Has anyone here ever had a liver biopsy?

Pretty sure you'll be knocked out for it.

Best wishes!

The fact that you need a liver biopsy should scare you far more than the biopsy itself, OP.

Damn, it's OK, you have 2 livers...what's your blood type?

good luck OP.

R2 Usually I would agree but it's because they can't seem to get consistent visual readings from ultrasound or fibroscans.

PS My liver issues aren't from alcohol. It may have been from a medication I was taking and various tests suggest the issue improved but I guess a biopsy would be the "gold standard" test to verify it.

I've had one. It was scary, but painless. It confirmed that I have cirrhosis.

Had one during a long hospitalization last year for liver and kidney failure. Was sedated. Don't really remember it. But if you want a big needle and no sedation, go for paracentesis. What r2 said! Are you having liver problems or symptoms? If so, stop consuming alcohol and any toxic substances NOW. Not even a drop. Cut way back on added sugar. Exercise regularly, even if it's just walking around the block a few times. Be sure to get adequate protein daily and take vitamin B complex.

Am lucky to be alive but dealing with a severely decreased quality of life and expected lifespan. Good luck!

I hope the sedation is PROPOFOL!

[quote]That's just what this place needs: NYT subscribers looking for health advice and support.

Were you referred here by the New York Times, OP?

Only with a dram of Chianti and a handful of fava beans for a light lunch.

my ex did and they knocked him out. .....I had one on a deep lymph gland in my groin. They didn't knock me out but numbed the shit out of it....no pain at all

How about angiogram. Awake or not? Pain or?

You'll have referred shoulder pain afterwards. Painful but not terrible. It lasted a couple hours.

r12, had one of those, too, a few months ago! Was lucky they found a good vein in my arm to run the catheter/camera to my heart, rather than from the thigh, which would lave required a small incision and a few more hours in recovery before they send you home. You will be well-sedated but awake. There were at least six, but maybe up to 10 people in the room. Lights were low and they played music, and listened to my bad jokes with the murse bears. The main cardiologist said that some of my veins were pretty clogged but they were minor veins, so no need for stents. The diagnosis was for congestive heart failure, which I think was caused by the liver failure, which assaulted my kidneys, causing severe edema, which pressures the heart. My arm was swollen with some occasional pain for about 2 weeks. Good luck!

Liver disease and liver cancer are reportedly way on the rise in the US. A combination of obesity, diabetes and drinking. Once you have 'scarring' from alcohol and fat in your diet, your chances of liver cancer go way up.

WOW, R14. Thanks for the info.

They always say sedation, but for me it doesn’t usually work so well. Like years ago when they used Demerol for colonoscopy. I felt everything and was drowsy for two days after.

OP, and the others who had medical issues, sending healing energy your way....and a virtual BIG HUG!!

Well, it's either this or an MRI. Guess I have to choose soon.

[quote]Damn, it's OK, you have 2 livers...what's your blood type?

Did you have a cojoined twin that died and all that remains is his liver?

The rest of us have only one liver.

R15 - spreading cheer.

Hope it's nothing, OP

I'm hoping it's nothing too. The test sounds scary, though.

Can I have your stuff if you die?

Actually I find all these tests fascinating, though other than a few MRI's I haven't needed these yet. My first MRI was of my head cause of an injury. Was it just me or does the banging sound the machine makes is a great rhythm that I'm shocked no musician has sampled before? I can imagine a whole album of this. The rhythm is different depending on what the MRI is. I even mentioned it to the technician after the procedure. It's a gold mine.

I like these threads. All of us will eventually need this information.

I've had 3 liver biopsies and they don't put you under. They may give you a Valium so that you are relaxed but they just numb the area and I didn't feel anything but a little pressure. The weirdest thing that I remember is the sound when they retrieve the sample it sounds like a mousetrap going off. You will have to lay still for a couple hours and they put "sand bags" on the site where they took a sample to prevent bleeding.

I consider Valium and other benzodiazapines to be sedatives, perfectly adequate along with a local for certain procedures.

I saw someone get one of those on Marcus Welby. I think it was Patty Duke.

Just the thought of it made me woozy. Good luck OP!

No matter how they do it or what happens, OP, it's a good thing you're having it done.

My sister found out she had liver cancer a month before she died from it.

I'll be thinking of you.

I had a liver biopsy in 2012 at UCSF.. My handsome Italian doctor just had me lay on my side with my right arm in a rather uncomfortable position over my head. The nurse had given me a Xanax but no water and I ended up realizing it was under my tongue and trying to scrape it off using my lower teeth while he was performing the procedure. I also just tucked my phone at my side and when I kept getting texted he asked the nurse what it was and was kind of shocked when I said "my phone, Sorry." It was over within about 10 minutes, and I walked home.

No cirrhosis. Yeah!

Have had two, think it was propofol as I remember making a Michael Jackson reference, but recall the mousetrap sound, so maybe it was just hydromorphone and cheekiness.

r29, lol. UCSF no longer serves Xanax, unfortunately. Ativan seems to be the house benzo these days and it works for me. They administer it before giving you more sedatives or general anesthesia for longer procedures. For better or worse, they've kept me alive for so many years. My hepatologist isn't handsome, but she is gorgeous and brilliant. And kind. My orthopedic surgeon, on the other hand... Oooo am getting the vapors thinking about him!

I'm glad you weren't diagnosed with cirrhosis and I hope the same for OP.

What are you - chopped liver?