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Original poster

Liver Tests and ache under right ribs

16 replies

worrywart10 · 21/05/2009 14:51

Have changed my name!!!
Last year I wrote on here cos I was freaked by an abnormal liver test.
Had been drinking bout 1/2-3/4 bottle of wine for bout 2years since DD born...habit..stress...baby and 2yr old as well...not sure. But started getting very anxious so had some tests at drs. liver bit abnormal. told to cut drinking down...did...was so embarassed and frightened!!! Went back for 2nd test 6 weeks later... he said the enyzemes still slighly raised..I said was I going to die(thats how scared I was. Carried on cutting down. Never drink over 14units a week(mostly less or none). Have a week off every 6 weeks. water nearly all glasses of wine down. had a month of xmas. But stupidly started googling it!!!!! Gave myself health anxiety. ..never went back to the doctors.I'm sure you all will understand how much I scared myself over the internet..I can't even write or say it out loud what I have convienced myself off!!
Then anxiety just stopped(what a relief..one day palpatitions..one day not)..last November. Then I started getting a ache..fullness feeling under my right ribs, bit tender too touch. This is during my month of not even drinking over xmas. Didn't really worry too much about it but now it seems to be more often than not.I'm obviously stressing about it, probably makes it worse
I feel really burpy and full after meals.It's also bit of tight feeling when i breath in.
I do not feel ill, it's not stopping me from doing anything. But it is almost constant.
I am really cross I never went back to the doctors..well I have but only with a bad chest and they never mentioned retest. But too be honest that took alot of courage just going there!!
Please without scaring the crap out of me...any ideas?

OP posts:

Winetimeisfinetime · 21/05/2009 15:25

I'm no expert but having suffered a bit of health anxiety myself, I think it sounds like it could be something like 'nervous dyspepsia' . I think you should go back to the doctor and get your mind put at rest about this and your liver situation. I know it is hard when you have got yourself really worried about something but it means that in all likelihood you will find that everything is ok and you can stop worrying.

You have done really well about cutting down on alcohol and the liver has an amazing ability to regenerate and repair itself so you may well find that another liver test would prove to be normal. That would get rid of that worry for you and the other symptoms may well disappear too if they are anxiety related

Original poster

worrywart10 · 21/05/2009 16:00

thank you for reassuring message.
Because I know what hideous symptoms the anxiety can give you and I had at least 3 panic attacks last year. I find it difficult to believe it's caused because of nerves.
It feels like I have drunk 20 pts of water and it's stuck there!
I do drink alot of water..due to trying to be healthy at all costs but just seems weird to have started all this time(over a year) after the tests and cutting down so much.
I know I must go to the DR's. I guess I am worried they will think I haven't cut drinking down. My DH is certain it's nothing to do with that and stop being silly...he knows what I drink and how scared I was and how I have changed so he said he would go with me. But I try not to go on about it..mainly because it's not agony just uncomfortable.

OP posts:

Winetimeisfinetime · 21/05/2009 16:15

Take your dh with you - I find it helps if I am a bit anxious as things tend to go in one ear and out the other and if I take dh he reassures me afterwards as to what was actually said. He can also back you up on how well you have done in cutting down on alchohol, if needs be.

As I said, I'm no expert but I think if you are a bit anxious there is a tendancy to gulp air in and that can end up giving you a full feeling and cause burping etc which fits in with your symptoms. I think this liver thing is an unresolved issue for you and is causing some underlying anxiety that you are probably not even aware of.I have had very similar symptoms which were anxiety related although I didn't even realise I was anxious.

Go and get it sorted - I always find tackling these things ends up being less stressful than constant fretting.

LackaDAISYcal · 21/05/2009 16:25

gallbladder?

it sits just below the liver and can cause the burpiness and full feeling, as well as the discomfort just below the ribs on the right. It can also cause abnormal LFTs more info

when I had gallstones I had a few bad attacks where one got stuck and the pain was horrible. It started like indigestion and got worse and it hurt to breathe in. when the stones weren't moving I had a constant dull ache just under my ribs that I could feel front and back.

I also worried about my liver as I have had similar drinking issues to you in the past, and was relieved that it was (only) gallstones. I had my gallbaldder removed and the doc said that my liver looked in fine shape

gloomysue · 21/05/2009 19:03

I was thinking maybe gallstones too, my symptoms are exactly as LackaDAISYcal. I havent had mine removed but am supposed to cutting out on eating fatty things and that seems to help.

Original poster

worrywart10 · 22/05/2009 10:38

Thank you all for your messages.
I really do appreciate it. I have never had anxiety before the kids and would have laughed at anyone with a panic attack...through complete igorance!
Anxiety is so awful after those tests last year even when I wasn't or thought I wasn't stressed I would still have the palpitions..I'd been a shop minding my own businesses and my body would feel like it was racing and shuddering.
It is such a relief that it has gone. Plus I used to get what I can only describe as angina symptoms. Some weeks I would up and go...great it's gone and then as soon as I got out of bed it would start. I never thought it was anxiety...I thought it was symptoms of something very nasty.
But now..I'm so healthy as scared not too be that I can't understand why I would have this ache thing right near my liver!! Perhaps it's punishment about be so carefree before!!
Lackadasy...did you have raised enzemes?

OP posts:

candyfluff · 22/05/2009 11:28

did the gp tell you what number your liver enzymes were ?
mine were raised recnetly and i have a re test soon
mine was 43 normal is below 36

Original poster

worrywart10 · 22/05/2009 11:45

no. I probably should of asked..although god knows what I would have googled then!!
Basically I sang like a bird about me drinking too much and he has probably assumed that was the cause.
I did ask him if I was going to die!!! He never called to say results, got a later to book normal check up. The same the 2nd time and I was so freaked I called him, told him how scared I was and he said stop panicing and pop in next week type of attitude!!!
Easy for him to say...assumed I would die at this stage!!!

After that test where he said they were still be raised..He said come back in 2 mths( this time with an additional test GGT- scared me even more!!!) and really was going to, then had holiday..busy at work...and left it nearly 3mths and then made it into massive issue in my head...and now it's raised it's ugly head because of this ache thing.
Did your dr give a reason? Or tell you what results mean't?

OP posts:

hellywobs · 22/05/2009 12:26

I had an ultrasound today and was told I have small gallstones. Definitely a possibility.

Original poster

worrywart10 · 22/05/2009 12:38

Really...did you have any of my symptoms or did you have attacks like everyone else seems to have had? Did you have wonky liver test results?

OP posts:

gloomysue · 22/05/2009 13:12

I had an abnormal liver test and this is why I was scanned to find the gallstones. I cant drink alcohol so knew it wasnt related to drinking.

candyfluff · 22/05/2009 16:03

i dont drink btw
i was told by gp that it can be regular medication ur on like for me anti depressents ,they can raise it ,im sure other drugs can too .
its funny yoy say about an ache thats what i have too but put it down to costochondritis which ive had before

hellywobs · 27/05/2009 20:31

I've had lots of symptoms. I feel a bit sick from time to time or have indigestion - feels a bit like I've swallowed toothpaste! I get pains under my right ribs, between my shoulderblades and in my back. But nothing very severe. The ultrasound confirmed gallstones. I now need to see my GP to see what happens now.

However, they only looked at my abdomen and I think I will need another ultrasound for my "gynae" bits - I get a nagging pain low down in the right hand side of my tummy, not quite pelvis but nearly and around my navel. Googling is a bad idea but I think I need them to check there isn't anything going on down there either.

Original poster

worrywart10 · 28/05/2009 10:02

thats interesting, I get a bit of a nagging pain lower down as well sometimes. I do feel sick from time to time but never really bad Hellywobs.
I guess I have been jumping the gun because I knew at the time of my tests I had been drinking too much and felt the gallstone thing wasn't right because everyone seems to have attacks that take them off to bed.
It's never been that bad. I too have considered the costochondristis, as sometimes the actual ribs feel sore.

OP posts:

Chezza798 · 13/10/2018 13:53

Did you ever get to the bottom of this fullness under the right rib? Im freaking out about it and am too scared to go to the docs!

moreursulathanariel · 08/03/2019 18:35

I know this is a full on zombie thread but I was wondering if anyone ever got to the bottom of this "full" feeling? I've had mine for about 8 weeks now, I've had my gallbladder out and I'm 7 days post op but the horrible feeling is still there. I feel full after eating (I'm barely eating) and it makes me breathless. I also had no symptoms of gallbladder problems apart from stones picked up on an ultrasound.

Help!

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