Worried

[Merryk]

Hi,

I'm new here. Does anyone have any advice or information about gastropathy portal hypertension please?

Thank you.

[AyrshireK]

Hi Merryk, welcome to our merry band. Have you been diagnosed with cirrhosis? I take it you've just had an endoscopy and had this diagnosis of the portal hypertensive gastropathy.

My hubby was diagnosed with this at the same time as he was diagnosed with cirrhosis and varices in his oesophagus.

Can't give you much information on the gastropathy, it's changes in the stomach lining due to the effects of portal hypertension.

If portal hypertension hasn't been explained to you, then in simple terms your liver filters around 90 litres of blood ever hour, when there is any sort of blockage in the liver (commonly due to cirrhosis though there is a condition called non cirrhotic portal hypertension) this blood can't all flow through at the normal speed it was able to in the healthy liver and it causes a back pressure in the hepatic veinous system, the back pressure or portal hypertension causes the blood further up the systme to look for alternative routes to flow and it pushes the blood into thinner vessels which were not intended to carry such an increased volume. This has the effect in some case of leading to the formation of varices in the oesophagus, changes in the stomach lining and other parts of the digestive tract.

Sometimes doctors will prescribe a beta blocker such as carvedilol or propanalol to try and reduce the portal hypertension, in some cases where varices have already formed then banding might be implemented and regular endoscopy exams to make sure they arn't at riks of bleeding.

My hubby underwent an aggressive banding and endoscopy routine because he had numerous varices and had a bad bleed. As regards the gastropathy they didn't elaborate further on it but he was put onto omeprazole to reduce stomach acid and protect hi stomach lining.

Katie

[Merryk in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you fo your detailed reply. I'm waiting to see a consultant as it was diagnosed on endoscopy. Put the fear of God into me. I've recently had an ultrasound scan and blood tests. These all showed nothing untoward. I've had so many problems since I had my gallbladder removed through open surgery two years ago. This was following an aborted operation 5 years ago to remove infected gallbladder and gallstones due to severe infection, pancreatitis and ruptured liver. They the operated 2 weeks later and said GB had been removed. A year later more tummy issues and the discovered I still had a GB and stones!! I the had the operated surgery a year later.

Since then I've had no end of pain and discomfort and had CT scans, MRI, blood tests and ultrasound. All showed nothing.

Last year they did endoscopy and discovered gastritis, duodenitis, hernia and 3 stomach ulcers.

The follow up endoscopy after meds has now shown Gastropathy portal hypertension! I'm at my wits end and have to say terrified!

How is your husband, how long has he had it?

[AyrshireK in reply to Merryk]

Hubby has been diagnosed since April 2012.

Hopefully you'll get more ansers from your medical team soon, it's possible the blockage causing your portal hypertension is due to the earlier scarring in your liver with the rupture and the gall stones, sounds like it's been a painful and yucky time for you.

My hubbies is definitely due to cirrhosis sadly. He got that due to an auto immune liver disease which attacked his liver.

Katie

[Merryk in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you Kate for your help. I have to say it's been a rubbish 5 years, I thought I was coming to the end of it! But hey, I need to be brave and face whatever is next. Reading lots of different posts on here has shown me what a lot of inspirating and positive folk are out there.I wish your husband well and thank you for taking the time to respond to me.

[Violet74 in reply to Merryk]

Hi read your post totally understand why you are so scared. I feel the same terrified of the camera thingy don't know how to cope with it. You say you are scared you sound bloody brave to me. Let's keep in touch we seem to be on the same page here. Lots of love Christine

[Merryk in reply to Violet74]

Thank you for your kind words Christine. Stay strong , sending positive thoughts to you. X