Liver disease can also lead to chronic abdominal pain, most commonly occurring on the upper right quadrant, where the liver sits. This pain can range from a chronic throbbing to a sharp, stabbing pain that can only be relieved with pain medications. Because overuse of over the counter (OTC) medications, like acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) can cause liver damage, using these medications to treat pain may actually contribute to the progression of your liver disease. If you are experiencing chronic abdominal pain, you should seek medical attention and develop a long-term strategy to reverse the damage to the liver and/or improve your quality of life.
Jaundice
Patients with liver disease will often develop a discoloration in the skin and eye, taking on a yellow hue. This condition is called jaundice and is a telltale marker for liver disease. Jaundice is a result of the buildup of bilirubin - a bile pigment - in the blood that is unable to be eliminated from the body because of the damaged liver. This build-up will also likely lead to dark-colored urine and light-colored stools. If you begin developing the yellowish skin hue that’s characteristic of jaundice, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Left untreated, jaundice can lead to brain damage. If your jaundice is caused by liver disease, it will diminish as the liver begins to regenerate itself and liver functions improve.
It is important to note, however, that patients with liver disease shouldn’t use the presence, or absence, of jaundice as an indication of their own disease. Even if your symptoms of jaundice go away, you should still follow your doctor’s treatment plan for managing your liver health.
Dark Urine
As the skin develops a yellowish color with the buildup of bilirubin in the body, the urine may turn a dark yellow. Damaged livers are unable to eliminate this pigment efficiently, which can cause toxic damage to the body. Seizures, uncontrollable eye movements, and brain damage can result from high bilirubin levels over time.