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worried about my liver

Hi ,

I will try to be brief about some problems I am having for 18 months now . I am a 30 year old male and a smoker who has worked with carcinogens ( tile adhesive and dust ) .
Until December 2005 I rarely had any health complaint . I did have an ulcer at 19 but that was controlled by zoton and eased away . Although maybe unrealted to what i will decribe I had the chinken pox in December 2005 and it took me months to bounce back .
Since recovering I have servere fits of burping mainly worse in the evening or after excercise and work or after eating . The sensation is so strange , it is like the wind has built up in my mid back area and the burps come out 10 times harder than normal . On some days this can happen up to a hundred times .  The relief is felt in my mid back also after a burp . On afew ocassions the wind has jumped up so hard I have had to hold onto something quickly . I also get discomfort but not heartburn under my breastbone on the left hand side and I rarely have flatulance . I have muscle atrophy in my left hand tingling and numbness . I am not sure if it is work realated , I did hit my elbow extremely hard previously . Ulnar nerve , pinky finger and wedding finger ? I have been waiting 9 months for even my first appointment on this .
I had an upper scope test ( sorry i forget the word ) which found mild esophagitis at the bottom end of my esophagus 12 months ago . I was told to go onto nexium for 3 months but as my GP did not have the letter from the consultant I was not given them . I gave up asking even though it clearly said esophagitis .
I was given blood tests which were all negative . 10 months ago I had an abdomen ultrasound that was clear and 6 months ago I had a CT scan of my upper abdomen and liver which was also negative and more blood tests .
I had issues with my GP at the time , as after these tests he said he wanted me to see a psyciatrist and has diagnosed me with anxiety . On any subsequent visit I was met with a long stern lecture about anxiety and pressures on the health service ( my Family doctors special interest is mental health ) . On my last visit I told him of the discomfort I got into on a trip to London afew nights before , sharp shooting pains in my upper abdomen , sweating and dizziness . Immediately I was asked how my wife felt about me going to London for a weekend ( we live in Ireland ) . I left the office as clearly I must be crazy and my physical symptoms are due to anxiety . He definately had no intrest in the pysical side .
I made an appointment to see a different GP in the same surgery as for months my  GP would not do any physical exam because " I didn't need one " . My new GP listened to my symptoms and problems for about 10 minutes which was nice just to have a caring ear , I felt like finally i had a voice . Unfortunately after listening with a stethoscope , examining my abdomen and looking at my pale fingernails she said that it could well be my liver that is causing the problem . I did take some motility tablets and found the same day that my stool was thin and long , it's the only time that happened . i did have some strange shooting pains in my rectum afew weeks before but only twice .
I have two young sons , one at 2 years and one at 4 months . I do get anxious though my anxiety is from not finding an answer to this and fear of leaving my children , to be honest I do fear cancer irrationally as I don't know what else can last so long  . My new GP has done blood tests yesterday and thinks it may by h pylori , all male members on my mums side have had it .

Other symptome I have are a slightly swollen tongue which can feel burnt with an orange / yellow covering at times and sinusitis . I know I should quit smoking but it's catch 22 , the worry of what is wrong makes it harder to stop .

After 18 months I thought I could be happy with a possible answer , the problem is it may not be an answer I want to hear . My positives are i have not lost any weight ( I am slightly over weight at 190 lbs at 5ft 7 but have a large build ). My appetite hass not been affected though I was never a big eater . I do get a little more tired lately but i put that down to slowing down after the chicken pox .
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Avatar universal
My blood test came back normal again , no liver problems and no anemia .

I give up and i will see a psyciatrist about anxiety as it is the only thing the GP's keep saying . What a comfortable diagnosis . I do feel like i have been brushed off but theres not alot i can do .
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Avatar universal
Hi again, just forgot - I'm from the UK by the way.  I noticed you're from Ireland.

feel free to email me: ***@****

Samantha
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Avatar universal
Hi, I was just reading your posting and totally felt sympathy for you!  I had a baby 6 months ago, and 4 months ago I began to feel ill.  I had some very similar symptoms to you also!

My doctors practice are treating me for "anxiety", and i have had all sorts of problems.

Like you, started with shooting rectal pains (I ignored them to begin with thinking, I've just had a baby, it's piles), then I noticed I got them usually just after visiting the bathroom.  But there were no other signs of piles.  

Had my baby in Dec, had a tooth infection in Feb (treated), had a womb infection in Feb (treated) started feeling ill in March with itching all over but no hives or anything, tingling in my mouth, tingling hands and feet, horrendous pain in my lower abdomen and lower back, really deep pain, I thought it was just healing pain from giving birth so I ignored the pain.  My periods were irregular to start then they got normal but I felt ill.  Kept catching colds, and had a constant tickly cough, then lost my appetite, I felt i couldn't eat, I felt sick at the smell of food.  That went on for two months, but I did drink a lot because i was anxious.  I then started getting discoloration to my fingernails (Terry's nails - pale with red tips) the moons started disappearing, I could constantly feel butterflies in my belly, I woke up with it without feeling anxious.  I have had slight abdominal swelling on the right side really low down but again, ignored it thinking - we're not all symetrical.  (that swelling has been there for over two years and it is not major).  Anyway, I then got sores in my mouth, inflammation to my throat but no soreness in my throat.  Swelling on one side of my throat so I had a throat swab and it was all clear.  I had bloods taken, full blood count etc... all normal.  Then in April I went to the GP still scared and unwell and my BP and pulse were sky high and I was admitted.  I also had petechiae.  I had lots and lots of blood tests done, a full screening and all were normal apart from a slight calcium serum raise and a slight white cell raise but I had a cold also at the time - well more like sinusitis.  I was sent home from the hospital after the doctor there told me I had mental problems and that the bloods were clear.  I was advised to see my GP about medication and a psychiatrist.

The tachycardia became constant, my resting rate would be 80-90 bpm and as soon as I stood up it would race up and I'd get palpitations.  But I was not anxious when I got it, it was constant.  Went to the hospital again, more bloods apparently I got the "Full Works"  blood test wise and another ECG and another chest x ray - I got sent home being told to try to relax and get some help for Post Natal Depression.

I pestered my GP surgery for help, I would tell them that my nails were changing colour - well that was it, they thought I was a lunatic!  I ended up then getting a health visitor turn up at my door to check that I was not a danger to my baby!  Then they had me fill in a Mental Health Assessment form to see whether they should lock me up!  Because I was feeling so bad that i was in that practice every other day demanding more tests!  I begged for an MRI and I got told "No." and that my bloods would have shown any problem.

Now, I am currently being treated for the tachycardia, I am on a very healthy diet, though I do drink a glass of wine with my meal at night.  I never get drunk, even when I was drinking more than normal I only got a little tipsy on two maybe three glasses of red wine.  

My skin is very pale almost transparent now, I have no fat on me I look annorexic and I am really eating now but I still can't put weight on, I get lots of reflux and burping after meals and drinks.  My pupils are dilated even when it is light, one more dilated than the other, I lose my balance, I get spots and lights in front of my eyes, I itch all over, my circulation has got really bad, it is summer and I wear 4 layers!  I feel weak, my muscles and joints ache, and I get palpitations and feel out of breath climbing the stairs!  I dread climbing the stairs!  

Then someone told me that pale nails and red tips were Terry's Nails, I looked it up and remembered the doctor's words "We tested everything apart from your liver."  Terry's nails are apparently an indication of congestive heart failure, liver disease, cancer or malnutrition.  

So, I was about to ask about Liver problems on medhelp and typed in on the search, leading me to your posting.  

It is frustrating when doctors don't listen to you!  You are lucky you found one that did listen to you.  I'm still trying to find out what is wrong with me and cure it!  I just want to get on with looking after my son.  

I have become depressed becaue it's not just my doctors that treat me like I'm mad, my husband and his family keep telling me it is a "mental problem" and that I have "done it to myself" with anxiety and not eating.  But, maybe it is down to not eating for a couple of months, I don't know, but since May I have put myself on a strict regime of healthy and plentiful food.  

Could I have really damaged my liver from not eating properly for a couple of months?  Could a little bit of wine have affected me?  Or are they right and I am crazy?  

I would be interested to know how you got on as far as your problems are concerned, perhaps I could learn from your experience.  I don't know if it is my liver, but it COULD be possible.  

But i totally relate to how you feel!
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