How serious is an enlarged liver?

Question

I was recently diagnosed with it-I understand it is asymptom not a condition. I've read it could be alcohol related- hepatitus- CANCER- too much iron- lukemia- OMG!
How serious is it? Could it just be from stress? How dangerous is it? I am scared- just got bloodwork done- getting ready for my ultrasound- any help would be help !

Answer 1

It can be not such a problem where rest or giving blood is the best treatment. Or it could indicate far more serious problems.

One step at a time. Let's find out why this is happening.
Stress is probably not the cause, but it won't help to start panicing now. However you should be improving your diet and exercise if you have been lax. No alcohol, obviously.

Answer 2

An enlarged liver itself is not serious - it happens normally when fighting off certain infections. So, if you've been sick recently, there's a good chance the liver will return to normal after a short while. If you haven't been sick recently, then it will take a few tests to determine what is causing the problem. Stress does not cause an enlarged liver. You will just have to wait for the test results before you will know what type of problem is causing the enlargement. Its really difficult waiting for something like this because it could be something serious, or hardly nothing at all. Hope for the best, and take each step as it comes.

Answer 3

Many conditions may cause an enlarged liver, including:

Alcohol abuse
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Hepatitis
Heart failure
Liver cancer
Infections such as mononucleosis
Excessive iron in the body (hemochromatosis)
Blood disorders such as leukemia
Treatment of an enlarged liver depends on the cause.

Alcohol abuse. If the enlarged liver is alcohol-related, it's essential to stop drinking. Although liver damage from cirrhosis is irreversible, treatment can often help prevent further damage and reduce complications.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Weight loss and exercise are often an essential part of treatment. It's also important to avoid alcohol and keep your cholesterol under control. If you have diabetes, manage your blood sugar carefully.
Hepatitis. There's no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Medication may be recommended for hepatitis B or C. If your liver has been severely damaged, a liver transplant may be an option.
Heart failure. Various medications are used to treat heart failure. Some take the burden of extra fluid off the liver.
Liver cancer. Depending on the type and stage of the disease and various other factors, liver cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Blood disorders. With hemochromatosis, regularly drawing blood can reduce the amount of iron the liver has to process. Treatment for leukemia is complex. Therapies may include chemotherapy and radiation.

Answer 4

Well the liver is a vital organ that you can't do without. Waiting for the bloodwork to come back on something like that is nerve-racking.

Just think positively and hope that it's much-ado about nothing. Take everything one day at a time and try not to think about what it could mean.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Hi Banana

It probalby is Hep C and here is how to heal the issue.

Symptoms
In the early stages of hepatitis, symptoms usually include loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Rashes and pain in the joints can also occur. Within three to ten days, an additional symptom of dark urine may occur, followed by the skin turning yellow (jaundice). In addition, the liver usually becomes enlarged and is tender to the touch. Other symptoms can include mild flu-like symptoms to severe liver failure and brain coma.

Cause
The most common cause of hepatitis is a virus that can occur in five potential forms: A, B, C, D, or E. Other causes include excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse (including pharmaceutical drugs, such as acetaminophen), overexposure to chemicals, and, sometimes, as a reaction to properly prescribed medications.

In recent years, hepatitis C has been on the increase. It is most frequently caused as a result of blood transfusions. Typically, people with hepatitis C are identified either because they have abnormal liver tests or because of a hepatitis C antibody test. A positive test does not necessarily mean serious liver disease, however. People with hepatitis C may have no liver disease, a mild form of chronic hepatitis, or a more serious form of hepatitis that may progress over a number of years to cirrhosis. The usual indications are a positive antibody test for the hepatitis C virus, abnormal liver tests for more than six to twelve months, and a liver biopsy that shows chronic active hepatitis. Approximately 20% of patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus will go on to develop cirrhosis.

Note: Infectious hepatitis can be easily spread two weeks before and one week after jaundice appears. The feces of people with hepatitis contain the virus. Therefore, very strict toilet hygiene and hand and cloth washing should be observed during this time.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: Rosemary can help stimulate liver function.

Diet: Follow a diet low in protein and high in fresh vegetables to minimize stress on the liver. Also eat small meals throughout the day, and avoid foods such as refined sugars, alcohol, and caffeine, which cause stress on the liver, and be sure to drink plenty of filtered water. Drinking fresh lemon juice water every morning and evening followed by vegetable juice is also recommended to help liver function. Easily digested grains, such as millet, buckwheat, and quinoa, are also good food choices.

Enemas: Three warm enemas administered daily can help boost liver function.

Herbs: The liver-cell regenerative properties of herbs such as milk thistle and licorice can be helpful. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture three times a day. Tumeric combined with milk thistle has also been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of hepatitis B.

Juice Therapy: The following juice combinations can be helpful: beet, carrot, and wheat grass juice; or garlic, burdock, flax, and black currants.

Nutritional Supplementation: Supplement with vitamin C, beta carotene, liver glandulars, milk thistle extract, vitamin B complex, adrenal glandulars, lipotropic factors, pantothenic acid, free-form amino acids, betaine hydrochloric acid (HCL), multi-enzymes, and evening primrose oil.

Alternative Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating hepatitis: Ayurveda, Acupuncture, Detoxification Therapy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, and Oxygen Therapy.

Best of health to you

Answer 6

its probably hepatitis c...everyone has at least one risk factor for the virus that causes liver disease.