Should I be demanding a biopsy?

[Mascott]

I am 42 years old. I have been a regular weekend binge drinker for 20 years. Last fall I started to develope signs of liver disease. Nothing outward other than shaking, light case of Terry's nails. Biggest problems are weakness, headache, occasional fever, mild nausea, generally feeling poor. At a a light case of my ankle swelling  for a few days. The biggest issue is mental status. My ears clog up and I feel like I'm drunk. I can't concentrate and my mood changes. It got so bad last fall that I was diagnosed with phychotic problems. I've never had mental problems in my life. I am convinced this is hepatic encepalapathy. I have had several rounds of blood work and both an ultrasound and CT which all come back clear. I went about 5 months and started to feel better but now it's coming back. I've cut way back on beer almost to nothing now. My doctor's all tell me that my liver is fine and that to have liver disease to the extent of causing major symptoms like this my tests would show something. I can barely do my job.

[flyinlynn]

Have your doctorssuggested anycauses for your symptoms? What kind of doctor have you seen a gastroenterologist would Ernest to diagnose you for possible liver disease.

But if your blood tests look fine and so does your ultrasound you probably should look elsewhere for the cause of your symptoms.

I would suggest if you are determined to do a biopsy instead to have a noninvasive year called a Fibroscan or a blood test called a fibrosure  these tests can also estimate extent of liver fibrosis without a day in the hospital.

I have had liver cirrhosis for over 10 years and of the symptoms you list I only have pitting edema. I have had esophageal varicies but those are only found with upper endoscopy.

Pitting edema has multiple causes other than liver disease.

But basically if you are seeing a gastroenterologist or hepatologist and they say you don’t have liver damage my suggestion is to believe them.