There could be any number of reasons why a doctor would order a liver ultrasound, but for my purposes, it was because of the side effects I had from a nasty virus called CMV (Cytomegalovirus).
CMV is a genus of viruses in the order Herpesviruses, in the family Herpesviridae, in the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae. We humans and other primates are natural hosts to this butt-kicking virus.
While seeing my doctor for the umpteenth time, I was experiencing these intense symptoms:
- Deep chest congestion, coughing, mucus, headaches, heavy breathing, sore lungs, wheezing, thick mucus
- Coughing so hard I had to hold my stomach as it hurt immensely, and I was in pain under my ribs (it felt like I was being stabbed in my liver), sneezing, as well as head and chest congestion
- The virus manifested into tissue-invasive conditions such as pneumonitis and hepatitis (I utilized a nebulizer for breathing treatments to manage the pneumonitis symptoms and open my airways to breathe better, and switched to a liver-healthy diet)
As a direct result, my physician sent me to get an abdominal ultrasound and wrote “stat” on the order as she had a sneaking suspicion that the stabbing pain was from a non-alcoholic fatty liver, also referred to as hepatitis.
(Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver helps the body process nutrients, filter the blood, and fight infections. Any damage or inflammation can impact its functioning. Symptoms of CMV hepatitis in adults and children include fever, pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, jaundice, and anemia)
Turns out, my doctor was correct in her suspicions. She also detected that I had pneumonitis, a viral type of pneumonia, not the typical bacterial style.
(Pneumonitis (noo-moe-NIE-tis) is a general term that refers to swelling and irritation, also called inflammation, of lung tissue. Lung infections, such as pneumonia, can also cause lung tissue to become inflamed. But pneumonitis generally refers to inflamed lung tissue not caused by an infection)
Unfortunately, I also had the following multiple symptoms and manifestations from the CMV virus:
- Severe ear pain
- Multiple (seven) cold sores at once (not normal for me)
- Rash
- Lethargy
- Body aches
- Swollen lymph nodes in my neck, armpits, and groin
- Nausea
- Blurry vision
- Yellow stool, diarrhea
- Weak arms and legs
- Tired easily
- Knees and elbows feel swollen and tender
- Cloudy thinking
- Bruising easily
- Feeling weak, lightheaded, dizzy
- Chronic bleeding sore in the nose
- Body aches
- Joint pain in the elbows and knees
- Swollen lymph nodes in the back of my head, tender scalp, elbows, biceps, and pads on my hands
- Random pains in my spleen
- Muscle pain and aches, primarily upon lying down to sleep at night – intense nerve pain persisted for one to three hours, impeding rest
- Ankle pain that felt like shin splints
- Multiple sores on the roof of my mouth
(CMV can indeed cause significant nerve pain, often manifesting as a condition called “CMV polyradiculopathy,” which involves inflammation and damage to nerve roots, leading to symptoms like severe pain, numbness, weakness, etc.)
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “A healthcare provider might order a liver ultrasound if you have symptoms of liver disease, or if you have results from another type of test that indicate liver disease (like a blood test). Ultrasound offers a quick and easy way for your provider to investigate these findings. If you’ve already been diagnosed with liver disease, your provider might order a liver ultrasound to check how your liver is doing.
A liver ultrasound can show signs of fat storage in your liver (steatotic liver disease), inflammation and swelling (hepatitis), and scar tissue (fibrosis or cirrhosis). These are the three main stages of chronic liver disease. The scan may also show liver lesions, abnormal spots or growths on your liver. Special types of liver ultrasounds can evaluate the blood flow through your liver or how stiff its tissues are,”.
*Note: All content within this article is meant for informational purposes only and is in no way a replacement for professional medical or psychological advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a healthcare professional should you or a trusted loved one deem it necessary.
What foods are good for liver repair
Gratefully, I already have a healthy diet and prepare organic, clean foods for myself and my sons. Here are some of the other healthy habits I have:
- Eat healthily (I already do and have gone even further with juicing, vitamins, and lots of homemade organic chicken soup)
- Exercise (working out at a gym with my seventeen-year-old son at least three times a week and attending physical therapy treatment twice a week)
- Antidepressants
- Good sleep habits (going to bed early and trying to stick to a schedule, but I felt as though I could sleep more than twelve hours)
- Jacuzzi bath for fifteen minutes – turn off jets – add Epsom salt, and soak for at least twenty more minutes
- Meditation and prayer during a bath soak with calming music and candles made from natural ingredients
- Cognitive behavioral therapy to help me identify and manage triggers that may worsen my symptoms
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy (using a hydromassage bed at the gym after each workout)
The experts at Summit Health recommend what to eat for optimal liver health and state that, “Your liver works hard to detoxify your body, regulate metabolism and process nutrients—but it needs the right fuel to function at its best. Some foods naturally support liver health by reducing inflammation, aiding detoxification, and promoting cell regeneration.
Here are some of the best foods to keep your liver strong:
- Leafy Greens – Spinach, kale and arugula
- Fatty Fish
- Coffee
- Turmeric
- Garlic
- Berries
- Green Tea
- Nuts
- Olive Oil
- Beets,”.
Good thing for me is that I love all the foods listed above!
What meals are good for liver repair?
So far, I have switched from half-and-half in my coffee to oat milk, and in my cereal, I use coconut milk instead of regular milk to reduce my intake of fatty dairy. Instead, I eat Greek yogurt for protein and calcium, as I am also menopausal and need the calcium.
I eat a lot of lean ground chicken or turkey in lieu of ground beef when I make meals such as tacos, spaghetti sauce, or chili. In fact, today I made something new and different – it was quite delicious!
I added the following ingredients together and sauteed them.
- Ground pork (organic and lean)
- Onions
- Carrots
- Edamame
- White Northern Beans
- Pineapple
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Cayenne pepper
- Black pepper
- Curry
- Onion powder
- Coconut aminos
Then I made white rice with coconut milk instead of water and added cilantro. When everything was cooked completely, I placed the ground pork mixture over a bed of coconut rice. It was fantastic (if I don’t say so myself)! My sons said so as well.
Why would a doctor order a liver ultrasound
In conclusion, a liver ultrasound offers clarity when symptoms don’t add up, helping you and your doctor catch issues early and make informed, healing-focused decisions.