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Liver Adenomas, Haemangiomas and Cysts

Posted , 8 users are following.

chickenpie
chickenpie

Hi I have a previous thread re scans of liver lesions but thought i’d start a new in hope someone else has experience to share...

I was experiencing increasing indigestion for months then a period of intense upper abdomen & back pain. Ultrasound saw a mass in my liver with subsequent MRI. Results eventually came back and say ‘at least 3 types of lesion’ on my liver. Cysts 4cm, Haemangioma 2.8cm and something which is uncharacteristic and ‘most likely’ an adenoma at 4.8cm. 

My GP explained the cysts and haemangioma are harmless but he’s no expertise in adenoma’s and to discuss with the specialist gastro. From what I understand the adenoma’s are common in woman and birth control pill could be a factor. I haven’t taken it for over 4 years. I still have upper ab pain although not as intense. Backache is also frequent and pains in right arm/shoulder/armpit.

It feels like it has already been a long road waiting for scans and tests (NHS UK) and now I have more questions than answers, such as is ‘most likely’ sufficient to be sure it’s not more sinister. I did have an endoscopy also last wk also, no problems seen I and wait biopsy results (treated as separate and arranged prior to the MRI results).

 

Would very much appreciate feedback if anyone has experienced similar.

 

A

4 likes, 31 replies

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  • Bollyarchive
    Bollyarchive chickenpie

    Posted

    Be prepared for the Gastro specialist to discuss  surgery (liver resection) to remove the adenoma plus the lobe or part of the liver lobe where the adenoma is, as I understand the risk of doing nothing is that you might suffer a bleed from the adenoma. 

    With the pain you have it sounds as though your liver is enlarged and pressing on other organs/nerves. It sounds like it has been under stress from something for a long time, perhaps medication? Hence the cysts, adenoma etc.  individually they may sound small (however surgeons are reluctant to remove tumours bigger than 2cm and some of your "masses" measure twice that) but collectively they seem to have affected a significant part of your liver. Are they all in one area or spread around different lobes/segments?

  • chickenpie
    chickenpie

    Posted

    Thank you Bolly.

    That's what I thought re surgery but hard to tell what they do in the UK.

    The large simple cyst is in the 'tip of the left lobe', the haemangioma is 'high up in segment 7'. The suspected adenoma is 'hanging off the inferior aspect of the liver'. Later in the repor it also mentions the supsected adenoma involves the gallbladder bed.

    I don't understand any of this but think it means they're spread out?!

    A

  • chickenpie
    chickenpie

    Posted

    Forgot to add that I did take the pill on & off in my younger years - but haven't done so in over 5 years. I am in my early 40s with 2 kids.

    No other regular medication apart from all the recent stuff for indigestion and painkillers to deal with recent problems...

    A head cold is still lingering and i also have dizziness which I aim to discuss with the gastros whenever I hear from them re an apmnt.

  • Fireid13
    Fireid13 chickenpie

    Posted

    I don't know much about this area I have a 1 - 2 millimeter of which they call low density and maybe a cyst in my right upper lobe of liver. I know it is small but still has me worried since I have possibly IBS but Ct shows everything normal in pelvis found small cyst in upper right pole of right kidney and some splenuals on my spleen. I am going to be 47 do have a cyst or two on my testicles but I'm worried that its something else they're going to do an MRI because I requested it to be more sure of what it is what do you think. I actually feel great unless I eat something that does not agree with me the only thing I worry about is 2 years ago I had a real low grade waning fever and bloating in my stomach and seems to have gotten worse since then. I like to work out I run but seems it's been getting harder over the past two years kind of like I am toxic or not getting rid of my toxins and/or lactic acid that I build up in my body when I work out the soreness I used to feel is more of a heaviness in my muscles and feel like I'm weighted down and don't feel well for a couple of days I drink as much water as I can eat healthy no sugars or anything that would be toxic to my liver. Anybody got any ideas I guess after this MRI I'll know if its a cyst or something else thanks in advance
    • chickenpie
      chickenpie Fireid13

      Posted

      hi Fireid, i hope you've had your MRI by now. From what I understand they can usually tell exactly what they're looking at in the results. Good idea to push for it & hopefully they will confirm nothing serious. Have you had a blood test also to check for liver function? 

      I am still waiting to talk to gastro about my own multiple lesion, the biggest of which they don't seem completely sure of. Feeling worse every week and royally fed up...

       

    • Fireid13
      Fireid13 chickenpie

      Posted

      I have mine gi follow up tomorrow then I get my MRI on the 18th. Thank you for remembering and I will let you know, what do you mean you're feeling worse every day, you mean mentally due to the stress or physically let me know your symptoms please. I also meant to ask do you work out at all because over the years and even lately seems if I work out and have lactic acid build up I get tired and don't feel well like a heaviness coming over me, wonder if I'm not getting rid of all my toxins like I should. worries me. I always wonder wonder how much doctors are not telling us so they can treat us down the road and make more money like maybe liver cyst cause more problems than they want to say
    • chickenpie
      chickenpie Fireid13

      Posted

      Strange you should ask - yes I do - regularly at home, cross training/HIIT/cardio etc. Until mid july when my pains got worse I was working out 5/6 times a week religiously. Previously I worked through all minor illnesses, however by end of july it was affecting my ability and i scaled it down to try concentrate on getting better. I went on holiday for 2 wks, then had a severe ear infection for 10 days followed by a rotten cold which I still can't shift. I have just recently tried to get back to my old routine to try feel a bit of normality. After a period of time off i expected to need to start slowly, I am definitely finding it hard but perhaps due to time off. Fatigue is however definitely there, I am zonked in the evenings when previously I'd still be zooming about.

      Initially i was stressed that it could be something more sinister, i am passed that mostly. My pain is mostly right side back/ribs, also in upper mid stomach between ribs. I've also had more general aches and pains, tummy ache/joint pain but could be due to persistent colds...

      I am frustrated, i explained to GP how rotten i feel, yet i am simply to wait for NHS gastro apmnt. No idea when or if it's being considered more urgent than other referrals.

    • Fireid13
      Fireid13 chickenpie

      Posted

      I know you mentioned you're in your forties and we're on the pill along time ago but you also mention on pain medication if you don't mind me asking what kind and what for because I do on occasion take clonazepam for stress and I just recently started having bouts of irritable bowel syndrome. Depending on what painkillers are on they can affect the liver I believe and cause lethargic and if you look up side effects you might notice some of them are runny nose sore throat ear congestion and dizziness which could be because of the ear congestion I get that with clonazepam. Also do you have ideas you mention some digestive disorder do they think it's do to your liver since they all work together, this is what I'm trying to put together with myself. And I'm going on 47 in December yes I'm getting older but pretty damn fit in the past I get a little shortness of breath every once in awhile I'm at 200 pounds and 5'9. Buy all the charts I'm a little overweight my BMI is about 18% I am a little stocky Italian but do have most of my fat around my waist and got probably from stress but I do work out but seem to have a hard time of it anymore and they say you shouldn't run or jog because it will upset your IBS so I'm going to have to start some low impact aerobics like treadmill incline walking or elliptical or stair climbing.
    • chickenpie
      chickenpie Fireid13

      Posted

      I have only been taking over the counter painkillers and have been trying not to take too many, lately however the lung/rib pain is awful.

      I was checked for hplyorii which was neg, and no ulcers... so not sure what else it could be. I am still taking lansoprazole every day but I still have horrible heartburn.

      Thoroughly miserable today, very sore and frustrated that no one seems to be taking me seriously. Hoping to see GP again tomorrow to explain how rotten i feel. Feel like a loony old hypochondriac...

    • Fireid13
      Fireid13 chickenpie

      Posted

      Well I think like the guy said above it is the size of your fist or lesions that is causing you the pain they're pressing and trying to find room in there and I'm pretty sure that any liver dysfunction is going to cause heartburn and upset stomach possible over or under bile production or gallbladder problems so you're going to have to just wait and see and get those cyst taken care of and hope to not anything worse, fingers crossed.
    • chickenpie
      chickenpie Fireid13

      Posted

      Saw my GP today about the stabbing pain in my ribs. He think it's a pulled muscle from a cough I had weeks ago & my persistent coughs & colds are just bad luck. 

      Says he's not concerned its to do with my MRI results and my referral to gastro isn't a priority as it's nothing serious. I told him my indigestion and upper mid stomach pain persists but he's not concerned.

      To be honest he made me feel a bit of a fake... Not entirely confident however they should know best. Will pop the painkillers and try get on with things until the gastros decide to grant me with an apmnt but I expect it will be months away.

      Good luck Fireid, hope you get to the bottom of what's going on.

       

    • Fireid13
      Fireid13 chickenpie

      Posted

      Put all your concerns and symptoms in an email and send to him with a read receipt and end it with what u want and will hold him responsible if his lack of concern causes you harm. Then if he turns you away make him put it in writing, dont leave the practice. It will make it public record and give u something to use against him if you are miss diagnosed
    • Fireid13
      Fireid13

      Posted

      I was cleared with pre barretts esophagus and moderate gastritis. Getting mri friday.
  • chickenpie
    chickenpie

    Posted

    Thanks Fireid - thats good advice. I'm not exactly sure what those entail but hope you are receiving appropriate treatment and having thorough investigations.

    After feeling like a hypochondriac yesterday I resolved to be positive and look on the bright side; the medical guys don't seem concerned and I should be glad that I have just been unlucky i.e. unexplained tummy pain followed by a bad cold/pulled muscle. I believe the findings on my liver are thought of by my GP as not concerning. I decided to treat the muscle pain and get on with it.

    Today I feel convinced it's not muscle strain. I have pain in my ribs like someone has kicked me, which moves, sometimes high in the ribs, sometimes lower. Today I also have lower right side pain like a stitch. Shoulder pain is a constant especially on waking. I have persistent indigestion, yet have had 2 negative hplyori tests, and no ulcers found.

    I talked to the gastros secretary at my hospital who has my referral and will try get me an apmnt asap. Hopefully this will allow me to ask questions about the potential for the adenoma becoming malignant or rupturing. I still find it amazing that my gp expected me to just accept the results and get on with it without asking any questions or further referral. I feel like i have to cause a fuss to get anywhere... 

    • Fireid13
      Fireid13 chickenpie

      Posted

      That's the way they all are anymore and you watch what happens when you cause a fuss will just tell you to go somewhere else I don't think they want to diagnose anybody early they want to wait till it's too late then treat you send me to somebody else and make more money off us. I think your pain is stemming from your ad nomas or the cyst in your liver and that's just that it's that simple. I would also future gallbladder checked with upper right shoulder pain in lower right shoulder believe if you look that up in emergency medicine may indicate gallbladder along with your digestive problems . Cut all fats and carbs and see how you do drink plenty of water also.
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