What books are you all reading and recommend

[Fandabby]

Hi all, my first post. I have been reading 'Fatty Liver you can reverse it,' by Sandra Cabot. I have found it very useful and been taking her Livertone suppliments for 10 months now. Anyone else following her advice? What books can you recommend?

[GrandmaDylan]

I found the Michael Mosley fast diet really good.

[Fandabby in reply to GrandmaDylan]

Yes, I've just bought the fast 800 book and although it makes sence, I've read that if you loose weight too quickly, the liver goes into a sort of shock and then just soakes up all the fat again when you come off it. I'm really confused about the advice given (or not given) when it comes to Liver Disease.

[Hidden]

I don't think this is what you meant, but I'm presently reading "Looking for the Rainbow" this is the "Sally Painting Story", a brief synopsis of this story is (as shown on Amazon):

Sally Painting was seven when she was diagnosed with liver disease. During her teenage years her life was saved three times. Inspired by those who cared for her, she became the first person in the UK to become a nurse after receiving a liver transplant. Over ten golden years, Sally became a role model for other transplant patients, caring for them at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital and winning a swimming gold at the World Transplant Games in 1999. Sally’s special life was captured in her diaries: amazon.co.uk/dp/B00XL2Y42O/...

But going back to your original thread. I would never take any supplements for liver disease. Please try and remember that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

The liver is the bodies filtering system. It passes around 2000 litres of blood and filters it 350 times per day.

The liver has a unique capability to restore itself after an inflammation, trauma, poisoning or other stress. It does all this on it's own it doesn't need any help from supplements, and care needs to be taken. You can have a situation where by a persons liver may have insufficient Iron because it's become damaged. Or the reverse can happen, as there is more iron in a damaged cirrhotic liver then in a healthy one. So a person could think that because their liver is damaged, they could try taking Iron supplements, then they run the risk of doing more harm to their liver than good. I would also avoid anything being written by someone from the USA. This is purely because some of the practises, procedures and drugs used over there aren't always available here in the UK. This can then lead to false hopes. I certainly wouldn't take anything that a doctors recommends that will only end up supplementing their own bank account.

Your liver detoxify's the bodies blood, it's works just fine, and is the only organ in the body that has the power to regenerate it's self. When the live does become damaged, there is no wonder drug, no magical cure, just allow your GP to monitor your progress and change your life style. Avoid books that depict a person wearing a white coat with stethoscope around their neck and trying to get you to buy something you don't need.

Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian. There are numerous diets and not all are suitable for everyone.

Good Luck. (and leave off the liver supplements - your don't need them).

Richard

[Fandabby in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Richard for your reply, but i'm not the type of person who can just sit back and let Dr's do nothing. If there were English books on the subject I would read them but there doesn't seem to be, although Sally painting story seems lovely so may pop into the Library for that. I agree it is dangerous to read too much on the internet, but you need to wade through it all to hopefully get to the correct bits. Its a lonely journey but lets face it, if the Dr's knew how to treat Livers they would have diagnosed me as least 20 years ago. (sorry for the moan).

[NuschlerMD in reply to Hidden]

Richard are you a gastroenterologist? If not do NOT make comments that are false.

1) You say that there is more iron in a damaged cirrhotic liver than a healthy one. Oh this is a completely false statement. Hereditary hemochromatosis will cause high iron levels BUT in typical patients with NASH will be very iron deficient.

I keep reading comments slamming us doctors as if most of us know nothing and are just trying to get rich. I have worked HARD for 50 years to be the best cancer doctor I can be! I read peer review medical journals EVERY day--learning and learning as things move quickly in the medical world.

So those of you handing out “medical advice” and dissing my colleagues you are wrong. But all of you including Richard do have advanced Dunning-Kruger effect. Look it up and REALLY learn something today. Even I whose entire life has been caring for patients still need to learn so much more--NOT to make money as I usually work in underserved areas where there isn’t another MD for 200 miles around.

Educate yourself and stop “playing doctor.” It’s unwise and could potentially get someone killed.

[Hidden]

Hi Fandabby

Welcome!

It is positive that you want to take steps to improve your health.

At the British Liver Trust we would always suggest you approach any Complementary & Alternative Medicine with caution.

If you have liver disease, it is important to seek advice from your own doctor and ask to be referred to a hospital registered dietitian before taking any complementary medicines or dietary supplements.

Here is the link to our page;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

We hope that is helpful,

Best wishes

Trust1

[Fandabby]

Thank you, I am taking Milk Thistle but not any of the other ones.

[GrandmaDylan]

When I had my first appointment with my hepatologist he was really surprised that I was so well informed. I explained that I am the person that has this disease so I would be foolish not to have the necessary information. I did tell him that I've got mt information from blt not any old website. I feel that I drove my appointments by ringing the Secretary and making sure that I wasn't missed.

[Fandabby in reply to GrandmaDylan]

Yes I have to remind them about regular blood tests and scans otherwise they can get missed, Unfortunatley my GP knows nothing about Liver Disease so I am reading as much as I can. I've only once seen a hepatologist and apparently wont see one again until my Liver becomes deranged. Different treatments for different areas I suppose.

[NuschlerMD]

I assume that you have a HIDA nuclear scan which detects movement of bile from the gallbladder through the ducts to the small intestine? Are you being seen by a gastroenterologist?

If the scan shows slow movement it might be stones or other obstruction such as a tumor--e.g. cancer of the head of the pancreas which has spread to the liver.

Because the ONLY books you should be reading are the medical books that I read in four years of med school and the seminars and conferences where we learn more each day about the CAUSE of NASH.

Don’t try to be a doctor. There’s an expression “The doctor who treats himself has a lousy doctor.” I realize these chat rooms are kinda fun exploring ways to treat NASH. But it’s similar to reading books on caring for rashes when the CAUSE of the rash hasn’t been determined.

You may be MUCH more intelligent in many ways--but my expertise for nearly 50 years is in medicine. It’s our job to stay up to date on our field. ANYONE who would write a book on how to lower your liver function tests without first recommending a FULL gastro workup with HIDA scan, a scope under light anesthesia to go in and look at the esophagus, the stomach and duodenum, the cystic duct and common duct which carry bile made in the liver. An obstruction can be noted which is “probably” a gall stone but may also be a tumor...such as pancreatic cancer.

Steve Jobs who started up Apple was found to have pancreatic cancer in exploratory surgery after they found an obstruction on scan and scope. It was a type of pancreatic cancer that we can cure! Jobs asked to be woken up if they were going to be doing any major surgery. When he recovered from the anesthesia he was told that they needed to operate immediately and they could cure his cancer.

What did he do? This multi-billionaire figured he was smarter than the surgeons and oncologists and proceeded to circle the globe looking for “natural healing.” By nine months he was near death and the cancer had spread everywhere.

Please. Consult with your doctor...not a book from someone who wants to make money.