Swelling in the legs and abdomen. The increased pressure in the portal vein can cause fluid to accumulate in the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites). Edema and ascites also may result from the inability of the liver to make enough of certain blood proteins, such as albumin.
You likely won't notice an enlarged liver on your own. In some severe cases, you might notice a feeling of bloating or fullness in your belly, or an ache in your upper right abdomen, where your liver is. It's more likely your healthcare provider will discover it during an exam.
Stage 3 is cirrhosis of your liver, caused by severe liver scarring. At the cirrhosis stage, you may experience more symptoms of liver damage including jaundice, weakness, fatigue, appetite and weight loss, abdominal bloating, and edema in your extremities.
Most of the time, if you have a slightly enlarged liver, you won't notice any symptoms. If it's severely swollen, you may have: A feeling of fullness. Discomfort in your belly.
A swollen abdomen can point to a condition called ascites, in which liver malfunction leads to an imbalance of proteins and other compounds, and fluid builds up in the tissues. The main symptom, potbelly, often signals cirrhosis.
Advanced symptoms
As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop, such as: yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema)
Stage 3: Cirrhosis
During this stage of disease, symptoms become more noticeable: pain and discomfort, fatigue, appetite loss, fluid retention, jaundice, and an itchy feeling around the liver. Those with cirrhosis are also more susceptible to developing liver cancer.
Some non-laboratory signs may give your doctor reason to suspect fatty liver disease: - Abdominal bloating after eating Carbohydrates (sweets/starchy foods) can indicate an increased accumulation of fat within the liver cells.
A doctor may examine a person's abdomen when lying down and standing. The shape of the abdomen may suggest that it contains fluid rather than fat. A person with ascites may also have a distended abdomen, which is hard and swollen. They may also experience rapid changes in weight and body shape.
Possible signs and symptoms of NASH and advanced scarring (cirrhosis) include: Abdominal swelling (ascites) Enlarged blood vessels just beneath the skin's surface. Enlarged spleen.
So what does liver pain feel like? It manifests in different ways, but a common form is a dull throbbing. For some people, it occurs as a sharp, stabbing pain. Sometimes the pain migrates to other nearby areas, such as the right shoulder blade and the back.
Acute liver failure causes fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, discomfort on your right side, just below your ribs, and diarrhea. Acute liver failure is a serious condition. It requires medical care right away. If treatments are not effective, you may be a candidate for a liver transplant.
Blood tests used to assess the liver are known as liver function tests. But liver function tests can be normal at many stages of liver disease. Blood tests can also detect if you have low levels of certain substances, such as a protein called serum albumin, which is made by the liver.
The lower edge of the liver normally comes just to the lower edge of the ribs on the right side. The edge of the liver is normally thin and firm. It cannot be felt with the fingertips below the edge of the ribs, except when you take a deep breath. It may be enlarged if a health care provider can feel it in this area.
Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that lasts one to two weeks.It is believed to lead to alcoholic cirrhosis over a period of years.
A blood sample is tested to determine liver enzyme levels and identify viruses that can cause enlarged liver. Imaging tests. Imaging tests include CT scan, ultrasound or MRI . Magnetic resonance elastography uses sound waves to create a visual map (elastogram) of the stiffness of liver tissue.
Cirrhosis slows the normal flow of blood through the liver, thus increasing pressure in the vein that brings blood to the liver from the intestines and spleen. Swelling in the legs and abdomen. The increased pressure in the portal vein can cause fluid to accumulate in the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites).
Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs. General abdominal pain and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.
If cirrhosis gets worse, some of the symptoms and complications include: yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) vomiting blood. itchy skin.
The top right side of your abdomen may be tender. Your doctor may be able to feel that your liver is enlarged. Usually, you'll also have fever and chills.
You may have an enlarged liver if your doctor can feel it during a physical exam. A typical liver can't be felt with your fingers. The size and weight of your liver increases naturally with age.
A person can remain asymptomatic for years, although 5–7% of those with the condition will develop symptoms every year. Decompensated cirrhosis: People with decompensated cirrhosis already experience symptoms and complications.
Often, cirrhosis is first detected through a routine blood test or checkup. To help confirm a diagnosis, a combination of laboratory and imaging tests is usually done.