Sick for months. Flank pain, dark urine, vomiting.

11-05-2016, 11:36 AM

I'm a 43 year old female. I have been sick for several months and have had several tests done with no answers. My dr doesn't see an issue with my problem but it is debilitating and I'm often stuck in bed. Any ideas where to turn would be so appreciated.

I have intense throbbing pain that wraps around both sides at the bottom of my ribs. My urine is a dark amber color. I have extreme nausea and vomiting. My hands and feet get very tingly and numb.

I have screenshots of all of my test results I just don't know what to post for help. Please help with any ideas, I just don't know where to turn.

11-05-2016, 03:58 PM

What tests have you had done and what were the actual results?

11-09-2016, 10:23 AM

I've had an endoscopy, ultrasound, Hida scan, and gastric emptying study that were all normal.
The tests that were outside of normal were

CT scan: There is prominent fatty infiltration of hepatic parenchyma, while it affects the left lob more than the right it is diffuse. There is a tiny left renal calculus without hydronephrosis.

Urine:Amber, nitrate pos, trace protein, ketones 150 mg/dL, bilirubin 3mg/mL, blood250 ery/ul non-hemolyzed.

Blood:ast 148U/L, alt 96U/L, alkaline phosphatase 132U/L, total bilirubin 1.3mg/dL

Fecal pancreatic elastase: 144ug/g

11-09-2016, 11:15 AM

Really feel sorry for you.

Best of luck to you.

Always seek another doctors opinion.

11-09-2016, 08:03 PM

Fatty liver is epidemic now days. High Fructose Corn Syrup in sodas, and alcohol are both major causes.

The "PIVENS trial" showed natural Vitamin-E to be superior to a pharmaceutical (pioglitazone) at resolving NASH (non-alcoholic fatty liver). Natural Vitamin-E should say "natural" on the front label.

Supplemental iron can be highly inflammatory to the liver, particularly a fatty liver. If you're taking iron supplements, or "woman's vitamins" with iron, it may be wise to avoid this if you have not been recently diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. A "ferritin" blood test can accurately diagnose if you are iron deficient or not.

Nitrates in the urine can be a sign of bladder infection. Avoid sulfa drugs (Bactrim) to treat this as sulfa is a common cause of liver inflammation. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (Cipro) are also not a wise first choice for simple UTI. Fosfomycin (brand name Monurol) is a liver friendly antibiotic, and would be my first choice if a UTI (urinary infection) is suspected.

Avoid sweet/sugary drinks and supplemental iron like the plague and ask your doc about adding Vitamin-E to calm down fatty liver inflammation. Also ask about the nitrates in the urine and a possible infection. Again, Monurol is the most benign / liver friendly anti-B to treat this.

Best of Luck, & hope you are feeling better soon.

11-09-2016, 08:12 PM

Thank you for the information. UTI was ruled out and i took a course of antibiotics just in case.

11-09-2016, 08:27 PM

OK, time to focus on the fatty liver connection.

Have you been taking iron? Sodas? Alcohol?

A web search of the "PIVENS trial" & Vitamin-E for fatty liver might be enlightening.

05-01-2017, 04:42 PM

I ended up with ast 400, alt 164, alkaline phosphatase 164, and a ggt 581. I was referred to a surgeon to have my gallbladder removed as a diagnostic procedure. It looked normal, no stones, but my bile duct was very small. My levels have normalized and I feel much better, except the expected bowl issues that can come with that procedure.

05-01-2017, 06:25 PM

Glad you got to the bottom of this and the fix is done.

Get well soon!

Sick for months. Flank pain, dark urine, vomiting.

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