Am getting pain in the liver area, does anyone know whether this indicates that my PBC is advanced?

[7443jec]

Pbc

[Hidden]

Think it's something alot of us jusy have to deal with, unsure if it means more advance as i have had the pain constant since diagnosis.

[gwillistexas]

Before I was diagnosed 2 years ago, I had been having a lot of aching in the liver area. It has been a long time since I felt the ache. Maybe someone here might know if the ache is due to inflammation. I don’t know. 😊

[Ballymahon2]

I have never had pain in the liver area so i really dont know

I would suggest you talk to your hepatologist

[Candy12]

If you read on the pbc foundation site, I think you’ll find It says that symptoms do not correlate with disease progression. Your question is really one for your doctors none of us could say, if it’s because of advanced PBC, we can only give our own experience with the pain. And...

Ive had upper right quadrant pain on and off for about 5 years. My doctors don’t believe it’s the PBC, but they don’t believe my fatigue is either. So I don’t go by them anymore I make my own mind up. I go by all the tests I’ve had not showing anything else untoward.. And recent tests, 3 years apart is showing there are no new changes.

I have read others say that the pain is from the capsule the liver is in pressing on other structures ,not the liver itself but I can’t be sure that’s right it’s only what I’ve read on here. Maybe write the question down , so that you can ask your doctors at your next appointment I’am sure that will give you the best reassurance.

[Jstreet]

I have pain in the liver area too since I was diagnosed in July 2016. It’s not constant, it comes and goes. I just had my ultrasound and labs done and everything looks good. Everybody is different and it’s always best to have it checked out and talk to your doctor about it.

[butterflyEi]

As I understand it it is not the liver but the membrane that surrounds it that causes the problem. Many with PBC report pain from the liver area and it does not seem to be associated with disease progression. I rarely experience the pain unless I have been doing too much. I suspect your hepatologist is really the best person to explain this to you and hopefully you will be given an endoscopy to rule out other reasons for the discomfort such as gall stones which again seems to be quite often reported by those of us with PBC.

You may find a warm hot water bottle or a soak in the bath might bring temporary relief.

[Jeanb47]

I too have pain in liver area often accompanied by feeling of swelling. My hepatologist doesn’t have an explanation but did tests to rule out other reasons. I have had two surgeries on my liver prior to diagnosis which maybe contributing to the pain. ( Adhesions?)

It comes and goes as well. Some articles I’ve read do say abdominal pain can be a symptom. I have had the pain since diagnosis so my impression it’s not related to progression but that only an impression. Even my hepatologist doesn’t not know for sure.

[Debbiem40]

That pain can be related to your gall bladder, maybe a gall stone on the move. I get it a lot. I was told not to worry about it unless it lasts more than 24 hours, have the shakes, turn yellow and vomit!

[Hidden]

This isn't necessarily a sign of progression of disease. The liver itself can't feel pain because it has no nerve endings but it is contained in a sheath or capsule that does have nerve endings. This means that pain in the area could be due to a number of things, e.g.'s, that the liver is inflamed and swollen causing pressure on the sheath, as butterflyEi has said, or more commonly that the gallbladder has some sludge or small stones as mentioned by Debbiem40. This is common in PBC because of the liver's problem with processing fat. But whatever the cause, you are unique, and It is always better to ask your doctor what is the cause of your pain, because a list of what it might be, or what the rest of us get, or don't get, isn't really very helpful to you. It could be serious and the likelhood is greater that it isn't serious but you were concerned enough to ask us, and to me that suggests you best ask your doc! Best wishes