Liver pain with other symptoms but results normal?

[Visht]

Hi everyone, its my first post here, bit frustrated...

I feel pain on my right side quite regularly both front and back (right quadrant) and shoulder area. I also have few other symptoms which are consistent with liver problem like Terry's nails, fatigue, stomach issues acidity, gas and diarrhea or mushy floaty stool. Also get other symptoms like burning sensation in legs, body is quite warm all the time.

I have had quite a few tests over last 2 years Ultrasound, MRI, blood tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy and all come back as normal. Twice my GGT went up but came back to normal in 2nd test. My problem is if all normal then why do I get these pains and other symptoms? I am so stressed due to all these.

I am overweight but have started exercising and control my food intake to reduce my weight. I used to be heavy drinker for about 15 years I would say, from my student days to work life. Used to enjoy going out with friends or even having a few pints at home with quite binge drinking days every now and then.

GP said everything looks normal and for my acidity should take omaze but else I am ok to drink if I keep under the recommended limit. I am just worried that my liver is damaged and all these tests are not able to identify. Is that possible? Any one faced similar situation? Any help would be appreciated, I am worried all the time with no clue whats happening?

[Jay757]

Hey Visht I am currently facing a very similar situation (good blood tests, except high cholestorol, but many physical signs- right shoulder pain, telangiectasia on face, no tolerance to alcohol anymore, fatigue etc). It's definitely frustrating. My advice would be stop focusing on the tests right now and focus on getting to a liver specialist. If the symptoms you speak of are indeed worrying the liver specialist will be in a much better place to tell you than other doctors. I am hopefully meeting one in 3 months time.

[Visht in reply to Jay757]

Thanks Jay757 will try to book an appointment

[Hidden]

Hi Visht, If your doctor is specifically looking for Liver damage, I'm pretty sure the ultrasound would have detected any abnormality, but if it had been an abdominal ultrasound it is possible that the liver was not scanned sufficiently. An ultrasound will show liver damage, but, a fibroscan is far better at identifying scarring on the liver.

Anyway, I suffer from (I can't remember the name sorry, something like "acute calculus granular cholecystitis" ) and it is basically gallstones but as a sand not stones, it presents with pain in the right abdomen, up under the ribs, in the right shoulder, nausea, sweating (hot) and stomach acid.

I'm not saying this may be your problem, I'm just mentioning that because, your symptoms may point to something other than liver problems.

(As my diet changed from fatty cholestrol high foods to high fibre foods meant the pain went away and I do not need my gall bladder removed. )

You should keep your doctor informed about the symptoms so he can continue to find what is causing them.

Wishing you feel better.

Dave

[Hephzibar in reply to Hidden]

Hi Dave, Very interesting to read the replies.

I too went to the GP with vague intermittant RUQ and back discomfort and gripey stomach pains. Gallstone sludge was found on following an ultrasound, so have put myself onto a low fat diet. Discomfort has certainly decreased, but still still lingers and have had it for about 7 weeks now. Discomfort rarely related to food, but interestingly I have little interest in eating fatty foods!

Have been referred to Gall bladder clinic for ?surgery, but am not sure whether the symptoms warrant removal. All a bit vague really!

[Visht in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Dave..I am hoping its not liver. sometimes the pain goes away but comes back if I touch alcohol.

[Hidden in reply to Visht]

Welcome, here is our information on Alcohol and liver disease' that may be helpful to read;britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

If your symptoms persist you may wish to see a specialist for review.

[Visht in reply to Hidden]

thank you

[Firecracker1959 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Gravy58, I’m experiencing similar symptoms and was wondering what test you had to determine your gallbladder diagnosis? Thank you!

[Hidden in reply to Firecracker1959]

I was having an abdo x-ray for a different reason and the sandy stones showed up on that.

[Firecracker1959 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for responding!!

[Hidden in reply to Firecracker1959]

I am not certain, I assume that the "sand" builds up then when it goes into the stomach, the bile that has built up behind it, floods into the stomach which triggers acid production. sometimes it causes unable-to-sleep unbearable acid stomach pain.

But the pain comes AFTER the sand has gone so nothing shows on the xray when the pain gets to a point that a trip to hospital is necessary. It is difficult to diagnose, I guess I got lucky.

My itching started shortly before I started getting any pains. I hope it is nothing too bad and you get some treatment to ease the discomfort.

Take care

Dave

[Linzenilss38 in reply to Hidden]

I had an abdominal ultrasound showing normal size liver and no focal abnormalities. I got it fine for liver pain so cirrhosis or fatty liver could have been missed?

[Oxman]

Hi,

I have posted recently about liver pains I have experienced and what changes I have made. My pains 3 months on are now largely a thing of the past. Same as others I seem to have no tolerance of alcohol. Suggest you make lifestyle changes and see how you feel a few months down the line as a first step.

[Visht in reply to Oxman]

Hi Oxman, looks same for me. I seem to have no tolerance for alcohol. Will read through and try to incorporate the changes and hopefully won't have to go through this again.

[Smegmer]

You have had a number of tests that would normally show Liver related issues and they are clear, that is great news. colonoscopy, endoscopy are clear and that is a very good sign because they have found no evidence of portal hyper tension.

I got ill after drinking 40 units a week, I had Gastritis and a generally sore digestive tract, took a very long time to recover, like 18 months. Hasn't been the same since though, I am more gassy and have odd squeaks going on and its been 7 years. Fibroscan was 4.2, Ultrasound clear and 3 sets of bloods all good.

If you have an acidy stomach you might not want to drink very often, you don't want to wind it up and get a stomach ulcer,

[Visht in reply to Smegmer]

Thank you smegmer. I am trying to avoid alcohol. Can’t say much as has only been two weeks now but planning to keep away for now. It’s such a nasty thing to have in life..I keep giving up but then catch up with friends and family and I cave in. Keep abusing myself after. Hopefully this time will be longer

[Smegmer in reply to Visht]

I ignored the warning signs with heart burn, reflux and joked it was getting older popped a couple of Rennies and continued my couple of binges a week. It felt apart when I woke up after a binge and pain and swelling of the stomach and colon, I could barely move and had to have a month off work right away. Like I said took a very very long time to get back to normal(ish).

If you are getting discomfort from drinking please learn from what happened to me, its your body telling you to cool it.

[Debs365]

How are you now visht? I’m having the same issues getting more blood tests next week ,