I live in the US, WA state. Diagnosed with PBC in August of 2016. I had a liver biopsy done in 9/2016, to establish the baseline. Since then I had one "ultrasound with shear wave elastography" done, approximately 6 months after the liver biopsy. I read a lot of posts about "fibroscan". I wonder, if this is the same test as wave elastography that I had. Maybe in other countries it's called fibroscan?
The test I had was similar to regular ultrasound, only much more painful. The tech was pressing hard around the abdomen and also on the side, against the ribs. I was amazed how painful the test turned out. It lasted about 20-30 min. I am wondering if this test is painful to others, or, it's just me.
Thanks for your input.
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iagra
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I had a fibrosis (instead of liver biopsy) to stage fibrosis of liver. The test took less than 10 minutes. The tech put probe on rib and there were about 14 pulses. It was uncomfortable but not painful. After I left I had a bit of pain/tenderness on the rib but it was gone in short order.
I can tell you that fibroscan and shear wave elastography are not the same technologies although used for the same purpose. I've had both tests in the same appointment.
Fibroscans, as others have said, create a pulse of pressure that feels and sounds like a dull 'thump'. I found the shear wave did involve some pressure but was only slightly uncomfortable rather than painful, and didn't take long, maybe 5-8 minutes.
My first fibroscan gave a somewhat worrying result, but I was told this was probably an aberration because the individual readings that get averaged out for the score were very scattered. The shear wave however was reasssuringly in the normal range, and I was told to rely more on that. At my 2nd appt, both fibroscan and shear wave gave similar normal results. How were your scores?
I am told the test are a little different. The Elastography is suppose to be better but on herr it sounds like an opinion so not sure. I never had a fibroscan but did have an Elastography. It took 20-30 minutes and tech did a lot of pressing and it hurt while doing it and for a little while after. Said to measure the thickness and was given results to be stage 3 fibrosis
Thank you for you input! I basically have the same info from my GI. Fibroscan is not as accurate as Elastography. I also never had a fibroscan. My GI said she can order it, but, I still would have to do elastography. The good news was, that the second elastography, this year, only lasted 20 min and wasn't painful at all. Same technician. Go figure. She said it is possible, the weight loss (I lost about 30 lb since last year) helped, she didn't have to press as hard, to get the same results.
One advice - cut out refined sugar completely. You can still have sweet berries and fruits. But, no cinnamon rolls, ice-cream, sweet cereal, or See's candies. 😊 I'd stay away from dates and figs, they have too much sugar. Just try that for a month and see what happens. 🤞
I didn't consider it painful, however, she pressed pretty hard in one area & that wasn't comfy. Later that night I noticed in that one area, I had a big whep about the size of a quarter & im sure that's where she pressed hardest.
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