Hi I started having pains in my right side some time ago, I noticed that my liver was swollen so I stopped drinking and the pains stopped. I do drink a little but the pains have not returned but my liver is still a bit swollen. As the pains have gone from my side does this mean that it has got worse or moved onto the next stage ?
Gandalf.
Liver disease is known as a 'silent' condition because the liver itself has no pain receptors so there is technically no such thing as liver pain.If a liver is enlarged due to inflammation or fatty build up it can stretch the glissons capsule which is the membrane surrounding the liver and this can be very painful. (which may explain your earlier pain), however, a lack of pain in no way indicates that you don't still have something going on. Have you actually had a medical exam that has told you your liver is/was swollen? ............ it's not something you would really be able to assess for yourself.
A great many people (my hubby included) never have any liver pain nor outward signs that inside their liver is suffering. My hubby has auto immune related liver disease and it wasn't until he presented with advanced symptoms and was rushed into A&E that we found out he had full on decompensated symptoms.
So, lack of pain doesn't give you the all clear, nor does it indicate a progression. What would be important is an up to date health assessment with thorough tests and if your earlier 'liver pains' were alcohol related then it would be wise to abstain.
Katie
Were you advised to stop drinking temporarily or permanently? I'm asking for a reason. I'll just say though no one here should be advising you that it's "moved on to the next stage".
I had no liver pain at all - or rather pain associated with the liver as the liver itself doesn't feel pain (to my understanding) but the sac/membrane around it does.
I was told four years before I nearly died my liver "was starting to struggle" after some routine blood tests. At that time I had no symptoms of liver disease and didn't want to address my issue with alcohol. By the summer of 2018 I had a ton of extremely unpleasant symptoms and believe me if you've been advised to have a lengthy period of abstinence please follow that advice as I wouldn't want you to go through what I did.
I'm not implying you've got an issue with alcohol just to be clear as obviously I know only what you've written above.
Hi my advice to you is stop drinking and give your liver a chance to repair and rest, because if you got pains in the first place it would point to something wrong. Get to your doctors as soon as possible good luck 🤞.Stay Safe All
Dogbot 🐶🌈
