How do I definitively know I have ascites?

[Lester14]

Hi all. As I’ve noted I have what seems to be fluid on my belly but it isn’t excessive and seems to come and go (sometimes flares up after a meal). A few docs have palpated using the usual method and said I don’t have it. Is it possible to have very minor ascites that comes and goes? Ultrasound didn’t pick it up either

[AyrshireK]

Ascites is a sign of very advanced decompensated cirrhosis and appears when you have lowered levels of albumin in your blood - from what you've posted previously your bloods are normal so it is highly unlikely that what you are experiencing is ascites.

The tests for ascites are the percussion test which your doctors have carried out and ultrasound both of which have shown you do not have ascites.

When you say it comes and goes after eating - are you perchance eating meals with lots of salt? It's possible this sensation you are having is just a bit of bloating/fluid retention which happens in some people after particularly salty food or even wind.

Katie

[mtk0925]

You said in the past posts you had a scan right? And ultrasound? That would have picked up the acities

[Smegmer]

As already stated Ascites is a late stage issue and left unchecked it would likely get infected and you will know about it. There are always horrific storys of people suddenly dropping dead of having something unpleasant all of a sudden. Truth is that when doctors are looking for a Liver issue they will usually find it. GGT is usually raised in heavy drinkers, its an inflammation marker found in bile ducts. AST and ALT are other inflammation markers and yours are normal I would guess since you don't mention them. I have seen many drinkers with high GGT and they didn't have serious damage.

What drinking amounts are we talking about here ? How many units a week ?

[Lester14 in reply to Smegmer]

A lot of units for the last few years it’s gradually crept up. Probably close to 100 units a week which I realise is pretty hard core

[Smegmer in reply to Lester14]

Hi Lester. Yeh that is pretty hefty, doesn't surprise me one bit you have elevated GGT in that case.

My uncle is 61yo and drinks ~140 units a week, 2 bottles of red wine a night and he slowed down 10 years ago. So god knows what he was drinking before. He had blood tests and no serious issues showed. He had a fibroscan but I dont know what the results were.

I understand your approach, I was terrified I had Cirrhosis 8 years ago because I certainly have abused alcohol most of my life. Went and got a Fibroscan and it was 4.2kpa, all good, blood all good, ultrasound all good. So after all that I stopped worrying about it. Not so sure how you can live not knowing for sure, maybe in time you might want to go further with testing. Living in limbo is horrible.

Alot of damage can be reversed, its the F3 and F4 scarring thats the danger zone. Not saying F1 & F2 are anything good of course.

[Lester14 in reply to Smegmer]

Thanks for the response I think I will have the mri not sure when yet though. I feel healthier than I did a couple of weeks ago when I thought I was going downhill fast. I’m swimming most days and jogging/ walking the others. My legs feel weaker than they used to - not sure if this is liver again or just that I’ve barely exercised since lockdown. I guess we’ll soon see…

[Smegmer in reply to Lester14]

You know the Queen Mum used to drink about 80 units a week and lived to over 100.

Yes you have over done it during the old covid, but with the tests you have had so far I think its a safe bet you are not about to drop dead Liver disease. Hopefully you can get confirmation and put this behind you. This may well be the best thing that ever happened to you, a good scare can work wonders. You could have escalated beyond 100 units without this.

[pushthrough]

If you were that concerned you would get the MRI.

[Ubwa]

Read my post on your other thread. If you had ascites bad enough to distend your stomach the US should have shown it pretty clearly. Google US ascites to see what I mean.

IMO of course

[Fibro2021]

Transient ascites is quite possible, although minimal ascites is almost impossible to feel but usually minimal accumulation of fluid is very well visualized by ultrasound.

[Cat-B]

Sorry but neither you or Dr google can diagnose ascites! The ultra sound can! You most likely have wind. Please start listening to the doctors and not google!

[Ewife]

Hey there! Noticed you have had a recent flurry of questions on here which indicates you are feeling very anxious about all this. This is completely understandable, but the only person that will be able to truly put your mind at rest is a medical professional. If you do have liver issues, you need to have confidence in a GP or doctor, likewise, if you don't, you need to be able to trust this opinion. I can't stress enough how important it is for you to contact your GP - ask for a different one if you want - but please do so. Take care, I wish you all the best.Ewife

[redpoint72]

Lester. please get that mri scan sorted!. we have all pretty much said,you need to have it done to put your mind at rest.....only medical professionals can answer your questions accurately. regarding ascites,my stomach was massive,as if 9 months pregnant.....terrible shortness of breath....had to have it drained 3 times,diuretics didn't. work for me,so a paracentesis was done 3 times.several litres were drained each time.was very unwell at that point.thats why I've another ultrasound next month,to check for ascites as well look at the liver itself,. please take the good folks advice on here....get the mri.. I wish you all the best fella. chris

[user2021a]

I've had ascites show on ultrasound when I didn't even realise I had it - if it's not on an ultrasound extremely unlikely that you do have it.

[kensimmons]

It's extremely unlikely. Try cutting back on salt and "bubbles" (like cola, sparkling water, etc).

[LemonMeringue15]

I agree with everyone else, it is obvious you are very anxious and it is understandable, but if you are looking either for confirmation that you are very ill or reassurance that you aren't, you won't get either from posting here. No one can advise you of the state of your health except the experts and your own individual test results.If you've seen any of my posts you'll know I lost my ex through liver disease, but even at his very advanced stage he could have lived longer if he'd stopped drinking and started looking after himself.

What you need are facts and in order to get them, you need to take the tests you are offered and then get a prognosis from a doctor.

I wish you luck.