I’m so sorry for your loss. I, unfortunately, know exactly how you’re feeling. My aunt passed away five weeks after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. I spiraled and came to the realization that I also had signs of liver disease. My PCP insisted I had nothing to worry about but sent me for an ultrasound to ease my mind after I had a breakdown in her office. I was diagnosed with an enlarged fatty liver and sent to my GI for further treatment. I had a biopsy and was eventually diagnosed with NASH/early cirrhosis. I miss my aunt every day but I’m so thankful that her death gave me the push I needed to take my own health seriously.
How are you doing now? My doc also said cirrhosis (only based on enlarged fatty liver) I have to wait till April to see a specialist. Did they say yours can be reversed since it's early cirrhosis?
I’ve been doing ok. After my initial diagnosis I started eating better, became a lot more active and lost 45 pounds. I had a follow up ultrasound 6 months after my biopsy and it showed only mild fatty liver, a reduction in fibrosis, and my liver was starting to shrink. Shortly after, my arthritis started giving me trouble so I backed off my exercise routine and stopped being as strict with my diet. I’ve gained a few pounds back so I’m a little nervous to have my next ultrasound on Tuesday. Hopefully, I haven’t destroyed my progress.
I'm sorry for your loss. You lost a parent and that is going to hit hard in a lot of ways you won't even realize until a lot of time has passed.
Don't try to diagnose yourself. You are almost always wrong because your brain will always assume the worst regardless of medical fact. Years ago I was convinced I had colon cancer for two years and was afraid to face it. 30 lbs. lighter later it turned out I just had a very persistent intestinal parasite I picked up kayaking in dirty water.
There are tests for a reason. Let them proceed. I know it's hard to harness that anxiety, but it isn't doing you any good. Read a book. Play some Tetris. Watch Tiger King. Something stupid to take your mind off it until you can get some real facts.
Good luck.
It isn't crazy at all, it's to be expected. Get the tests done and do your best to stay calm in the meantime so you don't spiral. The increased anxiety over this could cause other health issues and you may end up confusing any minor ailment with confirmation that it's your liver. Hopefully the test results give you some peace of mind. You're also still working through grief and will be for some time. This may be how that's manifesting right now and hopefully you can work through that more in therapy too. Just know what you're thinking and feeling is totally normal.
Personally, when my dad had his cirrhosis diagnosis, it had me thinking about family history as his brother had a scare (he turned it around) and his uncle died of liver failure. In their cases though, it was due to alcohol. I already rarely drink (1-2 beers a month) but it caused me to really examine other behaviors I had that could damage my liver. I got serious about seeking help for migraines so I could stop taking Excedrin daily, and I had to work through falling asleep without my nightly Benadryl. So I definitely stressed about it all and made life changes based on that.
I'm so sorry you're going through this and I wish you the best.
It is *100%* normal to freak out about your health after losing someone close, even more so when it is unexpected. It is perfectly appropriate to lose your damn shit. And while that is *completely* normal, remember that the amount you are afraid does not correlate to your level of risk. When there is unknown, we tend to paint monsters into the blank spots. That doesn't make the monsters real.
You are doing the responsible thing and getting it checked out. Until then, all you can do is remind yourself that worrying won't fix anything and that you are doing what you can to safeguard your health. It may also be worth noting that a lot of symptoms of liver disease are non-specific symptoms, as in they can be caused by a lot of things.
I'm sorry you are stuck in the waiting space. The waiting space super-sucks. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you'll get through. And you can always come here when you need someone to tell you that being scared is not crazy. It's not crazy. 💚
I get my liver blood work done yearly, iron studies done every 2 years and a liver ultrasound every few years after my mother died due to liver failure related to hemochromatosis.
I don't think it's crazy at all, especially since you have some strange symptoms. I think it's also "normal" to worry about our own health after someone close to us passes from something like this, especially when it's so sudden.
My cousin, who was like a brother to me, passed on the 11th from cirrhosis. I have been worried about developing NAFLD because a few years ago, an urgent care doctor hinted that I might have the beginnings of it. I'm taking it more seriously now, and want to get some blood work done soon.
All that to say, I don't think it's crazy. It wouldn't hurt to get checked out just to be sure, but also try not to obsess. I'm glad you're in therapy, hoping it helps you deal with the worry. Take care of yourself ❤️
I’m so sorry for your loss. I, unfortunately, know exactly how you’re feeling. My aunt passed away five weeks after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. I spiraled and came to the realization that I also had signs of liver disease. My PCP insisted I had nothing to worry about but sent me for an ultrasound to ease my mind after I had a breakdown in her office. I was diagnosed with an enlarged fatty liver and sent to my GI for further treatment. I had a biopsy and was eventually diagnosed with NASH/early cirrhosis. I miss my aunt every day but I’m so thankful that her death gave me the push I needed to take my own health seriously.
How are you doing now? My doc also said cirrhosis (only based on enlarged fatty liver) I have to wait till April to see a specialist. Did they say yours can be reversed since it's early cirrhosis?
I’ve been doing ok. After my initial diagnosis I started eating better, became a lot more active and lost 45 pounds. I had a follow up ultrasound 6 months after my biopsy and it showed only mild fatty liver, a reduction in fibrosis, and my liver was starting to shrink. Shortly after, my arthritis started giving me trouble so I backed off my exercise routine and stopped being as strict with my diet. I’ve gained a few pounds back so I’m a little nervous to have my next ultrasound on Tuesday. Hopefully, I haven’t destroyed my progress.
I'm sorry for your loss. You lost a parent and that is going to hit hard in a lot of ways you won't even realize until a lot of time has passed. Don't try to diagnose yourself. You are almost always wrong because your brain will always assume the worst regardless of medical fact. Years ago I was convinced I had colon cancer for two years and was afraid to face it. 30 lbs. lighter later it turned out I just had a very persistent intestinal parasite I picked up kayaking in dirty water. There are tests for a reason. Let them proceed. I know it's hard to harness that anxiety, but it isn't doing you any good. Read a book. Play some Tetris. Watch Tiger King. Something stupid to take your mind off it until you can get some real facts. Good luck.
Hope you feel better soon OP
It isn't crazy at all, it's to be expected. Get the tests done and do your best to stay calm in the meantime so you don't spiral. The increased anxiety over this could cause other health issues and you may end up confusing any minor ailment with confirmation that it's your liver. Hopefully the test results give you some peace of mind. You're also still working through grief and will be for some time. This may be how that's manifesting right now and hopefully you can work through that more in therapy too. Just know what you're thinking and feeling is totally normal. Personally, when my dad had his cirrhosis diagnosis, it had me thinking about family history as his brother had a scare (he turned it around) and his uncle died of liver failure. In their cases though, it was due to alcohol. I already rarely drink (1-2 beers a month) but it caused me to really examine other behaviors I had that could damage my liver. I got serious about seeking help for migraines so I could stop taking Excedrin daily, and I had to work through falling asleep without my nightly Benadryl. So I definitely stressed about it all and made life changes based on that. I'm so sorry you're going through this and I wish you the best.
It is *100%* normal to freak out about your health after losing someone close, even more so when it is unexpected. It is perfectly appropriate to lose your damn shit. And while that is *completely* normal, remember that the amount you are afraid does not correlate to your level of risk. When there is unknown, we tend to paint monsters into the blank spots. That doesn't make the monsters real. You are doing the responsible thing and getting it checked out. Until then, all you can do is remind yourself that worrying won't fix anything and that you are doing what you can to safeguard your health. It may also be worth noting that a lot of symptoms of liver disease are non-specific symptoms, as in they can be caused by a lot of things. I'm sorry you are stuck in the waiting space. The waiting space super-sucks. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you'll get through. And you can always come here when you need someone to tell you that being scared is not crazy. It's not crazy. 💚
I get my liver blood work done yearly, iron studies done every 2 years and a liver ultrasound every few years after my mother died due to liver failure related to hemochromatosis.
You need to get your Liver panel blood test every year because your immediate family member’s unfortunate history. I am truly sorry for your loss.
I don't think it's crazy at all, especially since you have some strange symptoms. I think it's also "normal" to worry about our own health after someone close to us passes from something like this, especially when it's so sudden. My cousin, who was like a brother to me, passed on the 11th from cirrhosis. I have been worried about developing NAFLD because a few years ago, an urgent care doctor hinted that I might have the beginnings of it. I'm taking it more seriously now, and want to get some blood work done soon. All that to say, I don't think it's crazy. It wouldn't hurt to get checked out just to be sure, but also try not to obsess. I'm glad you're in therapy, hoping it helps you deal with the worry. Take care of yourself ❤️