Merry Christmas to you all…
Just been sent an appointment for a US Doppler & US Abdomen. Can anyone tell me what these tests are for please. I was diagnosed with pbc last year. Just wondered what these tests were all about.
Many thanks & enjoy your day.
Welcome to the world of 6 monthly check ups!
Nothing unusual or sinister and you get used to it after the first few years.
Once diagnosed with liver problems we are invited in to have scans and blood tests every 6 months.
It becomes routine like 6 monthly dental checks.
We are at slightly higher risk of developing liver cancer so they keep an eye on us and if there's any problems it can be treated early before it becomes deadly.
As Roy said, this is pretty much the protocol for those with diagnosed liver disease. They are used for things like screening, but also are a good quick way of assessing disease progress. It can pick up the tell tale signs of cirrhosis, it can help stage disease progression, it can help identify stuff like portal hypertension or changes in liver size. The dopler bit is used to see how the blood flow is through the arteries and veins serving the liver. This can be affected in later stages of disease.
So nothing overly sinister being sent for these. It's pretty standard stuff and just part of the monitoring that takes place. They are relatively quick, cheap and easy way of visualising what's going on.
Are folks still getting their “routine” 6 monthly monitoring blood tests and US scans? 
The value - or not - of Liver function blood tests…
Its not just us.
Fibroscans in US
Fluid in abdomen, MRI did not show Liver problems...advice please
