Food & drink advice please 👍🏼

[nickiwj]

Hi everyone,

As you know, I am now on the liver transplant waiting list (listed 3 weeks ago for the Royal Free - London).

Would really appreciate some advice or tips of food and drink advice for a) keeping healthy and b) for energy and c) my diet.

I have read a few old posts that lemon or lime in water is good (?)

I know I can't cleanse of detox the liver of toxins and my bilirubin is around 160-175 mmol but wondered if any food groups can help flush me through better (sorry to be blunt but my urine always really dark). I'm PBC diagnosed 10 years ago and now have bad scaring to liver.

Anything to help feel better than I do at the moment is worth a try.

Past month my sugar levels have been dropping. My son is type 1 diabetic so I'm fully aware of sugar readings and able to test my blood if I feel dizzy or unwell. Lowest it hit was 2.8!!!!

Spoke to my nurse contact at Royal London and liver co-ordinator as it was happening 2-3 times a day and making me feel really unwell.

I've been trying to eat little and often in between my 3 meals a day.

I'm sure some can relate that appetite is not always good though.

Over past 2 years, I have become dairy intolerant especially to milk, cheese, cream, soft cheeses and yoghurt. Maybe this will go away after my transplant (?)

I'm trying to stay as fit and healthy as I can for whenever its my time to have a transplant so any advice on jazzing up water or good fruits or veg or food to help.

I try not to eat much salt or sugar in my diet. Should I avoid anything else?

apart from that (and me waffling on to you all) I'm feeling pretty rough and now need a couple of early nights a week, had a couple of afternoon naps this week as I have been so tired and drained of energy 😩 I'm usually in my PJ's by 8pm each night - rock and roll eh!!!!!

Hope everyone is well and thank you for reading my update post and I look forward to hearing from you for some advice

Much love to you all. Nicki 💞

[grace111]

thankfully im not on transplant list but i do know some foods that are very good for the liver. the lemon and limes like you said. when i had hep c i would drink lemon in warm water first thing in the morning. it did make me go to the toilet though, apples oranges and i also juice as well. beetroot is very good for the liver and the blood. leafy greens, garlic. carrots celery. avocados liquorice raspberry strawberries grapefruits nuts and flax seeds are among some of the good healthy foods for the liver. foods that are not processed are good. i like to make soup with organic veg, organic stock cubes. walnusts and brazil nuts. those are some of the foods im taking. i had an operation recently and was unable to get to the shops and was eating food like oven chips that i could keep in the freezer. im now able to get to the shops myself and am back to my juicing. i'v eaten well today. i'v had plenty fruit and veg.

i dont really eat dairy food and have not eaten it for almost ten years when i found out i had hepatitis as i was warned against them i do eat eggs though i get organic eggs. i don't eat yogurts butters margering (cheese. very very rarely grilled on toast as a treat) you were saying that you'v going of dairy i think thats your body telling you not to eat dairy its not good for the liver. i used to go and still sometimes go to the liverdoctor.com there are many artilces there about whats good for the liver. i learned all about flaxseeds and almonds and sunflower seeds ground up together and put them in my soup and porridge. they are full of great nutrients. so look at that website. the womans name is doctor sandra cabot. she has many great recipes for liver health.also apple cider vinegar is excellent for the liver and the digestion of food braggs is one of the best ones to get it has the "mother " in it and is organic. you can google how to take that. i just take a teaspoon in water before i eat a meal. i use it on my food as well on my salads. i cant eat all the things iv mentioned all the time i'v had my gallbladder out and sometimes i get quite ill if i eat tomatoes or oranges unless they are very sweet. but those are all good foods for the liver as you asked. exercise is good and i'v read posts by my dear friend catfishjumpin and she says that sunlight is very good for the liver as well and i did not know that. so im learning all the time myself. i hope that you manage to get some good nights sleep as your saying you feel pretty rough and i have trouble with my sleeping to, its all over the place i'v been in and out of bed a lot today. i do wish you well dear i hope that everything goes well for you and when you get your new liver i hope it brings a new lease of life for you. god bless you dear. best wishes and hugs for you. love grace xoxoxo🤗🌹

[Catfishjumpin in reply to grace111]

Your diet is excellent. Thats great you can do all you are. Its interesting how similar our diets are, really.

[RodeoJoe]

Low salt high protein is the usual advice. I know what you mean about appetite, it can get really difficult. I found the low salt part hardest as most sauces and gravy are high salt, which leaves food dry and bland. I used a lot of low salt heinz ketchup. I ate a chicken breast or pork chop most days, and lots of eggs. An omelet was my usual breakfast or dinner.

Although liver cleansing foods aren't bad I can't imagine they're really any use on a cirhotic liver. Try to eat something every couple of hours and take a protein drink before bed.

[Catfishjumpin in reply to RodeoJoe]

Oh my I beg to differ, my friend. I would not be here if I did not eat liver cleansing foods. Oranges create bile and I need all I can get to move the sluggish contents my body holds due to my liver chock full of cirrhosis. My eyes are white as freshly fallen snow, thats food and exercise.

[grace111 in reply to Catfishjumpin]

yes i saw how white your eyes were in the recent photo that you put up holding the flower, it was very noticeable how white your eyes are. its true about diet. bolly looks after his diet to and is a miracle also. xoxoxo

[Etak1]

Hi, I can't give you any better advice than you already have here hehe but my mum has cirrhosis her liver number is 37 , if you know what that's about 😀 So it might be quite different to yours but the liver specialist said there's no any foods that will actually help because it's already damaged therefore not working properly.

I actually drink warm lemon water first drink of the day because it's really good for your digestive system but it does have to be warm to activate it properly, it's also great for fresh breath hehe. Apple cider vinegar is a heal all 😀 And as long as you get an organic one with the mother, the mother makes it an active ingredient , as you can tell I don't know the exact science behind it hehe

We have been advised a varied healthy diet is best thing but like I said maybe it's different.

I know coconut oil is a kind of trendy fad but it's fantastic, again, you need to get and organic extra virgin kind or it doesn't have the health benefits, but it's antibacterial and anti fungal it's great for your digestive system too, really nice on toast 😀

Another little thing is multi grain products have very little health benefits opposed to whole grain 😀

There's a series available on bbciplayer called the truth about super foods, might be worth checking out.

Anyway good luck with everything X take care

[Dulux]

I have a bile obstruction if I have lemon it makes me feel awful, so a little trial and error. Did you see a nutritionist during your assessment, I've been given 3 products to help with putting on some weight, energy is a struggle when I have it then I do as much as I can. Whole foods and simple proteins, try and exercise it is helping me feel better.

[nickiwj]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for everyone's lovely messages and advice. Last couple of days I have started making my homemade soups again. Literally chicken, vegetables and some potatoes for my carbs. I have it for dinner and then there is enough for lunch the next day. Another good way of good fluid intake too. A good dose of natural ingredients which has helped a bit I think.

I already make sure I have eggs/omelettes regularly, I have soya milk as I can't have dairy and also increased my water to lemon in water which is refreshing.

Don't worry, I'm not going fruit and veg crazy as too much is going to have a "bad effect" with the bowels I think so all in moderation.

Made a lovely dairy free banana cake today (my 14 year old twins even ate it so can't be bad).

Still feeling drained and tired but with a few "tweaks" in my daily diet, I'm hoping it may make a but if a change. Anything is worth a try eh.

Stay well everyone and much love to you all 💞

[acjb007]

Avoid red and processed meat. All dairy products. Fruit and vegetable smoothies are great! All plant based food is easy on your liver and full of nutrients. I went vegan 6 months ago and I feel like my cirrhosis has reversed. My last check up showed a 2 stone weight loss and all my results had improved. Even the doctor was amazed. I look and feel so much better my sister and best friend went vegan and they've never felt better.