Liver Biopsy

[Scrib62]

I'm having a liver biopsy done on Monday to see the extent of the damage that HEP C has done to my liver.  Are they painful???  It will be CT guided...what should my expectations be....

[RiverGal]

I am also small (112 lbs) but had no bad sx from the biopsy.  There was a slight ache in my shoulder (normal) but the need for morning caffeine during the "recovery" trumped that pretty quickly.  As soon as I was released, we headed to Denny's for a huge breakfast.

Since I had been up all night the night before, scared to death, skitzing on the "horror" and the terrible amount of pain and misery I was going to feel, I was able to sleep for awhile when I got home.  The only thing actually painful was the scenario I had created in my head before I had it.  It was about as fast and painful as getting your ears pierced.

Best wishes!  

[t27ertwine]

I just had my first biopsy right before xmas....i had a bad reaction to the biopsy.  I was in the ER later that night bc of pain.  The doc. said my liver was irriated bc of the procedure..  They also said I had that kind of reaction bc of my weight...115.  I was in so much pain that I could not walk or hardly breathe Since I am so small i could feel everything.  I know others who had the same procedure and they were fine.  

I am not telling you this to scare you, but I want you to know this could be a "normal" reaction.  

Good luck with it!  Rest afterwards.

[GreatBird]

P.S. My second one was just this November. First one was in 2002.

[GreatBird]

My first one was more difficult than the second because I was more worried about it. Both times they were ultrasound guided. The second time the radiologist showed me the little bit of liver they took! (I actually was happy to see it.) First time I had a small amount of referred pain. Second time not. Both times yucky turkey sandwiches from the hospital (and yogurt with aspartame in it . . . what are they thinking?).

Good luck. Should be a piece of cake. Try not to over anticipate. Remember to take it easy afterwards.

[jdwithhcv]

You should expect that the anticipation will be unnerving and that the procedure itself will be quick, painless and (I hope) uneventful.  They will make you lie down for an hour of more afterward, to ensure that the bleeding stops, and you will be advised not to do anything too strenuous for the rest of the day.

Good luck and try not to worry too much, its a routine procedure.

[Andiamo1]

I should add that my last biopsy was four years ago and the new techniques might use a CT scan.

[Andiamo1]

All in all it will probably be anticlimactic!  Mostly it is boring just laying there waiting to be discharged.

I sometimes had referred pain in my shoulder, but not too severe.  Some doctors use an ultrasound before inserting the needle, but it is not guided with a CT scan.  Good luck with it and especially the results!