Fatty infiltration

[Joe67]

Hi am new to this so please be patient.

I just had a ct and when i phoned the consultants secretary she told me every thing was normal. A week later I got a letter to say I had fatty infiltration of the liver. When I phoned again and asked if she could ask what percentage it was she said the consultant would discuss it with me at the next appointment which is March. I am absolutely terrified. I am 67 and know I have drank to much most of my life. Can anyone tell me what they think. Thank You.

[AyrshireK]

A great many of the population of the western world have fatty change in their livers largely down to lifestyle issues, too much salt, too much sugar, too much processed food and in some cases too much alcohol (you don't have to be an alcoholic for alcohol to cause damage in the liver). If it is fatty infiltration with no fibrosis or cirrhosis then good news is you can take steps to reduce the fatty build up by perhaps adapting a more liver friendly diet and lifestyle - less or better still no booze, less processed foods, less salt, less sugar and if possible a little more exercise. Sometimes if you are on prescription meds or have diabetes these can also lead to fatty liver and sadly not a great deal can be done about that other then ensuring diabetes is kept under control.

The British Liver Trust has a page on Non-Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/li... If you think alcohol may have been a factor in your condition then there is also a page about alcohol related liver disease at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

6 monthly appointments are pretty much the norm so your wait till March is not unusual, in the interim you should take steps to look after your liver better and you may well find that come March you show some sign of liver recovery.

The main British Liver Trust website has a whole host of resources regarding living with liver disease, diet for liver disease patients etc. etc. It is well worth doing a bit of research and seeing if you can make changes to benefit your liver going forward. britishlivertrust.org.uk/

All the best,

Katie

[Joe67 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie

Thanks so much for your comments. You mention fibrosis and cirossis would that show up in a ct. Can't understand why the consultant in his letter hasn't made any recommendations or any steps I should take with lifestyle. Thank You.

[AyrshireK in reply to Joe67]

Almost certainly fibrosis or cirrhosis would have showed up on CT - CT is probably the 2nd best of all the imaging techniques available (with MRI being the best).

Give the lifestyle stuff a go. If you feel there are things you can perhaps change then do so and you'll give your liver the best chance possible to reverse the fatty infiltration.

All the best.

Katie xx

p.s. we get a lot of people on here who have had doctors tell them "it's just fatty liver" without giving advice, not told to stop drinking etc and then having just plodded on with life have discovered that their just fatty liver is now full blown cirrhosis. Do try and do the best for your liver.

[Joe67 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks Katie

I must apologise for not considering your situation. I hope you are doing well. Take care.

Thank You.

[AyrshireK in reply to Joe67]

Hi Joe, I am ok. In my case it's my hubby who is ill. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis out of the blue back in 2012 due to auto immune hepatitis. I have just been around here so long I pick up on the stories of others plus have done a few courses along the way.

You look after yourself.

Katie x

[Joe67 in reply to AyrshireK]

I am so so sorry to hear that. I will include your husband in my prayers. Thank You.