Guest guest Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 -----Original Message----- How would I even know if I were experiencing ascites? Ascites (for people with liver disease) happens as a by product of portal hypertension, (increased pressure in the vein system that carries blood from stomach, spleen & intestines to the liver) and cirrhosis. If you aren’t in stage 3 or 4 and don’t have cirrhosis, you most probably don’t have ascites. Besides doing the wave test (actually rolling from one side to the other and watching the water move in waves) or pushing on one side of your stomach and checking if your belly moves in waves, you can check your Albumin level. Normal is 3.5 – 5.0 if your Albumin falls lower than 3.5, you can get ascites and edema. Albumin is a protein that keeps fluid/water in your blood, if the level gets too low, fluid leaks out of your blood and into your system = ascites. Without the lower than normal Albumin, I don’t think you can get ascites and a lower Albumin doesn’t happen until cirrhosis. At least that’s how it was explained to us. HTH Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight - Whatever it Takes! Son Ken (34) UC 91 PSC 99, LTX 6/21 & 6/30 2007 @ Baylor/Dallas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 -----Original Message----- How would I even know if I were experiencing ascites? Ascites (for people with liver disease) happens as a by product of portal hypertension, (increased pressure in the vein system that carries blood from stomach, spleen & intestines to the liver) and cirrhosis. If you aren’t in stage 3 or 4 and don’t have cirrhosis, you most probably don’t have ascites. Besides doing the wave test (actually rolling from one side to the other and watching the water move in waves) or pushing on one side of your stomach and checking if your belly moves in waves, you can check your Albumin level. Normal is 3.5 – 5.0 if your Albumin falls lower than 3.5, you can get ascites and edema. Albumin is a protein that keeps fluid/water in your blood, if the level gets too low, fluid leaks out of your blood and into your system = ascites. Without the lower than normal Albumin, I don’t think you can get ascites and a lower Albumin doesn’t happen until cirrhosis. At least that’s how it was explained to us. HTH Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight - Whatever it Takes! Son Ken (34) UC 91 PSC 99, LTX 6/21 & 6/30 2007 @ Baylor/Dallas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Fantastic info, thanks Barb!! ee > > -----Original Message----- > How would I even know if I were experiencing ascites? > Ascites (for people with liver disease) happens as a by product of > portal hypertension, (increased pressure in the vein system that carries > blood from stomach, spleen & intestines to the liver) and cirrhosis. If > you aren't in stage 3 or 4 and don't have cirrhosis, you most probably > don't have ascites. > Besides doing the wave test (actually rolling from one side to the other > and watching the water move in waves) or pushing on one side of your > stomach and checking if your belly moves in waves, you can check your > Albumin level. Normal is 3.5 - 5.0 if your Albumin falls lower than > 3.5, you can get ascites and edema. Albumin is a protein that keeps > fluid/water in your blood, if the level gets too low, fluid leaks out of > your blood and into your system = ascites. Without the lower than > normal Albumin, I don't think you can get ascites and a lower Albumin > doesn't happen until cirrhosis. At least that's how it was explained to > us. HTH > Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight - Whatever it Takes! > Son Ken (34) UC 91 PSC 99, LTX 6/21 & 6/30 2007 @ Baylor/Dallas > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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