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Please tell me if a liver biopsy is painful

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Posted 1/28/2007 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Please give me any information about a liver biposy? Any information about the proceedure will help. I am scard to death.
Posted 1/28/2007 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome freeloader,
First of all, try to calm down,,,my husband had a liver biopsy about a year ago,and other then having to keep a clear patch over the entrance spot,and some pain in his right shoulder(something about the liver causes pain in right shoulder,,,) ,,he had NO problems with it,,,I would say slight discomfort,,,they went through his artery in his neck, down to the liver and retracted a few small pieces of his liver,,,why are they doing one on you? do you have hep or suspected cirrhosis? If the drs think its necessary to do this procedure, then I would say do it,,,,,it was not a bad experience for my husband,,,,and can offer valueable information to the drs for treatment and for diagnosing a problem. let us know how it turns out.
Posted 1/28/2007 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the information. However, they will be going through my side w/ a large needle.  I have a liver problem but we don't know what or how bad it is yet.  I do have Hep C.

Jim

Posted 1/28/2007 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Jim! I have Hep C, too--diagnosed in '93 by liver biopsy. To tell the truth, it hurt a LOT--in my back, below my shoulder. They numbed the skin prior to injecting the biopsy needle, but that was all. Afterwards, however, they gave me IM Demerol. That was all I needed. The good news is that the procedure is very quick. Biopsy is really the only way to tell if the hep C is chronic active (still attacking the liver) or if you have cirrhosis. It's a vitally important test, so please do go ahead with it. Remember, you can have pain medication right after the procedure, though you may have to ask for it. Some people have only slight discomfort, and you might be one of them.

Good luck!
Connie

Post Edited (hep93) : 2/11/2007 4:47:05 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/29/2007 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jim

I had a biopsy done about a year and a half ago and had no problems with it. A needle was inserted in my side while while i was in a CT machine. The whole procedure was very quick. The hardest part for me was laying still for approximately 4 hours following the procedure. This was to make sure that clotting occurs and there is no severe bleeding. I remember being sore the next day but that was about all. Hope this information helps.
Good luck and hope they find out what is causing your problems.

Lucy
Posted 1/29/2007 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, Lucy!  Talk about killing two birds!  How did they insert the needle and pull out a sample of tissue with you in a CT machine??

Posted 1/30/2007 3:17 AM (GMT 0)

hep93 said...
Hi, Jim! I have Hep C, too--diagnosed in '93 by liver biopsy. To tell the truth, it hurt a LOT--in my back, below my shoulder. They numbed the skin prior to injecking the biopsy needle, but that was all. Afterwards, however, they gave me IM Demerol. That was all I needed. The good news is that the procedure is very quick. Biopsy is really the only way to tell if the hep C is chronic active (still attacking the liver) or if you have cirrhosis. It's a vitally important test, so please do go ahead with it. Remember, you can have pain medication right after the procedure, though you may have to ask for it. Some people have only slight discomfort, and you might be one of them.

Good luck!
Connie

I had one a couple of years ago. I remember getting some kind of sedation prior to chill me out. The pain was pretty bad afterwards. They have to go between the ribs and the "heavy" material in between. Some good pain meds post procedure will sure help. Good luck.
Posted 1/30/2007 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
This is Jim, the person posting the topic.  Thank you all very much for your knidness in replying to my posting.  I don't feel quite alone now thanks to you all.  I will let you know how things come out w/ my biopsy.  I have strong faith in my lord Jesus and w/ His help and your kindness I'm sure I'll be alright.

God bless you all, or as we say here in Tennessee "yall".

Jim

Posted 1/31/2007 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Jim, we will be looking forward to your biopsy experience, so please come back and post!

Connie
Posted 2/10/2007 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Some clinics will start an IV and a sedative can be administered, usually midazolam (versed) or Diazepam (valium) or any Benzodiazepine, and somtimes Promethazine. These meds can administered to the point where they induce amesia and you wont remember any part of the procedure. Sadly, most clinics dont use this approach simply because they do not have the time or space to monitor your vitals afterwards. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis and even without sedatives you should only feel moderate discomfort. In fact, many clinics dont even start an IV. Many pts feel pain in their right shoulder because the biopsy needle passes very close to the Phrenic nerve. It is common practice for docs to write you a script for 5-10 mg Diazepam to be taken po right before the procedure. This can take the "edge" off, and actually make the procedure a little safer (by deterring reflexes). Hope all is well
Posted 2/11/2007 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
MDchronie (do you have Crohn's?), I hope that the procedure is not as barbaric now as in '93! I was told "nothing, nada, zip" prior to the biopsy. I'm surprised I didn't break the nurse's hand I was holding so tightly. I recently had a 2nd revision of a hip replacement, this time by Mayo physicians--and it was a whole new world. I was given an epidural as well as general anesthesia, resulting in a pain-free recovery room experience. Makes me wonder why this is not GOP for those who are eligible.

God's blessings,
Connie
Posted 2/12/2007 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
My biopsy was a nightmare in 2004. This was mainly because the radiographer was not the nicest person!!! She was far from the nicest person, in fact she was a nasty, cruel #$^%#. She would not give me a sedative even though I was having it through the jugular vein. I was petrified and she finally gave in. I think she was worried I would move and things may go wrong. Hopefully if I need another one I will be able to have it the normal way, which I believe is not too painful. Mine wasn't painful, it was just a very scary experience.
Marg
Posted 2/13/2007 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
hep93, yes I do have Crohn's. I am surprised sometimes at how some clinics perform liver bx's, some just pull the curtain closed and get started. I belive that it is just better for a sedative be involved during a Liver bx. It keeps the pt comfertable (reduces anxiety as well) and reduces the risk that the pt will move when the bx needle is inserted. Glad to hear that your hip replacement went well, part of a docs job is to control their pt's pain!
Posted 2/13/2007 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
I had a liver biopsy about 25 years ago. The radiologist gave me a shot of novacane like the dentists use. Well he immediately got this big long needle and stuck into my right side. He didn't give the novacane a chance to numb me. I screamed for him to take it out and I must of moved a bit. He was so rude with me that if I could have I would have kicked his #^@. I still remember his name and everytime I see his office I see red. It was only suppose to be a in and out procedure. When my doctor came to see me. He asked if I was ready to go home. I told he no that I didn't feel good at all. So he admitted me to the hospital. Well I threw up all night long. And the next morning a cancer doctor came and listened to my lungs and sent me for an xray. Well that stupid radiologist stuck my lung and collapsed it. I was in the hospital for a week. But the good news was I didn't have cancer. I am sure that since then, they have come up with better ways and less painful ways of doing liver biopsies. Hope yours goes well. Pink Grandma
Posted 2/13/2007 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, ryno.

PinkGrandma, yes, I got a shot of Novacaine or something similar. It only deadens the skin, not the liver. I agree that you must have moved, and that is when your lung was punctured...although that is one of the risks of liver biopsy. However, it is pretty darned difficult to remain still when you feel like you've been hit with a hammer with a razor on the end (that's how it felt to me.)

Connie
Posted 2/23/2007 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
I had mine done about 3 years ago. I was scared also,[VERY VERY]but when I went in the room they noticed I was scared and said to bend over and  relax. They pull what looked like a xray machine up to me  and showed me the skinny needle.I do not remember them giving any local but they may have. A little poke and the doctor tells me I'm finished. If I had been walking down the street I would have thought someone just bushed past me. After I did have pain in my arm but they give something for that.The worse thing about it was being scared.

Posted 2/24/2007 3:01 AM (GMT 0)

 Jim

I had biopsy 3 months ago in north carolina.  the actual biopsy takes about 5-10 minutes!  it is the waiting that is the longest

The radiologist was VERy firm about NOT breathing or moving while he is inserting the needle as the liver can be sliced and

this leads to extra bleeding.  I told him I wasn't scared and needed to know ALL I could do to help cooperate to minimize

any problems.  I needed NO pain medication afterwards and was only given localized anethesia and something to dull reflex a few minutes

before procedure.  If you need something to relax you then ask for it!   Best of Luck and prayers! Chris

Posted 5/4/2007 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so glad you posted this thread. I have to have a liver biopsy soon as well, and I too have been scared stiff. I'm hoping to have a better experience than some people have posted here. Hopefully doctors have gotten more compassionate over the years.
Posted 3/20/2010 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am new here to this site and I am Hep C positive, genotype 1a and I received this horrific information at the end of January. I am searching and looking and trying to figure out whether the the BX actual procedure hurts and if there is pain performing the procedure. I am sure that afterwards there will probably be something felt. I am concerned about the feeling of the needle being pushed through my side.

Posted 3/20/2010 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Cflournoy, welcome to the forum.  Would you please start a new thread by clicking on New Topic instead of Reply and introduce yourself and your diagnosis and questions.  You will get more responses that way instead of posting on an old thread.  Different people have different experiences concerning the biopsy.  Some are given a tranquilizer beforehand.  I received nothing and had an excruciating backache immediately following the biopsy.  After an hour of unrelenting pain, I accepted a shot of Demerol.  There is some soreness for a day or two.  The biopsy itself takes only seconds.

Posted 11/27/2012 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I just had a liver biopsy done yesterday 11-26-2012 and I can assure you it was NOT painful at all!!
Posted 11/27/2012 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Mom55 , You are responding to a old post but your input is valuable . Would you be interested in starting a new post and introducing yourself ? Do you have the results back yet and if so what was the conclusion ?


A. Ziffle
Posted 12/11/2012 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
NOT PAINFUL AT ALL.
I just got back from having one today. Some of the posts I found on the internet made it sound really painful, and I was a little nervous, but after having the biopsy I felt completely silly for worrying. The most painful part of the whole procedure was when they took the tape off of where they had the IV in my arm and pulled some hair out. They injected me with some local anesthesia before the biopsy, and then the whole thing was over in a few seconds. Seriously, if I had to rate the pain on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being no pain at all, I would rate it a 2. Maybe I just had a really good doctor or something, but I thought it was a breeze, and I wasn't under any general anesthesia or anything.
Posted 12/11/2012 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, bh1, and welcome to the forum.

Would you please start a new thread (hit New Topic instead of Reply), give it a title, and post to tell us about your liver disease.

Thanks!
Posted 12/11/2012 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
The most pain I have is from the small incision, its a little tender when I move around a bit, but I just had mine done yesterday.
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