Liver resection

Hello,

I had liver resection on the right lobe of my liver 6 weeks ago. Recovery is slow...I am anticipated to be out of work for 12 weeks. I am tired quite a bit each day. I am achy inside and out and it is difficult to walk too much or too far or I have to sit/lay down. I have a huge incision. I have been putting vitamin E Oil on it to keep it moist and hopefully the scar will fade a bit. Of course I was warned not to have my abdomen exposed in the sun. I have lost sensation in a big part of the area when the nerves had to be severed during surgery. It is a strange feeling, having no feeling around my belly area.

I am a 49 year old healty woman who took oral contraceptives for about 20 years.. now they find out the OC's can and do cause liver tumors. I had several tumors that could not be distinguished from FNH (Focal Nodular Hyperplasia) versus Adenomas which may become cancerous. The 3 years of MRI's every 6 months had several experts suggesting surgery for one of the tumors that was "behaving badly" growing a bit each time to the point where it appeared it was an adenoma. Fortunately the big tumor that was removed was an FNH and was benign. I had this removed and I believe I no longer need to be "followed" with MRIS since the experts agreed that if one of the tumors was an FNH then the others can be considered FNH (since the others were smaller and 1 actually got smaller with the later MRIs they did not remove them..I would have needed the entire right lobe removed if the big one was an adenoma. And if one was an adenoma then they assume they would all be adenomas).

But recovery is slow and i was warned, when I do start to feel better, still be careful with lifting, etc. because a hernia can be the result.

hi there. good to find site again as not where it is when i log on. please read everyones helpful tips. i had all my right side and part left but only because they made my left side grow in order to compensate befoerhand as i would have died. good luck and you will feel much more tired now. bless you.

paresh how are you doing?

Hi Christine Smith,
Hope you are well, I have just returned from a 2 week Holiday in Florida. I am now geared up for my operation to remove the left lobe of my liver around 30/40% I think. I have a 4CM tumour on the left side and two other tumours on the right side which they are looking at doing RFA (Radio Frequency Ablasions). RFA will take place within the next 2 weeks and then followed by left side resection on the 8th of September at the Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital by Dr Simon Brammall. I am still a bit pannicky about the whole situation, but more positive now than before. I apologise that I have not been in touch with anyone lately on this forum. I am just trying to get to terms with this and trying to cope with knowing about this situation and how it will effect me for the rest of my remaining life.
If you or anyone else has any advice - I would really appreciate it. My time is drawing near to having treatment surgically and I am a little apprehensive about the whole situation to tell you the truth. I hope I am doing the right thing??
By the way Christine - you asked whether I was married and where I lived?
I am married, been married for the last 7 years, my wife's name is Amita and we live in Telford, Shropshire. My wife has been very supportive, although not sure what to say to me as she finds it difficult to talk about this and I am not the best of people to talk about this situation as I do try and block it out in order to cope with day to day living. I know that she will look after me once I am out of Hospital, although I do not like to burden anyone including my immediate family. I have always been independant.
Anyway, I hope you are keeping well, hope to hear from you soon. Takecare for now.
Thanks. Paresh.

Hi Paresh

Glad to see you are being positive in your thinking. It wouldn't be human not to have some panicky thoughts - I know that I did - but you just have to focus on where you want to get to in a couple of months time.

Sounds like you have some very positive medics working for you too. These guys would not be recommending a resection if it was not in your best interests.

Janet Hickey (who posts on this site) has written a book about her experience and approach. It might be a good idea to get hold of a copy - she is one mentally tough lady and some of that approach can be learned.

Best wishes. Tim

Hi Tim,

I have taken your advice and decided to get a second oppinion on what steps to take next and also whether I am getting the best medical care from my Doctor, although I hope that I don't upset anyone in doing this. My sister is a Pharmasist and she kindly did some research and found a Leading Doctor who performs Liver resections through Laprascopic (keyhole) surgery - which I would prefer to be done on my left side. As mentioned previously I have a 4cm tumour on the left lobe of the liver and which is very close to my Stomach wall. The other two tumours are smaller - around 3cm on the right side of the liver which the Doctors are suggesting that these can be dealt with by Radio Frequency Ablasion. Anyway, I have to travel down to Southampton for second oppinion to see Dr Pearce who is beleived to be one of the best Liver resection specialist who performs most of his operations via keyhole for a consultation and to see whether I am doing the right thing, perhaps he may suggest that he will perform this operation, but I don't know yet. My worry would be that if I had my op down in Southampton - (which is around 4/5 hours away from where I live) and if I had any complications after the operation - what would happen then, would my local hospital know what to do?, or would I need to get help from nearest liver unit??
My main worry is what if I knock myself and I stated to bleed internally (Liver Hemmorage).
I also suffer from Sleep Apnia and I worry over whether this will effect me going under the anesthetic and whether I will come round. Sounds crazy I know, but Cannot help thinking of negatives sometimes, although having read most of your section of the book and various other people's situations on this site - has helped me a great deal and I am more POSITIVE than before. I am glad to have met some really nice people on this site. I think the second oppinion will make up my mind and I will be more assured that I am undertaking the correct procedure and also an oppinion on the Doctor performing the operation too.
Anyway, I hope you are very well Tim and I will take your advice and check out Janet Hickey's book if I can obtain a copy. Thanks for keeping in touch, its reassuring to know that we are not alone in this situation and people like you make a massive difference to us all - hence the Book you have written and the help and advice you have given to many in this Forum.
One of these day's I will personally come over and thank you - in person, hopefully that time won't be far away I hope. Takecare for now. Paresh. PS My trip to Southampton is on Monday 9th August 2010. I will keep you posted of how I got on okay. Thanks

Hi Paresh

Relax about the second opinion - most of these liver specialists know each other well and won't be offended by your action. You musn't take on the worries of the world - just focus on what you need to do to get through this phase. Tell them about your sleep apnia - the anaesthetist needs to know!

I had my operations done in Leeds and continue to see the consultants up there rather than switch to a more local centre. In my case the Leeds team saved my life without any doubt so we are happy to go back.

As for injuring yourself post-surgery, believe me you will feel very protective of the scar tissue so it is an unlikely situation.

As for me, I'm feeling fine - we are off to France for a holiday so I'll look forward to hearing about your Southampton trip when I get back.

Best wishes

Hi Paresh

My husband John is under Mr Neil Pearce at Southampton Hospital, he is a lovely man very passionate about his job and has been really good to us. I would not hear a bad word about Southampton,they have been brilliant with us. If you do have to have your op at Southampton there is a charity house just outside of the grounds where your wife could stay. I don't know the name of it but I could find out for you.

John is waiting for a heart op at the moment as the Carcinoid has left him with leaky heart valves, this again is being done at Southampton.

Best wishes to you and let me know how you get on.

Sheila

hi glad to see that we are on here again. i had my liver resection and ablastion done in the churchill oxford. wonderful. myself -i had to have chemo afterwards . i had all of my right side taken and the gall bladder but only because they increased size of left side first with an embolliasation. you will be fine. i got a lot of weird pains after but that is where liver is growing and it can move to any space so feels strange. a hot water bottle was my comfort. my husband did his best but he found the last 4 yrs hard yto take. my faith and friends helped me. bless you.

i think that last message i sent sounded like my husband gave up!! no he is still here. i have diabeties now and i have just started under supervision at the gym -18 months on. life is better.

Hi Sheila,

I have been informed that Doctor Pearce is one of the best surgeons in the Country for Liver Resections. Appears that he has trained alot of people in this field for many years and he Specialises in Carciniod tumours. Hence the reason I want to see him. He may decide to actually perform my operation if he can, although I do not want to offend anyone at Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital where I am supposed to be going for the operation under another Doctor. I am suppoed to be going to see Doctor Pearce at Southampton for a second opinion and to assure myself that I am doing the right thing with undertaking the correct procedure. If you can get me the get the name of the Charity House where someone could stay that would be a great help to us as we don't know Southampton area at all.
Thanks Sheila for your information and support, it is much appreciated. I have a meeting with Doctor Pearce on this Monday 8th August 2010 at Southampton and I will let you know how we get on. Thanks again, takecare. Paresh.

hi parish

I had one 9cm tumour removed and an abliation on another one, both in my liver, my gall bladder removed and primary tumour removed from my ileum, all at the same time by a liver specialist 12 months ago, it did take me a while to get over the surgery mostly because of the tiredness. The only tablets I could take for the pain when I came home from hospital was paracetamol because of bad reaction to everything else. Hot water bottles and wheat heat cushions are great, I couldnt of done without them, but a towel over my shoulder also helped with the deferred pain which I still get sometimes. Do be carefull with hot water bottles though, I have very little feeling in parts of my stomach, its sort of numb in places from the surgery and I burnt myself with out knowing. Hope you get on ok with your appointment!

Lesley

Parish

I meant to say that I am also 43 and hopefully didnt say anything to put you off surgery, if I had to go through the surgery again I would, I have 2 children and would do anything to be around them for a long time yet!

Hi Paresh

The name of the charity house in Southampton is Wessex Heartbeat House,phone no 02380390548, e mail maureeninfo@heartbeat.org.uk.It is really for heart patients relatives but my sister stayed there when her husband had a lung operation. They do not charge but ask for a donation, you get your own key and room. If you put wessex heartbeat house southampton on google it will tell you about it. Best of luck for Monday and hope to hear from you soon.

regards
Sheila

Hi everyone. I've been reading this thread for a little while now, fascinating to read everyone's individual stories, thanks for sharing.

I'm going into hospital soon for the removal of an FNH of my liver, they're removing 50% of my liver and my gall bladder as well. I'll be glad when it's over and done with, this benign tumour has been giving me grief for a few years now. I'm feeling highly impatient as to when my surgery date will finally be set, I've had my pre-admission appointment and I'm waiting to hear about my actual date. I'm not the most patient person, so of course it's driving me bonkers.

So I just thought I'd touch base with you all here and say hi.

Fenella