A few weeks ago, I attended a university women’s basketball game in the late afternoon with a group of family and friends. My daughter, who is a nurse, met my husband and me there, took one look at me and said, “Mom, your skin is yellow. You have jaundice! We need to go to the ER.” Two others in the group are also nurses and echoed my daughter’s concern. They all thought a blocked bile duct was the culprit.
I really wanted to see the game because the granddaughter of one in the group is on the home team, and this outing had been planned for weeks. My promise was to go after the game was over. Actually, I had been feeling poorly intermittently for nearly a week with nausea, fatigue, itchiness, amber-colored urine, and discomfort. Three weeks previously, I had triple prolapse abdominal surgery and thought my symptoms must somehow be connected.
At the ER, blood work was ordered that revealed high liver enzymes along with a high bilirubin count. I was told that it was most likely Hepatitis A from something I ate, which I thought was unlikely. I was sent home and the next day, I went to another ER my daughter recommended where a GI specialist was available. At that hospital, a CT Scan showed multiple tiny lesions on my spleen and one on my liver. I was told the probable diagnosis was 80% cancer and 20% auto immune disease. Then I was admitted to an observation ward for more extensive tests. No one thought the problem could be related to my recent surgery.
The calm I felt after hearing the probable diagnosis surprised me. Instead of panicking, an incredible peace came over me. “It is okay,” I reflected. I knew that God was holding my hand. After praying and turning it all over to Him, I was able to go right to sleep.
An oncologist and a GI doctor were called in as consultants. Multiple extensive tests were ordered. The MRI lasted 30 minutes and revealed that the spleen lesions were tiny clusters of benign blood vessels. The doctors decided the liver lesion was too tiny to biopsy, so a general liver biopsy was performed. While the testing was underway, each day my liver enzymes and bilirubin were decreasing, and my symptoms were subsiding.
On Tuesday, I was in my nice pajamas (I detest hospital gowns) straightening the hospital room when the oncologist came in. He seemed surprised at my appearance. My jaundice was very improved, and I was feeling much better. The following day when the GI doctor came and looked at me, he said: “You’re healthy!” “Yes, I am,” was my reply. None of the tests had revealed any of the problems they expected to find.
So it came down to revisiting my surgery. Ultimately, the liver biopsy results showed changes compatible with cholestatic hepatitis which can be caused by a drug-induced liver injury and can occur 2 to 24 weeks following surgery. (My symptoms started exactly two weeks after the operation.) I thought the problem might have come from the anesthetic given during the 2½ hour surgery or the Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen regime I was on for pain after the operation. Neither was the cause. The antibiotic cefazolin (that I received one time intravenously on the day of surgery) is on the list of suspect medications.
The liver is a very regenerative organ, and the damage caused by this injury will not be permanent. Though not yet totally back to normal, my liver numbers are steadily going down and a full recovery is expected. I no longer have any symptoms and feel great again.
Never before have I so appreciated God’s gift of good health. It is to be treasured and nurtured in every possible way. Please join me in continually expressing our gratitude to the One who is the Giver of Every Blessing!
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
