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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Just Hepatitis?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Just Hepatitis?
by Sleepyjeans, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
I'm a 25 year old female, I'm quite overweight and have been on a diet to lose weight. About a month and a half ago, I started having some pretty nasty abdominal pains. Sometimes the pain was so bad, even the pain would make me nauseas. I never had any vomitting, just diarrhea. I went to visit my doctor, who told me that it was probably gallstones. I went to get an ultra sound, and even as they were pressing on my stomach with the ultra sound device it was tender. My ribcage is tender on both sides still.
I went back to the doctor who said that they didn't notice any gallstones, but it was hard to see due to my weight. She did mention that my liver was enlarged and that my gallbladder was "constricted." She diagnosed it as fatty liver and told me to get my cholesterol down, and "just in case" she ordered some blood tests to rule out hepatitis. It came back that I had hepatitis A. Although I haven't had any jaundice or anything, it was finally nice to have a reason to why my stomach was so upset and why I was so tired.
Over the past couple weeks I've been feeling better, but I have noticed, that the abdominal pains are getting worse although less frequent. I've looked all over and haven't found any information on severe abdominal pain being a result of hepatitis A. What happens is I wake up in the middle of the night with pain that gets worse, sometimes so bad I can't walk. It feels like someone is tightening a chaing around my midsection. It even hurts in my back and shoulders. Eventually it starts to subside, but it does keep me up for quite a while. My doctor prescribed me Tylenol 3 with codeine during my first visit, and sometimes if I take one of those it makes the pain dull down a bit so I can get back to sleep.
I'm just wondering if this sort of pain is normal with hepatitis A, or if maybe there is something else going on in there, and if I should get a second opinion.
Any information would be great. Thank you.
I went back to the doctor who said that they didn't notice any gallstones, but it was hard to see due to my weight. She did mention that my liver was enlarged and that my gallbladder was "constricted." She diagnosed it as fatty liver and told me to get my cholesterol down, and "just in case" she ordered some blood tests to rule out hepatitis. It came back that I had hepatitis A. Although I haven't had any jaundice or anything, it was finally nice to have a reason to why my stomach was so upset and why I was so tired.
Over the past couple weeks I've been feeling better, but I have noticed, that the abdominal pains are getting worse although less frequent. I've looked all over and haven't found any information on severe abdominal pain being a result of hepatitis A. What happens is I wake up in the middle of the night with pain that gets worse, sometimes so bad I can't walk. It feels like someone is tightening a chaing around my midsection. It even hurts in my back and shoulders. Eventually it starts to subside, but it does keep me up for quite a while. My doctor prescribed me Tylenol 3 with codeine during my first visit, and sometimes if I take one of those it makes the pain dull down a bit so I can get back to sleep.
I'm just wondering if this sort of pain is normal with hepatitis A, or if maybe there is something else going on in there, and if I should get a second opinion.
Any information would be great. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
I would consider further testing before assuming that the symptoms are due to hepatitis.
This can include an upper GI series or upper endoscopy to evaluate the upper GI tract for GERD, inflammation of the upper GI tract or an ulcer.
A CT scan can be considered to evaluate the spleen or pancreas. If there is continuing concern about gallbladder disease, a HIDA scan with CCK stimulation can be done to evaluate the gallbladder ejection fraction. If this number is low, some small studies suggest that removing the gallbladder can help with the symptoms.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
This can include an upper GI series or upper endoscopy to evaluate the upper GI tract for GERD, inflammation of the upper GI tract or an ulcer.
A CT scan can be considered to evaluate the spleen or pancreas. If there is continuing concern about gallbladder disease, a HIDA scan with CCK stimulation can be done to evaluate the gallbladder ejection fraction. If this number is low, some small studies suggest that removing the gallbladder can help with the symptoms.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
Related discussions
Don't buy the "your too overweight to see stones" comment from your doctor. I think that is horrible. I was overweight too, and had an ultrasound for pain I was experiencing in my upper right quadrant, as well as this horrible tightness around my waist. I've had two ultrasounds and an MRI. Unfortunately, all medical doctors can do is scan you or cut into you, or give you perscription medicine, which if you read the labels on all of them, have warnings about liver problems.
I solved my problem with a two fold holistic approach. I did a liver cleanse and a parasite cleanse. I never ever subscribed to holistic medicine, but I'm amazed at the results (I was desperate as ALL my medical tests came back negative for everything). Go ahead and look at these sites. Ask you doctor if you wish. I would definitely exhaust all that western medicine has to offer, up to surgery. I discussed all of this with my doctor, and was basically mocked. Well I'm here to tell you that between the two cleansings I've lost alot of weight, as well as feeling 25 (I'm 50). You will need to make your own decision about these things, but take if from a skeptic, these worked for me. Check out the forum group on livers. See what others are saying.
Good luck to you!! I feel your pain.
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