- Bloating

[Guest guest]

,

It could be (more than likely) one of two things. One is ascites - fluid

retention. Unless your further along in the disease, I would be willing to

say that is not what is causing you the pain. In addition, it would not

just disappear " overnight " . Your abdomen would feel squishy, but would be

the entire area. More than likely, the second option may be the culprit.

As you probably have read the liver is the only organ that can regenerate

itself. In your case and is the case with I assume all, is that when the

liver cells begin deteriorate or become cirrhotic, new cells are formed to

pick up the slack. This increases the liver's overall size. This might

not be the case and I don't think its ever been the discussed (the experts

- please correct me if I'm wrong) is that if the CBD is blocked or

constricted, wouldn't the bile that the liver is able to produce " stay " in

the liver causing it to swell? Seems logical but may not be the case. Of

course, eventually the liver is unable to replace those dying cells and the

entire liver becomes cirrhotic.

When I was tx'd, my liver weighed in at just under 8 lbs. The pressure was

extremely uncomfortable as you can imagine. Just below my ribcage from the

xyphoid (? - little bone 'tween rib cages) to the edge of my back was

swollen and hard. Its size created pressure on my diaphragm which in

turned made it difficult to breath. When I was tx'd, I had to struggle to

take a deep breath - it just plain hurt and it would shoot throughout my

entire lower torso. When I ate, I typically could only manage a few bites

at a time. Not the best thing in the world for someone who has a hard time

absorbing nutrients as well as maintaining a " healthy " weight.

Darin