My husband has PLD (polycystic liver disease) with an extremely enlarged liver

Posted by Linda M. @lmarcellus, Jul 19, 2014

My husband has PLD (polycystic liver disease) with an extremely enlarged liver that Mayo said he needed a transplant from a living donor. He had a successful kidney transplant 4 years ago and was in great health 5 weeks ago rapelling down into water and zip-lining on our vacation. He got infections and now his liver is much larger than it was 5 weeks ago. He went from wearing size 34 waist pants to looking like he is 6 months pregnant and in severe pain and not having room to eat. How can the liver enlarge so fast?

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Hi, @lmarcellus. I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Here's some information on an enlarged liver that may be helpful for you: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-liver/basics/definition/con-20024769.

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@Margaret_Marie

Hi, @lmarcellus. I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Here's some information on an enlarged liver that may be helpful for you: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-liver/basics/definition/con-20024769.

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Thank you for the information. Mayo has since diagnosed him with <br />
disseminated histoplasmosis causing the enlargement and he is here getting IV medication. It is pretty serious having this fungal infection in addition to suppressed immunity, PLD, and transplanted kidney.<br />
<br />
Thanks again.<br />

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@lmarcellus

Thank you for the information. Mayo has since diagnosed him with <br />
disseminated histoplasmosis causing the enlargement and he is here getting IV medication. It is pretty serious having this fungal infection in addition to suppressed immunity, PLD, and transplanted kidney.<br />
<br />
Thanks again.<br />

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I am sorry to hear about your husband.trying to find a doctor in calif that treats polycystic liver disease a rare disease. the liver has many cysts and it enlarges. cannot find a doctor. thank you

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@seantraci9

I am sorry to hear about your husband.trying to find a doctor in calif that treats polycystic liver disease a rare disease. the liver has many cysts and it enlarges. cannot find a doctor. thank you

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@seantraci9, Please accept my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are an online community of patients who come here for a variety of reasons to meet others with health situations similar to ours. We ask questions and we share from our own experience to support and encourage others.
I am a transplant recipient and a volunteer mentor. I would like to help you to meet others who may be able to provide some helpful information.

A re you looking for information for yourself about polycystic liver disease? Have you recently been diagnosed? Are you currently looking for a doctor? What are you comfortable to share with me that will tell me a little more about your reason for coming to Connect?

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@lmarcellus

Thank you for the information. Mayo has since diagnosed him with <br />
disseminated histoplasmosis causing the enlargement and he is here getting IV medication. It is pretty serious having this fungal infection in addition to suppressed immunity, PLD, and transplanted kidney.<br />
<br />
Thanks again.<br />

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@lmarcellus How is your husband doing now?

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@rosemarya

@seantraci9, Please accept my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are an online community of patients who come here for a variety of reasons to meet others with health situations similar to ours. We ask questions and we share from our own experience to support and encourage others.
I am a transplant recipient and a volunteer mentor. I would like to help you to meet others who may be able to provide some helpful information.

A re you looking for information for yourself about polycystic liver disease? Have you recently been diagnosed? Are you currently looking for a doctor? What are you comfortable to share with me that will tell me a little more about your reason for coming to Connect?

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I have been diagnosed about a year ago with polycystic liver disease. I have cysts on my kidneys, liver and pancreas. I cannot wear a bra because the liver is pushing against my ribs, uncomfortable most of the time. did your husband ever have his cyst drained. I live in thousand oaks calif which is in ventura county. I am looking for a doctor who deals with polycystic liver disease and kidney disease.I have read thing not to eat but that's about all. I cannot find anyone who knows about this disease. can you help I will take any information I can get. I am 76 years old, very active, for instance i am putting in a retaining wall in my back yard so I am active.
thank you in advance for the help. Jill

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@seantraci9

I have been diagnosed about a year ago with polycystic liver disease. I have cysts on my kidneys, liver and pancreas. I cannot wear a bra because the liver is pushing against my ribs, uncomfortable most of the time. did your husband ever have his cyst drained. I live in thousand oaks calif which is in ventura county. I am looking for a doctor who deals with polycystic liver disease and kidney disease.I have read thing not to eat but that's about all. I cannot find anyone who knows about this disease. can you help I will take any information I can get. I am 76 years old, very active, for instance i am putting in a retaining wall in my back yard so I am active.
thank you in advance for the help. Jill

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@seantraci9, In addition to being very active, you must also be an early riser. I am in the eastern time zone and just finishing my cup of coffee!
My husband was not the one with PLD, I was responding to another member.
As you are aware, PLD is a rare disease, and information is hard to find,
Mayo Clinic has excellent information bout Polycystic Lived Disease at -
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polycystic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352820

I also want to share this link from NORD National Organizatioin for Rare Diseases Rare Diseases about PLD. A possible starting point for your doctor search is a phone call to one of these contacts.
https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/polycystic-liver-disease/
Supporting Organizations

American Liver Foundation
39 Broadway, Suite 2700
New York, NY 10006 USA
Toll-free: (800) 465-4837
Email: http://www.liverfoundation.org/contact/
Website: http://www.liverfoundation.org

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Phone: (301) 251-4925
Toll-free: (888) 205-2311
Website: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Office of Communications & Public Liaison
Bldg 31, Rm 9A06
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
Phone: (301) 496-3583
Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov
Website: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/

@seantraci9, Who diagnosed your PLD? What has that doctor advised? Have you asked for a referral to a liver specialist?

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@rosemarya

@seantraci9, In addition to being very active, you must also be an early riser. I am in the eastern time zone and just finishing my cup of coffee!
My husband was not the one with PLD, I was responding to another member.
As you are aware, PLD is a rare disease, and information is hard to find,
Mayo Clinic has excellent information bout Polycystic Lived Disease at -
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polycystic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352820

I also want to share this link from NORD National Organizatioin for Rare Diseases Rare Diseases about PLD. A possible starting point for your doctor search is a phone call to one of these contacts.
https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/polycystic-liver-disease/
Supporting Organizations

American Liver Foundation
39 Broadway, Suite 2700
New York, NY 10006 USA
Toll-free: (800) 465-4837
Email: http://www.liverfoundation.org/contact/
Website: http://www.liverfoundation.org

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Phone: (301) 251-4925
Toll-free: (888) 205-2311
Website: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Office of Communications & Public Liaison
Bldg 31, Rm 9A06
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
Phone: (301) 496-3583
Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov
Website: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/

@seantraci9, Who diagnosed your PLD? What has that doctor advised? Have you asked for a referral to a liver specialist?

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@seantraci9, I have just now tagged you to the discussion - Transplants>Liver Cysts with PKD.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/liver-cysts-with-pkd/
You will be getting a notification that will take you directly to this discussion.

REPLY
@rosemarya

@seantraci9, In addition to being very active, you must also be an early riser. I am in the eastern time zone and just finishing my cup of coffee!
My husband was not the one with PLD, I was responding to another member.
As you are aware, PLD is a rare disease, and information is hard to find,
Mayo Clinic has excellent information bout Polycystic Lived Disease at -
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polycystic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352820

I also want to share this link from NORD National Organizatioin for Rare Diseases Rare Diseases about PLD. A possible starting point for your doctor search is a phone call to one of these contacts.
https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/polycystic-liver-disease/
Supporting Organizations

American Liver Foundation
39 Broadway, Suite 2700
New York, NY 10006 USA
Toll-free: (800) 465-4837
Email: http://www.liverfoundation.org/contact/
Website: http://www.liverfoundation.org

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Phone: (301) 251-4925
Toll-free: (888) 205-2311
Website: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Office of Communications & Public Liaison
Bldg 31, Rm 9A06
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
Phone: (301) 496-3583
Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov
Website: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/

@seantraci9, Who diagnosed your PLD? What has that doctor advised? Have you asked for a referral to a liver specialist?

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a radiologist confirmed then a doctor the head of the liver dept at ucla confirmed. Yes I have gotten referrals but none of them deal or know about PLD.
I have over 100 cysts on the liver and some n the kidneys and pancreas. One of the cysts will be do to be aspirated it is large and I am in pain all the time.

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@seantraci9

a radiologist confirmed then a doctor the head of the liver dept at ucla confirmed. Yes I have gotten referrals but none of them deal or know about PLD.
I have over 100 cysts on the liver and some n the kidneys and pancreas. One of the cysts will be do to be aspirated it is large and I am in pain all the time.

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@seantraci9, might it be an option for you to travel to Mayo Clinic in Phoenix to see a specialist in PLD?

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