O.k. heres the skinny. A few weeks ago the doc told my wife she had gal stones and that her gallbladder needed to come out. We made an appointment with the surgeon and during the consult visit he took some blood to check liver function. The surgery went off without a hitch on Friday and today, Monday, he told us that the liver tests had come back abnormal so he took a liver biopsy during the surgery. The biopsy results showed that there were “elevated fatty tissues”. He told us to wait until after the first of the year, go back to our family doctor, and have him check her cholesterol as that was probably the problem. We were in a hurry and didn’t have much time to ask questions, and as a result my wife has worried herself to tears. Honestly I wasn’t very worried about it, because the doctor didn’t seem too worried about it but my wife worries about everything incessantly. The high cholesterol part of it doesn’t worry her its the “what if” that gets her. Shes worried about what else it might be.
We have an appointment for the 6th with our family doctor, but she will have had a complete mental break down by then. I tried looking for something on the medical web pages but she has no symptoms to speak of, so they were of little help. Any sugestions? This very well might end any hopes of having a decent holiday.
I’ve heard of a “fatty liver.” I’m not a doctor, but I believe it’s one of those things that can be helped by diet correction. I hope she is able to relax and enjoy the holidays a little bit. If the doctor wasn’t ominous about it then I would imagine there is something that can be done. Congratulations on the successful surgery.
i’ve had enough experiences like this to know that if the doctor isn’t worried, then she shouldn’t be worried.
well, i’ve told her that but it doesn’t help. She is obsessed with what it could be.
Well, if she’s REALLY freaking out I’d think a proper family doctor wouldn’t mind answering any questions she has about it. He could probably tell her over the phone to relax and whatever else doctors say to worried patients. A doctor is (supposedly) dedicated to helping his/her patients, even on Christmas Eve. I’d call the doc, and if you can’t contact the doc then try one of those 1-800-ask-a-nurse…not for end all medical advice, but to help ease your wife’s fears.
Tell her take milk thistle (its an herbal treatment for liver disorders). According to the various herbal books I’ve read, its a panacea for liver issues. She can take it and have peace of mind that if there is anything wrong with her liver (highly unlikely), that the milk thistle will help take care of it until the doctor can figure out what (if anything) is wrong.
The stress she will bring on herself by worrying is probably worse for her than the “condition” that the Doctor is not too concerned with. Relax and enjoy the Holidays
I get it. “Gal” stones. Wife. Haha.
Peace,
mangeorge
According to my Doctor the fatty liver problem is completely reversible using only diet and exercise. I was diagnosed with a fatty liver one year ago. I brought it under control with minor changes to my diet and exercising a bit more. Tell her not to freak.
I am a 40 year old male 5’10” 190 lbs
My Dr. said a fatty liver is the best of all the bad things a liver can have.
Thanks everyone this is good stuff. I completly forgot about the nurse line thing, Ive got one on the back of my insurance card. She’s asleep right now so everythings nice and quiet, and when she gets up i’ll have some ammo for calming her down.
Thanks again and Merry Christmas.
as a good practical joke, you should tell her it could also be a symptom of “rinoceritous”, a possibly fatal degenerative liver disease which alos makes you act like a cow.
tuckerfan, milk thistle may actually be beneficial for certain liver conditions, but I sure as hell wouldn’t recommend it to anyone based on a message on a message board. And I’m a physician who treats patients with liver disease.
kritter the best thing about most liver diseases which match what you describe is that they take a lot of time before they cause problems. Certainly you need more info from your wife’s doc, but it doesn’t sound like anything acutely life or health-threatening is going on.
<< Tell her take milk thistle (its an herbal treatment for liver disorders). According to the various herbal books I’ve read, its a panacea for liver issues. She can take it and have peace of mind that if there is anything wrong with her liver (highly unlikely), that the milk thistle will help take care of it until the doctor can figure out what (if anything) is wrong. >>
There is a major article in today’s Chicago Tribune about the completely unregulated and potentially harmful nature of “herbal” treatments. No physician would prescribe over a message board, without seeing a patient, and yet herbalists seem to have no problem doing so. :: Shudder ::
Kritter, on no account should you take medical advice over the internet. Way too many people that don’t know their head from their … um… anatomy, giving “helpful” advice. Call your doctor. Don’t wait.
Apparently doctors around the world have agreed for quite some time milk thistle is very helpful for liver function. And according to the liver support website I linked to, milk thistle has been gracing people liver for more than 2,000 years. Check it out read the whole thing, it’s very interesting stuff. I actually may do a little more research into it and go get some at the local Apothecary.
Seasons greetings everyone.
There are a lot of things that can cause abnormal liver tests but “fatty liver” which is usually just excess fat deposited in the liver, is one of the most common and least harmful. In addition, a biopsy of the liver is really the gold standard for diagnosis. While I cannot diagnose over the internet, it seems likely that this is the problem but I agree that if she is worried, a call to the doctor may set her mind at ease.
Psychobunny (who has been paged with many much more mundane questions from her patients all day as she is on call for the holiday).
We had no intentions of following any “internet prescriptions”. We’ve already got an appointment for after the holidays, it was just the wait that was gonna kill her. She just wanted to know what all could be the problem.
As it turns out high cholesterol is a result of, not a cause of, fatty liver or NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis). We learned alot by following a link provided by a very kind and generous online friend. It calmed her down enough to enjoy the next few days, or at least so far it has.
Once again thank you everyone.
Qaddie, everything I’ve read indicates that there’s zero risk associated with milk thistle, which is why I suggested it. Speaking as a former hypochondriac, it’s some times better for everyone’s sanity to have something to shove down your throat, than listen to you freak out.