Liver TIPS

[BumbleCat]

Hi,

I've had 2 TIPS Surgeries.

May 2022 - which needed urgent revision in July 2022.

I have noticed these past few weeks that my hear rate appears to be high and my resting heat rate is increasing daily.

When not doing anything my heart rate is around 90-110 and my resting heart rate has increased from my norm of around 59 to now 76.

This is freaking me out. I can often feel my heart in my chest and my pulse pounding. I know a resting heart rate in the 70s is normal range but it isn't my norm.

I'm wondering if my TIPS is working too well and too much blood flow is going through? My revised TIPS is very long and very wide - even sonographers have commented on it. I'm due my first CT following the TIPS in 2 weeks to check is well ast CT in July showed it was closing and i was heading for Liver Faulire).

I'm really stressed and feel so tearful. I don't feel like people understand why im feeling this way. I feel stupid if I go to my GP and I don't know if it's something I should contact my Liver Team with.

I'm also stressing about varacies even though I've nevnevenever had them before and I don't know why I'm stressing over them.

Has this ever happened to anyone?

Thanks

P.s.. my condition is NOT linked to alcohol or an unhealthy lifestyle.

[AyrshireK]

No experience of this, but, it sounds like something I would at least run past the liver team.

As regards varices, the reason for the TIPSS procedure was to stop portal veinous pressure/portal hypertension so if your TIPSS is working well you are unlikely to get varices.

I imagine your liver team have a plan as to when they will carry out a routine endoscopy to just check the state of play there.

Katie

[BumbleCat in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks Katie,

Much appreciated. 😊

I think I'm more than likely suffering with some anxiety which I'm probably not recognising as anxiety. 😩

[Readlots]

Hi, Do you have a specialist liver nurse you could speak to? There’s one at my hospital and she’s always happy to take calls and explain things or provide reassurance. You’ve got a chronic condition so I’d say it’s perfectly normal and understandable to be more aware of your body than most people are, and sometimes that will make you anxious but that’s not unreasonable. No harm in telling a professional what you’ve observed and let them reassure you. Hopefully it’s nothing but if it’s something then it’s better picked up sooner.

[BumbleCat in reply to Readlots]

Thank you.

Yes, I do. I just feel so concious of sounding like I'm neurotoc or wasting their time. 🙈 but, you're absolutely right.

[Readlots]

I had some counselling after a bereavement and one of the questions I was asked at the initial assessment was whether I worried excessively. I replied that I thought I worried just the right amount! I’m sure you do too

[PollyO]

When i can hear my heart in my ears and feel it is working too hard it is usually low potassium...need to ask someone medical about using it doseage and such.