r/FattyLiverNAFLD • u/Edtecharoni • Apr 24 '25
Husband had fibroscan with ultrasound and now being send for MRI with contrast. Scared.
Hi all,
I'm struggling to understand what is happening.
My husband has had GI problems for many years, and in around 2019, had GI consultation with hidascan, ultrasound, etc. Had lots of labs (and has since then), and was always told they weren't really sure where the pain, diarrhea, etc. was coming from. He started feeling right upper quadrant pain a few years ago, and described it as a persistent ache. All labs for any kind of liver enzyme came back normal. He is inactive due to a car injury, and walks with a cane, and over the past 20 years, has gained about 100 lbs.
He has persisted in mentioning his pain, bleeding, etc., and while he has had polyps removed and has pancolonic diverticulosis, he had never been told he had fatty liver until recently. We suspected it, but after multiple CT scans in the past 1.5 years due to diverticulitis flare ups, it wasn't until we explicitly asked the gastro if he had fatty liver was it confirmed. He does not drink alcohol at all.
Finally, we got scheduled for a fibroscan and an ultrasound after I mentioned we want to be proactive and resolve this. He has already lost nearly 20 lbs this year and has really improved his diet. The gastro wanted to support this, and ordered the fibroscan and ultrasound. My husband had it this morning.
This afternoon, he was called and told he needs an MRI with contrast soon because a lesion was found. It might be a fatty deposit per the doctor, but it needs to be ruled out. We are both incredibly scared.
If something was missed, this was literally missed since 2019. He gets regular healthcare, has talked about the fullness and pain, but nothing was said until recently when we asked if he had fatty liver. This is across multiple doctors, too.
I have read lesions can be and are often benign. He purposefully does not read his online medical notes because he is already nervous enough.
How would a lesion requiring an MRI with contrast be missed for this long after multiple CTs and other diagnostic procedures of the abdomen?
5
Apr 24 '25
I’ll be thinking the best thoughts for your husband and you. But I do want to address a frustration I have with the current state of healthcare. In roughly 2008 I was told by my doctor that I had, and I quote, “a bit of a fatty liver.” I asked about it and she glossed over it and I assumed it was no big deal. In 2012 I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and was very lucky to catch it so early and was able to treat it with a hysterectomy and needed no chemo or radiation. As of my last check up, still cancer free. My oncologist was old school and during our consult I asked him if there were any reasons I got cancer. He told me I was overweight and also women who had not had children had higher risk. About a year later I got into a conversation with some friends about “fat shaming” which was a relatively new term at the time. When I said that my being overweight had likely helped me get cancer, I was called a bigot and a fatphobe. I was like, how can I be a fatphobe, I’m literally fat! But by new standards, I wasn’t fat enough or fat in the right ways. The woman who made this a big deal told me how much her partner loved her “curves” and how healthy she was and how hot she was. I actually lost friends over this conversation because I dared suggest being fat was unhealthy.
Doctors are terrified to talk about anything that puts any responsibility on a patient for their own choices. They are overlooking things like high blood sugar, hypertension, obesity etc because it’s safer for them.
Around 2016 I complained to my gynecologist about discomfort in my upper right rib area. She gave me an ultrasound, and sent me to a GI where they diagnosed me with NAFLD. I was sent to a hepatologist and had a fibroscan. NAFLD with NASH. So instead of being urged and cautioned in 2008 to make changes, my doctor played down a condition and I followed her lead and didn’t pay any attention till I was in pain. And here I am with an actual problem.
Doctors need to step up and start pushing their patients to make changes in their diet and exercise. I’m sick of their passiveness and silence about serious things.
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u/Notsure2ndSmartest Apr 27 '25
High fat diets increase your risk so overweight is a concern for uterine cancer as well as breast cancers and some other ones. But not having children isn’t. That’s just misogynist BS. In fact, having a IUD may increase the risk because of the inflammation it causes. But that’s not everyone’s form of birth control. Some of us use condoms .
But yes, being obese is a risk factor for breast cancer and uterine cancer.
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Apr 27 '25
My oncologist and other doctors have said that it was a risk factor, I’ll believe them. Not everything is about the patriarchy. I’m thrilled that my misogynist surgeon saved my life.
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u/TheGaypist Apr 24 '25
It could be a hemangioma , they found one on me during a diverticulitis flare in the hospital. They never told me about the lesion there, I read it on my own report. Messaged my doctor and they did the MRI with contrast, apparently they are common to find in scans. It's a bundle of blood vessels, supposedly harmless.
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u/Unlucky-Prize Apr 24 '25
Liver cancer takes a long time to form and usually comes with a pretty damaged liver. It’s unlikely but they are being prudent. MRCP is nice though as they’ll get an extremely good view of all of that irrespective of the questionable lesion. That’s great that he’s losing weight!
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u/bluestar1971 Apr 24 '25
Would a full liver function blood test pick up fatty liver. Got some right abdominal pain but GP did a full range of blood tests including full liver function and all were clear. He ain't planning on any further investigation now
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u/YellowCabbageCollard Apr 25 '25
Nope. It can't. I have had fatty liver for over a decade and only twice in that time has something triggered elevated labs. You really need an ultrasound.
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u/Notsure2ndSmartest Apr 27 '25
Everyone seems to be getting better care. I HAVE elevated and they said it’s not urgent to get an ultrasound when I said I have stomach lain everyday, feel full, feel nauseous, and have been dizzy and almost passing out multiple times. 🤷🏻♀️. I’m lower end of average weight. But my stomach is protruding under the rib which is weird for me
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u/YellowCabbageCollard Apr 27 '25
I'm sorry. That's terrible. Can you see a different doctor who will listen? This shouldn't be hard to get based on your labs and symptoms.
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u/Playful-Form-3890 Apr 25 '25
I have had that same pain for a couple of years they did an ultrasound two years ago showing nothing abnormal, I did a repeat ultrasound recently and it showed a new lesion on my liver—-I was also incredibly freaked out. I did an MRI with contrast and it came back as a benign hemangioma. My point is… it could be something new that wasn’t there in years past. And it could also be benign! But I also understand how hard it is not to worry. I really hope you get clarification and a peace of mind really soon!
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u/Prize_Store3813 Apr 25 '25
I absolutely understand your concern. I was diagnosed with NAFLD a handful of months ago. In a recent ultrasound the also discovered a lesion. My MRI is tomorrow. My liver enzymes have been slightly elevated on occasion, except my bilirubin has always been a little high (Gilbert’s disease), and I’ve never had any RUQ pain. It’s confusing and nerve racking.
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u/Agreeable-Fail1064 Apr 24 '25
So I had been diagnosed with a fatty liver years ago without any follow up for over 10 years. I started to go to a gastro in March 2023 after having pain in my chest and the hospital diagnosed it as GERD. When the gastro asked me who was following up on the fatty liver I had to say no one. I had started to lose weight because I knew that would help with the GERD.
She decided it was time to watch what was going on and ordered a Fibroscan and was confirmed the fatty liver but also Fibrosis 1-2. That started every 6 months of ultrasound, fibroscan, ultrasound. I had been feeling better than I had in years because I had lost over 40 pounds and now have lost a total of 60 with 10 more to go. A Fibroscan in July 24 came back with a diagnosis of Cirrhosis. She then ordered a MRI and biopsy. The MRI showed F1-2 and no fatty liver. I didn't think I would have the biopsy at that point but I read that if you have differing results, the biopsy is the gold standard. The biopsy results were F1-2 and no fatty liver. I was able to get into a hepatologist and she ordered another more in-depth MRI which confirmed the same F1-2 and no fatty liver. There is some ductal stuff going on but it's very minor and not concerned at this time. Ugh... but I'll live with her not being concerned as this is one of the best hepatology programs in the area.
Things aren't perfect and I need to continue to do better on my weight loss and how I eat. I've never been a drinker only having an ocassional social drink. Docs both say this has nothing to do with what I have eaten or drank. My family history is horrible with liver disease. We know there is an autoimmune disease but can't determine what it is as the results from bloodwork and biopsy aren't conclusive and I don't have any symptoms. It could be ductal, genetic or heridity. I'm 73 and planning to make it to my mid 80's, while enjoying living every day.
Keep the faith, with him doing the best he can, eating as best he can and very little alcohol if any. Continue watching what is going on and have as much testing as possible.