What advanced liver test can one get done apart from blood-drawn liver functions tests?

[Chablis1234]

Hi.

Cut the long story short I'm very worried about my drinking habits but I seem unable to stop for longer than a few days. I don't drink a lot (arguably more than some people do though) but I drink regularly, almost every evening, and I have been like that for many years.

Maybe this is hypochondria but I sometimes convince myself that I can "feel" the hardness of my liver, if that makes sense. I don't feel pain, it's more like a weird dull feeling of hardness in my RUP .. I can't really describe it.

I had a liver function test done a couple of months ago and it came back normal.

But I'm looking into going private and maybe going for a liver scan.

Would this show the extent of liver damage? Or anything else that I can get done private, that would really show how my liver is doing?

Any advice appreciated.

(And please don't judge or give me the "why don't you just stop" kind of messages. I'm trying to...)

Thanks ;)

Anyone?

Hi Chablis1234,
I have had raised (very high!) liver function test results and was sent for a Fibro Scan which is a very detailed scan of your liver - it shows any scarring/Fatty liver etc.

You could maybe ask for this?

Thanks @lovemenomore - I'll look it up. Have you done yours privately? How did it go? Hope everything was OK. xx

@Chablis1234

Thanks *@lovemenomore* - I'll look it up. Have you done yours privately? How did it go? Hope everything was OK. xx

Apologies Chablis I hadn't see your reply till now!

So the reason the liver investigations began was because of a raised LFT years ago (say 2015) so I was sent for a scan of my liver in 2016 whilst pregnant and they said "a bit fatty" nothing more done. Then I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and they wanted me to be put on Methotrexate but each time they did my blood tests I wasnt allowed due to this raised LFT. I was in so much pain (and still am!) with the Arthritis and back pain from a DR that I went to the doc as then 8/10 Ibuprofen and Neproxen I was taking daily wasnt cutting it. He said stop taking them as they can cause damage and take another drug instead.

Anyway long story short I went for a Fibroscan as they referred me to the liver unit at my local hospital who took more blood and said wanted a better scan so I was offered a date in 9 months time however I said wasn't acceptable as I needed to get to bottom of it sooner as the pain of the arthritis was not getting better so they sent me in May to a private hospital for it to be done.

Bare in mind that was MAY I eventually get a follow up call from consultant last week saying that my scan shows scaring and liver disease! Scared me but I explained all this to GP and he wants to repeat the bloods, a thyroid test and cholesterol as it may be Psoriasis related not JUST alcohol!

Don't know if that helps!

But I do need to cut my drinking down a lot, lockdown hasnt helped but I do know I drink too much