Post op Fatty liver question, no help from doctors

[MIZ60 1,291]

On 11/29/2019 at 10:54 AM, HopefullXOXOXO said:

Wow FluffyChix, you've done great! Very happy for you.

The reason I came here with my question is my doctor (surgeon) doesn't want to deal with this. He says "I'm the surgeon", ask your primary care. My primary care says "I'm not a weight loss specialist, the weight loss center should be helping you with this." The hospital, Mass General in Boston, Ma., for some reason, doesn't have a doctor, other than the surgeon, for me to talk to about this. It's very frustrating. All I was told was to eat low fat and low sugar. I'm already doing that. The only other thing I was told is to stay away from Tylenol and other pain killers. My question: for LIFE? Really? Not realistic.

I'm sorry to say that Mass. General's weight loss program isn't good. At least it hasn't been for me. The surgery itself was done very well and I have no complaints about that at all. All other follow up, like with a nutritionist, etc. was pretty much useless. They didn't give me any information I didn't already have and could have easily found online. The post op support is non existent. I could have been the nutritionist I saw because she did retire about 6 months after my surgery. Her heart just wasn't it in. It's my opinion they should have other doctors who are knowledgeable about WLS to help patients who have problems post op. Maybe it's just me.

Bottom line, I have no idea what stage it is. I just know that's what the ultrasound showed and that my liver enzymes are high. ??? The ultrasound results say:

echogenic liver parenchyma which may be related to underlying liver

disease

Perhaps I should see a liver specialist. I didn't even know there are specialists for the liver. Makes sense.

Hey there...I just looked at the Massachuesetts General Hospital website and they have 8 gastroenterologists/internists that specialize in non alcoholic liver disease. I would ask your PCP and surgeon for an ASAP referral because something is up and you need answers sooner than later. If you are not getting anywhere with them, contact the patient advocate at the hospital and ask them (nicely😃) for help at getting you seen by a specialist. Stay away from the tylenol for sure until you know what is going on. You need your liver to live so please get on the phone ASAP and start the process.

I had my sleeve the day before you did and my liver enzymes were very slightly elevated at the time of surgery which my surgeon said was common with morbid obesity. He said my liver look "perfect" at the time of surgery and when I had the labs checked again at 6 months and i8 months out the enzymes were completely normal. Good luck and please be your own advocate.

Edited November 30, 2019 by MIZ60

[JessLess 1,163]

Yeah, MGH is one of the top hospitals. I was very surprised they weren’t being more helpful.

[HopefullXOXOXO 73]

I've been going to Mass. General for many years and have always had wonderful care there. So I've been very surprised by the weight loss center. Like I said though, the nutritionist who led the support group after surgery, retired last year and I think her heart just wasn't in it. I do think the weight loss center should have doctors available for after care. I've told this to several people at MGH. I really appreciate all the responses and now feel like I'll be able to get somewhere. I do have to take some responsibility though since I didn't even know there are doctors that specialize in liver disease. Now that I know what to ask for, I hope I'll get the answers I'm looking for.

[Azin 8]

Hello Lisa, how are you doing?

first, what is the grade of your fatty liver?
Garde 1 doesn't even count my dear.. grade 2 is also mild..

Did you take medication for your GB during your wl? I have no stones but I receive ursodeoxycholic acid once a day as prophylaxis..

Also my dear do you have any pain in your upper right side of tummy? Or even the upper middle part?
Do you vomit or have GB stone symptoms?
If not, it doesn't matter at all.. no worries hon

Sent from my SM-G935F using BariatricPal mobile app

[HopefullXOXOXO 73]

Azin,

I don't know the grade of liver disease. I'll be sure to ask this question as I wasn't even aware there are grades.

I was not given the meds for GB because surgeon said there are a lot of side effects and didn't recommend it. I do have pain under my ribs on the right side. I've also had GB "attacks", where I get shooting pain up into my chest and in my back. I get nauseous but haven't vomited, yet. I'm more worried about my liver since you can live without a GB, can't live without a liver. A few people have commented on my color being off too. My liver was fine through biopsy day of surgery and now I'm told it's "fatty liver disease". Trying to figure out why so I can do something about it.

[Azin 8]

Azin,

I don't know the grade of liver disease. I'll be sure to ask this question as I wasn't even aware there are grades.

I was not given the meds for GB because surgeon said there are a lot of side effects and didn't recommend it. I do have pain under my ribs on the right side. I've also had GB "attacks", where I get shooting pain up into my chest and in my back. I get nauseous but haven't vomited, yet. I'm more worried about my liver since you can live without a GB, can't live without a liver. A few people have commented on my color being off too. My liver was fine through biopsy day of surgery and now I'm told it's "fatty liver disease". Trying to figure out why so I can do something about it.

Under abdominal sonography (ultrasound) it tells you the stage (grade) of your fatty liver.. mine was grade 1, my surgeon said not to worry about it..

My father has both sludge , small stones and fatty liver grade 1; so far he's been doing good..

Fatty liver grade 1 is nothing.. so try to ask them for the grade of ur fatty liver..

If your biopsy is good then your all set and it's not cuz of liver failure or something. Your liver enzymes must hit 2ice a normal or around 500+ to say something around hepatobiliary tract might be wrong..

Your symptoms could be cuz of ur GB and not the liver..

Hang in there hope you feel better soon and hear some great news

Sent from my SM-G935F using BariatricPal mobile app

[Jna81713 1]

Do you have anyone looking into your gallbladder issues??? I had severe pains for awhile ,long story short I actually ended up having gall stones blocking my liver. I started turning yellow. If your having color problems you may need to just go to an er. They will get you the doctors you need. Without having to wait to see one.

[always 59]

It sounds like your in the Boston area. You have one of the top Liver specialist in the USA at Lahey Clinic Dr. Roger Jenkins. He has been voted top in his field by Specialists in his field . He has his own wing at Lahey. Above all he is the sweetest physician you will ever met. He has managed me for over 12 years and I'm still healthy. As a FYI Brigham and Women in Boston gave me 3 months to live with metastatic Pancreatic Cancer from IPMN. He was a second opinion I went to and never left. Good luck