For the past few months, I’ve been experiencing symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite and pain in my upper right quadrant of my stomach area. Of course, I immediately began researching my symptoms and came away from it convinced that I was having some sort of problem with my liver.
Well I began the process of getting it diagnosed by seeing my doctor for some blood tests. Well my blood tests didn’t show any real problems; my liver enzymes were very slightly elevated but my doctor didn’t seem too concerned. However, I was still experiencing symptoms so the next step was to have a liver ultrasound.
Well I had the ultrasound and it came back showing nothing wrong. “Unremarkable liver” were the words of the radiologist who interpreted my ultrasound. I showed no signs of fatty liver or cirrhosis. Ok but I was still having symptoms! So the next step was to refer me to a gastroenterologist. When I saw this doctor, he ordered a liver biopsy. I basically figured that was going to be what happened, I knew that was the next step.
Anyway, I have my biopsy on Friday. I will admit I’m a bit nervous. On one hand, biopsies are extremely common procedures. On the other hand, I am going to be under anesthesia and having a surgical operation, albeit a relatively minor one. I’d like to hear from anyone else who has had any sort of biopsy. What was the recovery like? Were you in any pain? Did you have restrictions on what sorts of activity you could engage in for a period of time afterwards?
I had an external lung biopsy. Afterwords, next morning, perhaps, there was pain when I moved any part of my upper right quadrant. Okay the next day. Three holes took several days to heal. Bad part was the diagnosis, BOOP or COP as some prefer.
In the USAF I had an external kidney biopsy. The bad part was some grunt airman dropped it down the drain and it had to be repeated.
My mom had a few of them done due to various liver problems. She described it as feeling like you’d been viciously pinched, but also said it didn’t hurt for very long.
I’ve known a few people who had this done. IIRC, it’s performed under local anesthesia, and probably light sedation, with a large-bore needle, and then you have to stay for observation for a few hours to ensure that they didn’t accidentally hit any sizable blood vessels.
I’ve had it done twice. They told me I had two options. A riskier way, they said, was through your side, between the ribs, and mind you don’t puncture the lung, please. They said they were going to do it that way and I had to sign a slightly grim informed-consent document. Well, it went off without a hitch and there wasn’t much pain or any reaction in particular. I recovered from it immediately.
A couple years later another doctor, another hospital, said they needed a biopsy. This time they decided to go the allegedly safer route, from below. Through the diaphragm. As they put the needle in, I very quickly experienced the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. Abdominal pain is the worst, it is said, and I can corroborate that. The capsule around my liver filled with blood and exerted sudden pressure where there isn’t supposed to be any.
I yelled at them to stop it at once. They had their sample by that time, but they had to zap me with heavy-duty painkillers. I went home that evening but canceled my plans for the next two days.
So all I can say based on my experience is go figure.
I did a liver biopsy in Taiwan about 30 years ago to test if my hepatitis was chronic or non chronic. They went in through the ribs.
It felt like I had been sucker punched in the ribs for IIRC 24-36 hours. I stayed in the hospital overnight. My buddy came to see me, and told some outrageously funny stories. It was REALLY painful to laugh. I had to hold my ribs while laughing in pain.
It wasn’t horrible and didn’t require major drugs to get through. For a tough weight lifter like yourself, going under anesthesia, it is to laugh. (Said snarkily but in a good natured way. )
Well im bumping to update. This sucks. I went in for the biopsy at 930am this morning. After it was done, they discovered that I had a hemotoma on my liver. So instead of in and out, im in the hospital for the whole fucking weekend. To make matters worse, I’ve developed one of the worst migraines of my life (I think the dilaudid they gave me for the surgery caused a rebound headache).
So im in a hospital room in multiples forms of intense pain. Im trying to convince them that I need an injection of Imitrex (its the ONLY thing that will help). Fuck a biopsy!!
No lyin - you type great for someone in so much pain! Makes me wonder wtf is going on with all the nobs elsewhere on the Internet who can’t string two correctly-spelled words together and they are straight up fine.
ANYWAY…sorry this turned out so bad for you I hope they are diligent about getting you taken care of over the weekend and don’t make you wait til Monday for answers.
Honestly, im not sure what the plan is here. I was told that they just need to keep me overnight to monitor me. If the bleeding has stopped, im good to go tmrw. I don’t think there are any plans to drain it at this point. But who knows? I’ve been shipped off to a different dept now. And im waiting on my Imitrex. Being vocal paid off!
Damn. I’m so sorry. If I were nearby, I would come and read to you and put cold washcloths on your head.
Being in the hospital on a weekend absolutely sucks, too. Your regular doctor is usually not available and you can’t get anyone to pay attention to what you need.
Keep checking in here with complaints and progress reports, and we will amuse you with witty and supportive replies.
I’m glad I* just said no* when the liver doc wanted me to have a biopsy last month.
Yes I did. The doctor tried something new with me, as he didn’t want my bp spiking from the Imitrex. It was a combo of ativan and an antiemetic (idk the name). Very surprisingly, it knocked my migraine out. Now I just have stabbing pains in my side whenever I breath. Progress? I guess?
Yes, they did the biopsy and found the hemotoma afterwards. I don’t know if the biopsy caused the hemotoma, I haven’t had much chance to really talk to a doc. ETA: yes, it was found by CT scans
As bad as the situation this particular day is, at least you now have a cause for your long-standing ongoing pain issue.
So this is the beginning of getting it resolved. Just like with building a tall building up, the first thing they do is dig a hole down.
For docs to cure complicated stuff they have to start out by making you flat miserable for a day or so. The perversity of the Universe demands it. Besides … it’s in their union contract.
For darn sure having somebody who can be there with you most of every day is invaluable. They can be an advocate, a note taker, and be smart for you when you’re too tranquilized or exhausted or pained to be smart for yourself. Work hard to find and enlist that person.
Hope this sorts out soon and you get sprung in fine fettle.
Yeah im just venting because this sucks. The doctors and nurses have provided excellent care but the fact remains that im in hell at the moment. Short term hell, hopefully, is the price I pay for long term contentment.
About 20 years ago I had an outpatient liver biopsy because of elevated enzymes.
I had the type where they go in through the side below the ribs. My gastro did things differently than most and used general anasthesia. He said he did it that way because the procedure was like getting stabbed with a sword.
Everything went well and I was went home that same day.
The next day I ended up in the ER with a terrible stabbing pain in my gut, right below the bottom of the breastbone. They admitted me and diagnosed pancreatitis, which apparently is a rare side effect of liver biopsies.
I spent several days in the hospital getting pain meds and meds for the pancreatitis.
Here’s the kicker. Based on the biopsy I was tentatively diagnosed with a progressive fatal liver disease. They sent me to a hepatologist with the biopsy slides and he confirmed the diagnosis. There is no known effective treatment.
As I said, this was around 20 years ago. By now I should have either been dead or had a liver transplant.
I still have the liver I was born with and I’m pretty sure I’m not dead. My liver enzymes have been near normal for years.
My GP is absolutely convinced that it was a misdiagnosis.
)
I hope they are diligent about getting you taken care of over the weekend and don’t make you wait til Monday for answers.