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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