver was dense and uneven in texture hence the follow up fibroscan - so it hasn't been determined on Fibroscan alone. Plus there are some clues with the possible splenic issues as the two often go hand in hand.
Sadly if bloods are all in range then this is probably going to be an accurate result. Fibroscan tends to give false highs IF there is ongoing liver inflammation because it can't tell between actual fibrous tissue and inflammation. However if all your bloods are in range (ALT/AST - the inflammation markers) then it would probably point to an accuracy of result.
Even with cirrhosis this isn't all doom and gloom, if you are relatively symptom free and the liver is compensated then there is no reason to give in.
What needs to happen now is you need to find out the cause of your liver damage - if it is lifestyle related there might be things you can do to cease any further damage and indeed it is even thought now that early cirrhosis is reversible. If there is an illness of some sort causing the condition then many can be treated to stop progression. My hubbies consultant has patients on his books who have had a diagnosis of cirrhosis for 20+ years who are no closer to clocking out or needing transplant than any healthy person.
Your abdominal ultrasound this week should look more closely at your liver, check out the portal veinous flow (which may explain your enlarged spleen, low platelets issue).
It sounds like you are in good hands and hopefully you will get a follow up hepatology appointment soon.
Thanks Katie, l am just so shocked and anxious. It is thought that my cause is metabolic syndrome as l am type 2 diabetic. I am doing all l can, walking as much as l can and have now got a cross trainer. I am interested in your comment re early cirrhosis and the possibility of reversal. I thought F4 was as bad as it gets, or am l getting confused?
Yes, F4 is cirrhosis but if you read the BLT page on cirrhosis then it states that cirrhosis used to be deemed irreversible but more recent scientific findings do indicate even cirrhosis is reversible to a degree.
I quote "Until recently, it was thought that a liver with cirrhosis could not be healed. This is usually the case because most diseases that cause scarring of your liver (fibrosis) are long-term and difficult to ‘cure’."
The BLT page on cirrhosis and the one on Non Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease might be useful to you.
Sadly our health service is really stretched to near breaking point, with some healthcare trusts having to turn patients away.
Covid has had a massive impact Upon us all. Staff now have the seasonal additional winter issues to deal with, but so many gastro and liver wards are seeing an unusual increase in alcohol-related liver issues due to the increased amount of hard-drinking being done at home due to Covid. This is likely to increase still further due to Christmas celebrations.
A lot of hospital frontline staff have had to quarantine due to covid, this is leaving post unstaffed, and others having to double up. Certain scans and endoscopies are having to be cancelled or rescheduled.
It’s going to take ages for the health service to recover. We all have to become patience patients I’m afraid.
Katie is right about the liver being able to recover, even a cirrhotic one. Just hang on in there.
I went for a fibro scan in June and was told that I have stage 4 liver fibrosis. I was devastated. A few months later I received a phone call from my gastroenterology specialist who started babbling on about cirrhosis. I was never told that I had cirrhosis I was only told fibrosis. Only after speaking to her did she say 'oh sorry did you not know that you have cirrhosis.I have been for an ultas scan now which does comfirm cirrhosis but well compensated cirrhosis with no complications. Also I was diabetic and now my bloods are coming back up as normal. I really would like a second opinion myself and I would suggest that you do the same, if only to put yourself in the picture. Good luck x
Unfortunately you are in the situation where the first scan result hasn't been explained fully - F4 Fibrosis is Cirrhosis (Fibrosis scoring runs F0-F4 with F4 being cirrhosis/End Stage Liver Disease - End Stage only because it is the last stage of fibrosis not in any way a doom and gloom term for end of life or suchlike). Your ultrasound has confirmed this. There is no real need for a 2nd opinion as it is a firm diagnosis. Normal bloods tallies with a well compensated stage of disease in that your liver isn't inflamed so isn't throwing off inflammation markers (ALT, AST etc.) and isn't so poorly (decompensated) that it is knocking other enzyme release out of whack - when liver is decompensated you tend to get more advanced symptoms and things like bilirubin, albumin and other things going deranged.
You now need to look after yourself really well, hopefully reverse some of the damage and keep your liver in a compensated stage. Having also got diabetes there is some possibility you had fatty liver (both Non-Alcohol & Alcohol Related).
Thankyou, l had a scan yesterday, ultrasound and the sonographer said nothing has changed. I have an appointment for an endoscopy in January which l am terrified of, but comforted in so far as it is being done by my Consultant Hepatologist whom l am yet to meet. Hopefully before l get sedated l can ask some questions. Sonographer said she saw no evidence of varices.
Thankyou, l have been reassured by knowledgeable members on here that my diagnosis is likely correct. I have an appointment for an endoscopy in January which will be done, l am told by my Hepatology Consultant whom l have yet to meet. Before l am sedated, l hope to be able to speak with him. I will seek his opinion and diagnosis. I don't really expect to hear any better news to be honest.
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New Member - Recent diagnosis of Cirrhosis
A diagnosis of Cirrhosis.
Recent diagnosis of Hep C
New stage 3 fibrosis diagnosis 
Shocking Diagnosis found by accident 
