Ascites as first symptom, Dr. Appt tomorrow

[beastface]

Hi everyone,

I have never had any symptoms of Cirrhosis until very recently. I know I have gained weight recently due to not excessing and eating poorly but started working out and noticed I wasn't losing any weight or belly size. Then my belly seemed to be getting bigger. Finally this last week I started thinking that I had a hernia behind my belly button because I saw some puffiness there. Since then it seems to be picking up steam and I keep thinking how much bigger can I go. I looked up some stuff online and found out what Ascites was and it really sounds like a match to what is happening to me. I feel so bloated and I don't want to eat because every time I do I feel even worse and feverish...it really feels better not to eat. Also, despite not eating much...my weight is staying the same which seems to suggest accumulation of fluids.

I seem to be experiencing many of the classic symptoms of Cirrhosis other than the Ascities, although I don't feel like eating due to how full I feel and how I know I will feel afterwards.

Additionally, I have been treated for high blood pressure and just changed medications recently but the belly button expansion thing had begun prior to that change so I don't think it is related. My doctor wanted me to wait 5 days to make sure it didn't get better after I was used to the new medicine but I don't feel like I could make 5 more days expanding so I urged him to let me come in tomorrow.

In the end, I am showing a couple symptoms of Cirrhosis and a couple for Cogestive Heart Failure on the right side.

I guess I am wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone in their beginning stages. Any responses are appreciated.

[beastface]

Thanks Dbzc2. I am going to see the doctor tomorrow. Just based on my symptoms and logic, I imagine that Cirrhosis could be a reality.

[Dbzc2]

Have you been properly tested? If you have confirmed cirrhosis, ascites can make you feel bloated, sleep cycles get out of whack, constipation will be an issue, and you might have portal hypertension which def causes all of this and reacts to high blood pressure.

So: confirm cirrhosis diagnosis along with  esophagus exam and portal hypertension. If all that is confirmed, then you have several treatment options: antibiotic for gut, lactulouse, banding of esophagus if necessary, liver friendly diet which means no drinking and no salt, no red meat, no processed foods, etc. possibly an antidepressant? Liver disease can make you, constipated, anemic, sleep deprived, pain, swelling, confusion, ascites with a possible infection.

Please read this pdf:  www.med.umich.edu/1libr/hepatology/CirrhosisToolkit.pdf

This will explain everything! It helped me a lot!

Good luck, dbzc

[beastface]

Oh and based on your question. The bloating does not get better, it appears to continue to expand despite hardly eating anything. This is based on puffiness within my belly button pushing through and feel. When I eat it is almost unbearable.

[beastface]

Oh and in addition to dry eyes, I seem to have semi-dark circles under my eyes for the last couple weeks to a month

[beastface]

Thanks for your reply.

Currently the most bothersome symptom is the bloating. Other than that I would say...
1. Tightness around my head near my ears and ringing.
2. Shortness of breath when walking (This might be the new BP meds)
3. Rapid heart rate (My Dr thinks this is new meds as I came off atenenol which keeps heart rate down and am now on linsipril)
4. I feel like I have dark bags under my eyes for the last couple weeks and dry eyes.
5. Don't feel like eating because the bloating is so much worse and I actually feel feverish for a couple hours after eating. I will be having fruit/veg juice until my appt.
6. I have had digestive issues for a while but doctors never thought it was anything to worry about. I have been looking at Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis as possibilities too.

I don't have jaundice skin or eyes

I haven't had weakness, I lift weight in the gym and had been strong as much as ever

No increased bruising or bleeding

I have previously been diagnosed with fatty liver but it appeared to be a med that caused it and my liver numbers went back to normal range.

I do have a history of drinking heavily so I worry mostly about Cirrhosis as it seems logical.

[me_just34]

what are your symptoms exactly?
normally bloating should normalise within day.
do you stay bloated for many days?
bloating may be due to bowel problems, not ascites.