Liver Pain or something else?

[babygirlie]

I don't recall having this pain until the end of my pregnancy. At 36 weeks I went to the twice weekly appointments at the hospital to check on the baby since I had gestational diabetes. Apparently my blood pressure had gone up and I had been having pain on my right side under my rib. It's directly south and right of my right breast under the last rib. An uncomfortable pain but not screaming pain.

This OB on call (I didn't have my own.. this town is very booked) told me my liver lining was going to rupture right now if I didn't have the baby. That me and my baby could very well be dead in an hour from a stroke etc etc etc. To make a long horrible story short I had the baby 3 days later and my liver did not rupture. I have since asked for a liver panel which I am told is normal.

My dd is now almost 21 months old and I am still having that pain under my right rib and it is causing me a lot of anxiety. My mother died of non alcoholic liver disease (genetic? PBCirrohosis). I'm scared. I asked my new dr (who I am pretty sure is not very bright (he's never heard of pcos for example) but the only Dr my insurance will cover) and he said it was strain from carrying the baby around.

I admit I'm not in good shape but I don't really carry the baby around (another long story but she's autistic and doesn't need me much). I mean I carry her to the living room in the morning on my right hip from her crib and to bed. That's about it.

The terror that OB put into me was awful and I'm scared my liver is going to rupture. My moms death is unknown cause.

I mean I'm not dead yet and I did have a liver panel done about a year ago and no one threw up any red flags my way. but it IS the exact same pain I felt 21 months ago. Today is not the first time I've had it. I've actually had it several times since she was born, but the dr didn't think it was anything but I can't buy the whole poor mom strain as I don't carry her around much.

Can someone tell me what's going on or at least their theory. That day was terrible and I feel like I'm not doing something that I need despite telling the dr my fears. I told him about that day and he laughed it off and said... and did it rupture? Well... no. I don't entirely trust any of them lol. I'm confused. But I don't want to die. I have this girl to raise until she can at least start functioning on her own.

[lilmom]

It's not your liver! It's your gallbladder! I had the same pain during my pregnancy with DS, and unfortunately it is recurring right now, 3.5 yrs later.

I cannot believe that doc said your liver was going to rupture!!!! OMG!

I suggest working on healing your gallbladder. There are herbs you can take. Also I have recently learned that it can be related to a gluten intolerance, thanks to someone on this board!

Also, I might add that mine DID turn into excruciating, omg, please let's get this baby out before I die kind of pain. Once I had the baby, I was fine after a few weeks. Now it's back..but not as painful so I am doing everything I can to try to fix it so that I don't have to have my gallbladder out.

Good luck! I hope that helps you. : )

[babygirlie]

I did have my gall bladder removed when I was 15 (8 stones owie). I think they can grow back though. i'm 34 now. I'm also gluten free for 6 or 7 years.

So that OB was off his rocker? I have always felt that I should have ignored him and went home and cooked her longer. He also told me she would be just fine but she wasn't and was on the whole respiratory/breathing, feeding tubes shebang *sigh*

[geekgolightly]

That OB was a hysteric, but you actually might have been experiencing hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) related to preeclampsia. Did they mention anything about that when you went in for delivery? About spilling protein in your urine or anything? Did you get records of your hospital stay and see if they ran a liver panel. It's great that your liver panel later was fine. That's really great. That you have the same pain might be a reason to just get everything checked to make sure. See if a doc will pull a liver panel or get an abdominal ultrasound ordered. I always like to be safe than sorry.

[springmum]

I wasn't pregnant at the time, but I did have an inflammed liver once when I had pneumonia. Let me tell you though, it was so painful I couldn't move off the floor where stayed until the ambulance came. It was one of the worst pains of mylife. Under my right rib into my diaphragm. The hospital stay was a bit of a blue (morphine helped the pain finally subside) so I don't really know the cause.

I had some raised liver enzymes during my pregnancy (a few months later) with no further complications. I had a liver panel done last year (3 yrs later) and still no further issues.

I hope whatever it is, is resolved quicklyfor you

[geekgolightly]

When I was preeclamptic, my only subjective symptom for hepatomegaly was a discomfort right under my right ribcage. I just couldn't ever sit scrunched and only really felt comfy when I was stretched out a bit, giving that area some room. So some people have severe pain and some only discomfort.

[lilmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by geekgolightly 

That OB was a hysteric, but you actually might have been experiencing hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) related to preeclampsia. Did they mention anything about that when you went in for delivery? About spilling protein in your urine or anything? Did you get records of your hospital stay and see if they ran a liver panel. It's great that your liver panel later was fine. That's really great. That you have the same pain might be a reason to just get everything checked to make sure. See if a doc will pull a liver panel or get an abdominal ultrasound ordered. I always like to be safe than sorry.

I agree with this, as far as wondering if this was pre-e related, since GB was already out. If everything else was normal though, I would say that it could be "phantom" gallbladder pain..I have heard of that happening to some people. But I would get everything checked out.

I do stand by the fact that your ob sounds a bit off.