Fibroscan question: I have a question... - British Liver Trust

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Fibroscan question

Al17 profile image
Al17
30 Replies

I have a question about fibroscan. I had a result of 10.2 today and they have scheduled a biopsy. Can anyone give me any feedback on if this is reversible?

I'm 46 year old female who is insulin resistant and I do not drink. I'm 5'2" weigh 135 lbs.

Thank you

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Al17 profile image
Al17
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30 Replies
Millie09 profile image
Millie09

Hi there, well first off I am no dr but I had my first ever fibroscan 4 weeks ago .I have cirrhosis end stage. I was diagnosed in 2008 .my fibro score was 27 .I am to have a scan on my next visit to hep dr on 9 May. So your actual score is very good . Is it just disbetse you have? Or is it the fact that your diabetes is affecting your liver due to the insulin. I don't know much about it so I suggest you talk to your consultant unless anyone on this forum can help you

Al17 profile image
Al17 in reply to Millie09

I don't have diabetes. I have been insulin resistant for many years(pre diabetic) but I've had fatty liver that has

progressed to fibrosis. Thank you for your reply. I hope ur next visit will bring you better news. It sounds like you are taking all the right steps.

Millie09 profile image
Millie09 in reply to Al17

Oh I see; now I get the right picture. Well your score as I said it low, so that means you do have some thickening of the liver but it's not high end stage .the liver as you know is very good at regenerating over time

I am living proof after I was given 6 months to live 9 years ago. But mine was through alcohol .I did stop drinking until my dad passed away 4 yrs ago .I hit the drink hard for just over a year so that has caused me more scarring now. I do try my best and I am sure that you will be absolutely fine 😊

Al17 profile image
Al17 in reply to Millie09

Thank you so much. Your ability to fight this gives me much hope!

Millie09 profile image
Millie09 in reply to Al17

Your very welcome. I have had endoscopy and had ascites 4 times where I looked 9 months pregnant and had to be drained

I would say out of experience you will be fine. Maybe a change in diet is needed? I changed my diet as nutrition really plays a great part towards a good liver function. I have plenty of protein, fish, salad, veg, and a good cup of coffee actually has health benefits for the liver and green tea .glad I could be of some support ☺

dooley1 profile image
dooley1

Hi when I was 49, 3 years ago I was end stage on life support after a massive bleed, my fibroscan was 68 and there wasn't much hope for me but since then with a healthy diet and juicing and taking a milk thistle supplement my recent fibroscan was 17! I was thrilled. I suggest you really concentrate on healthy food and that includes healthy fats, to sort out your fatty liver and you will be able to bring that score down, although yours is not that high so your lucky to have had a heads up before your liver has gotten too scarred. Good luck! 😃

grace111 profile image
grace111 in reply to dooley1

thats such fantastic news. im so happy for you.it just goes to show what a good diet can do. reading this has made me decide to go back to juicing again as i had stopped doing that due to the hard work of cleaning it out. its also good for others to read to inspire us to eat well and juice. all the very best love grace xoxoxo

spoul profile image
spoul

I think it depends on the reason for the liver disease I have stage 4 cirrhosis from Pbc and my result was 60. I have an illustration somewhere I'll send it you 😊

Bolly profile image
Bolly

As spoul says, it depends on the cause as to how easy it is to reverse. In theory, remove the cause, and fibrosis will improve. I'm now sure how you deal with insulin resistance? As far as I'm aware its one of the causes of NAFLD (Non alcoholic fatty liver disease) - is that your diagnosis and if so, what have your doctors said about whether you can change anything in your lifestyle to help your liver heal?

Cookimonster profile image
Cookimonster in reply to Bolly

Hi Bolly/AI17, my Fibroscan was 27.8 and following biopsy I have been diagnosed with severe NASH, borderline cirrhosis. Told to lose weight and exercise urgently. The clinic told me to do a low-carb (NOT NO carb) diet and I've lost a stone in 6 weeks. I eat loads of good fats, vegetables including root veg, moderate protein and fruit and no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes or cereal. I try to have below 100g carb a day, and below 1750 cals a day using myfitnesspal app which is what diabetes.co.uk suggest for prediabetics. Hope that helps you AI17.

Millie09 profile image
Millie09 in reply to Cookimonster

Exactly what I do! Using the my fitness app really helps to keep you in check with your intake. Best thing I ever did

I don't agree to taking milk thistle though. My hepetologist said not to .I have gluten free cereal , bread and pasta now and then. I love juicing too .plenty of fruit especially berries and dark green leafy veg , fish etc; can't go wrong I have even started using quorn products due to the protein and low saturated fats. I do have the good fats though as our body needs it 😊

Bolly profile image
Bolly in reply to Cookimonster

Hi Cookimonster and well done with your diet. If your Fibroscan was done with an Echosens machine it has a scoring chart for NAFLD but not for NASH. Around 12kpa is cirrhosis when you have NAFLD (which is the same for me with a combination of viral hep and Autoimmune). A 27.8kpa Fibroscan would suggest established cirrhosis, but hopefully, with your lifestyle changes and support from a nutritionist you will do well and improve the health of your liver.

Al17 has a good score of 10kpa, which suggests only a little damage as 7kpa is normal. However unlike being able to drastically alter eating patterns and reverse weight gain to improve the Fibroscan score, I'm not sure what you can do when the cause of liver inflammation is Insulin resistance. Maybe the docs have told Al17, I would be interested to know.

Cookimonster profile image
Cookimonster in reply to Bolly

Hi - the hepatologist said I have top of the range NASH i.e. Worse than NAFLD and she said I was borderline cirrhosis according to biopsy. Hopefully I have caught it in time. I also have insulin resistance and don't want to become actual diabetic. That explains why normal diets haven't worked, and they've told me to have a low carb one, which does seem to be working so far. They are going to keep eye on me with 3 monthly ultrasounds.

Al17 profile image
Al17 in reply to Cookimonster

Sounds like they have caught it in time! Hopefully with the insulin resistance under control you can see some reversal. Did you have a fibroscan?

Cookimonster profile image
Cookimonster in reply to Al17

Yes 27.8 kpa

Bolly profile image
Bolly in reply to Cookimonster

Yes NAFLD comes first and can progress to NASH. Glad to hear the docs have diagnosed the cause and you are in a position to make lifestyle changes to improve your liver health (and general health if you are pre-diabetic also). When pre-diabetics (or even some diabetics on medication) cut out all carbohydrates it does seem to help prevent full blown diabetes or even reverse diagnosed diabetes, but its a tricky diet to sustain in the modern world of convenience foods and supermarket shopping - well done you for taking control.

Al17 profile image
Al17 in reply to Bolly

Thank you Bolly-it's been scary to learn about a condition and getting replies and information has been very helpful!

Cookimonster profile image
Cookimonster in reply to Bolly

Thanks Bolly, yes it is hard as I am a carb monster, but I would rather feel better so I am persisting x

Bolly profile image
Bolly in reply to Cookimonster

As you are aware its not just a case of making you feel better, liver disease if it progresses to cirrhosis can be life limiting. Not only that, but in a lesser way, you may find that its impossible to get life insurance and tricky to get travel insurance, so it impacts on your life much more than how you feel.

Some liver diseases need medication to control or cure them, and some liver diseases cant be cured at all. However NAFLD and to an extent NASH, the cure is in the hands of the patient. The cookies have to go I'm afraid!

Cookimonster profile image
Cookimonster in reply to Bolly

Yes absolutely!! I try not to think I can't have them as it makes me want them more. InsteadI try to think how good I will feel if I don't succumb, but your comments are absolutely correct. Not only cookies thoughbut bread, pasta, rice, spuds and cereal unfortunately. Got travel insurance today which cost me twice as much as before,dread to think what it would be with cirrhosis that's if I could even get it.

Al17 profile image
Al17 in reply to Cookimonster

How long have you been insulin resistant? Was wondering because for someone who doesn't drink or isn't overweight I'm not sure what I can cut out to reverse my fibrosis. Any suggestions?

Cookimonster profile image
Cookimonster in reply to Al17

Since 2009 for me, only I didn't know it until this year. Kept gettingfobbedoff with 'oh it's your age' etc. Up your exercise and decrease carbs is what I was told. Good luck.

Bolly profile image
Bolly in reply to Cookimonster

If you are changing your diet to a low carb one to combat the insulin resistance, have a look at the Michael Mosley 'Blood sugar diet'. Dr Mosley was himself pre-diabetic despite being fit and slim, and devised this plan. It does mean cutting out sugary fruits as well, but its based on how people in Mediterranean countries eat and stay healthy, so not a 'faddy' nutrition plan. It also means no alcohol (contains sugar and not good for the liver) for the first month and only sensible drinking after that. thebloodsugardiet.com/the-l...

Cookimonster profile image
Cookimonster in reply to Bolly

Yes it's good, if you don't want to buy a book there is loads of info on diabetes.co.uk website too

Al17 profile image
Al17

Thank you all for your replies. It has been very helpful! I didnt think fibrosis was reversible so this is great news!

Bolly profile image
Bolly in reply to Al17

Fibrosis is reversible if you can remove the cause. I've no knowledge of how you 'cure' insulin resistance Al17 - have the doctors told you?

toma123 profile image
toma123

I think the fibroscan result is dependent upon the cause of liver damage. So people with cirrhosis caused by alcohol will have different readings than people who have cirrhosis caused by say Hepatitis C or NASH. Having said that most people with Cirrhosis have fibroscan results much greater than 10 although it isn't 100% fool proof and a small minority of people have lower readings.

Al17 profile image
Al17

Do any of you know if fibrosis always develops into cirrosis?

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK in reply to Al17

No it doesn't always and if the cause of the fibrosis can be tackled or treated then it is possible to reverse fibrosis (and they now believe even early cirrhosis is reversible too where once it was believed to be irreversible).

If your condition is down to NAFLD then you will need to look at whether there are lifestyle changes you can make to slow down or stop the progression and possibly reverse the fibrosis.

More information on NAFLD on the British Liver Trust site @ britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

They also have guidance on diet for particular liver complaints including for NAFLD at :- britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

Hopefully you are going to get some feedback and proper guidance from your medical team. These fibroscans without proper interpretation don't half seem to cause a lot of anxiety and worries amongst patients having them until they get the full story.

Katie

Al17 profile image
Al17

Thank you Katy! This was very helpful. It's been a lot to take in and I appreciate you sharing the links.

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