Fibroscan: What You Need To Know About Liver Ultrasounds

When it comes to having your liver health thoroughly checked, look no further than fibroscans. Read on to learn everything you need to know about liver ultrasounds.

Why Fibroscans Are Used

Fibroscan procedures are used to determine the health of the liver, and whether there is any scarring. Scarring on the liver is known as fibrosis, and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. There are several symptoms of fibrosis to watch out for, and if you believe you have an inflamed liver, it’s best to have it checked as soon as possible.

Some symptoms of fibrosis include:

Jaundice
Feeling tired and weak
Loss of appetite
Feeling sick
Itchy skin
Bleeding or bruising easily

This is not a definitive list, and symptoms may not be obvious during the early stages of fibrosis. Cirrhosis has similar symptoms, often worsened, so it’s important to get checked as soon as possible if you believe something isn’t right. 

Some symptoms of liver cancer include:

Loss of appetite and/or weight
Feeling tired or having no energy
A lump on the side of your tummy
Jaundice
Feeling unwell and/or experiencing flu-like symptoms

Just as with fibrosis, this is not a definitive list of liver cancer symptoms. If you believe you might have liver cancer, make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.

Preparing For The Appointment

Before your appointment, there are some things you should need to know. 

If you are prescribed any medications to take regularly, you should continue to do so. It’s important to keep taking any medicines you need to, particularly if there is likely to be an adverse reaction if you do not. If you’re still concerned about taking your routine medications before a fibroscan, consult your doctor beforehand. 

Do not eat or drink anything two hours before the appointment, as this can impact your scan. If you do feel particularly thirsty, only take small sips of water, as the clear fluid should not have an overwhelming impact. Before doing so, however, make sure to check with your doctor that it is okay and won’t make your results void.

What Happens During A Scan

During a scan, you will be asked to remove or move any clothing that gets in the way of having your tummy area scanned. You will need to lie down flat on your back for the scan, so if you believe you might have any issue doing so, it’s important to let the doctor know prior to the scan.

The nurse or doctor will feel your tummy to locate the right area to put the probe. The probe will then send out sound waves in pulses, which should not hurt. The scanner will measure the time it takes for the waves to bounce back.

Overall, the test should only take around 10 minutes.

What We Do

If you have been recommended to attend a liver ultrasound appointment, opt for our private healthcare services at Duality Health Ltd. We offer fibroscan procedures, to help determine the health of your liver. If you’re after a different private ultrasound appointment, we offer a range of other services.

Visit our website to learn more about our private GP services, or get in contact to speak to our friendly team.