PLEASE HELP: Petrified I have an enlarged liver, stomach issues as well

[Healthfreak4976]

Hello again
Sorry about the long post, but IÂ’m desperate:
IÂ’m a 19 year old male, normal weight of 150lbs, active, I eat ok, could be a little more healthy.

I already had a thread I made and not much came from it. But my anxiety is getting worse and IÂ’m certain I have an enlarged liver. My mind for 2 months now says that I have colon cancer that spread to my liver, and that IÂ’m nearing the end. Many of my stomach issues scream IBS, but I have had a couple concerning symptoms and I swear I can feel my liver.

Here are my symptoms:
Alternating constipation and diarrhea (diarrhea is more prevalent)
Mild cramps around abdomen (occasional cramp below right rib cage and lower right back is more concerning to me)
Occasional thin/narrow stool
Undigested food in stool (especially with looser stools)
Alternating yellow and brown stool
Lots of gas, bloating
Lots of mucus in stools
Many of these symptoms come on when I eat greasy, fatty foods, some gluten, caffeine, sugar, etc.
I had a small amount of bright red blood in stool mucus last week, along with some bright red blood on the toilet paper. (This was the only time it happened)
IBS symptoms have been going on for several years

Here is why I think my liver is in trouble:
When I breathe in, and I put my hand under my right ribs, I feel something sausage like slip downward past my hand, this is along my entire right rib cage, several inches below my ribs, and it ONLY can be felt on the right side, I canÂ’t feel it on the left side.
When I lay on my side, my right side feels much harder and fuller to the touch then the left side. What else can cause that other than an enlarged liver?!
When I push out my upper abdomen, the right side “bulges” out more then the left side
When I breathe in all the way while standing, and I press below my right ribs, I feel tenderness farther up in my chest and the left side of my chest.
Vague aches below my right rib cage and my right back (could be psychological idk, did not have it before I stressed about it)

IÂ’m just concerned because I have stomach issues and IÂ’m not overweight, so how could it be fatty liver? How could it be gallstones if I donÂ’t have risk factors or many symptoms? ThatÂ’s my my mind thinks itÂ’s the worst case scenario.

I had lab work done:
My stool calprotectin was normal
My blood work was mostly normal, no inflammatory markers or anemia, which likely rules out IBD, but I had a slight elevation in my ALP (alkaline phosphate) and amylase. Which made me stress more because ALP can be elevated in CRC that spread to the liver. I had this done in mid September and my GP said we can re-test in a few months.


I saw my GP in mid September and she recommended I see a GI specialist to confirm IBS. I had an appointment for October 31st but my specialist had to reschedule, so now I have to wait until December 12th, lucky me. I donÂ’t know what IÂ’m going to do for the next month.

I donÂ’t have any red flag signs, such as:
Jaundice, even though IÂ’m checking multiple times a day
Severe abdominal pain
Blood in stool (except for that one time, piles?)
Fluid in abdomen
Swelling legs
Itchiness or rashes
Nausea or vomiting

I just recently lost my dad out of nowhere from a heart attack, and I donÂ’t want to put more stress on my family with a potential health issue. My health anxiety has also greatly worsened after this loss, and I have lost complete control of my life. I have become depressed because IÂ’m afraid of succumbing to whatever this could be.

IÂ’m so sick and tired of stressing 24/7 about this, it could be nothing, but right now I donÂ’t think so. I know the chances of me having colon cancer at my young age is extremely small (0.2% of cases, or a .0009% chance, but it has happened) cancer does not run in my family, and I donÂ’t believe I have any other risk factors.

IÂ’m sorry about the long obsessive post, but IÂ’m lost, stuck in a corner, and desperate.

If anyone else is going through this please let me know how you made out

[Healthfreak4976]

I forgot to also mention that this “mass” can visibly be seen slipping past my hand when I breathe in. It does not hurt but I’m totally panicking

[Healthfreak4976]

Anyone?
IÂ’m sorry I need some reassurance

[MrLurcher]

Hiya, thought I'd try and help as people have been great to me on here over the years with my health worries.

First and foremost, so sorry about your dad. You're only 19, so to loose your father at quite a young age is very difficult. I'm 36 now, and also lost my dad suddenly last year. I still struggle with all the grief and sadness that came with losing him, and it has made my health anxiety worse this year.

Regarding your stomach issues, I've had all of those symptoms and continue to have them. I've had loads of tests - bloods, stools, pipe up the bum and nothing has shown up yet. I've had lots of stomach issues recently, passing food quickly after eating, urgency, floating stools, yellow stools......everything it seems! My recent tests showed nothing again, and doctors say it's down to IBS and stress / anxiety.

Now about your liver worries. Trust me, I've been there and done that too. My dad died of a ruptured liver tumour, and my daughter became very ill with hepatitis earlier in the year so I've read up a lot about it - not that I'm an expert! When my daughter was ill, her liver was VERY enlarged - but she had obvious physical symptoms: her poo was clay coloured, her pee was like honey (colour), her skin and eyes were yellow-ish. Obviously her liver bloods were all over the shop and sky high. So I'd imagine if you had en enlarged liver, which is almost impossible given your age and health, you'd have physical symptoms. Has a doctor examined your stomach area? What you're feeling yourself is most likely muscle I would imagine.

And about your high enzymes. This is quite common, and I had a high enzyme (I think it was ALS) a few years back. No idea why, but they returned to normal. The reasons could have been anything from taking meds for a cold, to exercising too much in the gym.

Try not to stress anymore, it only makes things worse - I know myself the vicious cycle of worry and physical symptoms. The fact that you lost your dad, and now suffering from depression (and anxiety) means that you will be struggling not only mentally, but also physically.

Have you thought about therapy? To help with your grief and anxiety/depression? It helped me a lot.

[Healthfreak4976]

Hiya, thought I'd try and help as people have been great to me on here over the years with my health worries.

First and foremost, so sorry about your dad. You're only 19, so to loose your father at quite a young age is very difficult. I'm 36 now, and also lost my dad suddenly last year. I still struggle with all the grief and sadness that came with losing him, and it has made my health anxiety worse this year.

Regarding your stomach issues, I've had all of those symptoms and continue to have them. I've had loads of tests - bloods, stools, pipe up the bum and nothing has shown up yet. I've had lots of stomach issues recently, passing food quickly after eating, urgency, floating stools, yellow stools......everything it seems! My recent tests showed nothing again, and doctors say it's down to IBS and stress / anxiety.

Now about your liver worries. Trust me, I've been there and done that too. My dad died of a ruptured liver tumour, and my daughter became very ill with hepatitis earlier in the year so I've read up a lot about it - not that I'm an expert! When my daughter was ill, her liver was VERY enlarged - but she had obvious physical symptoms: her poo was clay coloured, her pee was like honey (colour), her skin and eyes were yellow-ish. Obviously her liver bloods were all over the shop and sky high. So I'd imagine if you had en enlarged liver, which is almost impossible given your age and health, you'd have physical symptoms. Has a doctor examined your stomach area? What you're feeling yourself is most likely muscle I would imagine.

And about your high enzymes. This is quite common, and I had a high enzyme (I think it was ALS) a few years back. No idea why, but they returned to normal. The reasons could have been anything from taking meds for a cold, to exercising too much in the gym.

Try not to stress anymore, it only makes things worse - I know myself the vicious cycle of worry and physical symptoms. The fact that you lost your dad, and now suffering from depression (and anxiety) means that you will be struggling not only mentally, but also physically.

Have you thought about therapy? To help with your grief and anxiety/depression? It helped me a lot.

Thank you so much for responding, you made my eyes tear up and my heart warm.

Firstly, IÂ’m very sorry about your dad, from the bottom of my heart, even at an older age, it can be very hard to cope. My dad passed away about 5 months ago and my health anxiety did not start up again until 2 months ago.
It seems like itÂ’s easy to channel your grief from a loss into anxiety. You are not alone trust me

My mom and I have been calling around for insurance and therapy offices but it has become so hard to find one. None of them are calling us back or they have told us that they cannot accept more patients due to high volume.

I called my GP pediatrician today and told them about how my anxiety has become debilitating recently. I have never taken medication, but I feel that I need something to tide me over until my December GI appointment. I also heard that antidepressants can help with IBS, will also mention the strange bulge to them.

My GP did feel around my stomach looking for pain (which there was none) but she did not do a liver papilation. She did however closely check my URQ area for pain (which there was none)

My GP also told me we can re-test my bloods after my GI appointment to ensure they return to normal. The also said “they were only minimally elevated, not enough to suggest a condition with either pancreas or liver” but my brain I swear lol.

Maybe I’m overthinking, it could just be my bowel that I’m feeling, I also have an inverted sternum with ribs that “stick out” more so maybe it’s easier to feel things. My stomach symptoms have improved because I’m experimenting with my diet but not perfect by any means.

Hoping I get a therapist soon to help guide me

Thank you ❤️

[Healthfreak4976]

A little update:
I visited my GP again and talked about my anxiety and my URQ concerns. She is an amazing doctor!
She gave me a low dose of Zoloft to help with my anxiety and she felt my abdomen and did she cannot feel an enlarged liver.
I feel relieved for now!
I have follow ups with her every 2 weeks

[Healthfreak4976]

Back to worrying again, even though my doctor said she cannot feel my liver, I can clearly see something slip down past my fingers that extends from the epigastric region and rides all along my right rib cage. I’m so scared and back to panicking

[ServerError]

Could it not just be a lipoma? Those are very common and entirely benign, although doctors can usually spot them.

FWIW, I found Zoloft/sertraline very useful in the past, but it did increase my anxiety at first. Give it a few weeks to see if it helps. You may find you need a higher dose.

[Healthfreak4976]

Could it not just be a lipoma? Those are very common and entirely benign, although doctors can usually spot them.

FWIW, I found Zoloft/sertraline very useful in the past, but it did increase my anxiety at first. Give it a few weeks to see if it helps. You may find you need a higher dose.

It does not feel like a lipoma, this feels slightly firm and beneath muscle. I can “grab it” with my hand and then when I breathe out it is very pronounced as it quickly slides past and around my hand before quickly sinking out of view in my abdomen.

Also when I push out my upper stomach the right side is more pronounced then the left side

I’m so scared I have liver cancer/metastasis because I think my liver is enlarged. I’m not overweight, I have a healthy lifestyle, never drank or smoked before, and I’m only 19 so how can it be fatty liver? No cirrhosis obviously but what else could it be other then cancer. I’m spiraling

[MrLurcher]

It does not feel like a lipoma, this feels slightly firm and beneath muscle. I can “grab it” with my hand and then when I breathe out it is very pronounced as it quickly slides past and around my hand before quickly sinking out of view in my abdomen.

Also when I push out my upper stomach the right side is more pronounced then the left side

I’m so scared I have liver cancer/metastasis because I think my liver is enlarged. I’m not overweight, I have a healthy lifestyle, never drank or smoked before, and I’m only 19 so how can it be fatty liver? No cirrhosis obviously but what else could it be other then cancer. I’m spiraling

Hiya mate, like I said in my previous post, my daughter had an enlarged liver through illness and the doctor could very easily tell it was swollen. If your liver was that big that yourself, an untrained medical can feel it, you would probably be very ill right now!

I know it's scary, I've been there myself, and I'm currently going through another period of bowel worries, but try and take reassurance from your latest doctors appointment.

Also, I have a small lump in my pectoral/chest area, 2 inches beneath the collar bone. I could feel it, and the doctor, however a recent scan showed nothing serious, so it's just part of my normal anatomy!

Regarding upper stomach being more pronounced, my left side has always 'stuck out' more than my right - humans aren't symmetrical unfortunately.