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Conflicting Test Results
I have had multiple tests dating back to 2012. Ultrasound testing was suspicious of cirrhosis. Doctor never told me the results indicated further evaluation needed. 2018 had upper right quadrant pain and GI doctor ordered Ultrasound. Ultrasound showed nodular surface and mild portal vein hypertension suspect of cirrhosis. Liver biopsy performed a month later 2018 and showed mild portal vein hypertension and fibrosis stage Ii to III. Fast forward to 2023 ultrasound report says hepatic cirrhosis. Had liver function test blood work, came back normal except elevated bilirubin count 1.5. Hepatic Elastography test ordered results indicating fibrosis stage I to II and mild fatty infiltration of the liver. I am just so confused and no one can give me any definitive answers. Do I have cirrhosis or fibrosis?
When I was 17 I was very sick and told I had Hepatitis B. The diagnosis wasn’t consistent with my lifestyle, but I didn’t know any better. This was back in 1982. Recent testing doesn’t show I’ve EVER had Hepatitis. Maybe it was viral? My older brother was diagnosed with Congenital hepatic fibrosis in 1978 and had to have his spleen removed then. I am just so confused and don’t know where to go? I want answers. I can’t make a treatment plan if I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I am beyond frustrated. There’s a ton more to the story, just trying to give the short version. Please help!!!
When I was 17 I was very sick and told I had Hepatitis B. The diagnosis wasn’t consistent with my lifestyle, but I didn’t know any better. This was back in 1982. Recent testing doesn’t show I’ve EVER had Hepatitis. Maybe it was viral? My older brother was diagnosed with Congenital hepatic fibrosis in 1978 and had to have his spleen removed then. I am just so confused and don’t know where to go? I want answers. I can’t make a treatment plan if I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I am beyond frustrated. There’s a ton more to the story, just trying to give the short version. Please help!!!
I guess a recommendation for treatment would be maintain a healthy weight and get some kind of regular exercise along with a health diet. And no alcohol
I guess a recommendation for treatment would be maintain a healthy weight and get some kind of regular exercise along with a health diet. And no alcohol
You said you’re not overweight what is your bmi? Some excess weight may be enough to de op fatty liver in some people.
4 Comments
My BMI is 25. I know it’s a little high but I am very muscular and have worked out for years. I have slowed down the past few years because my body is falling apart LOL! I try and push myself…but I could up my cardio a bit.
Ok just saw this here about your bmi
Yup that’s enough to develop fatty liver. Have if excess fat stored in your liver can start liver damage and scarring.
So yup health diet moderate exercise even just walking and lose some weight will do a long way to improving your health. Get a referral to a hepatologist and that is what they will tell you. You very likely have fatty liver NASH nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatitis means liver inflammation which can be caused by many thing for example a virus like hepatitis A, B, and C or simply by having fat cells form inside your liver.
There is no medication the treatment is lifestyle change.
Best of luck
Lynn
Yup that’s enough to develop fatty liver. Have if excess fat stored in your liver can start liver damage and scarring.
So yup health diet moderate exercise even just walking and lose some weight will do a long way to improving your health. Get a referral to a hepatologist and that is what they will tell you. You very likely have fatty liver NASH nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatitis means liver inflammation which can be caused by many thing for example a virus like hepatitis A, B, and C or simply by having fat cells form inside your liver.
There is no medication the treatment is lifestyle change.
Best of luck
Lynn
Thanks for your advise. I don’t really look at the BMI number with 100% accuracy. My body fat percentage is 22% and for my age that is very good. I have a muscular build, which BMI by itself does not factor in extra muscle weight, so it’s not indicative of the whole picture. Again, I appreciate your advise. Best wishes to you. Have a blessed day!
Ok I saw you previously posted a BMI of 25. Yes BMI is less accurate say if you are a body builder so in that case your doctor could advise you if you are overweight at a BMI of 25
But in any event people can have fatty liver disease even if not very overweight although it is less common.
From your posts it does appear you have some level of liver damage so it is important to determine the cause of your liver scarring (fibrosis) and try to prevent any additional future liver damage.
Best of luck
But in any event people can have fatty liver disease even if not very overweight although it is less common.
From your posts it does appear you have some level of liver damage so it is important to determine the cause of your liver scarring (fibrosis) and try to prevent any additional future liver damage.
Best of luck
You said you’re not overweight what is your bmi? Some excess weight may be enough to de op fatty liver in some people.
Ultrasound can’t really diagnose cirrhosis it can only be indicative of the appearance of cirrhosis. Based on your liver biopsy as a lay person I would assume you might have F2 or F3 fibrosis. A fibrosis score of F4 is liver cirrhosis.
To determine a treatment plan first you need to determine the cause of your fibrosis.
Not everyone with fatty liver is overweight.
To determine a treatment plan first you need to determine the cause of your fibrosis.
Not everyone with fatty liver is overweight.
2 Comments
Yes! This is why I need to go to a hepatic specialist. The GI’s I’ve been going to are just playing pin the tale on the donkey. They don’t really know. My test results have been all over the place and I’ve been going through this for YEARS! I was told as a kid I had Hepatitis B and that was false. Whatever I had back then I was super sick. My eyes and skin turned really yellow and I was basically bed ridden. They gave me some kind of treatment, pills to take and sent me home. I eventually got better. This was all back in 1980. I’ve lived a normal life since. The first nodular liver scan showed up on an abdominal scan back in 2010. That’s not what I was having the scan for and my previous doctor never mentioned it to me. I found it in my report years later when I was having another scan done at the same radiology center, one of the techs asked me if I had ever followed up on my liver. I didn’t know what he was talking about? Anyway, the only thing consistent over the years is my bilirubin has always been a little high. Like 1.3-1.7 at the highest. It’s been consistently running around 1.5 for the past couple of years. I have blood work done all the time for something else.
I just want to get to the bottom of it.
I just want to get to the bottom of it.
High total bilirubin may be caused by:
Anemia.
Cirrhosis.
A reaction to a blood transfusion.
Gilbert syndrome -- a common, inherited condition in which there is a deficiency of an enzyme that helps to break down bilirubin.
Viral hepatitis.
A reaction to drugs.
Alcoholic liver disease.
Gallstones.
Got that from WebMD they’re can be other causes
I’m thinking back when you were very sick you may have had a bad case of mononucleosis.
If you have fatty liver that could be the cause
Anemia.
Cirrhosis.
A reaction to a blood transfusion.
Gilbert syndrome -- a common, inherited condition in which there is a deficiency of an enzyme that helps to break down bilirubin.
Viral hepatitis.
A reaction to drugs.
Alcoholic liver disease.
Gallstones.
Got that from WebMD they’re can be other causes
I’m thinking back when you were very sick you may have had a bad case of mononucleosis.
If you have fatty liver that could be the cause
Hepatitis B is a virus so yea it would be viral. Hepatitis A and C are also viruses
As far as hepatitis b not sure what you mean the diagnosis wasn’t consistent with your lifestyle.
How is HBV transmitted?
HBV is transmitted from a person who has HBV infection to a person who is not infected through activities that involve percutaneous (i.e., puncture through the skin) or mucosal contact with infectious blood or body fluids (e.g., semen and saliva), including
a mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery
sexual contact with an infected partner
injection drug use that involves sharing needles, syringes, or drug-preparation equipment
contact with blood from or open sores
exposures to needle sticks or sharp instruments
sharing certain items that can break the skin or mucous membranes (e.g., razors, toothbrushes, and glucose monitoring equipment), potentially resulting in exposure to blood
through poor infection control practices in healthcare settings (e.g., dialysis units, diabetes clinics).
How is HBV transmitted?
HBV is transmitted from a person who has HBV infection to a person who is not infected through activities that involve percutaneous (i.e., puncture through the skin) or mucosal contact with infectious blood or body fluids (e.g., semen and saliva), including
a mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery
sexual contact with an infected partner
injection drug use that involves sharing needles, syringes, or drug-preparation equipment
contact with blood from or open sores
exposures to needle sticks or sharp instruments
sharing certain items that can break the skin or mucous membranes (e.g., razors, toothbrushes, and glucose monitoring equipment), potentially resulting in exposure to blood
through poor infection control practices in healthcare settings (e.g., dialysis units, diabetes clinics).
There are five stages (F0: no scarring (no fibrosis); F1: minimal scarring; F2: scarring has occurred and extends outside the liver area (significant fibrosis); F3: fibrosis spreading and forming bridges with other fibrotic liver areas (severe fibrosis); F4: cirrhosis or advanced scarring).
Cirrhosis is the highest level of fibrosis. Fibrosis means scarring. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis g cirrhosis and liver damage.
Fibrosis (Scarring)
When someone has liver disease, their liver enters into a very dangerous cycle. Persistent inflammation, or hepatitis, sends nonstop signals to repair cells to continue depositing collagen. The extra collagen stiffens around the tissue like it is supposed to in the healthy liver; but, instead of a signal being released to stop the inflammation and discard the extra collagen, the inflammation continues, and even more collagen is deposited, leading to more stiffening. This is how fibrosis develops.
Cirrhosis (Severe Scarring)
Cirrhosis is where your liver is severely scarred and permanently damaged. While the word cirrhosis is most commonly heard when people discuss alcohol-induced liver disease, cirrhosis is caused by many forms of liver disease.
Fibrosis (Scarring)
When someone has liver disease, their liver enters into a very dangerous cycle. Persistent inflammation, or hepatitis, sends nonstop signals to repair cells to continue depositing collagen. The extra collagen stiffens around the tissue like it is supposed to in the healthy liver; but, instead of a signal being released to stop the inflammation and discard the extra collagen, the inflammation continues, and even more collagen is deposited, leading to more stiffening. This is how fibrosis develops.
Cirrhosis (Severe Scarring)
Cirrhosis is where your liver is severely scarred and permanently damaged. While the word cirrhosis is most commonly heard when people discuss alcohol-induced liver disease, cirrhosis is caused by many forms of liver disease.
1 Comments
In 2018 liver biopsy showed fibrosis stage II - stage III with mild portal vein hypertension. Recent “scan” was diagnosed as hepatic cirrhosis.
I did years ago just because they were uncertain of what my diagnosis was. They said NAFLD even though I’m not overweight and have worked out for years. I was never a big drinker though. I completely stopped in January of this year.
Did you keep drinking after any of these diagnoses?
2 Comments
I did years ago just because they were uncertain of what my diagnosis was. They said NAFLD even though I’m not overweight and have worked out for years. I was never a big drinker though. I completely stopped in January of this year.
You don’t have to be overweight to develop NAFLD
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