Liver Biopsy

[ROCKO2231]

Hi all,

I was finally able to se a liver specialist outside my region. Unfortunately it didn't go well. She made it quite clear that she wasn't thrilled seeing someone out of her region (i'm in Gatineau, Quebec and the liver specialist is in Montreal, Quebec so about a 3 hour drive). Without getting in the details, she finished off saying that although my fibroscan scores indicates F4 cirrhosis and my latest ultrasound showed a hyperechoic liver with hepatomegaly at 19 cm, she doesn't think that my health issues are liver related and that i should follow up with a gastroenterologist in my region.

I was extremely disappointed with her assessment and passed that info to my GP a few weeks later when i saw her. The good news is that my GP asked for a liver biopsy in my region and i'm schedule for one tomorrow morning. The last few months have been tough. My symptoms are very chronic, was slowly getting worse. My appetite was pretty much gone, feeling nauseous and regurgitating any little food i was able to eat, i have this metallic taste in my mouth that's permanent now, chronic headache, upper abdominal bloating (no ascites in the ultrasound) with a strange feeling of tightness, on-off pain on the liver side and midback. I also keep getting this feeling of flapping or tremors in the liver area. My days were limited to sitting on a chair and lying down on the couch as i have no energy and pretty much exhausted.

On the positive side, i started to eat whole plant base foods the last few weeks when i can eat and did notice small improvements: slightly lest bloating, more energy as i started going out for walks daily and not as nauseous. So there's that lol

Any recommendation for preparation for my liver biopsy? For what i can gather, seems pretty simple procedure. I'll provide an update when i get the results later on. Later all...

Rocko

[Fibro2021]

I've been biopsied four times. I can't say that the procedure is pleasant, but it is difficult to call it catastrophic. In addition to a successful biopsy it's not bad to get a competent hepatopathologist. So I wish you good luck!

[teletonetapper]

All good wishes for today. Hope your results are explained to you by a more courteous and well mannered professional.

[ROCKO2231 in reply to teletonetapper]

Thank you!

[Nalabanana]

Hi ive had my biopsy in may as my fibro scan had shown an increase in the stiffness ,the biopsy wasnt very pleasent but it had to be done ,my results came back better than first thought i do have scarring but not much and im long way of from cirrhosis so was well worth having it done ,i also have changed my food habits i changed from milk to soya and dont eat much meat and i excerise more ,good luck for tomorrow 😊

[ROCKO2231 in reply to Nalabanana]

Thank you and glad you got good news from it!

[Alibaba80]

Hi. My doctors also say that my debilitating symptoms are not linked to my liver but I am pretty certain that they are. Like you I have many...nausea, abdominal pain, unable to eat, gastro problems, joint problems, fatigue, breathing and heart symptoms to name but a few!Can I ask what your blood tests are like please?

[ROCKO2231 in reply to Alibaba80]

My ALT, GGT and ALP markers are in the normal range now that I'm eating better and stopped drinking alcohol.

[Alibaba80 in reply to ROCKO2231]

But you still have symptoms?

[ROCKO2231 in reply to Alibaba80]

Yes i still have the chronic symptoms that i listed.

[ROCKO2231 in reply to Alibaba80]

What i didn't mention is that although my liver enzymes are now in the normal level, my bilirubin has steadily kept creeping up (23 umol/l a few years ago to 38 umol/l the last test), my ferritin has also kept increasing over the last few years, now at 573 ug/l and my triglyceride level was at 583 mg/dL. These tests were done about 3 months ago, pretty much at the peak of my symptoms. I have since stopped drinking and changed to a plant based diet and have seen slight improvement in my symptoms. Anyways, i will provide my biopsy results when i get them.

[Alibaba80 in reply to ROCKO2231]

Yes my bilirubin is always raised aswell. Do you have the results yet?

[ROCKO2231]

Biopsy went well. Now just gonna wait for the results.

[teletonetapper]

Sincerely hope your results come back with a positive outlook for you. Keep us posted, take care and try not to think too deeply until you get your results.

[ROCKO2231 in reply to teletonetapper]

Thank you so much and yes i will let you know my biopsy results once i get them

[Fibro2021 in reply to ROCKO2231]

Hey. Just wondering if there is already your biopsy results?

[Anon11111 in reply to ROCKO2231]

Out of curiosity, have you received your biopsy results?