Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice) – Bilirubin is the one which imparts yellow colour to the urine, eyes and skin. Bilirubin is a molecule which forms when hemoglobin which carries oxygen is broken down. A natural process with any other vital agent after its ability to function is broke down in the body and excreted. Liver plays a central role here and excretes bilirubin in bile into the intestine.When live is damaged, bilirubin excretion does nt happen adequately, the yellow bilurubin accumulates in body and patient turns yellow. Turning yellow is advanced satge of long standing liver diaseas( Chronic liver disease). In acute liver insults and acute liver failure, bilirubin levels can mount swiftly in a span of hours to days
Abdominal swelling- In Chronic liver disease with liver pressure going up( Portal Hypertension), water accumulates in the abdomen. This is known as ‘Ascites”. Your liver doctor would advice salt restriction in diet and may prescribe water pills. If water accumulation in the abdomen is not getting controlled with medicines , you may have to proceed with liver transplant or placing a stent/ tube inside your liver
Swelling in the legs and ankles- Both ankles will get swollen due to water accumulation under the skin on dependent areas( Pedal edema). Albumin prevents water from seeping out of blood vessels and prevent formation of ankle swelling. Albumin is made in liver and when liver fails albumin level dips.
