liver pain

[Bon]

I was diagnosed in 1993 with Hep C, which has now turned into cirrohsis. I am on the transplant list now. I have been having severe pain around my liver area, and also on my upper right side of my back. It feels like Ascites only without the fever or swollen legs and stomach. The pain is sometimes unbearable. I can't bend over to pick up anything unless I balance on my left leg and then bend over(and that's only if I bend on my leftside only), I cannot lift anything heavy with my right hand or push anything to big or heavy, vacuuming hurts. etc. I am on a strict diet which for the longest time I wasn't following until I realized when I ate the things I wasn't suppose to, I would really pay for it that night and all through the next day. The pain only started happening once every two weeks and only for an hour or so, Then it got to be every week and now its all day everyday. Now that I am following my diet I have felt better, but the pain is always there. We cannot seem to pinpoint any main cause other than the disease itself causing the liver to be enlarged. We have checked my gallbladder, that wasn't it. My ultrasounds and CT scans are normal. My bloodwork is about the same as always, the only difference this last time was my platelets were low and my clorestrol was high. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[ralve]

I actually don't have any suggestions unfortunately but I just wanted to tell you to post on the hepatitis topic specifically here on healthboards, and you might get a better response there. There are some really informative people there that are always willing to help you, and I'm sure they will give you some valuable information. Just in the main list, click on hepatitis instead of liver disorders. How long have you had HepC, do you know? You mentioned that you were diagnosed in 1993, from what I have been reading and learning, this is a pretty slow progressing disease, and at least there is lots of time to learn what to do. Good luck to you! Val

Hi,

At a guess, I would say that your pain may be from the fact that your liver is enlarged due to the cirrhosis and previous infection and could well be pressing on your ribs and making the pain worse.

If you have had ascites in the past, I am sure you know how uncomfortable that is with fever a very large and swollen belly and legs too.

I would also think that your low platelet count and your raised cholesterol are all linked to your liver disease. The liver controls so much in the body and it is not unusual for cholesterol to be raised in liver function tests are also. The platelets are all linked in too and it is not abnormal to have a low platelet count too. How low is your count? If it gets too low they may want to give you a couple of units of platelets so that you don't bleed profusely if you happen to cut yourself.

Hope this helps?

Good luck

Sarah