I've had slightly elevated liver enzymes for at least three years, but no one has ever said anything about it. I've also been taking Lipitor for my cholesterol for at least three years. In January my PCP decided to see if I had a fatty liver *completely* out of the blue. An ultrasound did reveal what appeared to be fat deposits in the liver and an enlarged spleen. Now I had to see a gastroenterologist.
This guy was a piece of work. I walked into his office and right off the bat I told him that I'd recently been diagnosed with PCOS and was supposed to start Glucophage. He informed me that I was diabetic (obviously never heard of PCOS) and recommended gastric bypass surgery. I was stunned. He told me that when my weight began to impact my health as it obviously had, gastric bypass was the best option. He also wants to do a liver biopsy, and offered to prescribe Valium for me if I thought it would stress me out too much. Like I was a hysterical woman!
I went for the blood tests he ordered, but the more I thought about it, the angrier I became, and when they called to make the appointment for the biopsy I told them I was going to get a second opinion. At this point I'd heard that there might be some link between PCOS and liver disease, so I called the ONLY doctor I know who has any experience with it and asked for a referral. Unfortunately, the referral was to someone in the same practice!
The second opinion doctor's assistant called me to say that he didn't feel PCOS would have any relevance and that he agreed with what the first idiot said. Now I don't know what to do. Even if I wind up getting the liver biopsy, I've got no respect for someone who doesn't know the difference between insulin resistant and diabetic, and refuses to listen when the patient tries to explain. In the past, I've had extremely bad experiences with doctors who think they don't have to listen to patients. (emergency surgery types of bad experiences.) I'm still reading the articles I found at the links on this site.
Has anyone else had any kind of experience with this?
Do I have the right to switch to yet another gastroenterologist at a different practice? Would that just be too prissy of me?
What about an endocrinologist? Would seeing one help in this situation?
Tia, if your more comfortable switching then that's what I would do.
It seems to me that when doctors specialize in an area, they lose some of their ability to relate to their patients and to listen to them...I don't know why this happens. It does seem to be a common thing.
__________________ 38, married, 4 children
Dx- PCOS 1991
kidney stones - potassium citrate & hydrochlorothiazide
high blood pressure- Lisinopri
high uric acid- allopurinol
Magnesium gluconate
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I was also diagnosed with fatty liver and enlarged spleen in Jan. My family doc diagnosed it with a blood test and ultrasound, and that was that. I never had to go to a gastro. And I would've died if I had to have a biopsy. I got online and researched it and when the doc called me I told him that I was taking met and started a low carb diet and he said that's great. We will just check my liver enzymes every 6 months and monitor it that way. One of the causes listed for fatty liver is insulin resistance, so taking met can help too. I couldn't trust a doc that said I have diabetes without even testing for it first.
- What was the basis for the doctor diagnosing you as diabetic? I'd want some clarity on that.
- Re: PCOS and liver problems...
Actually, the doctor based his statement that I had diabetes on the fact that I was going to start taking Glucophage. I assume that he was assuming that because it's used to treat type II diabetes, that was why I was going to be taking it. (ETA--I *did* try to explain that I wasn't diabetic, I was insulin resistant, and he shrugged me off.) I have had non-fasting glucose tests in the last three years, but none came back abnormal. I've also had fasting glucose tests oh-so-many years ago, but those were all normal and he doesn't have access to those because apparently not a single doctor I've had in my life has felt it necessary to share files even when I signed requests for release. (sorry, I'm a little frustrated.)
Thank you very much for the links! I had seen the studies, but the discussions hadn't come up when I did a search, I probably didn't put in the right search terms.
I was also diagnosed with fatty liver and enlarged spleen in Jan. My family doc diagnosed it with a blood test and ultrasound, and that was that. I never had to go to a gastro. And I would've died if I had to have a biopsy. I got online and researched it and when the doc called me I told him that I was taking met and started a low carb diet and he said that's great. We will just check my liver enzymes every 6 months and monitor it that way. One of the causes listed for fatty liver is insulin resistance, so taking met can help too. I couldn't trust a doc that said I have diabetes without even testing for it first.
Julie, I just about cried with relief when I read this. (Okay, I'm a crying type of person.) I had just about talked myself into the liver biopsy, but I just can't face going back to that doctor. But I didn't want to ignore a possible health problem, either. Now I think I have a little bit more time to find a better solution. Thank you!
I was diagnosed with a fatty liver too. It was via ultrasound. The doctor said that since my blood work came back normal that it wasn't anything to be concerned with right now. I was prescribed diet and exercise. My sister also had elevated liver enzymes for a while and they eventually went back to normal after she lost weight. And as a matter of fact, my dog had the same thing! She just had extensive liver testing done last week and everything had returned to normal. I would definately seek a second opinion before letting them cut you open!
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Mini Goal- 140- REACHED 7/28/08!!! New Mini Goal- 130! - REACHED 10/10/08!!! 27 years old- no meds- trying to get healthy through diet and exercise
I'm glad I could help. I would hate for you to go through unnecessary stuff. Good luck!
eta* I forgot to mention that 6 weeks after my first diagnosis and sticking to a low carb diet and exercise they retested my blood and it was normal that time. So it can be treated easily.
I had a fatty liver about 7 years ago. It started with blood tests then an ultrasound and then off to see the internist and he said it is fat deposited on my liver because of being over weight and having PCOS. He said that when you are older, 50's plus if I still had a fatty liver they would want to biopsy it then, not when I am young and overweight there is no reason. I went on glucophage and have never looked back. My liver is doing well and I am still overweight. Take care...
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
PCOS since 1999 ---
Me: (40)
BF: (41)
3 beautiful adopted babies -----
DD: (12)
DS: (10)
DD: (9)
1 beautiful little angel -- Oct 8, 2007 --
Glucophage, Spironolactone
No more TTC for us....
I Am Hoping Others Are Still Reading This. I Am 34 And Was Diagnosed With PcoS In 1998. I Have ThE Same Health Issues As Most wITH Pcos. However, I Had A Complete Hysterectomy 1 1/2 Years Ago After Trying To Conceive For A 3rd Time Which Was To No Avail AND HAD TO HAVE A DNC. I ALSO Had Last Stage Of Hyperplasia Before Ovarian Cancer. A Year Later I Had To Have My Gall Bladder Removed. I Started Having Elevated Liver Levels A Year Ago. Now It Has Moved To portal HypertensioN. I Am Scheduled For A Liver Biopsy Tuesday And Considering Gastric Bypass For Weight Loss. Has Anyone Else My Age Had He Same Issues? I Have Nash Too. I AM SCARED AS THEY DOCTOR SAID FOR A 34 YEAR OLD TO HAVE MY ISSUES IT IS SERIOUS? I AM ON 1000 MG OF METFORMIN.
Last edited by mdsmith; 05-04-2008 at 01:41 AM.
Reason: TYPO
I would think that you might want to start a thread of your own--that would be the best way to assure that more people saw it. I know there are other women on this board who have had gastric bypass, and they would probably have some good advice for you! As for the rest, the only thing I know to recommend is to make sure you have a doctor you can trust, and if you have any doubts, get a second opinion!
__________________ Me (36) DH (43)
married 1990
DS (13) and DD (9)
Diagnosed March 14, 2008
Liver Problems? 
