Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is Lower Right Abdominal Pain Indicative Of Liver Failure?
Posted on
Thu, 11 Aug 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 11 Aug 2016
Answered on
Thu, 1 Sep 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I was experiencing heavy convulsions and eventually had a seizure. I was told it was due to drinking but I feel like it's more than that. I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C 20 years ago. I've continued to experience convulsions and I've been confused since the seizure. Thought it was Diabetes (because of family history) but I've been testing my blood sugar and the numbers are not inordinately high or low. Experiencing pain on lower right side of the abdominal region. Is this a sign failure? Are there other symptoms I may be experiencing but I forgot to include? Is there anything I can do to rectify the situation at this point?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Pain in the abdomen is not an indication of liver failure. Liver failure may be asymptomatic at all and be found only on blood tests such as INR (coagulation tests) and albumin level among others. As for other symptoms there may be anorexia, weight loss, muscle wasting, skin changes, ascite (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen), bleeding, changes in mental status etc. Most of them as you see are not specific, meaning can be found in many other conditions, so it is the blood tests which determine it really.
As for the cause of the seizures, alcohol use or withdrawal can indeed be a cause for seizures. However if you continue to have seizures it must be reevaluated, you should rediscuss it with the doctor who made the diagnosis. It is unclear what tests have you had, whether you had any blood tests for liver function or other metabolic changes, imaging tests both of the liver as well as the brain to exclude issues like stroke or tumors. Also you mention to take seizure medication but not which, those themselves can have side effects on cognitive functions. So medication side effects is also one possibility to discuss with the doctor who prescribed them.
I remain at your disposal for other questions, possibly though providing some more information on the issues I mentioned.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Pain in the abdomen is not an indication of liver failure. Liver failure may be asymptomatic at all and be found only on blood tests such as INR (coagulation tests) and albumin level among others. As for other symptoms there may be anorexia, weight loss, muscle wasting, skin changes, ascite (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen), bleeding, changes in mental status etc. Most of them as you see are not specific, meaning can be found in many other conditions, so it is the blood tests which determine it really.
As for the cause of the seizures, alcohol use or withdrawal can indeed be a cause for seizures. However if you continue to have seizures it must be reevaluated, you should rediscuss it with the doctor who made the diagnosis. It is unclear what tests have you had, whether you had any blood tests for liver function or other metabolic changes, imaging tests both of the liver as well as the brain to exclude issues like stroke or tumors. Also you mention to take seizure medication but not which, those themselves can have side effects on cognitive functions. So medication side effects is also one possibility to discuss with the doctor who prescribed them.
I remain at your disposal for other questions, possibly though providing some more information on the issues I mentioned.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
