My husband, liver problems?

Hi Sarah, sorry to hear of your husband's illness and no diagnosis makes it tough.
The short answer is yes, you can have liver disease without elevated enzymes and despite an essentially normal cbc and cmp. ALT and AST are really coarse markers and indicative of liver inflammation...pretty much a sign post to do more tests and find some answers. The lipase, while it can point to liver problems is more indicative of something going on with your pancreas or pancreatic duct. I've never heard of a lym A...I think this is referring to lymphocytes...a small elevation here is likely just something like a viral infection...maybe a cold. Trace ketones in the urine is pretty unremarkable, particularly without weight gain or diabetes. And a slightly low mpv...who knows...could be normal for him. If it were a more substantial decline than you could look to why his bone marrow is not producing platelets quickly enough and in sufficient numbers. But again, that's not him.

How long has he been ill and what are his symptoms? how much weight loss? and is he just starting to get worked up for this? If he's booked for a HIDA scan then they must have done an abdominal series (3 x-rays...2 abd and 1 chest) and probably an abdominal ultrasound. Was the ultrasound negative? Any CT scans? Do you know any other results?
It sounds like they're just starting to work up a differential diagnosis.

Anyway, this forum has very helpful and knowledgable folks and they have tons of first hand experience. It's a great place to ask questions, explore problems and sometimes just "talk" or vent.
I hope you and your husband get some answers soon.
Best of luck.

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2013 / Diagnosed and successfully treated for hep c geno 1b with Telaprevir, Interferon and Ribavirin...treatment duration 24 weeks.
Retired CRNA (aka nurse anesthetist)...approx 35 years experience in the ER and anesthesia.
Exposure was likely a bloody needle stick from a known hep b patient in 1977. Hep B never progressed to the chronic phase...my own, healthy immune system crushed it.

Welcome to the Hep forum, SGirl. We are a support group of people with liver disease, and those who love them. I am so sorry your husband is having health problems.

My husband, themister, was diagnosed with cirrhosis and Hep C in 2005. Glad to say he has successfully cured the Hep C, but the damage was done to his liver before he even knew he had that nasty virus. He is now waiting for a liver transplant and has been very ill for several years.

Here is something for you on gallbladder symptoms. www.everydayhealth.com/gallbladder/symptoms/


My husband has had a HIDA scan prior to the removal of his gallbladder, and here is link for you about the HIDA scan testing. www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hida-scan/basics/definition/prc-20015028

The hardest part is often waiting for answers from the specialists, labs and tests. Again, welcome! Big Hugs

Hi again, hopefully the HIDA scan will help to isolate what's going on. It does sound a lot like gallbladder/biliary disease...particularly with the radiation of pain to the right shoulder.
The link that themiz posted is well worth the read. Mayo articles are always good stuff, they offer great descriptions and explanations without having to interpret a scientific abstract.
Just a word about the HIDA scan...no it won't "show" cirrhosis directly...it's a flow study (bile ----> biliary tree) and will show obstructions (or partial).
The lead suspect for a HIDA scan is a stone(s). However, the results could help point to a secondary cause...say for eg., the scan showed a partial obstruction...which, in fact, could be the result of cirrhosis.

As themiz said...waiting is awful and the fact that this has been going on almost a year is worrisome. It's impossible to second guess this and his doc may be doing the best he/she can....this is best answered by you both. Has your husband seen any specialists...particularly a gastroenterologist? His symptoms could be the result of literally more than a hundred conditions/illnesses. A few suggestions:
A second look/opinion is never a bad choice.
Push to have repeat blood work done...it should include thyroid studies if not done previously...and not just a TSH...should also have a Free T3 and Free T4.
If the HIDA scan is negative/inconclusive, I'd push for another scan. A repeat US or CT scan...whatever is indicated.
Keep in mind...and this is no knock on physicians...no doc, no matter how good, will pay attention to you like you will.
Sometimes it's tough to walk the tightrope between being a patient advocate and being assertive and not be seen as the aggressive...PITA patient or spouse, but you have to try.
Keep in touch and let us know about the HIDA scan.

____________________________________________


2013 / Diagnosed and successfully treated for hep c geno 1b with Telaprevir, Interferon and Ribavirin...treatment duration 24 weeks.
Retired CRNA (aka nurse anesthetist)...approx 35 years experience in the ER and anesthesia.
Exposure was likely a bloody needle stick from a known hep b patient in 1977. Hep B never progressed to the chronic phase...my own, healthy immune system crushed it.

sgirl432,
no i have never heard of anybody having liver disease with with clean blood work and extensive imaging, all being negative.
ast is also a extrahepatic manifestation, that is a muscle wasting marker.

do you have his albumin blood value. also a creatine kinase test could shed light on his muscle damage. worth reading!!!

check out LABTESTS ON LINE to see if that could help.

the elevated urobilinogen is the reason, the drs are checking liver function. what i dont understand is the hida scan.. that is needed when urobilinogen is low.

Since he hasnt had any contrast lately, a ct or mri with contrast of the abdomin could make sure they didnt miss something.

im probably over stepping boundaries now,so remember to always run everything by your dr..
barry

agree with your GI. liver has been ruled out, now he/she can concentrate on nutritional disorders. i would ask dr if colonoscopy is in order. all men should have one by age 50.

best to you and your guy, and enjoy the holidays
barry

Sarah,

No one knows the answer to your hypothetical, life expectancy question. My husband has lived with stage 4 cirrhosis at least 10 years, so far. He is very sick now, but he continues to plug along while waiting for a transplant.

Hep C is now a curable disease with a 12 week treatment. People can live with the Hep C virus attacking their liver for decades before it progresses to cirrhosis.

I know you are concerned about your husband's health. His gastro has run labs and done extensive imaging, and it looks like he ruled out liver disease. Your husband and you are very lucky to have this wonderful news :) Big Hugs

I had just replaced my keypad with a (cheapy). The link was about the transition into yoga with mind you very nice work being done. They keyboard was giving me a fit and already been cranky anyhow. as you see it the message the post and the meaning was a total wash.

Ziff

Anyone have these symptoms or heard similar? Please

I am a two year survivor of HEP C . Took 90 days of Epclusa had Hep since I was a teen 73 now