sherry_berry
06-25-2005, 02:51 PM
Right now I'm being treated by a specialist for lupus. I just recently started taking Plaquenil. The Plaquenil along with 20mg of reactin keep the rashes and itching away.
Most recently I had an abdominal ultrasound because of all the abdominal and flank pain. My white blood cell count has been very high for some time now. The ultrasound showed that I have gall stones and an enlarged liver. I am going to a new specialist at the hospital soon. I don't have much of an appetite anymore and when I do eat it's very painful. I've also been suffering from chronic diahrrea for 3 months. I also have high levels of globulin if this means anything? I'm just wondering what is causing all these problems and is there something I can do to make it better?
Most recently I had an abdominal ultrasound because of all the abdominal and flank pain. My white blood cell count has been very high for some time now. The ultrasound showed that I have gall stones and an enlarged liver. I am going to a new specialist at the hospital soon. I don't have much of an appetite anymore and when I do eat it's very painful. I've also been suffering from chronic diahrrea for 3 months. I also have high levels of globulin if this means anything? I'm just wondering what is causing all these problems and is there something I can do to make it better?
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meatball
06-26-2005, 04:13 AM
There could be a gallstone caught in your bile duct causing your liver to be inflammed and all the pain you are in. Do you have high liver functions too or just the white blood cells?
sherry_berry
06-26-2005, 01:29 PM
I'm not sure about my liver functions. Up until now the focus has mostly been on my kidneys. Since I constantly have UTI's and always have blood in my urine. I was just curious if the enlarged liver was common with gallstones. I also woke up the other morning with a broken blood vessel under my eye... who knows what that is about. All sorts of weird and interesting things going on lol.
meatball
06-26-2005, 09:13 PM
Enlarged or inflammed liver can be from gallstones esp, if there is one caught in the common bile duct. Also the fact that you are having right upper quadrant pain can be a sign that you are having a gallstone attack. The liver is right above the gallbladder so if you have some sort of an infection, it can cause your liver to swell. You should ask your doc to run a liver panel to check your functions..
feelbad
06-29-2005, 10:16 AM
The broken blood vessel you mentioned, is it like a bright red dot with tiny little veins surrounding it?this(called a cherry angioma) could indicate an increase in the blood pressure that is in the area(and possible organs) around the liver.This could indicate a possible impede of blood flow through the portal vein in the liver.it is called portal hypertension.are you seeing a GI doc at all for the liver issues?If not, i really think you should.i would also let the your current treating doc know about the sudden appearance of the possible angioma.please keep us posted.Marcia
sherry_berry
07-05-2005, 01:31 PM
I just received a letter in the mail saying that my appointment with the GI doctor at the hospital isn't until September 23rd. While dealing with the pain can really suck sometimes, I've managed this long. Could the recent chest pain I'm also having be connected to the liver problem? I've gotten use to the pain under my ribcage. Is it ok to wait until the Sept. appt to get a better idea of what is happening?
Oh and to answer your question, Marcia.. that's exactly what it was. When I went to bed I could kind of see some kind of lump forming and I guess thru the night it must have burst or something.
Oh and to answer your question, Marcia.. that's exactly what it was. When I went to bed I could kind of see some kind of lump forming and I guess thru the night it must have burst or something.
feelbad
07-06-2005, 10:22 AM
I really think that you need to be seen way before september,geez!It is ridiculous the time you have to wait to see any sort of specialist these days.I would talk with your primary about the need to move this appt up.He can call that docs office and arrange a much sooner appt for you.my doc has had to do this for me with certain specalists.All specialists have certain appts they have set aside for more urgent patients.it takes forever to actually get in but amazingly, once you have that initial appt, you manage to get in much quicker for follow up appts.The symptoms you are having and the pain you are experiencing really need to be evaluated much sooner than later.just my opinion.if the pain starts to get worse or you start to vomit blood please go to the ER instead of waiting to see that doc.if you are indeed developing portal hypertension, this need some more immediate attention.not september.I really am not trying to scare you,just inform you of possibilities.Marcia
happyelf
07-06-2005, 06:43 PM
SherryBerry--wanted to throw my $.02 in---A symptom of gallstones/gallbladder attack is chest pain. I thought I was having ia heart attack when I had my gallstones--then I found out chest pain is very common. If it's accompanied by sweating, chills, pain in the arm--those are heart attack symptoms--ER immediately!! Marcia gave you great advice--she know what she's talking about. You may want to go the the hosp for the chest pain anyway--they can evaluate it and make sure it is not a heart attack, verify it is from the gallstones, and give you some pain meds. Sept does seem like a long time for a GI appt. When my liver failed and I was in a univ hosp, the drs (med students) told me the liver clinic would call me the week I came home to set up my follow-up appt. I had been at the top of the liver transplant list- and forunately got to come off the list, but even with how serious my situation was--the hosp mailed me my letter for my appt-it was for 2 months after I got home. I called to get it moved, and they had no appts--my dr called and one miraculously appeared!! Don't fool around-you shouldn't have to hurt that long. Take care of yourself--hopefully you can get in sooner. Hang in there.
Gina
Gina