Liver pain with clean tests and scans.

[Kuntzie13]

My pain is really getting to the point I cannot understand how I do not have a diagnosis. I would almost rather them tell me I have a fatty liver or give me something that I can put in my sights and approve upon. I have had an mri, CT with contrast and an ultrasound all back clean except for a dilated bile duct. My blood work all normal. I have seen a couple doctors including a gastro. The gastro initially said my liver was swelled, but none of the scans have picked it up, she just made that assessment upon physical inspection. The pain in my right side is specifically at my liver, and is extreme pain as I can push in on my side lower rib cage and it hurts like hell. It hurts over my liver, behind in front everywhere. It doesn’t really get worse when I eat and I quit drinking for two months and it didn’t do anything. Does anyone have any clue?

[Horsemum101]

I am in a very similar situation. All my results come back negative. The pain is all encompassing and the ill feeling is dreadful. My ALT goes to dangerous levels and then back again with no reason. I haven't drunk in over 10 years.

I really hope you get some answers soon.

[Kuntzie13 in reply to Horsemum101]

Thank you. It is dreadful. I don’t even know what to do! I hope you get answers soon as well. It’s so stressful

[Amethyst91]

I’m in the same boat. All scans including liver biopsy and fibroscan are fine and clear of fat, fibrosis, and inflammation. I’m in this pain all the time and all they found was Gilbert’s syndrome which is apparently benign.

[Kuntzie13 in reply to Amethyst91]

I’m sorry. My pain keeps getting worse and worse. Some days I’m sure my eyes will be yellow but they aren’t. It’s the most depressing pain I’ve ever been in and I have been in a lot.

[Fibro2021 in reply to Amethyst91]

I wonder if reticulin stain has been applied to your histological samples?

[Kuntzie13 in reply to Fibro2021]

I’m 36 years old, athlete and great shape. I work outdoors and eat healthy. My doctors will not give in to the idea that my be sick drinking and medicine addictions over the years could lead to liver issues. They pretty much dismiss it completely. I have dropped Tylenol thank god. Never again.

[Amethyst91 in reply to Fibro2021]

What is that?

[Kuntzie13 in reply to Amethyst91]

What is Tylenol?

[Amethyst91 in reply to Kuntzie13]

Reticulin stain

[nerd1 in reply to Amethyst91]

I think it's what they apply to a liver sample to identify nodular regenerative hyperplasia.

[Fibro2021 in reply to nerd1]

These are special histological staining of histological samples for reticulin fibers to search for collagen type 3 and diagnose incomplete septal cirrhosis and nodular regenerative hyperplasia. Unfortunately, not all pathologic laboratories use it.

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), (reticulin stain)

[Amethyst91]

Yea I definitely check my eyes everyday for jaundice but if I go to the hospital they will tell me it’s a symptom of Gilbert’s syndrome

[Kuntzie13 in reply to Amethyst91]

I haven’t received any diagnosis. I’m not sure what all I’ve written here, but I was told my extrahepatic bile duct is dilated 1 cm. My pain has gradually gotten worse over a year or more time

[Amethyst91 in reply to Kuntzie13]

Mine will get better than worse.

[Kuntzie13 in reply to Amethyst91]

For sure. It hasn’t not been there in over a year tho, and it’s a huge mental game for me. I know something is up with my liver, even if they tell me it’s not.

[Jennydoesntknow]

Curious if you’ve had your gall bladder checked, maybe a HIDA scan? Does anything make the pain better or worse?

[Kuntzie13 in reply to Jennydoesntknow]

I do not have a gall bladder it was removed 10 years ago. Never had a HIDA scan. I think I have had the rest of them though. The clear blood tests pretty much make my doctors say well everything looks good here.

[pushthrough]

Hello Kuntzie, is the right side where your liver is the only place that it hurts? How long have you been dealing with this? Were the tests your doctor ordered specifically to check your abdomen region and with your liver in mind? An MRI would almost certainly show liver scarring and/or damage. The ultrasound would have shown a fatty liver which would have been confirmed with an MRI and/or a fibroscan. No other symptoms other than the side? Based on what you stated above the only thing I could think of would be a bruised or fractured rib. Has your doctor ordered a blood fibro test to check your liver function? Or is your doctor refusing to look into it further?

[Kuntzie13 in reply to pushthrough]

The problem has been going on progressively for over a year. The tests were ordered specifically to check my liver per my request. I have bad back issues which causes my doctor to think it’s my back but I just know it’s not. I haven’t really seen any other symptoms, maybe some bowel issues but I’ve also experience the same symptoms since I had my gall bladder removed.