Liver biopsy

Posted by adah @adah, Feb 9, 2019

My son has had a FibroSure test, which came back abnormal, needs a liver biopsy now. What will biopsy tell? And is this test accurate?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Welcome to Connect, @cwilliamson77,
You may notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion where we have several members talking about liver fibrosis, and I'd like to connect you with them.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

As the name implies, the main characteristic of fatty liver disease is too much fat stored in liver cells. Fatty liver develops when your body produces too much fat or doesn’t metabolize fat efficiently enough.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354567

I’m tagging @contentandwell @julie3258 @musicflowers4u @vette241 @michellern @liaquat to see if they might be able to provide more insight.
How are you currently being treated, @cwilliamson77?

REPLY
@kanaazpereira

Welcome to Connect, @cwilliamson77,
You may notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion where we have several members talking about liver fibrosis, and I'd like to connect you with them.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

As the name implies, the main characteristic of fatty liver disease is too much fat stored in liver cells. Fatty liver develops when your body produces too much fat or doesn’t metabolize fat efficiently enough.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354567

I’m tagging @contentandwell @julie3258 @musicflowers4u @vette241 @michellern @liaquat to see if they might be able to provide more insight.
How are you currently being treated, @cwilliamson77?

Jump to this post

I’m actually not being treated yet as still having multiple labs being done etc
Go back to gastro next month. Seems they’re thinking it could be an autoimmune thing as well due to past lab work.

REPLY
@cwilliamson77

I’m actually not being treated yet as still having multiple labs being done etc
Go back to gastro next month. Seems they’re thinking it could be an autoimmune thing as well due to past lab work.

Jump to this post

@cwilliamson77, I am a liver and kidney transplant patient. I have no medical training, and I do not know the answer to your inquiry. However, I have experienced an extremely frightening journey with liver failure. Along the way, I have learned that the labs are going to be often and for a variety of reasons that are necessary to diagnose, monitor, and treat liver disease.

Here is what my doctors have instructed me to do since the very beginning of my liver disease history.: Use medications wisely. Only take prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) drugs when needed and only stay within the recommended doses. Don't mix medications and alcohol. It is also important to talk to your doctor before trying any alternative or herbal supplements and vitamins.

I hope that your GI (gastroenterology) visit goes well next month. Are you experiencing any symptoms that have raised the question of a liver condition?

REPLY
@rosemarya

@cwilliamson77, I am a liver and kidney transplant patient. I have no medical training, and I do not know the answer to your inquiry. However, I have experienced an extremely frightening journey with liver failure. Along the way, I have learned that the labs are going to be often and for a variety of reasons that are necessary to diagnose, monitor, and treat liver disease.

Here is what my doctors have instructed me to do since the very beginning of my liver disease history.: Use medications wisely. Only take prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) drugs when needed and only stay within the recommended doses. Don't mix medications and alcohol. It is also important to talk to your doctor before trying any alternative or herbal supplements and vitamins.

I hope that your GI (gastroenterology) visit goes well next month. Are you experiencing any symptoms that have raised the question of a liver condition?

Jump to this post

Honestly yes! I have drunk heavily in the past and not so far past. I’m overweight. My fibroscan came back moderate to severe. But due to past labs (had to get a new Gastro as last one was lame honestly) my gastro is thinking alcoholic, but possible autoimmune causes as well. His receptionist called me after last labs and said may need biopsy. Will see. I’m always exhausted. Right now (and this may be tmi) I’m on day 13 of my period, but not sure if that could be related in anyway. I’m 41. I have a 9yo daughter and 3 yo son. Will see how it all plays out and go with the flow.
Thanks so much for your input and help.

REPLY
@cwilliamson77

Honestly yes! I have drunk heavily in the past and not so far past. I’m overweight. My fibroscan came back moderate to severe. But due to past labs (had to get a new Gastro as last one was lame honestly) my gastro is thinking alcoholic, but possible autoimmune causes as well. His receptionist called me after last labs and said may need biopsy. Will see. I’m always exhausted. Right now (and this may be tmi) I’m on day 13 of my period, but not sure if that could be related in anyway. I’m 41. I have a 9yo daughter and 3 yo son. Will see how it all plays out and go with the flow.
Thanks so much for your input and help.

Jump to this post

@kanaazpereira Hi, @cwilliamson77 and I welcome you to Connect also.
When I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis (NASH cirrhosis) there was no talk of CBD oil so I have no knowledge of that at all. Despite my cirrhosis not having been caused by alcohol I was instructed to immediately stop drinking any alcoholic beverages, they can damage your liver further. My diagnosis was a bit different from yours, I had symptoms that were never thought to be that severe -- declining platelet counts, shaky hands, being cold all of the time, tired -- and then I started having HE (hepatic encephalopathy) episodes. HE episodes are times of confusion and irrationality. Even then I did not get diagnosed until a neurologist suggested liver. This was almost a year and a half after my first HE episode, which should have been a huge red flag. My ammonia count was high which is what caused HE. Cirrhosis was confirmed by a CT scan. Truthfully at that point, I had so many tests that I don't remember if I had a fibroscan. It does not sound familiar to me though.
When you learn more and find out what the problem is, please ask questions if I or anyone on here be of any help. I know well how confusing it can all be.
JK

REPLY
@contentandwell

@kanaazpereira Hi, @cwilliamson77 and I welcome you to Connect also.
When I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis (NASH cirrhosis) there was no talk of CBD oil so I have no knowledge of that at all. Despite my cirrhosis not having been caused by alcohol I was instructed to immediately stop drinking any alcoholic beverages, they can damage your liver further. My diagnosis was a bit different from yours, I had symptoms that were never thought to be that severe -- declining platelet counts, shaky hands, being cold all of the time, tired -- and then I started having HE (hepatic encephalopathy) episodes. HE episodes are times of confusion and irrationality. Even then I did not get diagnosed until a neurologist suggested liver. This was almost a year and a half after my first HE episode, which should have been a huge red flag. My ammonia count was high which is what caused HE. Cirrhosis was confirmed by a CT scan. Truthfully at that point, I had so many tests that I don't remember if I had a fibroscan. It does not sound familiar to me though.
When you learn more and find out what the problem is, please ask questions if I or anyone on here be of any help. I know well how confusing it can all be.
JK

Jump to this post

Thanks a bunch I do appreciate it

REPLY

Just wondering if you were ever told you had sinus inflammation on catscan or mri? Before you were told you had Hepatic encephalopathy.

REPLY
@adah

Just wondering if you were ever told you had sinus inflammation on catscan or mri? Before you were told you had Hepatic encephalopathy.

Jump to this post

Was told i had H/E while in hospital without ct or mri. I've been in hospital often since October 2018

REPLY
@adah

Just wondering if you were ever told you had sinus inflammation on catscan or mri? Before you were told you had Hepatic encephalopathy.

Jump to this post

@adah I'm not sure who you are referring to here, but if you are referring to me, no, I was never told I had sinus inflammation. HE does not show on tests, the only test that I know that they use in diagnosing it is testing for ammonia in your blood. When your liver is not functioning well it does not filter the ammonia out and it goes to your brain, causing HE.
I'm curious, why would you think a sinus inflammation might be connected?
Also, if you are responding to a specific person it alerts them to that response if you start it with the @ sign followed by their name that you see next to their post. Often the name is different from their identity, as in mine. I'm "contentandwell" but my identity is JK.
JK

REPLY
@cwilliamson77

Honestly yes! I have drunk heavily in the past and not so far past. I’m overweight. My fibroscan came back moderate to severe. But due to past labs (had to get a new Gastro as last one was lame honestly) my gastro is thinking alcoholic, but possible autoimmune causes as well. His receptionist called me after last labs and said may need biopsy. Will see. I’m always exhausted. Right now (and this may be tmi) I’m on day 13 of my period, but not sure if that could be related in anyway. I’m 41. I have a 9yo daughter and 3 yo son. Will see how it all plays out and go with the flow.
Thanks so much for your input and help.

Jump to this post

@cwilliamson77, I want to drop in today and check on you. I can understand your exhaustion. I used to teach, and when I was not feeling well (as in your current are not feeling well) I used to be totally exhausted. The stress and worry of the unknowing didn't help either. I am wondering if you have a PCP (primary care doctor) who can give you some information about the long period. Have you any idea of when or if you will be undergoing a liver biopsy?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.