post biopsy liver pain

[ky_sunshine]

i had a liver biopsy 5 days ago.  My liver enzymes have been high for the last 6 months and getting higher for unknown reason.  My doctor took 2 samples from a spring loaded needle which was ultrasound guided.  My pain started 5 minutes after the procedure and has been ongoing ever since.  It started with a sharp stabbing pain in my upper right side underneath my rib cage that hurt everytime i took a breath and radiated up into my right shoulder.  that lasted for almost 48 hours. Now my pain is just in my right side where the needle went in and around that area.  its more of a burning pain that hurts worse when i bend over or move to sudden.  I was under the impression that this procedure was fairly simple that there might be some discomfort right after but that it wouldnt last but a couple of hours.  
Is what im going thru normal or is this a sign that there's something wrong

[lizziecee]

Hi - there is absolutely no need to apologise for anything. I was only trying to say this is an unmoderated forum, replied to by patients, not doctors, and our knowledge is limited to our own experiences. Your original post was quite in order, and certainly did not upset me, nor I think any of the other concerned people that take time to answer posts where we feel we can help.

I hope the post biopsy pain has now decreased.

Liz.

[ky_sunshine]

my frustrations were with my dr not with anyone on this forum.  This has bee good for me to get advice from other people who are suffering with similar problems.  I apologize if i came across that way it was not my intention.  I appreciate your advice and i hope all goes well with you

[lizziecee]

Sorry we have not been able to help, but we are not doctors, just concerned people who have gastro problems. Sounds as if you live in a small town and therefore little choice in gastros......I live an hour and a half's drive (by car and ferry) from the nearest hospital but at least I have had the choice of gastros. Had 2 before present one in the area I now live - first one very arrogant and patronising, next one kind and sympathetic, but a stomach specialist. I finally, on the suggestion of my female GP, who also has Crohn's, got to see a gastro who specialises in IBD, and is passionate about IBD, and I have been well since seeing him and getting an off licence cytotoxic drug that has me in remission.

After having Crohn's for 37 yrs (and breast cancer), I am very proactive about my health, and know from experience, there are some good doctors, and some whom I wouldn't give the time of day to. Just because they have an MD doesn't mean they are infallible. I found my present drug, methotrexate on the internet some 7 years ago, and badgered a past gastro to let me try it off licence - meant weekly blood tests on the liver at the time (so a lot of expense for our nationalised health service) but it has been my life saver. I now only need monthly blood tests. They are showing elevated mean corpuscular red cells, low heamoglobin, but I have had 7 years of remission already, and I am grateful for that.  

I can only suggest that you find another gastro, who can properly diagnose your problem. However, although I live in England, I have often in the recent past thought of going to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where a friend in Tampa, Florida will accompany me. Don't need that pro tem, but it is always there as a life saver.

It does sound as if your pain is emanating from the pancreas, or liver, especially in light of your previous bouts of pancreatitis. If there is no choice of gastro in your immediate area, I would seriously think about going to the ER (where surely there must be someone they can refer you to?), or failing that, the Mayo, MD Anderson etc.  

I don't wish to alarm you, but a very dear friend of mine in San Francisco, was dx with Crohn's 4 years ago and her gastro at UCSF could not control the symptoms (severe pain, weight loss, diarrhea,vomiting) with usual meds, and after an ERCP they found she had a secondary pancreatic malignant tumour, never did find the primary, and she sadly passed away last Feb at 39 yrs, leaving 2 teenage kids. I tried to urge her to go to the Mayo in Minnessota, but she thought her gastro was wonderful - which he probably was, and I guess she lived a lot longer than most people with a pancreatic tumour.

I do hope your pain is only as a result of the liver biopsy, but since I have not had one, cannot really comment. It could be early days yet for that procedure to settle down.

You may wish to post on the part of this site where Dr. Pho answers questions - he only takes 2 questions a day, but he is very knowledgeable, and has helped me on a number of occasions.

Let us know how you get on with the follow up consultation with the gastro?

Take care,
Liz.

[ky_sunshine]

i spoke with my dr's assistant  she was basically no help.  called me in some pain meds yesterday.  had incredible pain in the middle of my stomach right above the belly button and in my back, told her i thought it was pancreatitis (ive had it 3 times before) she told me to go to the emergency room for evaluation to make sure that's all it is.  Makes no sense to me.  He's the specialist and he's and hour and half from me but they tell me to go to the emergency room in my home town instead of ordering the lab work themselves.  Ill never understand doctors wish i could find a good one.
I did get my biopsy results.... fatty liver with inflamation (nash)  that's basically all she would tell me have a follow up app next wed.  hopefully things will calm down soon.  any advice would be great.  I appreciate the comments,  Nobody in my family has problems like this it's good to find other people who are going thru the same thing.

[tumbleweed1999]

You talk to your Dr. ASAP!!! Sounds to me (in my humble opinion) that you should get an Ultra sound ASAP to make sure that something else was not affected.  I know you said that it was US guided, but . . . .
I have had 2 bx in the last 10 months and have had nothing like that.  A bit of discomfort but not Pain.  That just does not sound like what should be a bx side effect.  They did tell me to be careful lifting, streatching, that sort of thing for a couple of days, but to have that kind of pain, and that soon after I'm surprised they let you go home.  

Please let us know what you find out.  

[bip]

Im sorry you said 5 days ago you had the liver biopsy done.  I would call your doctor again and let them know your still in pain.  Like I said the pain lasted 3 days...

[bip]

I had a liver biopsy 2 years ago and I was in pain for at least 3 days.  I had to becareful moving, bending over cause if I did it would hurt me more.  

When did you get your biopsy done?

[lizziecee]

I am sorry I can't answer your questions. All I know is that over the past 5 yrs my gastro has intimated that he should do a liver biopsy, as I have been taking methotrexate (a cytotoxic chemo drug) for long term (37 yrs) Crohn's disease, which has drastic, if not life threatening,  results on the liver.  My monthly LFT tests are fine, and my gastro can't understand why so.I do though now, have some serious problems with my bone marrow due to mtx, but we are keeping a monthly check on them with blood tests.   Most people can only do a month or so on methotrexate without their LFT's rising exponentially. A year or so ago, after saying he really must do a liver biopsy (with all its' attendant life threatening problems) he talked to a liver specialist at my hospital and he said a definite no. Guess they will only do one if my LFT's rise.

I don't know what the repercussions are from a liver biopsy, but can only imagine they are what you are going through. Could you perhaps get back to the gastro that ordered the liver biopsy and tell him of your problems?

Take care, let us know how you get on.
Liz.