Do I win a prize?

For about 18 years, my only treatment had been BP meds & I was feeling fine.  Then, I started noticing discomfort & swelling in my abdomen. I thought it was just my new "post-baby body". However, things just didn't feel right to me--I thought it was more than that. I was passed through several tests & specialists until it was confirmed that I had cysts on my liver also (polycystic liver disease).  

A gastroenterologist in York evaluated me & said that there was nothing he could do for my liver situation. He also said that mine was the largest liver that he has ever felt.  Do I win a prize?  I suppose that it could be fun to hold a record for something; however, an award-winning liver is not what I would choose.  It was a blessing, however, to connect with him because he referred me to his mentor at Johns Hopkins.

To help you understand what my "prize liver" is like--God designed our liver to be positioned under our right rib cage. By this time, my liver had extended down below my waist & across to my belly button. 

So, it was about 10 years ago that I first saw Dr. Mezey, a hepatologist (liver specialist).  His experience was comforting--he wasn't alarmed at the size of my liver because he had seen many livers and many were much larger than mine. Some of his med students were amazed at its size but he discussed it very calmly & confidently.  He explained that even though my liver is large, very rarely do the liver cysts affect its function (unlike the kidney cysts do).  He said the only possible treatment  would be to aspirate the fluid from the cysts but the risk of infection is great vs the chance for any relief.  Basically, he said "live with it--there's nothing we do for livers like yours."

I was a little disappointed that there was nothing that could be done but then told myself that this is God's plan for me--just try to learn the best way to be comfortable & don't dwell on it.  I learned to eat smaller meals & elastic pants became a dear friend--those were my remedies!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."                                                Jeremiah 29:11

~Belinda