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Fatty Infiltration of Liver causing back discomfort?
Hi All -
A quick background on my case:
I went to see my primary care dr because I was having some upper right abdominal discomfort, as well as some right flank pain with small bouts of feeling bloated. I originally thought I could have had kidney stones since I have had 2 gout attacks in my ankle in the past and I heard that individuals with gout have higher chances of getting stones. I also have metabolic syndrome (Syndrome X) with my high trigylcerides (290), borderline highblood pressure (128/88), high uric acid, low HDL (35). I don't really consider myself to be in bad health...just out of shape. I used to be really active and always hit the gym for 2 hours (weight lifting/cardio) for 4days/week. It was just this past year (after changing jobs) did I stop all my exercising but still didn't really "look" overweight, etc.
At any rate, I went in and my dr did an abdominal palpatation (sp?) and everything felt normal. I then had a CT scan (w/o contrast) of my abdomin and no stones were found, kidneys unremarkable but he said that something was "weird" by my liver so he scheduled an ultrasound a week later. Needless to say, I was going insane wondering what could be "weird" even though he said it could be something called "fatty liver".
At that point, I began looking up what it was and changed my diet...which I didn't think was bad (small amounts of red meat/mostly pork&chicken/rice/etc.). I began eating small salads for lunch, as well as incorporating lots of fish into my diet and started exercising 5days/week (1-2 mile walk). I was 207lbs at 5'10". I also began taking milk thistle (3x/day @ 175mg 80% standardized), omega-3 pills and eating dried goji berries throughout the day.
So I then had the ultrasound (still having the discomforts) and turns out that it was "just" fatty infiltration of the liver (right lobe) with some fat around my gallbladder. No lesions found on liver. Pancreas was unremarkable. Whew...
At any rate, I've stuck to my diet and exercise. I've lost some weight and am about 190lbs. I've begun walking/jogging further...about 2-3 miles (sometimes uphill). I really don't have the upper right abdominal discomfort anymore too...just occassional twinges of discomfort.
My question now is, should I continue having some back discomfort on the right side? It's about where my lower rib is on the right. It's not painful but rather just a discomfort when I lean back on a chair, etc. I also feel like my lower lumbar muscles are inflamed.
Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks!
A quick background on my case:
I went to see my primary care dr because I was having some upper right abdominal discomfort, as well as some right flank pain with small bouts of feeling bloated. I originally thought I could have had kidney stones since I have had 2 gout attacks in my ankle in the past and I heard that individuals with gout have higher chances of getting stones. I also have metabolic syndrome (Syndrome X) with my high trigylcerides (290), borderline highblood pressure (128/88), high uric acid, low HDL (35). I don't really consider myself to be in bad health...just out of shape. I used to be really active and always hit the gym for 2 hours (weight lifting/cardio) for 4days/week. It was just this past year (after changing jobs) did I stop all my exercising but still didn't really "look" overweight, etc.
At any rate, I went in and my dr did an abdominal palpatation (sp?) and everything felt normal. I then had a CT scan (w/o contrast) of my abdomin and no stones were found, kidneys unremarkable but he said that something was "weird" by my liver so he scheduled an ultrasound a week later. Needless to say, I was going insane wondering what could be "weird" even though he said it could be something called "fatty liver".
At that point, I began looking up what it was and changed my diet...which I didn't think was bad (small amounts of red meat/mostly pork&chicken/rice/etc.). I began eating small salads for lunch, as well as incorporating lots of fish into my diet and started exercising 5days/week (1-2 mile walk). I was 207lbs at 5'10". I also began taking milk thistle (3x/day @ 175mg 80% standardized), omega-3 pills and eating dried goji berries throughout the day.
So I then had the ultrasound (still having the discomforts) and turns out that it was "just" fatty infiltration of the liver (right lobe) with some fat around my gallbladder. No lesions found on liver. Pancreas was unremarkable. Whew...
At any rate, I've stuck to my diet and exercise. I've lost some weight and am about 190lbs. I've begun walking/jogging further...about 2-3 miles (sometimes uphill). I really don't have the upper right abdominal discomfort anymore too...just occassional twinges of discomfort.
My question now is, should I continue having some back discomfort on the right side? It's about where my lower rib is on the right. It's not painful but rather just a discomfort when I lean back on a chair, etc. I also feel like my lower lumbar muscles are inflamed.
Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks!
So got my latest blood work done and here are the results with comparisons:
The following tests were normal:
Lipids (Cholesterol)
The following tests were abnormal:
HDL cholesterol low
Glucose (blood sugar) = Slightly high at 100
Uric Acid high
CHOLESTEROL (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 157 (<200)
09/18/2006 174 (<200)
----------
TRIGLYCERIDES (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 90 (<150)
09/18/2006 297* (40)
09/18/2006 35* (>40)
----------
LDL (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 105 (<130)
09/18/2006 80 (0 130)
-----------
URIC ACID (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 9.5* (2.6 7.2)
09/18/2006 10.3* (3.4 7.0)
-----------
GLUCOSE (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 100* (70 99)
09/18/2006 92 (70 100)
As for my fatty liver, I still feel on occassion some twinges but not like before. My back issues have still been bothering me but it seems to be getting better...slowly though. I've been doing back exercises as well as sitting better at work with a lumbar support.
Weight is hanging around 188lbs and blood pressure was 120/83.
So looks like things are slowly getting better...I hope! :)
The following tests were normal:
Lipids (Cholesterol)
The following tests were abnormal:
HDL cholesterol low
Glucose (blood sugar) = Slightly high at 100
Uric Acid high
CHOLESTEROL (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 157 (<200)
09/18/2006 174 (<200)
----------
TRIGLYCERIDES (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 90 (<150)
09/18/2006 297* (40)
09/18/2006 35* (>40)
----------
LDL (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 105 (<130)
09/18/2006 80 (0 130)
-----------
URIC ACID (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 9.5* (2.6 7.2)
09/18/2006 10.3* (3.4 7.0)
-----------
GLUCOSE (mg/dL)
Date Value Low High
08/02/2007 100* (70 99)
09/18/2006 92 (70 100)
As for my fatty liver, I still feel on occassion some twinges but not like before. My back issues have still been bothering me but it seems to be getting better...slowly though. I've been doing back exercises as well as sitting better at work with a lumbar support.
Weight is hanging around 188lbs and blood pressure was 120/83.
So looks like things are slowly getting better...I hope! :)
Hi ggreg -
Thanks for the reply! :) After doing some research as well as several dr. visits, I've come to realize that fatty liver is quite common. I, unfortunately, have the fatty liver that gives some discomforts...even though my dr. said that my liver wasn't inflammed. But I figured, if my liver isn't functioning at it's best, it's probably going to tell me...hence, the discomforts.
I too feel like I'm a walking mess. If it's not my fatty liver, then it's my gout. If it's not my fatty liver or gout, it's now my back. Who knew hitting your 30s would lead to this! j/k I do feel that my current diet along with my exercising and supplements is slowly making progress on my road to recovery...especially my back. Since my last post, I've begun to sit with proper posture at work (even though it's hurting to do this) as well as sleeping with a pillow under my legs. By doing this, my back actually has begun to feel less inflammed and bothersome. I still feel it but it's not like before.
Now if I can just lose 10 more pounds to get to my target of 180lbs! :)
Thanks for the reply! :) After doing some research as well as several dr. visits, I've come to realize that fatty liver is quite common. I, unfortunately, have the fatty liver that gives some discomforts...even though my dr. said that my liver wasn't inflammed. But I figured, if my liver isn't functioning at it's best, it's probably going to tell me...hence, the discomforts.
I too feel like I'm a walking mess. If it's not my fatty liver, then it's my gout. If it's not my fatty liver or gout, it's now my back. Who knew hitting your 30s would lead to this! j/k I do feel that my current diet along with my exercising and supplements is slowly making progress on my road to recovery...especially my back. Since my last post, I've begun to sit with proper posture at work (even though it's hurting to do this) as well as sleeping with a pillow under my legs. By doing this, my back actually has begun to feel less inflammed and bothersome. I still feel it but it's not like before.
Now if I can just lose 10 more pounds to get to my target of 180lbs! :)
Dear Trojan,
You asked if I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. Yes, I have one. It was found on a CT scan. But I have no discomfort from it. I have all sorts of things wrong with me on account of a car wreck, on account of bad habits when I was younger, on account of some recent meds that caused me to gain wait, other recent meds that gave me IBS, mental issues, a muscle disorder, and so on. I am a rambling wreck. But I keep chipping away, making changes, and slowly I am improving what I can. But I will never be the person I was ten years ago. I have accepted this and am much happier that way. I see doctors regularly and let them guide me, I am very spiritual, I have a relaxing home life and many creative interests. Half the battle in illness is to do what you can to work with it, and then walk forward with what you have left.
I know you wish it would suddenly go away. But half of life is the trip itself. There is no doubt in my mind that if you get that weight down while you're on a roll, eat well and exercise, plus keep a positive frame of mind, you will indeed feel much better before you know it.
You asked if I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. Yes, I have one. It was found on a CT scan. But I have no discomfort from it. I have all sorts of things wrong with me on account of a car wreck, on account of bad habits when I was younger, on account of some recent meds that caused me to gain wait, other recent meds that gave me IBS, mental issues, a muscle disorder, and so on. I am a rambling wreck. But I keep chipping away, making changes, and slowly I am improving what I can. But I will never be the person I was ten years ago. I have accepted this and am much happier that way. I see doctors regularly and let them guide me, I am very spiritual, I have a relaxing home life and many creative interests. Half the battle in illness is to do what you can to work with it, and then walk forward with what you have left.
I know you wish it would suddenly go away. But half of life is the trip itself. There is no doubt in my mind that if you get that weight down while you're on a roll, eat well and exercise, plus keep a positive frame of mind, you will indeed feel much better before you know it.
Hey KateyJ -
Glad to hear that your stomach is feeling better after such a roundabout way in diagnosing it. When my discomforts started occurring in mid-April, it wasn't anything in the "pain" realm but more of bothersome discomforts. I was worried though when my PCP gave me the "weird" diagnosis after my CT and went through all worst case scenarios (cancer, etc.). After getting the ultrasound and doing some research about fatty liver/abdominal and back discomforts, I began to realize that my mind was playing tricks on me and that I just needed to get in shape again after letting my health go with the new job.
I'm hoping that my current regiment of supplements/diet/exercise is helping me. To be honest, I do feel a bit better each day. I just wish I would wake up one day and feel all better but I know it's a slow recovery.
Oh, I also am on Pentathine now to help with my triglyceride levels.
Again, glad to hear you are feeling better!
Glad to hear that your stomach is feeling better after such a roundabout way in diagnosing it. When my discomforts started occurring in mid-April, it wasn't anything in the "pain" realm but more of bothersome discomforts. I was worried though when my PCP gave me the "weird" diagnosis after my CT and went through all worst case scenarios (cancer, etc.). After getting the ultrasound and doing some research about fatty liver/abdominal and back discomforts, I began to realize that my mind was playing tricks on me and that I just needed to get in shape again after letting my health go with the new job.
I'm hoping that my current regiment of supplements/diet/exercise is helping me. To be honest, I do feel a bit better each day. I just wish I would wake up one day and feel all better but I know it's a slow recovery.
Oh, I also am on Pentathine now to help with my triglyceride levels.
Again, glad to hear you are feeling better!
Hey,
I've just been reading about your situation. I kind of had something similar going on. I'm not offering any advise here - My Disclaimer! - but I'm just sharing my story. It started about 3 years ago w/ what I thought were gall bladder attacks. I totally don't fit the description - other than being female and fair, I'm not fat, forty, or flatulant! But the pain was classic - intense upper GI / upper right shoulder / burning back pain. Went on nexium, helped a little but not really. Checked for ulcers, H. pylori, etc...nothing. They couldn't find any gall stones, but they did a HIDA scan and found out that my gall bladder wasn't ejecting bile, so the most conservative treatment was to take it out (believe it or not). They did, everything was fine for ~ 1 yr. Then I got pancreatitis. It was the same exact pain (which was freaky considering I didn't have a gall bladder anymore), but it was acute and went away in a few days. They started to suspect that I might have a problem w/ my Spincter of Oddi. Apparently it's this muscle / spincter :) that allows the bile from the liver and gall baldder as well as the enzymes from your pancreas to travel from the common bile duct down to the duodenum (beginning of your small intestines) to help w/ digestion. They put me on 2 months worth of muscle relaxers. Everything was fine for ~ another yr. Started getting the attacks again about 3 months ago. Triggored by 1 glass of wine, and a very full stomach. Now all my liver enzymes were going crazy. My gastroenterologist put me back on the muscle relaxers and ordered an MRI, and they found out my liver was "abnormal". Very scary, because of course I'm thinking cancer... I had some dilated/constricted ducts, and what looked like it might be a stone in my liver. Finally my gastroenterologist said that he's going to do an ERCP. He didn't want to do it initially because there's a fairly high chance of getting pancreatitis from it. He went in endoscopically and didn't find any stones, but he performed a sphicterotomy. Apparently, I was a Type 1 Sphincter of Odii dysfuction case, so they cut the muscle so that it stays a little open all the time. I feel fantastic, and it's only been 1 week. I'm off all the medicine and I can't believe how good my stomach feels. Having said that... my back (upper right) still hurts a little. It's nothing like the attacks, but it feels too coincidental not to be related to what's been going on w/ my gut. I also wanted to mention that I think this was triggored by a very stressful event 3 years ago. Not that stress is totally to blame, I'm sure I was prone to this to begin with, but I think it can really make this type of problem a lot worse.
KateyJ
I've just been reading about your situation. I kind of had something similar going on. I'm not offering any advise here - My Disclaimer! - but I'm just sharing my story. It started about 3 years ago w/ what I thought were gall bladder attacks. I totally don't fit the description - other than being female and fair, I'm not fat, forty, or flatulant! But the pain was classic - intense upper GI / upper right shoulder / burning back pain. Went on nexium, helped a little but not really. Checked for ulcers, H. pylori, etc...nothing. They couldn't find any gall stones, but they did a HIDA scan and found out that my gall bladder wasn't ejecting bile, so the most conservative treatment was to take it out (believe it or not). They did, everything was fine for ~ 1 yr. Then I got pancreatitis. It was the same exact pain (which was freaky considering I didn't have a gall bladder anymore), but it was acute and went away in a few days. They started to suspect that I might have a problem w/ my Spincter of Oddi. Apparently it's this muscle / spincter :) that allows the bile from the liver and gall baldder as well as the enzymes from your pancreas to travel from the common bile duct down to the duodenum (beginning of your small intestines) to help w/ digestion. They put me on 2 months worth of muscle relaxers. Everything was fine for ~ another yr. Started getting the attacks again about 3 months ago. Triggored by 1 glass of wine, and a very full stomach. Now all my liver enzymes were going crazy. My gastroenterologist put me back on the muscle relaxers and ordered an MRI, and they found out my liver was "abnormal". Very scary, because of course I'm thinking cancer... I had some dilated/constricted ducts, and what looked like it might be a stone in my liver. Finally my gastroenterologist said that he's going to do an ERCP. He didn't want to do it initially because there's a fairly high chance of getting pancreatitis from it. He went in endoscopically and didn't find any stones, but he performed a sphicterotomy. Apparently, I was a Type 1 Sphincter of Odii dysfuction case, so they cut the muscle so that it stays a little open all the time. I feel fantastic, and it's only been 1 week. I'm off all the medicine and I can't believe how good my stomach feels. Having said that... my back (upper right) still hurts a little. It's nothing like the attacks, but it feels too coincidental not to be related to what's been going on w/ my gut. I also wanted to mention that I think this was triggored by a very stressful event 3 years ago. Not that stress is totally to blame, I'm sure I was prone to this to begin with, but I think it can really make this type of problem a lot worse.
KateyJ
Hi ggreg -
Thanks for the reply! Since my post (7/2/07), I went to see my PCP but was told that he was on sabbatical so I ended up seeing another dr. I scheduled a visit just to check out if my back issues were just inflammed muscles, etc. I wanted (or needed) to be sure that it wasn't anything else because of comments made by friends/coworkers (ie. the dreaded cancer word, lol).
At any rate, she looked over my back, felt around and had me do certain stretches and movements to see if they caused any pain, which they didn't. She then basically said that I have a weakened back because of sitting at work/out of shape "gut"/doing exercises that I haven't done in a while. She even said that when she felt my back, she could see and feel that my lumbar muscles were inflammed and also spasming at times. She recommended that I do several lower back exercises and to continue my exercising (walking/jogging), as well as exercises for my abdominal tummy area. And to lastly continue my gradual weight loss. She wants me to get to 180 preferably but at least 185.
I do feel better when I massage my back so I think you are right about getting massages for my muscle knots. I have a blood test in a month so hopefully everything I've been doing so far has improved my results (HDL levels/triglycerides/weight/blood pressure/fatty liver/back muscles/etc.). I'll report back with those results. Hopefully there will be nothing "new" (in a bad way) to report until then. :)
Thanks again for the reply. Can I also ask if you have been diagnosed for a fatty liver?
Thanks for the reply! Since my post (7/2/07), I went to see my PCP but was told that he was on sabbatical so I ended up seeing another dr. I scheduled a visit just to check out if my back issues were just inflammed muscles, etc. I wanted (or needed) to be sure that it wasn't anything else because of comments made by friends/coworkers (ie. the dreaded cancer word, lol).
At any rate, she looked over my back, felt around and had me do certain stretches and movements to see if they caused any pain, which they didn't. She then basically said that I have a weakened back because of sitting at work/out of shape "gut"/doing exercises that I haven't done in a while. She even said that when she felt my back, she could see and feel that my lumbar muscles were inflammed and also spasming at times. She recommended that I do several lower back exercises and to continue my exercising (walking/jogging), as well as exercises for my abdominal tummy area. And to lastly continue my gradual weight loss. She wants me to get to 180 preferably but at least 185.
I do feel better when I massage my back so I think you are right about getting massages for my muscle knots. I have a blood test in a month so hopefully everything I've been doing so far has improved my results (HDL levels/triglycerides/weight/blood pressure/fatty liver/back muscles/etc.). I'll report back with those results. Hopefully there will be nothing "new" (in a bad way) to report until then. :)
Thanks again for the reply. Can I also ask if you have been diagnosed for a fatty liver?
Your back discomfort on the right side could be almost anything. It can be a sign of several internal problems, but since the tests showed nothing, I think your diet and exercise approach may help. I have plenty of back pain, due to an accident. Your inflammed muscles sound familiar. It sounds like you've got some muscles knotted up, so please get some back massages. Tummy exercises will also help take the pressure off your back. Quit eating pork altogether, watch your salt and sugar. Add garlic to a few meals, and add radishes to some of your salads. If you can add stationary biking and some pool swimming to your exercises, these take the pressure off your back but still burn calories. Keep us posted on your progress!
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