Elementary

In some posts, fascinating though it may be, I've got too bogged down with technical detail. It's time to simplify.

When O'Blimey operated to remove the tumour he found a 'not very healthy' liver. Where the soft healthy liver tissue had become stiff scarred tissue.

Any long term inflammation of the liver can cause this damage. For some people it's too much drink, for others too much fat. In my case the assumption is that the cirrhosis and cancer had been caused by the liver being under attack for many years by this colourful looking virus:-

However......

Clever blood tests have shown that I am, in medical-speak, an 'inactive carrier' of Hep B. Typically inactive carriers don't have inflammation. The odd thing is, O'Blimey's pathologist found evidence of 'persistent inflammation'.
There are 4 other kinds of viral hepatitis A, C, D and E plus one called autoimmune where your body thinks it has a virus and goes into defence mode against itself.
I've had all sorts of blood tests to see which kind I might have. Lots of the tests came back negative, except some that point in the direction ...

of autoimmune. I have symptoms that fit this too; fatigue, muscle aches and pains, feeling shivery without fever.

A definite diagnosis should be possible by combining blood tests with looking at tissue samples under the microscope. Don't Hepatitis A, B, C and D look pretty in pink!

Early in New Year, once things are
again, I hope to get some answers from the consultants so that I can get treatment.

Otherwise, my liver will end up looking like this

And I won't feel very well at all.