Liver specialist gives his take on my Biopsy results over the phone

I was very fortunate to have a conversation with someone who I know who is a qualified Liver consultant working in a specialised Liver hospital. I emailed him my report and he rang me last night to give me his in depth interpretation before my local appointment on the 23rd. I just wanted to be armed with the right questions before my meeting.

He said that now there is no doubt that I have a cirrhotic liver. The biopsy report has confirmed this so there can be no mistake as this verdict has been backed up by the ultrasound and impaired Liver function. He also said that there are no signs of cancer to which I was extremely relieved. Also, no signs of Wilsons disease, although he did mention that I couldn’t really rule this out without conducting a few more tests.

What has caused it?

The biopsy report concluded that the aetiology of the cirrhosis was not apparent which in layman’s terms means that they don’t what has caused this.

What Now?

The Dr advised me that I must get referred to a specialised clinic for further tests. As it stands my Cirrhosis seems to be in a decompensated state which means that it is not presenting apart from the abnormal blood results. It also means that my liver is functioning, all be it in a reduced manor.

When the Cirrhosis starts to present it may manifest it self as

• Ascites which is extreme fluid buildup in the legs and stomach. Generally, patients are given water tablets to control the build of fluid.
• Neurological changes (confusion, being muddled, mood etc) This is mostly picked up by people who observe the patient on a day to day basis.
• Varices is the bleeding of internal veins, mostly this is common in the esophagus and gutt. This will usually require hospitalisation to rectify.
• Liver cancer. People with Cirrhosis are generally more at risk of developing liver cancer. Ultrasound scans must be conducted every six months or so to manage this risk

The future?

Living with Cirrhosis need not be something that impacts my life unless I let it. I must be aware of the possible symptoms and also be under the care of a specialised hospital The Cirrhosis may not present itself for years to come, but it will at some point raise it’s ugly head. Routine out patient appointments with a specialised NHS hospital will hopefully reduce the chances of symptoms developing unnoticed. If they do develop, there are various things the doctors will do to address these. If my condition worsens, and there are no other mitigating steps they can perform, then a transplant may be an option.

Next Step

Armed with the above information, I will go and meet with the consultant and go over my Biopsy results. The probability is that he will repeat what I know already. Following this appointment, I will arrange for the GP to refer me to a specialised hospital.

How do I feel?

Physically, I’m feeling good. My last two blood tests have confirmed that my Bilirubin levels have dropped from four months of running at 42+ to 17. Which means I am not jaundiced, within range, and I’m feeling better for it. I do try to go out and exercise but I get exhausted quickly. I am very keen to get back into work. I am hoping that Fridays appointment will allow me to do this, I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t. The rest of my blood tests do show  values which are very high, but there is nothing I can do as my liver is indeed damaged.