Liver Medical Mystery - Need Guidance

[Joanie68]

I would appreciate the group's thoughts/feedback on below - I know what I am feeling is not normal and need help - thanks so much:

The problem: For the past 2 years I have not been able to drink ANY alcohol (never was drinker - just glass of wine on occasion) or else I get a strange RUQ fullness/tightness and/or ache that lasts for a couple of days. I also feel a slight pain in that area when I urinate - that is newer symptom. I am concerned I have autoimmune hepatitis or HepC that cleared but damaged my liver. Here's why -

The background:
2000 - thought I had food poisoning - vomiting violently, doctor tested for Hep A (adds B and C to be thorough) - Hep C comes back borderline positive. I have no risk factors so I was stunned. PCR and RIBA tests normal/negative, all liver enzymes normal (complete liver panel AST ALT, the works). ultrasound normal.

2001-2006 - Tested every 6 months to 1 year for HepC. Screening test for Hep C positive, but PCR and RIBA always negative, liver enzymes and liver panel always normal. Doctor refused biopsy because of normal status despite my pain described above.

However, ANA is 1:80 (other immune tests like ASMA neg), slightly low white blood count off and on, slightly low C3 or C4 (can't remember which one).

The questions:
1. What is this? Why do I have this pain? I don't believe that my liver is not damaged.
2. How do I get a doctor to perform a biopsy based on above?
2. Have any of you had these symptoms and what was it?
3. Do you have suggestions on great specialist who can help me resolve this - I am in LA

[GrandmaA]

I know a lady and her brother who both got hep. C from their dentist when they were growing up. I had a blood transfusion in 1977. Best wishes to you. You have come to the right forum. Great help and people here. Tons of information.

[copyman]

i would look into your gall bladder being the possible problem. even though your ultrasound did not show gall stones maybe a hida scan to see the gall bladder ejection rate. and if you still feel you have a liver problem maybe have a NON-invasive test to check for liver damage, such as a fibrosure, fibroSCAN, etc

[Forseegood]

Forgot to say, you don't need to have any "risk factors" to have this, some people don't know how they got it, but I have a good idea how I got my hitchhikers....also, I'm not convinced you even have this, though of course I don't know, get the info from the experts first before you jump to conclusions, I've been around awhile and I've seen so many people come on here, freaked out of their minds, and it turned out to be for naught...take some deep breaths...

[GoofyDad]

She says:"..you might not feel like joking, but it's the best medicine for me anyway..."

What about that under the bleachers dealiewhop with the basketball team? No good medicine mo more?

[Forseegood]

Hi, I just don't feel qualified enough (I'm no MD) to answer some of your questions, firstly, I'd need more info, then a medical degree would be nice:) you might not feel like joking, but it's the best medicine for me anyway...there are many good specialists you could go to here in the LA area, on that count, we're lucky...depends on what side of town you live in, but USC has a state-of-the-art Liver clinic, all Liver nothin else...then I go to Cedars and like that place very much, a few friends of mine go to Kaiser...then on the Westside you have UCLA, if you do have hepatitis (and I'm not really sure from the info you have already gave, but then, I'm a little spaced right now, tired from the week.)

One thing I do know, you should go to a good hepatologist, there are gillions here or even a good gastro for prelimanary testing, they'll do a full liver blood work-up...that'll have to happen before anybody tells you you have to go to get a biopsy (you might not, there's no way we could know)...without some basic info to begin with, try not to worry too much, till you seek an expert's advice (It ususally is a lot better then people think initially for some reason, human nature I guess.) (I know, easier said then done, from the biggest worrier on here) Hepatitis is complicated, and many other types of docs don't know much about it...I went to a couple of internists who didn't seem to know how to find their a$$ with both hands when it came to this disease....once you do these things, you'll have a much better idea of where you stand...this is a patient-to-patient forum and you need to see some expert docs...good luck and be well, remember, step by step, you'll deal with it better then you think you will, everyone does...