Question & Looking for same surgery date person

I'm having my surgery with the Surgical Weight Loss Clinic from Tacoma. My surgery will be in Federal Way, with Dr. SriKanth on Nov. 13th. I've just finished all my work up for the surgery, and am going in for my final internist okay and physical on Thursday, this week, but am concerned about my liver. My abdominal ultrasound shows I have an enlarged liver, and I went in by recommendation by my regular practitioner to have some liver tests done. Now my gastroenterologist wants a biopsy done during my GBP. I haven't gotten my NEWEST lab test results back yet, but will call them tomorrow, since it's been over a week now since I had them. What I wanted to know was, has anyone else had an enlarged liver before, and have they also ever found this out why having tests run for the gastric bypass surgery? I'm really worried about my liver now, since it seems there are some spots on it, but my specialist for it told it shouldn't interfere with my surgery and that I should be fine with it. I'm just a bit wondering what caused my liver to enlarge in the first place, since I am NOT an alcoholic, I don't have jaundice, and for some odd reason, the tests my practitioner ran showed they were normal on the paper she sent me, but my gastroenterologist stated it was slightly abnormal. *shrug* I'm sooooo psyched up for my surgery, and am still looking for someone who is having it on the same day I am at the same hospital maybe. I'm going into St. Francis in Federal Way. I am so excited I just want to go and get it DONE and over with so I can get started on this NEW way of living! I have a goal to try to get at least ONE HIKE in sometime next summer. ONE SMALL short one, but an overnighter with our boy scout troop. We are starting to concentrate on that type of camping next year and because of my knees, I want to be able to attend those if possible. My goal is ONE for now, because I don't know what my knees will do after surgery. Right now, I'm a candidate for replacement for both, but with my weight, they won't tough me. I hope that losing the weight will be enough for the time being, but it is a gray area for certain. Only time will tell! If anyone can calm my fears about my liver though, it would be greatly appreciated... I think I am more worried about that then the GBP surgery now! Vickie

Vickie, I was just reading about someone else that had an enlarged liver but found it during her surgery. Its called fatty liver(go figure) but it is pretty common in morbidly/super obese ppl. It is also a big killer among the obese IF you do not lose weight. Losing weight it will slowly get better and no longer be a problem. Unless your an alcoholic or have hepatitis. It sounds like you Dr isnt to worried about it and your test came back pretty normal, so you probably dont have anything to worry about. You should scroll up to the top of the page and click on library, put fatty liver in the subject line Im sure theres info there about it.

Well, my gastroenterologist said, however, that the lab test results from the first tests, for the GBP surgery showed some elevated levels. The page I got from my doctor didn't show that, it showed all normal. He also said that there were some "spots" that my cells seemed to be fighting a little bit, on the liver as well. They were sounding pretty fairly concerned. I asked if the surgery would help my liver, but he said it wouldn't exactly help it, but it wouldn't hurt it either. I have done some looking up of what they call "hepatomegaly". I've had a quite intensive Anatomy & Physiology class last year for my Phamarcy Tech class, and there are reasons why livers become enlarged. Right now they are trying to rule out diseases, which is good. But I've heard nothing so far. I was wanting to find out if anyone else has had this... and today at my internist appt, he stated too, like you said, that it was pretty common for obese people to have this. But I never got that statement from my gastroenterologist. He knows I'm having GBP, because he mentioned having a biopsy of my liver done DURING the surgery. It really makes me wonder if that gastroenterologist didn't tell me it was normal for obese people, out of fear I'd get upset because he called me obese, or he was trying to be light with it, or what. I hate that. I am there to find out what is causing it. I don't care if the doctor states it is because I'm obese, I KNOW I am! haha otherwise I'd not be having this surgery, right? I'm not in denial, that is why I flat out asked him, is it gonna be better that I'm losing the weight for it? He said no. He wanted to keep an eye on it. THAT Worries me... I go in later this week to see him, I'll keep updated about it. I've heard of people having a liver surgery or something like that during this and having an extended stay in the hospital. I just want to make sure I'm prepared, and don't want to find out something last minute. Thanks for your reply, it's good to hear from someone who cares!

Good News! I got clearance from my gastroenterologist about my liver! All my tests came back clear, that means I just have a fatty liver for now, but will still have a biopsy done, to be safe during my surgery on 11.13.03. I'm really happy about this... but am beginning to get a bit nervous about the GBP surgery itself.... I guess this is just pre surgery nerves? I HOPE? Vickie Tryin' to relax!