Your liver filters toxins, stores energy, and helps digest fat, and there are signs when it’s not working efficiently. Liver disease often develops slowly, and early symptoms may seem mild or unrelated. When you know which signs to watch for, you may spot problems sooner. Here are some liver disease symptoms and how they are evaluated:
Discolored Urine and Skin
When the liver fails to process bilirubin, this yellow pigment builds up in your blood. Your kidneys then remove the extra bilirubin, and your urine turns darker, and your skin turns more yellow. Watch for these changes in urine color and related signs:
- Dark amber, tea-colored, or cola-colored urine
- Yellow skin or the whites of the eyes
- Clay-colored stools
- Itchy skin without a clear cause
Dehydration also darkens urine, so drink water and watch for a change. Dark urine from dehydration typically clears within a day. If the color stays dark despite good hydration, contact a healthcare provider.
Abdominal Pain
Since the liver sits in the upper right abdomen, liver problems typically cause pain in that area. The discomfort may feel dull, achy, or throbbing. Some people notice it after meals, but others feel it most of the day. Pain may also spread to your right shoulder or back.
Inflammation may stretch the tissue around the liver, and this stretching triggers pain. If scar tissue builds up, the liver may also grow larger or harder. An enlarged liver sometimes presses against nearby organs.
Keep a simple log of any liver disease symptoms each day. Write down the time, location, and severity whenever the discomfort appears. Sharp or severe pain needs prompt care, so visit an urgent care center or emergency room.
Swollen Legs
Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet indicates fluid retention. A damaged liver makes less albumin, and this protein helps hold fluid in your blood vessels. When albumin levels drop, fluid leaks into surrounding tissue.
If a dent remains after you press the skin, doctors call it pitting edema. Heart and kidney conditions cause similar swelling. Swelling alone does not confirm liver disease, but it requires a medical exam. Fluid may also collect in the abdomen.
Diagnostic FibroScan
A FibroScan measures liver stiffness, and stiffness reflects scarring. The test uses ultrasound waves that pass through your liver tissue. It requires no needles or incisions. After the scan ends, your provider reviews the stiffness and fat scores with you. The results help guide next steps, but your provider may also order blood work or a biopsy. Here is what to expect during the exam:
- Lie on your back with your right arm raised.
- Receive a small probe on the skin over your liver.
- Feel a light tapping sensation during each reading.
Get Liver Disease Symptoms Evaluated
While these symptoms have many possible causes, a medical evaluation helps narrow them down. Bring your symptom log to the visit, and list any medications or alcohol use. Clear records give your provider useful details. Schedule an appointment if you notice two or more of these signs.
