djpatd
10-12-2006, 02:03 PM
I am a 40yr old male living in Southern California. A CT and ultrasound found a mass in my liver back in April - about 3cm. I am awaiting a biopsy. They ruled out a blood vessel mass. I have been having major sensitivities to chemicals over the past several years and I read that liver problems can cause low levels of testosterone. I once lived in a house with black mold that I cleaned on my own without any facial protection.
Back in March of this year I was diagnosed with low testosterone. My levels were below normal in the 240's. The doctor put me on shots so I just kinda accepted it. After researching the net I was seeing that there are reasons for low levels including liver problems. Well I went to the endocrinologist and his first thoughts were why are you getting shots and what has the doctor done to rule other things out. He told me to stop all shots and he would figure out if it is my pituitary or other problem. Lately I have been waking up with morning nauseousness that seems to pass after an hour. I have lost 10 lbs without even trying and my appetite has decreased. I have been having pressure and burning sensations in my cranial nerves. I sometimes have major decreased mental function and feeling really out of it. I have to get tested for FSH & LH hormones at the end of the month which will mark 2 months without the shots. I did notice a MAJOR difference having the shots.
I was hoping someone could give me some insight and maybe you experienced something similar. Thanks!! :)
Pat
Back in March of this year I was diagnosed with low testosterone. My levels were below normal in the 240's. The doctor put me on shots so I just kinda accepted it. After researching the net I was seeing that there are reasons for low levels including liver problems. Well I went to the endocrinologist and his first thoughts were why are you getting shots and what has the doctor done to rule other things out. He told me to stop all shots and he would figure out if it is my pituitary or other problem. Lately I have been waking up with morning nauseousness that seems to pass after an hour. I have lost 10 lbs without even trying and my appetite has decreased. I have been having pressure and burning sensations in my cranial nerves. I sometimes have major decreased mental function and feeling really out of it. I have to get tested for FSH & LH hormones at the end of the month which will mark 2 months without the shots. I did notice a MAJOR difference having the shots.
I was hoping someone could give me some insight and maybe you experienced something similar. Thanks!! :)
Pat
Sponsor
danielm
10-12-2006, 07:12 PM
A lot of those symptoms are similar to having liver issues. Is there a possibility the mass on your liver is fat perhaps?
A lot of your symptoms I have had over the past 3 months. I was diagnosed with having a fatty infiltration of the liver. I also have a mass on my liver which has been diagnosed as simple fat!
Has your GI performed a liver function test through bloods? I am surprised your GI is already looking at doing a biopsy on your liver, even with the mass present. They can usually identify a mass as being cancerous from the ultrasound alone, with a biopsy to verify. Has your GI discussed this possibility with you? I wouldn't be overly concerned at this stage as most lesions and masses on your liver can be attributed to more mundane reasons. Cancer of the liver is actually extremely rare. A biopsy is a fairly invasive procedure however, and I'd ask your GI if he's just being overly cautious in assessing the mass, or if he thinks there's a problem there. A liver biopsy is usually not ordered early in the assessment unless there's concern over something they've found in your scans, but like I said, your GI just might just want to be sure from the outset.
Have you had your liver enzymes and ALTs measured through bloodwork yet?
At this stage I wouldn't panic until you get more results in, but a lot of the symptoms you're describing sound liver related to me. I had all of what you have (and more!) just from having a fatty liver and with the right diet and exercise, I'm on the way to getting back to normal.
Has your GI noticed any raised activity with your Thyroid at all? You'll often find the chemical balance in your body goes haywire when your liver is unwell. I had that as well, which definitely could be related.
Be sure to let us know how you go with this and all the best!
A lot of your symptoms I have had over the past 3 months. I was diagnosed with having a fatty infiltration of the liver. I also have a mass on my liver which has been diagnosed as simple fat!
Has your GI performed a liver function test through bloods? I am surprised your GI is already looking at doing a biopsy on your liver, even with the mass present. They can usually identify a mass as being cancerous from the ultrasound alone, with a biopsy to verify. Has your GI discussed this possibility with you? I wouldn't be overly concerned at this stage as most lesions and masses on your liver can be attributed to more mundane reasons. Cancer of the liver is actually extremely rare. A biopsy is a fairly invasive procedure however, and I'd ask your GI if he's just being overly cautious in assessing the mass, or if he thinks there's a problem there. A liver biopsy is usually not ordered early in the assessment unless there's concern over something they've found in your scans, but like I said, your GI just might just want to be sure from the outset.
Have you had your liver enzymes and ALTs measured through bloodwork yet?
At this stage I wouldn't panic until you get more results in, but a lot of the symptoms you're describing sound liver related to me. I had all of what you have (and more!) just from having a fatty liver and with the right diet and exercise, I'm on the way to getting back to normal.
Has your GI noticed any raised activity with your Thyroid at all? You'll often find the chemical balance in your body goes haywire when your liver is unwell. I had that as well, which definitely could be related.
Be sure to let us know how you go with this and all the best!
djpatd
10-12-2006, 07:51 PM
Here are my labs from September:
Total Protein 7.3
Albumin 4.2
Bilirubin, total 0.5
Alk. Phosphatase 54
AST 14
ALT 40
Creatine Kinase 109
Troponin I <0.5
any other levels you suggest?
I had an RBC scan that showed no blood pooling and I just had an MRI done so I should know if I need a biopsy soon. My cholesterol is high too:
Total 229
HDL 37
LDL 153
CHOL/HDLC 6.2
Triglycerides 193
Total Protein 7.3
Albumin 4.2
Bilirubin, total 0.5
Alk. Phosphatase 54
AST 14
ALT 40
Creatine Kinase 109
Troponin I <0.5
any other levels you suggest?
I had an RBC scan that showed no blood pooling and I just had an MRI done so I should know if I need a biopsy soon. My cholesterol is high too:
Total 229
HDL 37
LDL 153
CHOL/HDLC 6.2
Triglycerides 193