My Angry Liver

My liver is angry. Apparently this isn’t uncommon during pregnancy, and it’s usually easy to correct.

Today I had an appointment with the midwife. We were running late and hadn’t eaten lunch yet. Moanna and I were starving, and the only option near the office was fast food. I’ve had fast food twice (including today) since 2011 began, and probably only twice during 2010.

I pulled into Mc D’s and told Moanna that we were only getting a snack and that we would have a real lunch when we got home. She and I shared a McFlurry and fries. We sat in the parking lot of the midwife’s office and inhaled our snack. As soon as we were done, I ran into the office and went straight to pee in the cup before my food had time to digest. I didn’t want my pee to tell the midwife that I had been eating fast food.

My midwives love to interview my pee. Every time my pee tells on me. It says I don’t drink enough water. I swear to you I drink enough water to fill an Olympic pool, but apparently it’s not enough to make my pee happy. I leave each appointment vowing to drink more water.

Today, my pee told on me again. Only this time it wasn’t only about drinking water. In addition to my lack of fluid intake, my pee said that my liver was angry. Very angry.

“You have some bilirubin showing up.”

I know what bilirubin is from my Dad’s liver troubles and transplants. “Excuse me?”

“Have you been feeling any pain in your right side just under your rib cage?”

“Ugh… Maybe, but it’s not just my right side it’s my entire diaphragm area. I thought it was just from my belly getting in the way.”

“Have you had problems with your liver before?”

“A few times in the past my enzymes have been high when I’ve had “mono” type things, but once I’m healthy my liver returns to it’s usual.”

“Any itching or rashes?

“Nope.”

“Hmm… Well this is the first time it’s shown up so it’s not a long term issue, but it’s at the highest level on the strip.”

“What!? What does that mean?”

“It’s not uncommon and we can probably fix it through nutrition. If it’s still high when you come back, we’ll run some blood tests at the lab.”

I knew I shouldn’t have had those french fries! Just kidding, it’s not the french fries’ fault, but isn’t Karma a sneaky little thing?

Evidently liver problems pop up frequently during pregnancy because the digestive system slows down. Some women end up getting itchy rashes because of how much their liver slows down. Did you know that most rashes are a result of your liver being angry? I found that to be quite interesting. It could also explain some of the pinched diaphragm feeling I’ve been having, although I think some of that has to do with Deuce getting bigger.

To make my angry liver happy again, I need to eat beets, slurp a spoon full of dark green olive oil daily, drink lemon water and take dandelion root supplements. Doesn’t all of that sound delicious? Oh and I should cut back on my spaghetti obsession and anything else greasy (ahem – french fries).

When I got home from my appointment, I ate an entire can of beets standing up at the kitchen counter. Tomorrow when I do my shopping I will pick up fresh beets and everything else on the list my midwife told me to add.

Other than my angry liver and apparent dehydration (if I drink more water I’m going to float away), every thing else looked great. Deuce is measuring right on schedule and has a great heart beat. I go back in three weeks for my next appointment. Please send happy liver vibes my way. I really don’t want to get more blood taken. I don’t handle needles gracefully.

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