Liver Hemangioma Surgery

[LeslieNohea]

Hello. :)
When I was pregnant with my daughter, almost 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with liver hemangiomas. The largest on my left lobe being around 7cm. As it was not bothersome, and the ones on my right lobe so tiny, I have really basically more or less forgotten about them.
Fast forward to now.  Long story short, symptoms necessitating a trip to the ER, a CT scan show the one on the left lobe is 7 x 9.5cm and the insignificant ones on the right have grown to 4 x7.5.
Along with this I have a list of not so fun symptoms and a STAT referral  to a hepatologist this coming Wednesday on 8/19/15 at UC Davis.
I am ready to have these out as they are causing me pain and growing at a rapid rate.
I am curious to know if anyone has had theirs removed, the type of surgery they had ( I know it all depends on size, location, etc) their recovery, etc.
I am curious of people's experiences.
Thank you kindly!

[fntn]

No, they were not. I have end-stage liver disease along with strange autoimmune diseases.  

[LeslieNohea]

Fntn...were any of yours hemangiomas? The surgerys, I mean.

[fntn]

Well that's good news then based on all normal liver related blood work. I'm sure they would have mentioned something to you if abnormal levels were detected.

Some tumors can interfere with the liver's functioning through compressive forces or through infiltration. In either case, this interference would show up in the blood work, if it were clinically significant. Since it appears that you're not dealing with this difficulty, then your surgeon should have a much easier time in finding the best solution for you.

It can be surgery of course, but there are various ablative procedures and even radiation (rarely used though) that are options. Hopefully you'll get a talkative doctor and a through discussion can happen. It's nice to have a complete understanding rather than a god-like doctor who simply says it's going to be this way because I say so.

I've had several liver surgeries and they were all relatively low in pain and short recovery times. Good luck.

[LeslieNohea]

Hi fntn. The only impact I am aware of are the physical ones that I can feel. As far,as the orders you mention, I had a panel done in the ER in the beginning of July that came back normal, but I have no idea if those things were included. I was in there for something unrelated to the hemangiomas.

I am sure whatever the hepatologist deems necessary he will do when I see him this coming Wednesday, the 19th.

Thanks for saying hi.

[LeslieNohea]

Hi fntn. The only impact I am aware of are the physical ones that,I can feel. As far,as the orders you mention, I had a panel done in the ER in the beginning of July that came back normal, but I have no idea if those things were included. I was in there for something unrelated to the hemangiomas.

I am sure whatever the hepatologist deems necessary he will do when I see him this coming Wednesday, the 19th.

Thanks for saying hi.

[fntn]

Do you have any data you wish to share that might provide us some insight as to the impact the lesions are having on your liver? If the lesions are compressively obstructing your biliary tree or portal vein system, your liver enzyme profile and Bilirubin numbers should reflect this.

Hopefully others who have had the surgery for hemangiomas will drop a note. I have a number of liver tumors myself, just not of the hemangioma type.