liver pain

[shupeg]

Does anyone experience liver pain? Is there anything that can be done to reduce/stop it? What is the pain caused by?  I am geno 2 stage 1. Over the past year I have had minor discomfort, a endoscopy and no relief.Now it is getting worse.I begin treatment in 3 months.

Thanks

[MelonLiver]

All I can say is that I have had the "upper right quadrant" pain and I had hep c before they were even calling it that, and the doctors told me I was simply imagining that I had that pain, because naturally, the liver doesn't have nerve endings.
Things changed a lot and doctors realized that people with HCV do get this associated dull pain in this area. My new doctor, when I said that I assume he wasn't going to believe I felt pain in my liver (so to speak) actually seemed surprised that I would think he would have a hard time believing that. Things have changed from the late 80's when doctors thought it was ll in my head.
I also had a biopsy recently and both the biopsy and the following two weeks involved pain - but the biopsy is mostly fear -
Now I have a new doctor and I just told him that I am still having a dull and uncomfortable pain in my URQ since the biopsy, and what do yo know, he tells me that it is impossible because my ultrasound came out ok.
I just have to say, it's irritating hearing people tell you that you aren't experiencing the pain that you are.
I never thought that a biopsy had residual pain. I thought it was a same day procedure and that would be it. It certainly wasn't hyped up in my mind. It's just been the experience, and many, many HCV sufferers have this URQ pain for various reasons, but all related to the disease.
Period.

[nygirl7]

First off - its a good thing you mentionned having a section because I thought you were a guy judging by your name!  ;)

I need to get one and I dread getting it done.

We ALL dreaded it and just couldn't believe that it wouldn't be tremendously painful. Believe it or not it's like getting a needle - if you don't look it won't kill you. The anticipation IS the worst part because your mind just will NOT believe it's not going to hurt! Make sure you get an ultrasound guided biopsy - that is important.

then you'll have to lay in a hospital bed for 4 hours or so just to make sure there is no bleeding or anything like that.....and they'll probably give you some pain meds but really there ws no pain from the thing at all.

it's REALLY important that you get the biopsy so you know exactly where you stand with this disease.  I thought I would have no problem at all because I never had any symptoms whatsoever. When the doc told me my ultrasound was fine I thought it meant my liver was fine. Wrong. I was already stage 3 and had no clue about it. That really did help me to stay the course on treatment and I managed 72 weeks. I've been cured for almost two years now. Just knowing I had that much liver damage already at 44 or 45 years old really did help me to fight a hard fight.

AFter you go and get it let us know how it went...usually it's something like "wow I couldn't believe that you guys were right...but you were!"

[Proactive]

Well, I definitely experienced "liver pain" before, and after my biopsy(and it was an ultrasound guided biopsy). In fact had pretty strong persistent pain(none in my shoulder) for at least 2 weeks post biopsy, even went to the emergency room 4 days post for pain, was xrayed and given an a ok..So go figure...Occasionally even after svr and with enzyme levels of alt 23/ast24, I still get a heavy feeling/pressure in the area of my liver...and that is without "poking" (g)..
pro

[Trish77]

More than one sample is preferable as they take samples from different parts of the liver, more representive.  Really, you'll hardly feel any of it.  Seconds for each extraction.  The thinking about it really is the worst part.. unless someone is dumb like me and lifts heavy things in the days following it.. then I caused my own discomfort.  

shupeg .. I had abdominal discomfort a great deal in the many months before heading into treatment.. for a good year or more and before I was diagnosed with Hep C.  I just realized the other day that I don't have any more abdominal pains, I'm on Week 29 of treatment.. however last time I saw my treatment doc and he did a physical check of me, he felt my liver area and it caused me discomfort and he turned to my trial nurse and said "liver pain" for her to note it.  So I dunno, eh?   I also think part of my abdominal pain came from my running .. tensing up my abdominal muscles.. I used to get  semi frequent charley horses in my abdomen and I haven't gone running since the first week after I started treatment and haven't had any charley's for awhile now.  There IS an abdominal muscle and sometimes it causes pain so maybe something to do with that?  Other than that.. I'm Stage 1 Grade 1 and it seems that I've had abdominal pain for awhile and my doc says liver pain still... so there you go Isobella.. another voice in your choir.  :)

Trish

[Lou0814]

I don't plan on looking at the needle either. A piece of cake, huh? I've only been to the hospital once and that's when I had a C-section. I had pain everytime I laughed and coughed. So I should think that this is not as bad. But 3 samples?  I only want 1! Who's decision is it as to how many samples?  

[Lou0814]

Wow..sounds like you were on vacation. I guess like anything else, the fear of the unknown is worst. Thanks again.