Afraid to Have Liver Tests Done

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
I have been diagnosed with supposed Cirrhosis of the Liver but not clear how bad it is. I am afraid to go and find out. I fear if it's a later stage I will become despondent. When I was diagnosed with Hep C and fibrosis nealy Cirrhosis I became very depressed many years ago because the doctor wouldn't give me the treatment for Hep C because I am a person who suffers from chronic bad depression. If I go now and they say it is a later stage of Cirrhosis I know I will feel bad. So why go? I don't think there are any treatments for it anyways and I can adjust my diet by myself and am starting to now.
 

I can understand your fear of news you don't want to hear, but it's very important to get a clear diagnosis and see what treatment to follow or what meds they want you to start taking. Sooner is better, don't you agree? Let us know what they tell you?
 
CindyLouWho said:
I can understand your fear of news you don't want to hear, but it's very important to get a clear diagnosis and see what treatment to follow or what meds they want you to start taking. Sooner is better, don't you agree? Let us know what they tell you?
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I've never heard of any meds for later stage cirrhosis, have you? I do know that following a veggie and lean meat diet help. Thanks for your reply. :)
 

That’s understandable to fear something we don’t know.
Why go? So you know what you are dealing with.
Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Getting a proper thorough diagnosis allows you to plan a better treatment for it.
You’ve got this Ruthanne.
May I offer you my full support.
 
Keesha said:
That’s understandable to fear something we don’t know.
Why go? So you know what you are dealing with.
Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Getting a proper thorough diagnosis allows you to plan a better treatment for it.
You’ve got this Ruthanne.
May I offer you my full support.
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Thank you. When it comes to my liver in my life it has never been good. It frightens me to no end.
 
I have a friend that had a liver transplant maybe 8 years ago now. He contracted it through a tattoo that he received while in the Navy during the Vietnam era. It did begin with some form of Hepatitis and worsened from there. He has had nothing but issues since the transplant, mostly with the anti rejection medications. I think you should do what Cindy recommends and get it checked and then find out the best course of treatment.

I watched a show on REELZ on cable. It showed the autopsy of Janis Joplin, who was a heavy drinker and hard drug user. Her liver had grown to twice the thickness and half again the size before her death. The doctor that performed the autopsy made the comment that Janis had to be in some terrible pain while alive.
 
Keesha said:
That’s understandable to fear something we don’t know.
Why go? So you know what you are dealing with.
Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Getting a proper thorough diagnosis allows you to plan a better treatment for it.
You’ve got this Ruthanne.
May I offer you my full support.
Click to expand...
I agree. At least know what you are dealing with. I would want to know that much!
 
911 said:
I have a friend that had a liver transplant maybe 8 years ago now. He contracted it through a tattoo that he received while in the Navy during the Vietnam era. It did begin with some form of Hepatitis and worsened from there. He has had nothing but issues since the transplant, mostly with the anti rejection medications. I think you should do what Cindy recommends and get it checked and then find out the best course of treatment.

I watched a show on REELZ on cable. It showed the autopsy of Janis Joplin, who was a heavy drinker and hard drug user. Her liver had grown to twice the thickness and half again the size before her death. The doctor that performed the autopsy made the comment that Janis had to be in some terrible pain while alive.
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Thank you 911. I don't think there is any treatment for cirrhosis but diet as I have said but I am going to get it checked out as soon as the new med ctr. is completed in my city.
 
I agree with the others Ruthanne, an adjustment in diet isn't going to be all that's needed to at least not let the condition of your liver get any worse. You don't want your liver to shut down to the point of affecting your whole body and needing to be in a hospital or nursing home just to make it through every day, that's no way to spend your senior years, in my opinion.

You really need to let them do all the testing and imaging and find out exactly what's going on inside you. How you deal with the results will be up to you. Not knowing and wondering, having this hang over your head every day is absolutely depressing, much more than knowing and taking some control.

Please don't put it off waiting for a medical center to be complete, take care of it as soon as possible, you owe that much to yourself.
 
Ruthanne please don't get too discouraged about the cirrhosis, it doesn't have to be a death sentence. Despite what 911 said, I have a friend who had a liver transplant several years ago and is doing well. He moved from Calif to Oklahoma because the waiting list for a transplant was 6 months, compared to CA's two years. Don't know if that is still the case. And I'm not trying to say that a transplant is your only option, we can't know because you have not uncovered how bad it is. I wish that you would revisit the treatment for Hep C with your current doctor. I know that the treatment is much improved these days, but still won't be administered until the patient is alcohol free for at least 6 months. All of us on the forum appreciate and enjoy your input. Please be brave and learn exactly what it is you are dealing with. We are all here for you :cheerful:
 
Never underestimate the power of diet in healing from disease. I'm not official medical personnel so I can't give medical advice. When you work with diet, it's empowering which is better for your emotional state. I hope it all works out well for you Ruthanne, whatever you decide to do. Hugs.:love_heart:
 
SeaBreeze said:
I agree with the others Ruthanne, an adjustment in diet isn't going to be all that's needed to at least not let the condition of your liver get any worse. You don't want your liver to shut down to the point of affecting your whole body and needing to be in a hospital or nursing home just to make it through every day, that's no way to spend your senior years, in my opinion.

You really need to let them do all the testing and imaging and find out exactly what's going on inside you. How you deal with the results will be up to you. Not knowing and wondering, having this hang over your head every day is absolutely depressing, much more than knowing and taking some control.

Please don't put it off waiting for a medical center to be complete, take care of it as soon as possible, you owe that much to yourself.
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Thank you. I don't have the symptoms of late stage cirrhosis. I have been researching it. It won't be long before the center opens and I have no way to get to the far away place. My car's engine is knocking and I don't trust it to go much further than my immediate city. I may be able to get a ride there but have to look into it. The person I'm thinking of has proven to be unreliable. I can't afford a taxi and buses don't go way out there. I'll get seen. Thanks again. :)

deesierra said:
Ruthanne please don't get too discouraged about the cirrhosis, it doesn't have to be a death sentence. Despite what 911 said, I have a friend who had a liver transplant several years ago and is doing well. He moved from Calif to Oklahoma because the waiting list for a transplant was 6 months, compared to CA's two years. Don't know if that is still the case. And I'm not trying to say that a transplant is your only option, we can't know because you have not uncovered how bad it is. I wish that you would revisit the treatment for Hep C with your current doctor. I know that the treatment is much improved these days, but still won't be administered until the patient is alcohol free for at least 6 months. All of us on the forum appreciate and enjoy your input. Please be brave and learn exactly what it is you are dealing with. We are all here for you :cheerful:
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I don't know if you read my other post but I was cured of Hep C 18 years ago. I have been retested and it has not come back. It wasn't long ago I was retested and it is undetectable.

chic said:
Never underestimate the power of diet in healing from disease. I'm not official medical personnel so I can't give medical advice. When you work with diet, it's empowering which is better for your emotional state. I hope it all works out well for you Ruthanne, whatever you decide to do. Hugs.:love_heart:
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Thank you chic. I've been researching good things to eat and buying some of them.
 
Thank you all so much for your concern, ideas and suggestions. They are muchly appreciated!:sentimental:

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"I don't know if you read my other post but I was cured of Hep C 18 years ago. I have been retested and it has not come back. It wasn't long ago I was retested and it is undetectable"

Sorry Ruthanne, I did miss that part of the thread. That is good news.
 
Sorry to hear about your condition.

Is the test a liver enzyme test?

I always heard the liver is the most hardy of all the organs being able to heal a lot of damage and disease on it's own. Also always heard vitamin C and diet are good for it as well. I've known people who had beginning stages of cirrhosis(sadly from alcohol) but after rehab wound up being able to eat just about anything.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/81109-vitamins-liver/

Don't throw in the towel just yet. Stay well and hang in there!
 
WhatInThe said:
Sorry to hear about your condition.

Is the test a liver enzyme test?

I always heard the liver is the most hardy of all the organs being able to heal a lot of damage and disease on it's own. Also always heard vitamin C and diet are good for it as well. I've known people who had beginning stages of cirrhosis(sadly from alcohol) but after rehab wound up being able to eat just about anything.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/81109-vitamins-liver/

Don't throw in the towel just yet. Stay well and hang in there!
Click to expand...
Thank you. No, the test is a liver biopsy where they insert about a foot long needle through your diaphram and liver and pull out a piece of the liver. I appreciate the link.:sentimental:
 
I have been thinking about all everyone here posted and also talked to my brother who told me to see a doctor immediately. I have read that there are treatments for certain aspects of cirrhosis of the liver. I didn't know that. I have made a new gp doctor appointment for very soon. I am going to ask to be referred to a specialist and for an ultrasound. Here is the link I read: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cirrhosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351492
 
I'm very glad to hear you're taking care of it Ruthanne, smart move...wishing you the best possible results.
 
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