MRCP & Results

I had my MRCP/MRI type deal. It was actually a couple of weeks ago and I got my results back pretty quickly! I am happy and disappointed at the same time. While the tests came back normal and I am not dying of anything (yeah!!!), I still have unknown pain that flairs up every so often, and is "unlabeled" (or labeled as unknown). According to this test, my liver looks normal. The Dr. basically said to go to OHSU for a second opinion (my last second opinion from them cost $75 AFTER insurance covered it...all for just looking at my test results). I told him no, I will just sit for a while after doing all these tests, and see what happens in a few months.

I have a follow up appt. in July, do my blood work in June before my appt. and we will see if my liver panel went up or down. If down...I will continue to make positive changes in my life. If up, well then off to OHSU for a 2nd opinion and for an appt. with a liver specialist. I still have a hard time with the fact that for years now I have these "flare ups" of random things and then they just disappear, totally! I guess we'll know more after the next flare up, and just hope that it isn't too bad of whatever flares up next? Going the healthy positive route, I can only hope that I get healthier overall and less flare ups, because I know the foods I eat (they aren't that bad actually) do create inflammation in my body so bad sometimes, for weeks, that my back and hips and legs and torso are just stiff from pain and swelling. All processed through the liver? One can only guess, and I am done with research for now. Just guessing games online and at the Dr's office. Just life now!

I am disappointed it wasn't something treatable, so I would KNOW nothing worse is wrong with me, so my pain would go away and so all this money and time spent wasn't in total vain.

For now, eating healthier, exercise, abandoning caffeine, fats & sweets, getting more sleep, positive thinking, happiness, meeting with my Chiropractor/Nutritional Consultant and taking Tylenol when the pain gets really bad should suffice! But isn't that the prescription for everyone really? Just basic good healthy habits leads to a good life. Jeez, and I spent all those thousands and thousands (or owe I should say) to find out that gem?

Pre-Liver Biopsy

I have to say, this week has been mostly up, but I have caught myself displacing my anxiety more than a few times. It didn't come out as anixety though, it was morphed into anger, and directed at my loving family. That got me sad, and using more restraint on myself, which is good.

Today, I am working on the more details of making sure the house is better (not best though, things are a bit behind in the organized home front...toddler #4 will do that to a family!); and working at calming myself into a more peaceful mindframe.

I won't lie and say I haven't thought of the 4 outcomes my Gastro Dr. Em might say to me, and think of how I will deal with each blow, and who would be my first call depending on outcome (that is to say, IF I find anything out tomorrow). From what I researched, these are the most likely outcomes, but there are dozens of others too...

1. Everything is fine, just lose the 55 lbs you are carrying around and your health will return to mostly normal, you just have minor damage to your liver that may/may not heal, but your liver enzymes should return to normal.
2. Well, things aren't fine, but they aren't dire either. You have some minor problems that we can work with over time, but are life long since there is no cure for them...self-help, some meds, and if things get worse as you get older, we have some ideas we can work with (PBC or worse, PSC).
3. You have a severe life long disease that we will work closely with (be it NASH or full blown cirrohsis), and eventually you will need a liver transplant in 10-20 yrs.
4. You have cancer. You are not eligable for a liver transplant due to having cancer.

I am working on thinking positive, as I read, hear and even my Dad tells me...think the outcome you want, and you will most likely get it. It is true, we are what we EAT & THINK, and that is why I am in the place I am now.

I am aware that being this overweight is very bad for me, and that exercise and eating differently will save my life. From the time I worked at Burger King when I was 17, until my gallbladder was removed 11 months ago, I ate fast food about 3 times or more, a week (I was 34 at the time, that was HALF OF MY LIFE).

In our home, we don't have a bunch of junk or even soda. Those are special treats that happen on a bday or something (every other month here). We do eat too much pizza and ice cream, even though I am anti-dairy (what a dirty secret that is!). We don't buy cookies, chips (okay, tortilla chips and fresh salsa in fridge isle). We eat a lot of ground beef, cheap & easy to fix for a family of 6, and whole chickens when they are on sale at Roth's for 69cents a lb! What I am saying is that we don't eat like I see some families eat...a lot of crap. But we don't eat as healthy as I would like according to my own standards.

In 24 hours, I will be sedated, sliced open (just a bit) and a needle will pull some of my liver out to test. I pray, pray, pray that I get a second chance at life, and some life sentence doesn't come from this. I keep thinking, maybe I am overreacting...but what if this is even more than I realize it could be?

My Dr. reminds me though, if it were cancer, you would be losing weight...well, I am a steady 190, so that is a good sign!