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Posted 9/27/2005 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone can desribe to me what liver pain feels like. I have had upper right quadrant pain, burning,pressure on & off for about 5 weeks. It seems to be a bit worse when I am sitting & when I sleep it subsides. I was on antibiotic for a UTI infection & started to feel a bit better, until I finished them. I have had elevated liver enzymes on & off for years & had a biopsy 4 years ago & they said I was in stage 2. They think I might have AIH, but not sure due to my labwork. I was supposed to have a biopsy last week, but do to RITA it was cancelled. I also have IBS & not sure if this is a liver or colon problem. I recently had an MRI, xray & ultrasound & everything is normal. I also feel like I have had this discomfort years ago, when at that time I had lots of tests done & everything was normal. I have no fever, nausea or vomitting. I would love to hear back. I also struggle with an eating disorder & I am not sure if this could be realted.

Thanks, Kim L.
Posted 10/5/2005 6:07 PM (GMT 0)

Kim,

Even though I'm very new to this "liver" stuff, I do know a bit about the other related topics you brought up. First of all, yes, liver pain is on the right side, mostly right under the rib cage, and up. If there is free fluid around the liver in the abd. cavity, you will also have right shoulder pain, and it hurts to breath in, or couph. As for your eating disorder, I too have struggled for years with one. If you are a practising bulimic, or anorexic, you could be malnourished, which will also lead to liver problems, and digestive problems. I have had 10 colon surgeries, have an ileostomy, nerve damage in my sm. intestines, and just recently got out of the hospital for possible liver failure.  I really can't tell you what the affects of my "eating disorder" have been on my whole health outcome, but I do know, when I find myself slipping back into that "mode", all my symptoms become much worse, and sometimes even create new problems. The thing about starving your body of nutrients, well, lets just say it has it's way of getting back at the crime we create.  My liver panels are also elevated, liver enlarged, free fluid, and many other symptoms. We are just waiting for the results of my biopsy so we know how to proceed from here. As for your IBS, I had severe constipation due to a tumor that was removed from my rectum 4 years ago. since then, I have had 9 more colon surgeries, 4 due to obstructions, and the other 5 were done in stages to either try and save some of my colon, or give it a rest by putting the ileo in. When you starve your body of food, you also starve your Colon of something to work for, thus causing nerve damage, and also creating a lot of right sided pain. This pain is normally about the same place as liver pain, but extends itself around slightly to the side. Your Liver will weep if you are malnourished, which will also cause liver pain, and eventually major problems. Usually you recieve some relief by going to the bathroom if it is bowel related.  For me, cleaning my system out always helped with that pain if it was associated with the bowel. If it is associated with your liver, you will not find any relief until the fluid reabsorbes, or is drawn out.  I really feel for you Kim, and I hope you get the answers you want from the Doc's.  make sure you are honest with them about your eating disorder, it will help them to figure out the reasoning behind your pain and symptoms faster.  Good luck, and know you are in my prayers!

Posted 10/5/2005 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
HI Tammy.
Thanks you so much for your email! I am feeling Exactly what you talked about. I take enulose, for constipation, so iam not sure if my body is holding on to all that fluid from that. I had an MRI & everything was normal. I found out that I had a bad UTI infection so I started on Bactrim. This past Saturday, I felt so bad, I felt like I couldnt breath. After the Bactrim kicked in I felt a little better. I am suppsoed to have a biopsy in 2 weeks & I am scared to find out the results. Since my pain is upper quadrant, my friend whos a DR. recommended I have a hida scan with stimulation & an ultrasound. But I had a Hida Scan 3 months ago & it was normal. I am 38 & have had an eating disorder for years. I just came seem to shake it.Its so funny cause this pains sarted the day after I saw the liver specialist. I was absolutely fine till then. I am so sorry to hear a bout all of your surgeries. I was constipated forever & even had a bowel impaction, before I started on Enulose. I would love to chat with you again. My email is [email protected]. I am intersted in what you said about the fluid in the liver.

Take Care & You are in my prayers too.

Post Edited (kiml) : 10/5/2005 1:58:39 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/5/2005 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Again Tammy,

I reread your post again again. Is it pssible to turn this pain around. I mean if you start eating healthy, will all of these funky pains subside. Also, How do you know if you have fluid in the liver?? Does it eventually correct itself??

Kim
Posted 10/7/2005 5:11 PM (GMT 0)

hi Kim!

sorry it took me a couple of days to respond, we have been in and out of the hospital for tests and what-not...but am home now, and will reply to you :-)   The only way I know the pain to stop for me, was when I would become really dehydrated, the pain was worse,and after rehydrating me it would seem better. My Doc would also hook me up to TPN for nutrition reasons. They say it was because thats when the liver would do it's weeping. (kinda like a child crying because it's hungry)  I don't now if this is the case in everybody, but in my case it was.  As far as the liver pain goes, right now I'm having a real hard time with any amounts of pain meds working because EVERYTHING we take matabolizes in the liver. So, pain meds outside the hospital just don't seem to cut it. As far as eating healthy, lot's of B vitamins is suppose to help the liver, I just started on them myself, so I don't know how effectively they will work. I got the B12, and B6 spray, and I guess this will absorb better in my system since matabolizing is such a problem.  I'm 37, and I too have had years of eating disorder problems. Are you married? have children? I am married, for 19 years this past week. I have 2 kids, 1 boy, and 1 girl. ages are 15 & 16.  One thing I want you to remember is that, bowel pain is almost the same as liver pain, with the exception of the difficulty in breathing when there is fluid present.  I truly thought I was perforated when I went into the hospital this last time only to find out it was my liver.  The way they found out about my fluid was by C.T. scan.  I think they also did a X-Ray, but I was so out of it I can't be for sure. Anyways, I hope this post finds you feeling a bit better, and I will continue to pray for you as well!!!! Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. I know I don't know everything, but I can relay to you my experiences.  Take care Kim!!!! P.S.  Do you take a lot of tylenol products, or pain meds??? 

Posted 10/7/2005 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tammy,
Good to hear from you. You know, its really strange cause when I push on the liver area, it sounds like a whirlpool, like waters in there, could be colon too. That could be from the Lactulose syrup. You know, I dont have the"pain" I was in 4 weeks ago. I am on antibiotic for a very bad UTI infection, I did not even know I had. Last Sat. I could barely breath the pain was so bad, but again that could have been from the UT i& the Bactrim had not kicked in. Back in June I had a similiar problem, lots of pressure on the right side. I did do an ultrasound, but it was normal. I had also done an x ray, was normal, but it said I had lots of air in my colon. I have the opportunity to have an ultrasound & Hida Scan with stimulation again, but I am not even sure thats necessary. Sometimes, I feel like I am going to "pop" the pressure is so strong. Will a liver biopsy show fluid in the abdomen/liver area??? Maybe the pain is a little better after I have eaten & gone to bed & wake up the next day. I have had this probelm for baout 6 weeks & I am frustrated. I had an MRI & that was normal, no liver enlargement. I really dont take Tylenal or not any pain meds. I had only seen the liver specialist once. This all strated the day after. I have never had any liver symptoms whatsoever. I will get some B Vitamins. That is good information. I am single, no kids, never been married. Just lots of loving family & a puppy. Tammy, do you think this is a galbladder problem? I think, the Dr(a friend) is looking for that in the ultrasound & Hida scan. Are you doing good with your eating now? I am doing, OK, still too many rules. But I am not losing so that is good. Oh, I am having my second liver biopsy next Friday & I am very scared. Oh, muy liver enzymes are not even high now & have not been for years.
Posted 10/8/2005 4:38 AM (GMT 0)

hey Kim,

Well I must say they have definitely done all the tests on you!  It could be galbladder, but that would show up through ultrasound. But ya know, liver enlargement, and fluid shows up with a X-ray, and c-t scan...I don't know, maybe it is the UTI???? lower abd pain would most likely be the UTI, kinda low in the pelvic area..at least I think so. My eating is O.K, I'm suppose to take in at least 1200 calories a day, and sometimes I can, and sometimes I can't.  I just had a feeding tube removed, about 2 months ago, and I will NEVER have one of them again! I would rather be stuck with a port, and live on TPN then have that tube again!  My pain has been really bad today, and I hate it because no meds help!  We are thinking of going in tomorrow, and having I.V. meds, but hopefully the pain will decrease!  I hope your doing well, and wish you a great weekend!    oh, P.S.  A liver biopsy does not measure the fluid, I think it just tells the docs what kinda shape the liver is in. you'll have to ask your doc for sure about that one.

Posted 10/18/2005 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
hi tammy,
sorry i have been out of pocket. 2 sindays ago, i fell outside & chipped a bone in my shoulder. it was so painful, i couldt work. so, last week i had a hida scan with cck & an ultrasound. then on thursday, i had the biopsy.is was not bad at all. so, yesterday we went to the liver mainly for the pian i was having on my right side. she thinks its female related so i had a ct scan of my pelvic area & had to drink that disgustiong barium. BUT, i am happy to say that my liver looks great.no inflammation or scarring. actually, it lokks better than it did in 2001.now all they have to do is figure out what my pain is.

take care, kim
Posted 11/7/2005 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tammy,
I am not sure if you remember me, but I spoke with you a few weeks ago. Well, I am still having that right sided pain & it is not any better. I had my liver biopsy about 3 weeks ago & everything was perfectly normal. I was very surprised, but very happy. I went to my gastro 2 weeks ago & he thought I might be impacted, so had me drink that go litely stuff & it made my pain soo bad, cause i was not impacted up there. We went back to the gastro last week & this Thursday I am doing a colonoscopy. I hope they figure this out cause I have literally been to every doctor & have many many tests done: ct scan of pelvis, mri, liver biopsy, vaginal ultrasound, cysto...the lists goes on. I am miserable & so upset casue this has been going on for almost 3 months. You know, I probably should have started at the gastro. I am really not sure what they look for when they are doing a colonsocopy, but I hope they can fix me. Through all of this, my appetite has been fairly good. The pain is mainly pressure fullness & bloating & pain to, on the right side. Any suggestions you have , I would love to hear back. Take care, Kim
Posted 12/25/2005 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
hi. You really do need to get help for your eating disorders & get honest with your Drs. about them as malnutrition will lead to cirhosis. not a matter to be taken lightly. Also please be carefull of tylonal & other pain meds as they got my liver, so sometimes it's best to try & tough the pain out at least a little if you can. I didn't & now I have severe advanced cirhosis & have been in comma 4 times. Please take care. I'll pray for you.
Posted 12/25/2005 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
hi. You really do need to get help for your eating disorders & get honest with your Drs. about them as malnutrition will lead to cirhosis. not a matter to be taken lightly. Also please be carefull of tylonal & other pain meds as they got my liver, so sometimes it's best to try & tough the pain out at least a little if you can. I didn't & now I have severe advanced cirhosis & have been in comma 4 times. Please take care. I'll pray for you.
Posted 10/30/2007 2:19 AM (GMT 0)

Hello,

I have liver pain quite often.  I guess I should as I have stage IV breast cancer that has mets to the liver.  The majority of the time it feels very swollen, kind of like an over-inflated balloon.  The doc told me to NOT take any meds with Tylenol.

Posted 10/30/2007 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hello TN mountaingirl, Welcome to healingwell, So sorry that you have breast cancer. It looks like you grabbed a thread that's pretty old. I don't think that the members on it are active members any longer. Most of them haven't posted for a year or two. So I don't think that they will reply to you. Take care. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Posted 10/30/2007 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
"had a biopsy 4 years ago & they said I was in stage 2"

Stage 2 what?  Cirrhosis?  Liver cancer?


Post Edited (hep93) : 10/30/2007 9:41:53 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/30/2007 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Connie, how are you this evening? I'm trying to make myself tired enough to go to bed but it's not happening. Take care. Thoughts and prayers.
Posted 10/31/2007 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Pink Grandma. After I read your post about some of these entries being very old, I realized that one I responded to was from 2005. So I just deleted part of it.

I'm doing "okay."

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 10/31/2007 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Now how are you really? I can't hear you but you don't sound too good. Anytime you need to talk my email is available. Thoughts and prayers.
Posted 4/6/2009 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
What can cause liver pain? What are the most common reasons for it? I know things like hepatitis, cancer, cirrhosis....
Posted 4/6/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)

Loiloi, you picked up on a really old post.  Please start a new topic and introduce yourself and your situation to us.  That will ensure the most replies.

Thanks!

Posted 8/27/2011 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
There are various reasons for liver pain. The existence of excess fats makes the liver inflamed and hurt. High blood pressure, diabetes type 2 along with metabolic syndrome are usually certain medical conditions that creates pain within the liver. Swollen spleen can also be one good reason to have liver pain. Alcohol consumption as well as patients over the last phase of liver cancers go through severe liver pain.

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 8/27/2011 12:31:23 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/27/2011 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
PSmith, do you have liver disease or does a loved one?  That is who this forum is for.  If you have a helpful link you'd like to post, you will need to get the approval from our Administrator, Peter, at [email protected].   Here is a recent post from him in the Forum Rules section:

"Just a reminder, self-serving links are not allowed in the forums.  This means any links to sites that you own and may be trying to promote or advertise by posting links in the forums."


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