Lots of health issues - i need to talk!

[Carina1962]

Hello, I hope someone takes the time to read my post today. I feel so down and depressed at the moment. I have suffered from GORD for 12 years and take Omeprazole for it. Over the last couple of months, my symptoms seemed to have got worse and I was convinced I had gallstones as I get a mild (stitch like pain) under my right rib (it's more of a discomfort than a bad pain). Anyway, I've had a couple of tests - one was an ultrasound scan to check for gallstones based on my symptoms and the other was an endoscopy. The endoscopy revealed a hiatus hernia (which I am not too worried about, I can live with that) but the scan has revealed no gallstones BUT they have found a cyst on my liver and I am being referred to a specialist at the end of June. This came as a total shock to me and I am terrified it is cancer although I have spoken to a couple of different GP's about this letter that I received and they basically told me not to worry (easier said than done!) and that cysts are often picked up by scans for something else but of course I am worried as I get symptoms with it (the symptoms that prompted me to go to my GP for a scan in the first place). My father died of liver cancer when he was 77 years old and I am terrified that I have inherited the gene but my GP said that if he had been say younger in age (in his 40's say) then they tend to think more genetics. I also read that having diabetes can increase the risk of liver cancer (and other cancers) and I mentioned this to my GP and she said that diabetes throws up a lot of complications. I just now need to get this cyst sorted out and to find out what is going to be done about it. I am so down as I feel that ever since I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in 2009, my health has deteriorated - I HATE diabetes with a vengeance! thanks for listening!

 

[Amigo]

Hi Carina and sorry you're feeling so worried and overwhelmed at the moment. It's so hard to live with the uncertainty of conditions that are undiagnosed and simply saying 'don't worry' is meaningless. Of course you'll be concerned about a genetic link but the reality is 5% of the population get harmless liver cysts from what I've read and this extract might explain the pain I your abdomen. It's referring to completely benign liver cysts. You can't change what will be but try to hold onto the positive explanations because they're usually more likely. Especially with a condition like diabetes.

'Liver cysts generally do not affect liver function and may remain asymptomatic for years. When cysts become enlarged, they can rupture or push against other organs, causing bloating, a feeling of fullness, and a sudden pain in the upper right abdominal area'.

Persistent GERD and a hiatus hernia are miserable conditions too but hopefully containable on a day to day basis.

I've had 3 life threatening diagnoses in the last two and a half years, 2 of them cancer so I understand fear. I live with a (hopefully) treatable but incurable blood cancer. It's amazing how it shifts your perspective so when I was diagnosed with diabetes 8 weeks ago, it seemed like the final low blow. And the amazing thing is I look so healthy! I've learned to tackle the problems one day at a time because being resentful only eats at me with no real purpose. Not to say I don't have some very dark days though 😱

Sending you massive best wishes for the strength to cope but there's a motto I try to live by, 'don't let the fear of dying destroy the joy of living'.

Warm Regards x 🙂

 

[Carina1962]

Thanks for your post. I am trying to keep positive and hope that the consultant will reassure me. I doubt I would be waiting 8 weeks if this was of concern (so everyone keeps telling me!). I am on quite a lot of medication including statins and I now can't help thinking that these statins have 'damaged' my liver in some way but all my liver and kidney tests that I have as part of my diabetic reviews seem to come back OK so I don't know what may have caused this cyst. I have had cysts before in the past ie I had an ovarian cyst many years ago but they decided to leave that alone and not do anything. I am guessing that they can tell a lot from an ultrasound scan but it may be that I may need a further scan of some sort just to be on the safe side. I suppose in a way, it's been found by chance (incidental they called it on the letter) and now it needs to be looked at. I hope you are doing OK with your own health problems but it really does knock you for six when you just happily go along with life and then out of the blue you get this. I wish I had had annual health checks from BUPA once I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in 2009.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Carina, sorry to hear you aren't feeling so well, and hope things improve for you soon.
Just an aside for you if you had suspected cancer then you would have been seen a lot sooner than the end of June. So think positive even though the not knowing and over active imagination is playing havoc with you. (((((((((hugs))))))))

 

[Carina1962]

My GP said that the radiographer who took the scan would have noted more serious notes down. The first GP I saw said that it was down as a 'simple cyst' but when I saw the 2nd GP yesterday she said it was noted as a 'complex cyst' so why did the first GP say it was a simple cyst? (and she was reading it from her computer screen). From what I have googled, it says that they can either leave them alone or if it is causing symptoms (which it is) then they might consider removing it although the thought of an operation to remove a cyst from my liver is not something I would look forward to!

 

[Amigo]

If your liver function tests are normal Carina and the cyst didn't cause undue alarm at the scan (no matter how they described it), it sounds very positive. Also blood tests usually show up a chemical called Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) when there are cancer issues. I'm sure your doc will be on to these things and would have referred you under the 2 week rule if he'd been concerned.

If it is a cyst that's causing your abdominal discomfort, you'd be better getting rid of it! I understand sometimes it can be done laparoscopically.

Good luck and thanks for your best wishes. 🙂

 

[Carina1962]

UPDATE - I have spoken with 3 GP's now at my practice about my letter concerning my liver cyst. I don't really feel anymore reassured. Basically, I have what is classed as a 'complex' cyst and that is why I am being referred as they (the consultants) are the experts. I asked what a complex cyst meant and she drew it on a bit of paper saying it had a bit of irregularity with a line down it. I must admit I don't like the sound of it at all but she did say it did show up on the scan as a cyst and not a solid matter (whatever that means) but she also said that the only way to determine whether a cyst is benign or malignant is to do a biopsy so I guess I just have to wait and see the consultant and see whether in his expertise he will be able to tell me whether I need to worry about it or maybe have further testing - a very worrying time for me at the moment to say the least :-(

 

[Amigo]

Sorry this has you so worried Carina. No chance of them getting you an earlier appointment?

 

[trophywench]

Carina - cysts are like - you know 'sleep' - what you get in the corners of your eyes? - like that stuff and for some reason instead of it just dissipating, it sort of overproduces, lumps together and the body throws protective tissue round it. They often get bigger and then just disappear again - I know several people including me who have had breast lumps which just turned out to be cysts and went again.

Anyway, when they scan or do a mammogram - because of what they are made of - nothing much! - they look different to cancer 'lumps' - which are a lot more dense in texture. (Imagine a cube of raw pork fat, without the skin, as against a cube of fillet steak? The difference in texture.)

 

[pippaandben]

Carina have re-read for messages and saw that early on you mentioned taking omeprazole which seemed to not be working so well now. You could ask your Dr if Lansoprazole could help you. When OH stopped getting as much benefit as before he was moved to this one and it was worked very well with now rarely getting symptoms - unless having an unsupervised "forbidden" fatty meal!!!

 

[Carina1962]

I just seem to be confused with my symptoms and can't pinpoint where they relate to ie is it my hiatus hernia or liver cyst? or something else? I think I may go back and see my GP this week. I think the waiting to see a consultant about this liver cyst is causing me a lot of anxiety at the moment.