Are blood tests mostly right to rule out....

Hi Missy,

So glad you got a good report and thank you. for sharing with me your story. I've been reading your some of your posts and you sound like you have been through a great deal.

I hope my every now and again pain is due to the missing gall bladder. I also got hit with pseudomonas recently and have a bad UTI that I believe went to my kidneys, its my 3rd day on antibiotics and now feeling better. The dull pain in ribs has settled down tonight. It's like it gets a little flare and my puts me into worrying mode.

I get a cat scan of my kidneys next week and guess it will show the liver and pancreas too.

I'm afraid and am stressing about the scan, afraid it will find something, even though the doctor said my blood tests were good and didn't show cirrhosis. The doctor also said my pancreas blood test was fine, so I'm guessing no pancreatitis either.

I have a pretty good physician and though she says she is sending me for a cat scan of my kidneys for stones, I wonder if she is also sending me so she can get a report on my liver/pancreas. I just feel consumed by all of this.

I was so afraid too bb...they did the cat scan on me...and I could barely breathe as I was waiting for my Dr. to come into the room.

When I thought of it this way: Which is very hard....and I couldn't do it all the time...but TRY to look at it this way....IF they were to find something....than they found it....and it didn't have time to grow...get worse...etc...and that finding things early is always key to a good outcome.

AND...you will get thru it.  

I just hope for you...as I hope for me...that once you get the all clear on your tests...you don't go back into drinking.

I find it odd that the liver tests if normal dont rule out cirrhosis. Ive had 2 doctors look at them and both said my liver function was fine and when i asked one of them if it ruled out cirrhosis, she said "yes". I do however wonder if results are within range #'s if it means a person less likely to have cirrhosis. For example: 20% of patients with normal readings may have liver disease...etc. 

i did have an ultrasound of my kidneys back in march when i was having back pain and they mentioned both the kidneys and pancreas stating that they were normal, though it did say the pancreas was partially obscured.

Which makes me wonder if the liver was enlarged and was covering pancreas....though I would have thought someone would have told me if it were.

i never had any yellowing skin or eyes and guess thats a plus, and wonder if it goes into the equation of ruling out cirrhosis? Did you experience pain, yellowing etc.? 

I have zero plans on having a beer, and even now my mind questions which

foods, medicines etc would be good/ bad for the liver. Every pain I get in my abdomen whether its right, left or center, i have to touch it to ease my mind that its not near the area that i perceive the liver to be in. Like this morning Im having pains to the right of my belly button and Im monitoring it. 

 

Just an extra note...I was having slight pain in my left...and my Gastro Dr. told me that the left side is the colon.

Can be caused by distress...like something as small as gas.

Try not to be worked up so much...did you call the office ?  I thought that was a good suggestion by paper because they can possibly ease your mind rather quickly over the phone.

Write down your questions and worries...so they are ready before you call...

Something has been going on with my body for over 6 months. (Hence the reason I'm on this post) I got a positive DSDNA but negative ANA and was initially told I had lupus by GP but my Rheumy said there was only a 1% chance. Still nothing's resolved and in still having health issues.

Yesterday, I got quite itchy for hours (no rash) after drinking a few cups of coffee, so I called my physicians office and they said to quit the Cipro I was on and to come in Thursday for testing. Since I had blood in urine last week, plus pseudomonas, and yesterday's itching its put me on edge. I'm also on omeprasile and heard that's bad for your kidneys. Ultra sound came out ok, but am having ct scan on Monday.

Good luck on your scan....strangely I am going to my Rheumatoid to discuss lupus today.

I have all the symptoms...and a butterfly rash on my neck (even thou it is typically to see the rash on face)...and I have ANA that is not normal for the past year...she has been looking into other reasons....hence the cat scan on my lungs....and stomach....

CALL YOUR DR.

My GP initially diagnosed me with lupus, but then after sending my results to their Rheumy panel they said it was unlikely.Since I have so much going on...like hair falling out etc. it makes wonder if they were right of not.

Still hurting and the "pain of the day" starts just below my rib cage (center) and goes straight through to my back. Ulcer? Who knows...

Go in on Monday for cat scan & Tuesfay for

GP appointment.

I'm starting to worry that I have cirrhosis.

I've had about 4 liver tests in the last year but my complexion has changed and my eyes have a slight tint of yellow,this has been happening over a 3 or 4 year period

Hi Nicole

How are your blood tests? x

Thank you Robin 🙂

GERD is short for a bad reflux disease and the CBC and Comp tests are main blood tests that checks for a whole host of things.

I got the ct scan done Monday and nothing was mentioned to me about my liver yet, but my doctor called me and said they found air in my abdomen and they think I had a perforated duodenal ulcer. The pain starts about an inch below sternum and moves to the right a bit, it's the same area that was gurgling then later gave me sharp pains to the back. When I got to ER (doctors request), the surgeon said the air leakage was minimal and they believe it to have closed up and started to heal. I pray this has been what's been causing me all my pains. The fear of having cirrhosis still clouded

the ulcer verdict they gave me and I told the surgeon of my fear and once again was told there was nothing in my blood work that would point to cirrhosis. It makes me wonder if my worrying has caused the ulcer?...nah, it was probably the NSAIDS and aspirin I took daily. Am on 2 a day PPI's(Prilosec) till its cleared up. It's been a roller coaster ride for sure.🙄

'GERD is short for a bad reflux disease'

GORD in the UK.

My Gastroenterologist referred to mine as NERD, because this "curse" is so difficult to treat.

I found this thread I started last year and it's now April 2017 and fast forwarding to now to update. going to recap last year best as I can too... Last year about this time had stomach issues that went into the back. Was having shoulder blade pains from time too. Went to GP where she said it was a "puzzle" as chest X-rays and blood tests were fine. Sent home. Decided to go to a nearby walk in clinic because I couldn't get an answer from my GP ,they took a urine culture because I was having

some low back issues and they found Pseudomonas🙄. Was treated with antibiotics and they sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound for abdominal scan which came back clear, though I noticed the report said something like it couldn't see the pancreas for the liver. I had them fax it to my GP. Went back again to my GP for follow up with the pain in stomach under ribs that sometimes went into back, she set me up for Ct scan in 2 weeks. When I finally got it done she called and apologized saying she wished she had gotten me in sooner because I had air in abdomen and it could be a perforated ulcer and to go to ER. Went to ER, where my surgeon looked over the CT Scan (was done without IV contrast), they did blood work up and X-ray but found nothing. She thought it may have been a perforation of pin hole size and closed itself. Was sent home and put on omeprasole /antibiotics regiment and diet control. They didn't do an endoscopy as my symptoms/pain subsided after two weeks, but said to call them if I had any more problems and they would get me in for a scope. Months went by without problems, then I started to get the cone and go strange pains in my shoulder blades, some in my groins at times too. The shoulder stuff has been going off/on over 2 years. In mid winter of this year, went back to GP and she diagnosed me with "anxiety" and prescribed Zoloft. Well, heck yes I had anxiety as I'm having all these strange pains and no answers. She suggested I go to PT for my pains and said it was probably muscle inflammation.

X rays did show that I have winged ribs from arthritis and my orthopedist said I have a winged scapula. So I went but I couldn't see any improvement. Last month, I started having the phantom stomach/back pain again so I bypassed my GP(she normally makes the appointment with specialist) and contacted the GI that saw me last year...man this is a long story🤔

They set me up with endoscopy and found hiatal hernia and mild gastritis. They set me up an abdominal ultrasound and awaiting results. Went back to my GP for follow up and she tapped on my stomach and said "good". She also said that she thinks the GI doctor is looking for gall bladder stones stuck in liver. Thoughts anyone?

Wait for the abdominal ultrasound results. I know in the US they prefer CT & MRI, but the ultrasound is by far and the best in my mind.

I've had both and a well trained radiologist (who is a doctor, not a machine operator) really does pick up things other missed. I always have a chat with the radiologist and they tell me way more than a consultant or GP ever does.

Report said no lesions what does that mean?

Exactly what it says. Lesions can mean cancer, so not having any is good.

Thanks RGBH. Was hoping it meant no cirrhosis. The report looked good I guess.

No lesions, no fatty liver and was of normal size. Does the ultrasound report sound good to you?

Yes, but carry on the same way for another 10 years and it will be very different. Just calm the alcohol down a bit.

Good advice! I actually quit the drinking

I was doing that's written in my original post last year around this time. I had a few glasses of wine during this past Christmas and 3 separate weekends had a 6 pack each in Feb/March. My stomach started bothering me 2 weeks ago coupled with something pushing out my back on right side and muscle twitches in my shoulders. Scary strange stuff. Have since altered my eating considerably too and cut out megavitamins and supplements as well.

The radiologist reposted my test with the following...What's it mean?

Impression :Unremarkable ultrasound evaluation of the liver and biliary tree in this patient who is post cholecystectomy.

Body of the pancreas is unremarkable the remaining portions are obscured

by bowel.

The medical profession very rarely uses definitive phrases like normal. It means that he/she did not find anything that looked not normal and there is therefore no comment (remarks) to be made.

From what they can see of the pancreas, it appears normal, but they can't comment on the part they couldn't see.