Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention; if you think your problem could be acute, do so immediately. Even qualified doctors can't diagnose over the internet, so do bear that in mind when seeking or giving advice.
Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention; if you think your problem could be acute, do so immediately. Even qualified doctors can't diagnose over the internet, so do bear that in mind when seeking or giving advice.
Alcohol support
Can I ask my GP for a liver scan to find out if I have damaged my health?
parchedjanuary · 21/01/2022 23:50
As the title says, I understand that I can ask my GP for a liver scan....but are they likely to agree to this? My GP is aware that I have issues with alcohol, and I have dipped in and out of alcohol recovery services over many years.
I'm wondering if anyone else has done this? And what was the outcome?
I have paid privately for blood tests over the years and they always come back okay. But I know blood tests are much less specific, and much less likely to identify damage than a liver scan.
Has anyone here paid for a private liver scan? How much did it cost? And how did you arrange it?
Any helpful information much appropriated .
PromisesMeanNothingSue · 22/01/2022 07:58
I asked my GP (phone consultation) for a fibroscan, explaining that I stopped drinking a couple of months ago and am feeling exhausted all the time. She said she couldn’t refer directly - only a liver specialist could do that - and that blood tests were the first step. Had those done and saw a different GP face to face for results, and she did refer me for a fibroscan (so not sure why first GP said she couldn’t). My results were all within normal range apart from GGT which was 1 u/L over the upper reference limit - GP said nothing to worry about and should come down if I’ve stopped drinking, but I said that I know LFTs can appear normal even when there’s significant fibrosis, and that I’d like a scan to know what the situation is. She was happy to refer.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.