Hi dear people, I hope you are all doing reasonably ok.
I have been here before to ask a question or two, been away for a while. Besides 4 to 5 times drinking, always sober by the way, now already for months already again sober.
Ive been told I have cirrhoses of the liver 2 years ago. I had no real big symptoms except that I felt my spleen and had some discomfort with abdomen and bloating and stuff (portal hypertension...!?) Oh yeah, and of course, my liver enlarged, and it felt this way as well...Again no real pain but discomfort I would say. GGT level was high.
Question:
If I have cirrhoses, that means normally (what I read on the internet) that my liver in (at least in a further stage), will schrink. However I do still feel my liver (dull ache, nothing special) every now and then... That doesn't add up for me, or can somebody help me out!?
By the way, somebody on this forum, came up with this question. And I never had thought about it... Reason I ask this is because im doubting more and more about my diagnose. I hardly have any real symptoms, and even spleen I feel much less. My energy level is low, but actually i think that has always got to do with sleep... I have a lot of problems getting my sleep my whole life...
Have a nice weekend, I hope somebody has any ideas about this....
grtz
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Jimmy777
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Hey Jimmy, I was just diagnosed with cirrhosis this past monday. I have always had trouble sleeping through the night as well but now I tend to take naps on my lunch break. I have no symptoms except joint pain, not sure if that's because I put on weight since quitting drinking or it's associated with the disease. I also have portal hypertension. I don't know much about the liver shrinking but I have heard that occurs but not sure. From what I understand it depends on how advanced an individual is. My meld is 8 and I'm in the compensated stage. At first I showed signs of decompensatedwhen I was in the hospital for 3 daysbut I was told I didn't have Cirrohis. 7 months later a specialist tells me I do have it compensated cirrhosis. Like, you I have doubts about my diagnosis even though it's a leading liver facility in the USA. However, I'm treating my body like I do have it to try reverse my KPA and Meld. Did they give you a KPA and Meld? I was told mine was from Alcohol which I quit 8 months ago. At first my liver was enlarged but the specialist didn't mention anything about it this time. I don't feel any pain though. She was actually hoping it would reverse after I first met with her 6 months ago but she said it's pretty clear I have it from the Fibroscan and MRE. My blood is normal except my INR is slightly over.
thanks for your story. This again is a proof that this cirrhoses 'thing' has such a broad spectrum of complaints. Jointpain is not a familiar one for me, my INR is fine, your blood is normal. So weird all. It's good to hear your side and doubts too. However kind of you got a real confirmation because of Fibroscan and MRE. For your questions concerning MELD and other examinations. I got this news just when the Corona outburst started. A looooot of appointments have been cancelled because hospitals are overloaded because Covid is primary treated, after that comes the rest here in Holland. It's weird, I know. Such a rich country and good healthcare, but the capacity is unreal super low. We are the bottom of the list in Europe concerning hospitalbeds and ICU's. Therefore I have no full sight on what and how and how far my cirrhoses has advanced. I even dont know what a KPA is?? Can you please tell me. Anyway, I wish you best in your journey and thank you for your info.
Sorry you haven't had a chance to get the proper testing. Covid has affected wait time in the US as well. KPA is the density/stiffness of your liver. My MRE was 10.7 the fibroscan for me was 18.7. The Dr. then determines how severe your liver is by combining those results with your blood which gives you a MELD score if you have cirrhosis. MELD runs from 6 to much higher, mine is at 8. If you don't have Cirrhosis you don't get a MELD score. Both tests go by different standards for stiffness. I have compensated Cirrhosis which all things considered is good.
It is strange, we feel our livers but, as the liver does not seem to "feel" pain... we must be feeling something else, maybe the glisson capsule or the ligament or our ribs. But that is the worst thing about liver problems, we do not feel the damage and as we feel okay... we carry on damaging our livers until something makes the doctors aware of the problem.
this discomfort is something many of us feel. but as pushthrough has said, it is one of many related problems, and I think it is something that is hard to diagnose.
Hi Jimmy777, Many people who have cirrhosis are so well compensated that they may doubt the diagnosis. Truth be told, there is a fine line between F3, advanced fibrosis and F4, established cirrhosis. There is also such as thing as "incomplete cirrhosis" and "pre-cirrhosis", all of which is to say that sometimes doctors can tell that your liver is fibrotic but they just don't know how far along the fibrosis has progressed. To complicate matters more, but in a good way, cirrhosis itself can regress back to an earlier stage or, in rare cases, completely disappear.
That's why doctors who keep up with the scientific studies now view cirrhosis as reversible in all but the worst, most advanced cases. What you should do is get busy supporting your liver. Eat to support your health. Depending on what stage you're in, and the etiology of your disease, that could mean plants only or it could mean plants plus lean meat and fish. Walk at moderate pace but regularly. Stay positive about your condition. Other than the sources on this website, the British liver trust, go also to the American Liver Foundation's site, and to sites that support plant-based eating and/or science-based lifestyles:
It’s pretty easy to see on a scan or ultrasound if you have it bad- liver surface looks like rough sandpaper. If it’s mild you need a biopsy or fibroscan, or it can be inferred from other things on a scan/us(reversed portal flow, fir example)and blood profiles etc.
Have I read that you said you have had alcohol since being diagnosed? Please don’t do that as you will suddenly go through hell when you do get the symptoms, and you will if you carry on. Trust me, been there, got the t-shirt- wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
Ubwa, thanks for your words and info. Yes I had a setback a couple of times (I think 4 times, I didnt drink much, but I did). But I felt so afraid the last time, I cannot see me drinking anymore... Which of course is the most important thing in this whole situation, I realise that...
HiI have cirrhosis and a very enlarged liver so the size thing doesn't always apply.
As for the pain, the liver itself doesn't feel pain, but the sack it sits in does.
If you imagine a rough edged stone inside a balloon and there is pressure on the balloon and rubbing against the stone, you can expect problems with the balloon.
I had it explained to me like this and I think it's a great way to visualise it.
Hey, thx for replying. I knew about the fact that liver had no nerves so that the pain (or in my case dull ache once in a while) was from the big liver pushing other organs there. However it is good to know (not fun of course) that u with a diagnose of cirrhosis still have enlarged liver. Indeed, doesnt always apply then. Thanks very much, very clear answer. Answered my question...
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