Liver Biopsy

[JohnnaMarie]

I recently had my blood test at clinic and the number for my liver were elevated 3x's higher than that last reading that was taken the year befor. They did an ultrasound and saw that the liver was also enlarged and that i had galstones ..who also belongs to that club?? The doc is going to do a biopsy on my liver...ohhh that sounds bad...if anyone has had the pleasure....how was it??

 

[JohnnaMarie]

Has anyone gotten side aches from their liver being enlarged?? I notice if i do any walking more than just a few minutes at a time i get a side ache..

 

[anonymous]

yup..me too.. i have had several liver biopsys. they aren't too bad.. you are awake and they numb your side then stick a big needle in your liver... a little uncomfortable but not too bad. good luck! did they give you immuran or prednisone?

 

[rose4cale]

My son has elevated levels and an enlarged liver. Nothing too major, but he does take a med for it 2x a day. We haven't noticed anything in his digestion or behaviors that indicate any difference since the meds but his latest labs showed that his levels went down. No stones either, thank goodness!

Before he was diagnosed with CF the "other Dr" tested him for Celiac Disease (intolerance for Gluten) and did a biopsy on his intestines. They put him under and put the scope down his throat. Of course since that wasn't his problem, it showed fine. But it is very hard to see them do such an envasive test on a 1 year old.

Good Luck with the biopsy. I don't think it is any more pleasurable for an adult! I would imagine they would do it similar to what Cale had done.

 

[rose4cale]

Oops, looks like it is different! Sorry! That might be easier!

 

[anonymous]

There are several ways it can be done. I know this because all options were discussed with us when my daughter had her liver biopsy at age 9. She was having alot of pain in her side and her liver enzymes were elevated. We could either do the punch biopsy (needle in the side), tube down the throat, or exploratory laporoscope (incision in the belly button). We opted for the exploratory surgery because once they opened her up they could also check out her gallbladder which ended up being the real culprit and had to be removed. 3 months after removal of gallbladder her liver enzymes were back to normal.

 

[purpleangel28282]

I had a liver biopsy done because of an enlarged liver as well, and to be honest it was the most painful thing I've ever experienced (I had the needle through the side). However, my mom says that I have a low tolerance for pain. From the tissue they collected they thought I either had a fatty liver or Scirosis. It was determined that I have a fatty liver, my doctor said there isn't really anything to do about it, however it's much better than having Scirosis. Good luck to you!

 

[Grendel]

Biopsy on your Liver? Doesn't sound fun.

I had my gallbladder removed when I was 14. That was when they still cut you open and used their hands to remove it. Actually they opened me twice. They opened me once to remove the stones from the gallbladder, and then again 4-5 weeks later when I formed new stones. The second time, they decided just to remove the gallbladder altogether. It really sucked!

These days they just remove it through your belly button. I have a super scar that stretches across my whole abdomen, and my solar plexus muscles are deformed because of their faulty handy work. I guess they never heard the camping phrase, leave things nicer than when you arrived.

Best of luck on that biopsy. I am extremely confident that the procedure is technologically advanced such that pain or "discomfort" is at a minimum.

Take care,
Grendel
33/m
w/CF

 

[JohnnaMarie]

Thanks for the input...just wondered what it would be like from some that have gone through it before. I am not on Prednisone or Immuran......I wonder if they will find out that my gallstones are making my liver numbers high?? The comment from one of the posters makes me wonder if they will have to take mine out too...I guess just take it one step at a time. Thanks again for the info <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">