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Air in Biliary Tree

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Jaline
Jaline

I have an enlarged spleen, low platelets and fatty liver.

This all started in 2007 when I was rushed into hospital with obstructive Jaundice.  I had my Gall Bladder/stones removed a month later.  A stone was left in the Bile duct and was finally removed 4 months later.  Over the years I have had many ERCP's and Gastroscopy's.  My health seems to be gradually deteriorating.  Every so often I get an infection (flu like symptoms, high temperature, shivering, nausea etc) which is treated with antibiotics.  I also have pain in the liver area (front & back), feel sick especially in the morning, have hot spells, burning pain all over the body, pain in spleen, left arm, shoulder and neck, tiredness and fatigue, headaches, swollen stomach, poor concentration, foggy head and a dry cough.  Have had a chest x-ray and antibiotics for the cough but nothing was found and the medication did not stop the cough.  The cough seems to be coming from right hand side around the Liver area.  It feels like biliary colic.  My consultant has prescribed Lansoprazole for the cough.  I have just had an Endoscopic Ultrasound and the Endoscopists results said there was air in the biliary tree and there are a number of collaterals around the head of the pancreas.   The Endoscopist also said 'Does this patient have Cirrhosis'?  Does anyone know what this means in simple terms?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Markonious
    Markonious Jaline

    Posted

    Your symptoms are not uncommon with patients having ERCP procedures, especially multiple ones. They are very invasive and can/will cause many collateral problems. Air in you biliary system is one, infections are common and portions of your biliary tree can become compressed making them useless. Many doctors are very reluctant to do ERCP's for these reasons, but they are unfortunately required in some cases.

    Also, your enlarged spleen with low platelets does point to the possibility of advanced liver disease and cirrhosis. Have your doctors discussed this with you and have they told you the cause of your enlarged spleen? As the liver becomes fibrotic, the blood cannot pass through the liver easily. This then causes the portal blood to backup into the spleen, enlarging it and reducing the platelet count via pooling. There are other reasons for an enlarged spleen but cirrhosis is by far the most common.

    • Jaline
      Jaline Markonious

      Posted

      Thank you so much for taking time to reply.

      I had a bone marrow biopsy in 2010 and was told the platelets were being produced ok but the spleen was chewing them up.  Do you think the air in the billiary tree is causing my cough?

    • Fireid13
      Fireid13 Jaline

      Posted

      When you say platelets that is for clotting correct. So do you have any bleeding disorders. Not to sound rude but you don't mean hemoglobin is low or red blood cells being chewed up by your spleen do you. Because what it sounds like to me is hemolytic anemia let me know if I'm off base
    • Markonious
      Markonious Jaline

      Posted

      I'd discuss the possibility of portal hypertension, PHT, (indicated by enlarged spleen) and whether or not it is clinically significant. If it is, then ascites can form around some of your organs, and your lungs are a possibility. This would cause a cought and other breathing issues.

      There are many, simpler causes for your cough of course. And hopefully they will find one of these for you. I would just want the doctors to address the PHT issue that your enlarged spleen may indicate.

    • Jaline
      Jaline Fireid13

      Posted

      Many thanks for your reply.  Yes, platelets for clotting are low.  I have regular nose bleeds and bruises.  As far as I know do not have a problem with red blood cells.
    • Jaline
      Jaline Markonious

      Posted

      Many thanks for this.  I will discuss this with my consultant on my next visit.
  • walter41331
    walter41331 Jaline

    Posted

    I have liver cirrhosis

    Below my blood test results ( after taking Indian Gooseberry (Amla) juice from from 3 Indian Gooseberry combined 1 hour later with Olive Leaf Extract (2 teaspoons x 2/day) plus lemon juice (from half lemon) + 2 teaspoons of honey. This treatment is combined with intake of the following:-

    A) 3x Omega 3(with 1,000mg fish oil, EPA-180mg,DHA-120mg), 

    B) 2x Vitamin E ( 400I.U.)

    C) 2x multivitamins

    In 20 days the results as follows:-

    Alkaline Phosphatase down 28% from 192 to 139.(<130) alanine="" transaminase="" (sgpt/alt)="" down="" 28%="" from="" 66="" to="" 48=""><37) aspartate="" transaminase="" (sgot/ast)down="" 20%="" from="" 77="" to="" 62=""><41) gamma-glutamyl="" transferase="" (gamma="" gt)="" down="" 37%="" from="" 532="" to=""><51)

    in addition, i lost 2.3 kg within 15 days.

    very happy with test results

      in="" addition,="" i="" lost="" 2.3="" kg="" within="" 15="" days.="" very="" happy="" with="" test="" results="">

    in addition, i lost 2.3 kg within 15 days.

    very happy with test results

     >

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