MY LIVER

My guess is that your spleen may be enlarged due to portal hypertension, which is common in liver disease. Rising blood pressure in the portal vein can cause blood to back up into the splenic vein (the vein going to the spleen), which in turn causes the spleen to swell. Have they diagnosed you with PH?

And you never said you weren't. Could you answer my question. Are you still drinking?

 Me angry ? Hardly . It's your life your free to do as you please and the same goes for E . Ain't gonna lose sleep over either of you . You want help just like E but under your own set of conditions so I figure he'd make you a wonderful source of information . Great minds think alike you know .

A. Ziffle

Hi everyone! I know that I'm not a Mod, I'm just a lowly little HW member (Lol) - but I just wanted to say something about this thread. I don't want to see a new member leave because they feel uncomfortable, for whatever reason. I've seen it happen several times on another forum over the past few months and I hate to see it happen. Anyway, if I understand Linda correctly, she has been drinking socially for quite awhile. Due to being diagnosed with Hep c, she should have stopped drinking about ten years ago, but didn't. She said that she definitely regrets that now. She began having more health issues, saw her doctor, had a scan done, and was told that she has a fatty liver. Her doctor told her "no more drinking". She then mentioned how much alcohol she has been drinking - I think she did that just to clarify a previous comment about the amount. My point is that I never got the impression that she wants to continue to drink - or maybe I'm missing something? I read each of Linda's posts and I don't see where she is ignoring anyone's advice. She's only saying what she 'has' been doing. I believe she just found out what is going on with her liver this week.

Anyway, I hope I'm not ruffling anyone's feathers - that is sure not my intent. I have found tremendous support here at HW and everyone has always been helpful, understanding, and caring. I remember how difficult it was to make my first post here. Even though it is basically anonymous, I was still leery about opening up about such personal issues. However, I was warmly welcomed and made to feel 'at home'. I just want everyone who comes here to feel the same way. It is very easy to experience misunderstanding in this type of environment and I think that is what happened here. And of course, alcohol is also a very sensitive subject for those of us whose lives have been forever cruelly altered by its existence.

I hope everyone is having a peaceful night (day?).

Post Edited (Splashdancer) : 2/27/2013 12:50:57 AM (GMT-7)

Thank you splash for clearing that up for me.WHEW

Agreed David,

I counted two subsequent posts where she avoided the question and could have just said, "Im not drinking" and it would have been laid to rest. The confusion resulted from her remark, as Carol pointed out, "I don't drink often" which is present tense and implies that she hadn't stopped.


So now that we have that answer, and I'm hoping it's true, we can offer advice and support to you Linda without thinking we are wasting our breath, I'm sure you can understand that. Not that folks don't fall off the wagon sometimes, and that is understandable. It's just nice to know that the person is really trying.

I too am curious, like Connie, about the reason you were referred to a blood disorder doctor? Also, are you in a major hospital area that has a transplant center should the need ever arise?

Hope you are doing well and hope to see your updates soon.

Best of luck
Mae

I was thinking along those lines too, Carol. I figure the reason Linda's GI wants her to see a hematologist is because of her enlarged spleen. I still think portal hypertension is a possible/probable cause for that. Although a hepatologist could also diagnose/treat that.

Hi ladies it is my regular Dr. I have been to. He wants me to see someone about my spleen and someone different about my liver. He gave me 2different phone numbers to call and make appointments. When I see them I wiil know more. I will ask what hospital they work out of and do they do transplants.

Linda, check out my new post on doctor shopping, may be helpful.

Mae

I would like to ask any of you with regards to friend I told u about a while back, along with other illness, she is very thin in a nursing home temporary she has not had any alcohol in her body for over 12 weeks, she has memory loss too, a few days she was admitted to hospital and has a very high calcium level, Doctors say they don't know why, they have not come across this high level apart from very elderly people, she is 62, as I mentioned before she has a colostomy & has had since a teenager, have you come across something like this before? am told her liver is not a problem goodness now why, I think she has had her last drink and fear she may not pull through this time.

Thanks

Sue (LIVERPOOL)

 Don't older women take a lot of calcium supplements , Just guessing but she may be overdosing on supplements .

A. Ziffle 

Hi, has anyone in here had a problem with their spleen due to hep c ? it is enlarged, I have an appointment tomorrow to see a dr. about my spleen.