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Raised liver function and flecks on pancreas after pregnancy?

14 replies

brucicals · 05/12/2012 11:27

Anyone else had anything similar? I'm looking for reassurance as I'm terrified!

Blood tests revealed I have raised liver function a couple of months ago. I've had two further tests and the second showed liver function had improved but still abnormal. Latest liver function showed one level to have improve further while the other has increased again :(

GP sent me for an ultrasound which showed flecks through my pancreas indicating previous pancreatitis. Doc said she thinks its probably due to pregnancy and should settle. Im just really worried, reading about pancreatitis I should have been really ill and in pain, but I haven't been!I'm seeing a liver specialist next Friday but I just freaking out!! My LO is 6mths old and I just want to concentrate on her..not worry about myself. I've had pain below my ribs since about halfway through pregnancy which has not gone away..doc at time said it was just pain from pressure from baby. I'm now worried its connected to this. I also get very dizzy and lightheaded quite often.

I'm just looking for anyone with similar experience and some reassurance??

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Elibean · 05/12/2012 13:30

No experience of pg related pancreatitis, but just wanted to bump your post and offer a hand....waiting for tests and results etc is so utterly horrible!

Pregnancy can cause all sorts of weird and wonderful temporary conditions - from kidney stones to hernias - and the only time people seem to get painless UTIs is during pregnancy: honestly, I can well believe painless pancreatitis (or just 'indigestion pain' which one would put down to heartburn in pregnancy) can exist in pregnancy.

Congrats on your little dd, and I hope the specialist reassures you fast. xxx

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Elibean · 05/12/2012 13:31

ps pregnancy can also cause all sorts of liver related things, again temporary.

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brucicals · 05/12/2012 18:25

Thanks for the reasurance Elibean :) you really have made me feel a little better. The doc said pregnancy does all sorts of weird things to your body, so I'm sure that's what's happened. Its just the not knowing and the waiting that is making me go absolutely insane! It's unfair to expect answers from my GP...they don't know that's why I'm going to see the specialist. And I know googling symptoms is a BAD idea but I can't help it. I'm usually pretty level headed about stuff but this has just knocked me sideways.

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mummylouise · 05/12/2012 18:29

Do you know which levels on your liver function test were raised?

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foxyhen · 05/12/2012 18:32

Any other symptoms? Stomach pain? Back pain? I did and it was gallstones - this also raised my liver function stats. An ultrasound confirmed stones and the gallbladder was subsequently removed.

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brucicals · 05/12/2012 18:40

Not sure what they are called but the doc said there were 3 they measure in LF test. The one that involves bilirubin was normal...the other 2 were raised. I did ask what they were but had completely forgot by the time I got home :/

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brucicals · 05/12/2012 18:45

I feel fine now, had horrendous indigestion while pregnant tho. I'm hoping its gallstones, I read that can inflame the pancreas. Gallstones isn't as scary as other things I've read about. Foxyhen...how severe was the pain you had?

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Baskets45 · 05/12/2012 19:06

Sorry you are having these worries. The way i see it is this. You are well. Certainly not acutely ill anyway. You are seeing specialist promptly - so will know next steps soon. You've had a scan - it would probably have shown gallstones if you had them (occasionally they lurk - in bile ducts - and can't be seen on scan but usually can be ruled out if not on scan. IYSWIM!). If it is, as they suspect, pancreatitis, then it's not been a really bad attack and there are precautions you can take, like taking minimal or no booze, till it's all settled down. And hopefully avoiding making it worse. Regarding your light headedness, have you had bloods checked for possible anaemia? I presume your GP has done this to rule that out.

I do hope you get more info and reassurance next week. It's horrid worrying about a problem with a major organ (I have autoimmune liver disease - and had CT scan today as have dodgy lymph node, prob due to inflammation - so I do know about worryingXmas Smile). My strategy (I try it anyway!) is to not fret about stuff that hasn't happened and might not happen (and trying to decide when to have my one single glass of white over the festive seasonXmas Wink).

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Elibean · 05/12/2012 19:12

brucicals, sounds like ALT and AST were raised - all sorts of things can raise them, and an attack of pancreatitis certainly could, for a fair old while afterwards too.

My mum had a horrible attack of it a few years ago, and has not had one single problem since. She avoided chocolate and alcohol and fried stuff for a while, that was all.

Now step away from Google...go on, slowly, and a few steps more....and, relax Wink

Google is addictive bad news: been there, still recovering!

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Baskets45 · 05/12/2012 19:45

Yes, that's something I meant to say, that it can take ages for organs like liver and pancreas to recover, but often they do, esp when the 'triggers' are removed.

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foxyhen · 06/12/2012 01:09

The pain was awful. Would happen every week or two. Stomach pain that wouldn't quit, nausea, sometimes vomiting. Would start, stay constantly for 12 hours and then disappear. The op cured everything for me though. But the pain was worse than labour.

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brucicals · 06/12/2012 10:20

Baskets45....Im so sorry you are going through worries also. It is truley horrid isnt it!! I hope all goes well for you and you get better soon Smile. I am trying to not think about it too much...like you said, Im not ill ill! I am just going to concentrate on my beautiful baby...worrying isnt going to make it go away so whats the point right Hmm

And Elibean...I have managed to go cold turkey on google for a whole night!! Now to get through today!!

Thanks everyone for your support....its funny how venting worries to others makes it easier to cope with.

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brucicals · 06/12/2012 10:21

foxyhen that sounds terrible!! Im glad you have it sorted now. I definitely havent had any pain like that thank god!

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Elibean · 06/12/2012 10:31

Well done Brucicals, cold turkey is a good start: now, one day at a time, easy does it, keep away from Dr Google Grin

I bet if we were all scanned, we'd have flecks all over the place.

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