Esophageal varices

[CatonMat]

I have been told I have scarring on my liver, following 2 episodes of vomiting blood.
I'm now awaiting a liver scan, but of course, have been googling in the meantime.

Frankly, I've frightened myself with what I've read, although I did realise it was pretty serious.

Does scarring mean cirrhosis?

Does cirrhosis mean that this is irreversible, as it has progressed too much?

Will I not be able to find out until the scan is done?

Thanks, if anyone knows all or one of the answers.

Just to add, I have been unwell for a while, was in hospital, and had an ultrasound.

I was discharged, presumably without anyone noticing the scarring, or perhaps not checking out the scan results.

They checked them when I was readmitted with the vomiting episodes.

Anybody, please?

I have very limited experience with this op, but they can be extremely serious, catastrophically in my experience.

What's your history? My friend was an alcoholic which caused him no end of life-limiting problems.

I'm a non drinker, that's why this has knocked me sideways, to be honest.
I haven't the first clue about any of this.
A lot of my symptoms do point to liver issues, but I have never even considered that before the bleeds, particularly as I had been discharged from hospital with bo mention of "scarring".

That sounds scary, @CatonMat. I’m waiting for the results from a liver scan, so I’ve read a bit online. I think you can have mild scarring without it necessarily being cirrhosis, and damage can be reversible until it gets severe. I found this useful: www.nhs.uk/conditions/cirrhosis/

I've read so much and just confused myself more.
From what I can make out, the bleeding suggests a more advanced state (or grade?)
It also occurred to me that the doctor took me into a side room to tell me.
That room that you hope you'll never be taken into!

I have a lot of the signs listed as more advanced symptoms; itching, red hands, a rash, and a yellowish tinge.
I have had them for a while, but of course taken singly they get overlooked.

Do you have a decent GP you can talk to while you are waiting for the scan? And do you have a scan date? If you have already had an ultrasound scan the next one may be a Fibroscan which can stage the scarring or an MRI?

I think I possibly wouldn't be in this mess if my gp had been more willing to help.
I begged him well over a year ago to please try and help me, so he gave me cream for the rash.
I don't have the liver scan date yet, as I have just had an endoscopy (as an emergency, ironically)

I also have a heart murmur to be investigated, which could be nothing at all, but also could be connected, from what I've read.

That’s awful, OP. I’m sure you’ve already considered this, but now that you have a diagnosis could you see another GP and ask for proper care? Or raise it with the practice manager - that sometimes triggers more focus.

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4912-portal-hypertension

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophageal-varices/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351544

Liver disease doesn't necessarily depend on alcohol.

More and more people are succumbing to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, quite possibly caused by diet and lifestyle.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/#overview

You need the results of the endoscopy and ultrasound. These should clarify things more for you. I knew a heavy drinker who was diagnosed with cirrhosis and burst oesephageal varices when they vomited blood.
Someone else who vomited blood and had a range of tests was just told the results were inconclusive.
There are other causes of liver disease, not just alcohol.

It seems to have become a battle of the wills now.
Even 2 days before I had the endoscopy he told me my hospital notes did not mention liver disease, and my blood tests were fine (which they were not, at all!)
I've become my own advocate, flourishing my huge file of letters and test results, ready to do battle!

I would need to change gp practice to get another gp, as he is basically a one man band.

The nurse has been helpful of late, so I see her instead.

Goodness! The British Liver Trust have a helpline staffed by specialist nurses, which might be worth a try while you’re waiting:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/support-for-you/helpline-and-online-community/

It could very well be lifestyle connected.
I was told I had fatty liver a long time ago.

Thank you all.

I may phone the liver trust helpline, or just be patient until get the scan done, or perhaps they can still use the results from my first one, now they have actually looked at it.

I would definitely try to phone the liver trust specialists if you can't have a proper conversation with anyone at your GP practice. It can be very frightening to think about and talking through the detail with someone who understands all the implications and terminology can really help to get a handle on the possibilities and their likelihood.

I mainly talk from past experience with my exH many years ago. He was/is an alcoholic so for us the vomiting blood episodes and liver damage had a clear cause. He had scans which showed scarring on his liver and some suspicious swellings inside the oesophagus. Oesophageal varices were mentioned as a possible cause and we were both terrified.

Luckily we had a very good, very calm doctor who explained things well and arranged all follow-up quickly. (Not in UK at that point.)

After two more endoscopies, scans and other tests, we were told that it had actually been some sort of temporary oesophageal inflammation rather than permanent distortion, and there was stomach ulceration too. ExH did not have oesophageal varices after all. The liver damage on the scans was serious but also at a stage where it could have potentially healed if he stopped drinking.

My other relevant experience was with suddenly developing liver issues in my late teens after getting glandular fever, fortunately only temporary. The nurse told me that as well as hepatitis, there's several other viruses which can cause temporary or permanent liver damage. I had turned yellow, had itching skin and hands and indications of lowered liver function in blood tests. After 3 months on a very low fat diet with no alcohol, my liver was back to normal.

Hope you can get some good advice from a medic or nurse to support you in getting to the bottom of all this.

Thank you.
The endoscopy results state that there is 2 varices, one small and the other large but with no signs of bleeding again at the moment.
It also confirms portal hypertensive gastropathy, and lists my co-morbidity as "liver disease".
It's a bit of a rabbit hole to dive into, but forewarned is forearmed.

It does help to get input from you all, so thank you.