ealga
02-04-2002, 01:24 PM
I am due to undergo open liver resection later this month to remove a small hepatic adenoma in quadrant 4B of my liver. The tumor cannot be removed laproscopically. It needs to come out because I want to have a baby in the near future, and the docs say pregnancy hormones can make the tumor grow in size and potentially rupture. Does anyone have any liver surgery experiences to share? I've never had any type of surgery and I''m quite nervous, espcecially since I feel completely healthy and fit. Many thanks in advance. K
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minora
02-25-2002, 04:25 PM
I am in a similar situation. I have a lesion on my liver - right now I am not sure if it is adenoma or focal nodular hyperplasia. I am still undergoing tests to distinguish which condition I have.
I also want to get pregnant very soon, so I am curious to see how things are going for you. Did your doctor say that you should not get pregnant with the condition? My doc has not given me a lot of info about pregnancy and adenoma. Did you have the surgery? How did it go?
I also want to get pregnant very soon, so I am curious to see how things are going for you. Did your doctor say that you should not get pregnant with the condition? My doc has not given me a lot of info about pregnancy and adenoma. Did you have the surgery? How did it go?
ealga
02-27-2002, 11:47 AM
I'm due to have an open resection on 3/11. I had 3 surgical opinions, and while they can't totally rule out FNH, they're pretty sure its an adenoma. According to my surgeon, who wrote a book on hepatic adenoma, preganacy with this condition is not advisable because 9 months of pregnancy hormones can make the tumor grow rapidly and it could potentially rupture, which would be a "catastrophe" he said. FNH has an extremely low chance of rupture and you can be pregnant with it no problem. The other scary thing about hepatic adenoma is that in 10 percent of cases, it will turn malignant at some point in a lifetime. With my luck I'd be in that 10 percent. So I'm going thru with the surgery, even though my tumor is small, only 2 cm, and I'm pretty scared. But my surgeon is excellent, I have a lot of confidence in him. He says it will be about 5 days in the hospital and 4 weeks recovery. But then its done and I can move on with my life. I wish you the best of luck and good health. Kathy
minora
03-12-2002, 02:56 PM
Kathy - I hope the surgery went well. When you are feeling better, please let us know how things went for you!
dsware
03-13-2002, 01:11 AM
In Sept. 2001 I began having this bad pain which began in my lower back and radiated throughout my abdomen, which sent me to the emergency room. I was given a renal and pelvic ultrasound and a CT scan. The pain lasted a week and then went away. They determined I had a large lesion on my liver. Was referred to a GI who sent me for a biopsy, MRI, & Hidas Scan. Biopsy results were negative for cancer but the MRI showed that I had 3 lesions on the right lobe of my liver---2 that are 2 cm and 1 that is 7cm. I was told that it is a hepatic adenoma and was probably the result of taking birth control pills for many many years. Which I have now stopped taking. Saw 3 surgeons and was given conflicting opinions. Just a week ago went to UCLA Liver Cancer Ctr. for a consult with a liver specialist and he feels that the tumors should be resected. Also, that my gallbladder should be removed since the Hidas Scan indicated that it is not functioning normally. I have decided to have the surgery. Unlike the other comments that I have been reading I have not been feeling good. I'm exhausted all the time (yet all my blood work comes back fine---my enzymes are not elevated and I do not have hepatitis) there are times that I'm dizzy, nauseous, feel bloated and have side pains etc. These symptoms seem to come and go, but the tiredness doesn't. I have also had a PET scan which showed no cancer, which is great. Currently, I am trying to get the ins. co. to approve the surgery at UCLA since they are an out of network provider. Once that happens I will schedule the surgery. Please let me know how your surgery went and any if there are any other comments or questions that anybody has regarding this. Or any other information that anyone might have relating to these type of tumors.
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Donna
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Donna
jskm
03-06-2003, 01:19 AM
I am in a waiting situation. Dr's not sure if I have a 4 cm mass which is an adenoma or a FNH.
Please tell me if you had a liver resection. I am praying I don't have to go thru with it.
Any input is very greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sally
Please tell me if you had a liver resection. I am praying I don't have to go thru with it.
Any input is very greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sally
sld4129
05-16-2003, 08:19 PM
I am from Long Island, NY. I was wondering how ealga's surgery went and anybody else. I just got back from the surgeon today after having had a liver biopsy 2 days ago.They diagnosed adenoma. For the last 3 months they had me thinking it was liver abscess, and then FNH, but it is now declared adenoma. He told me to wait 6-8 weeks to see if after discontinuing the birth control it would shrink. He said it's the size of a softball. 7.5 cm. (Last month it was 6cm). He says the resection is a big operation and we should wait and see what it does. I can't say i have major pain, only one week of that. I do have a low grade temperature. In fact, this whole thing started with having a 103.5 temp for 3 and a half weeks straight nonstop. Has anybody else had temp? The articles I've read favor resection due to risk of hemorrhage. What do y'all think? Also, how big of a scar does the surgery leave?
[This message has been edited by sld4129 (edited 05-16-2003).]
[This message has been edited by sld4129 (edited 05-16-2003).]
Bettyt
05-16-2003, 08:53 PM
on april.8th i had my gullbladder and a hepatic adenoma(that had ruptuered back in sept during my prgnancy with no symptoms or signs of there even being any problems with my health)removed.the surgury went very well. i had an epidural prior to surgury and i was under local antistetic for 8 hrs.my scar starts from 2inches below the center of my breasts, runs 2 inches toward my bellybotton, goes 3inches to the left and 10 inches to my right.2 days after i was walking and moving around pretty good and went homeafter 9 days. 1 week later i was back with 2 infections, one in my liver and 1 outside my liver. these were treated with an antibiotic and another 7 days in the hospital.the infection is not routine, there is always at least a 30% chance of infection with this type of surgury-not everyone will get it.
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sld4129
05-16-2003, 10:01 PM
Thanks for writing back. I'm so sorry to hear you had complications! If you don't mind me asking, how did you know that it had ruptured? is it just incredible pain? do you think i should have this done?
Bettyt
05-23-2003, 03:07 AM
i believe it would be very benificial to have this opperation done. when you go into a planed surgury the proceedure and recovery are alot less painfull and the healing time goes by much faster. trust me you don't want to let this go longer until you do start to feel the pain 'cause from there on it's nothing but complications for a good year or more. when a hepatic adenoma does eventually rupture, the 1st clue is a stomach pain almost like you're so hungery you could pass out then it turns into a lingering dull pain that pushes against your ribs making it hard to breath(now remember i was pregnant and working 9hrs/day,thinking i just needed to take a break and sit down.)finally the muscle ache under my right rib that i had felt for the last two days turned into to a horrible paralizing pain ripping through my body making it hard to walk sit stand lay basically be in any position at all.then you start to get really hot and cold at the same time and you can see the colour in your skin diminish and your veins sink deep into your body.all this can happen within 2hrs or less. this is pure fact, i didn't want to leave anything out hoping you'd see just how bad it could be and how important this procedure is. ANGELA
Bettyt
05-23-2003, 03:07 AM
sorry, dbl post! darn computers!
[This message has been edited by Bettyt (edited 05-23-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Bettyt (edited 05-23-2003).]
HRATL
05-28-2003, 01:36 AM
I've been reading th posts...How are you, please let us know...we care!!
Bettyt
06-03-2003, 03:47 PM
thanks for the support. i feel ok, it's been a long 9 mths. since my last visit to the hospital with my infection they sent me home with a drain in me. what it does is allow any extra fluid (blood infection clots,etc.)to come out of my body and into a bag that i empty everyday.the tube coils around the liver and comes out from between my ribs just under my armpit, then the tube lays across my lower tummy and i velcrow strap the bag around my left thigh. I've had this stupid contraption for a month now and i won't find out if it can come out for another 2 wks.this isn't my first drain but it is the most annoying cause this time i am able to walk and do everything myself so it's really hard to accept that i'm still not "better", it really limmits me to wearing long loose skirts, sweats and big ugly t-shirts.it's summer-thats just not right! anyway i am just frustrated, it's better to wear big baggy clothes and be at home then to be stuck back in the hospital.
chin-up!!
chin-up!!
Shan
06-17-2003, 11:58 AM
I am 27 and have been trying to get pregnant for 3 years, after having salpingectomy I was having pain in stomach , they did ultrasound and came across a 4cm mass on liver. After, MRI and liver biopsy they diagnosed it as focal nodular hyperplasia. My fertility specialist will not go forward with Invetro fertilization until I have a letter of clearance that the tumor will not bleed, grow or rupture. I am being told that there is a risk with fertility medicines making the tumor grow and pregnancy horomones causing problems with tumor. I saw a doctor two weeks ago and he would not give me clearance he suggested possibly having liver resection. I have hepatologist I am going to see the end of this month for a second opinion. I had both fallopian tubes removed so my only option for having a child is IVF, I am so confused about this tumor , can anyone give me info about pregnancy and FNH?
bspeech
07-10-2003, 08:24 PM
I am so relieved to hear others talking about hepatic adenoma. I was dx in Jan after liver biopsy. My lesions were initially found incidentally as a result of a CT scan for something else. I had no symptoms from the adenomas. I have two lesions one was initially 4 cm but has shrunk to less than 3 since I went off the pill 6 mo ago. The other was about 2 cm and has remained the same. Initially my surgeon recommended surgery but now that the tumor has shrunk he is recommending waiting and rescanning in 6 months. The tumors are too small to burst but I am still scared of the risk of malignancy.Has anyone else been advised to monitor by scan due to shrinkage of the tumors.Pregnancy is not an issue since I have two kids and am not planning another pregnancy. Please share!
aneika
07-13-2003, 12:59 AM
I was diagnosed with a FNH approx 6 yrs ago. At that time, I was taken off the pill immediately, and told that this was the cause of the tumor. I was scheduled for a biopsy, but the tumor kept going behind my lung while I was in the CT machine, so they had to cancel it. I never realized that only a biopsy can really differentiate between a FNH and an adenoma. My Drs had just kept brushing me off and telling me that this would NOT cause pain, that it was impossible and that if I kept having pain, to come back.
Well I kept going back and finally, out of frustration, I gave up. I would just try to live with the pain (best description I could give my Dr was that it was like my Gallbladder attacks....and they were NOT fun) and take over the counter Tylenol with Codiene. Unfortunately, Im at the point where the pain is so bad at times, I go thru a bottle of 200 in just a week or two which is a double whammy, because it's bad for the liver! Thankfully I found this msg board one night and saw ppl going thru the same thing I am. I hate to see others going thru the pain and such, but I'm so glad to see that I'm not crazy. I thought I was the only one who was having pain with this. I have now gone back to my specialist after 4 years, and this time I'm very well prepared with questions and I'm demanding some proper answers!
I wanted to ask if anyone has these symptoms as well..........I have veins all over my cheeks now, and although I don't drink I have the cheeks of an acute alchoholic. I had hoped that it was a temporary thing, but it just gets worse. My Family Dr was the first to question me about them, and told me it was a sign of liver damage (this was before I was diagnosed with the FNH) and yet, my Specialists didn't seem to listen to me when I ask them about it. My face also at times goes greenish. My family and friends always notice it and ask if I'm in pain at that point. The green colour doesnt seem to be connected with the pain, because I've had it with and without the pain. My Family Dr even saw it one day, and I was thrilled! I told her, finally a Dr see's it! Now just tell my Specialist lol. I know ppl with liver problems go yellow with jaundice, but Ive never seen anything about a greenish tinge to the skin.
Sorry for the long post, I hate to ramble, yet I still didn't say everything I wanted or I'd be here til next year! :)
Well I kept going back and finally, out of frustration, I gave up. I would just try to live with the pain (best description I could give my Dr was that it was like my Gallbladder attacks....and they were NOT fun) and take over the counter Tylenol with Codiene. Unfortunately, Im at the point where the pain is so bad at times, I go thru a bottle of 200 in just a week or two which is a double whammy, because it's bad for the liver! Thankfully I found this msg board one night and saw ppl going thru the same thing I am. I hate to see others going thru the pain and such, but I'm so glad to see that I'm not crazy. I thought I was the only one who was having pain with this. I have now gone back to my specialist after 4 years, and this time I'm very well prepared with questions and I'm demanding some proper answers!
I wanted to ask if anyone has these symptoms as well..........I have veins all over my cheeks now, and although I don't drink I have the cheeks of an acute alchoholic. I had hoped that it was a temporary thing, but it just gets worse. My Family Dr was the first to question me about them, and told me it was a sign of liver damage (this was before I was diagnosed with the FNH) and yet, my Specialists didn't seem to listen to me when I ask them about it. My face also at times goes greenish. My family and friends always notice it and ask if I'm in pain at that point. The green colour doesnt seem to be connected with the pain, because I've had it with and without the pain. My Family Dr even saw it one day, and I was thrilled! I told her, finally a Dr see's it! Now just tell my Specialist lol. I know ppl with liver problems go yellow with jaundice, but Ive never seen anything about a greenish tinge to the skin.
Sorry for the long post, I hate to ramble, yet I still didn't say everything I wanted or I'd be here til next year! :)