Liver? Pacreatus or what?

[lisalane]

Hia,

I have a history of tachcardiomyopathy, but that has been ablated now and seems under control but my cardio could not relate the other symptons I have to this so thought I would ask here:

I get (usually after eating, but mostly after drinking) SEVERE bloating, not as in just feeling full up, but a really full, puffied out, tight feeling, that literally makes me look 5 months pregnant and gets me out of breath.

I've always had it i think, but the more I read this seems to be more to do with the booze, as I am a very regular drinker (although not all day every day stuff), but so drink way in excess of the 21 unit recommendation.

Before i go running off to my doctors and wasting their time, is this severe cloating (sometimes have bright red blood too which I think is internal hemmoroids), but is this loating WITHOUT any actual abdonminal pain indicative of a Liver or Pancreatic problem?

Infact are there any prior signs to liver damage that we oursleves would notice and does it always have to be associated with pain?

I am sitting here once again and within the space of 1 drink I feel like my stomachs gonna explode - my boyfriend jokes that I never had a headache - i just always feel 'full up'.. my get out of sex excuse he thinks!

I am 38, female, had gangrene too so you can see i can not now take daft sypmtons lightly.

PS: I do often get heartburn after a night at the pub (ie: drinking, but this can;t be as simple as Gerd can it, as the heatburn is not till a full day afterwards if i tried to drink again or eat anything acidy, it doesn;t actually occur when the bloating does).

Thanks, and I am sorry to rabbit on!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Symptoms such as hemorrhoids, fluid in the abdomen as well as clotting problems normally present in advanced liver disease.  If this is a concern, I would suggest that you abstain from alcohol.  

Although liver and pancreatic disease is possible, the symptoms you describe are atypical.  I would consider dyspepsia or upper GI disease first.  An upper endoscopy or upper GI series can be considered to evaluate this.  Gallbladder disease can cause bloating and discomfort associated wtih meals - an ultrasound can be done to evaluate this.

A more specialized test would be a gastric emptying scan to evaluate for gastroparesis.  This can cause bloating and nausea associated with meals.

You may want to be referred to a gastroenterologist for further evaluation and discussion.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[lisalane]

and before anyone suggests it, I did stop drinking for 10 months and still had it, it's just that it's 'more' prevalent when I have alcohol so am naturally very concerned that my liver is stuffed.

[lisalane]

and please escuse the typo's ... I didn't expect to have to post it that quick and hadn't yet thought what I was going to write ;-)

[surgeon]

there might not be many easily detected early signs of liver disease. By the time there are symptoms, it's usually pretty advanced. They can include weight loss, jaundice, nausea, abdominal distention. The latter is not intermittant bloating, but is constant due to fluid building within the abdominal cavity. It sounds like whatever is going on is not likely directly due to liver problems. It ought to be fully evaluated: the possibilities include some serious issues, even tho pancreas and liver problems aren't high on the list. And, whether or not your symptoms improved when you stopped drinking, the fact is that alcohol is very dangerous for you; it will damage heart muscle as well as liver and pancreas. It will without question shorten your life, given your underlying problems.