Enlarged Liver

[SIRandyraven]

Now living in Switzerland and been seeing a German GP, trained in Germany and uk.
Anyway he asked me to pop in a few months ago for a health check.
Nice little revenue generator, but insurance pays (mandatory in Switzerland).
ECG , lung capacity checkand other tests all ok.
He had results from blood test (they have a analyser in surgery).
He said slightly high white blood cell count.
He also prodded my lower stomach and said I had a slightly enlarged liver.
He did not seem to concerned. But aske me to return for ultra sound check next week .
After googling it ...starting to worry.
His English is not perfect , so maybe he meant inflamed rather than enlarged.
What causes a liver to enlarge ?
Could it be an infection ?

[SIRandyraven]

Health check was done today.
He said he will also have results of more extensive blood test. More than his local machine could do.

[jno]

Sqad will give you a proper answer but here are some suggestions

http://www.healthgrades.com/symptoms/enlarged-liver

[SIRandyraven]

I don't smoke or drink alcohol.
Maybe my diet is too fatty ?
Links is a bit frightening , listing cancer as a cause.
General health wise , I feel fine ...no fever , pain , sickness, diet is ok.
Poo good colour and solid.

[Buenchico]

Possibly relevant:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fatty-liver-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[Sqad]

Far and away....the commonest cause of a "slightly " enlarged liver is a "Fatty Liver".......the product of life style.

There are many causes of an enlarged liver, but all of them relatively uncommon compared to a "Fatty Liver."

Liver function blood tests will soon sort you out.

[SIRandyraven]

Thanks for reply Sqad. Doctor did say more extensive blood test would include liver function blood test. Results next week. It was more than his machine could do.
Time to diet and adjust my diatary intake ...less fatty foods.
I think I eat healthy, but maybe not.

Another strange thing he said was " when did you last have a colonoscopy.
I said about 8 years ago. He replied it should be done every ten years.
Maybe it's a Swiss thing.

[jno]

there's a little known attachment on a Swiss Army Knife to do colonoscopies with

[SIRandyraven]

You may joke jno, but it would not Suprise me if it did.
It's very regimented here's in Swiss Germany.

The only issue with a semi private healthcare system, is you are never sure when you really need the test or it's just the practise boosting income.
NHS forever ....

[jourdain2]

I've been told my liver is rather fatty (this was in France last year), advice was to eat less cheese - but no-one is worried about it. :)