Prolonged Severe fatty Liver - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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Prolonged Severe fatty Liver

Millenium profile image
17 Replies

Hello all. I was on here about 18 months ago concerned about my Severe fatty liver and swollen spleen and possibly having cirrhosis and i did a Fibroscan and it came back at 4.7 and turned out my liver was damaged but in decent shape and I was told by the doctor I can still drink the safe amount of beer which is 4 standard drinks here in Australia and so that's what I did but a few months later my father died of lung cancer so I hate the booze hard not just beer but also mixed drinks like jack daniels and cola even though they are the same strength (5%) mixed drinks are far worse as they have soft drink and the alcohol not good on a liver especially one that's already down for the count. I went to the doctors last week (new doc)and she told me its a good idea too get blood tests again as it has been 2 years when its more like 18 months but I am just wondering how fast can liver disease progress what are the chances that my fatty liver has become cirrhosis in less than 18 months???

I know I shouldn't have started up again but I really was not in a good place and at the time I didn;t care if I died of liver failure but I have woke up now and have quit again and I am just hoping I haven't really done it this time.

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Millenium
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17 Replies
Kristian profile image
Kristian

In truth there's no real answer apart from may be may be not. The important thing is though, even if your liver disease has progressed in that time, for whatever reason, the fact you've now stopped drinking should at least prevent or very much delay further progress.

If you didn't have cirrhosis before, or much scarring, the chances are now you've stopped hitting it with alcohol that it may even be able to recover. You cant forget though that with the fatty deposits your liver isn't the healthiest it could be. So it's usually best to give it an easy time and not give it another wallop with the booze, even if it turns out ok at your next appointment. Probably best not to go out for a celebration drink, lol.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Kristian

didn;t have cirrhosis or fibrosis just very bad fatty liver. I want to go to oktoberfest one day its my dream but I really want to use beer as something too enjoy not something to take advantage of. I would rather use that money and hit the gym maybe then the ladies will start asking me out again like they did in my teens and 20's :P

CocoChannel profile image
CocoChannel in reply to Millenium

I’d opt for the gym option too 😀 Not exaggerating when I say it’s been a life changer.

As for Oktoberfest, I worked in Munich for 6 months a long time ago when I was a heavy drinker. I did walk through the Oktoberfest site - without drinking anything! - and it’s a great advert for not drinking. Strong (>5%) beer is served in one litre glasses, people were throwing up all over the place and paying ridiculous prices for the pleasure.

From what you’ve written, as well as the physical effects, you sound dependent on alcohol, e.g. hitting the booze when your dad died. Once like that, I’m afraid there’s no such thing as moderation or enjoying beer as it’s already controlling you and not vice versa.

Go to that gym. As part of my training, I run 5km in 25 minutes which isn’t particularly fast, but I find it quite a challenge. And how many calories does that burn? A measly 400 which is the equivalent of one and a half pints of beer! How pointless to hit the gym and continue to drink. 😀

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to CocoChannel

If i hit the gym i wont have the time or money to do both. i need endurance not so much strength so 5km in 25 minutes would be good for me and yes i have heard and im not talking about the germany one, we have oktoberfest here in australia. I will be going to the gym but i'll see what the doctor says im expecting them too tell me half my liver is dead but we'll see.

CocoChannel profile image
CocoChannel in reply to Millenium

I’ll probably get told off by our resident experts for saying this, but whilst a fatty liver is bad, it’s reversible so no need to think about a half dead liver.

OK, can’t comment on the Australian Oktoberfest except to say if your liver is that fatty from alcohol, you need to stop drinking permanently. You’d be more rewarded by beating my (slow) 5km time than going to some beer festival.

ThreeSmiles profile image
ThreeSmiles in reply to CocoChannel

Nobody gets told off on this forum Coco - you know that 😁 because to tell a poster off would break the forum rules and the post would be deleted and the perpetrator (even if a resident “expert”) would be told off themselves by Admin.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to CocoChannel

I got my results back and it turns out my liver is functioning better now than it was last year which leaves me totally flabbergastered after the binges i've had this year :/ but i still have high cholesterol so hitting the gym is a must i need to lose 20 kilos

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to CocoChannel

I don't think I have ever been told off now I think about it, even though many have tried

Hi Millenium

Well here goes!

Firstly I've read everyones replies to you which I must say are great recommendations!,

Secondly burning 400 calories at the gym is brilliant especially as your looking after other organs like your heart, your pumping blood faster around your body so its doing more good than that beer you keep thinking about.

I'm a regular at the gym and burn around 500 to 600 calories a day. In the last 14 months by eating healthy and keeping fit I've lost 3.5 stone and brought my bloods back into the normal range!

You talk about Ockoberfest, I've just returned from a large fest in France and throughly enjoyed myself and I never touched alcohol. Its all about mind over matter and what you cherish most in the world, if it's a person then being there for them should be st the top of your list.

My mind is focused on living life, enjoying friends and family and watching them grow up and being able to enjoy numerous times with everyone of of them.

What you must remember bad living can lead to other medical problems.

My uncle is 87 and now confined to a wheel chair and cannot play his favourite sport which was golf, he was once Captain of the golf club until 5 years ago, his disability is awful and he regrets every minute of the day for not listening to medical advice many years earlier.

Just so were clear I'm no old fuddy duddy giving you advice, (note this comment is not aimed at anyone on here) I'm a 67 and look about 50, I'm funny, kind and love to live life to the fullest and I do it all without alcohol!

All I'm going to say is focus on whats precious to you and then you can decide whether the beer is more important!

You can still enjoy life without it but it will take a very strong person with determination and lust to live life on your part.

Take care my friend and Good Luck with your fight.

Trish

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

One thing I have always lived by is no ones promised tomorrow so you damn well better live today like there is no tomorrow, the problem is doing this maybe i am hurting my future I do miss being fit and it is depressing when you can;t get around as well as you should.

in reply to Millenium

Hi again

Thanks for reply and I agree no one is promised tomorrow, but also not everyone is able to do the things they want to do due to various reasons! We can all dream and aim for the stars but sometimes we have to work for those dreams!,

If you think your damaging your future, then it's only you, and you alone that can turn your life around, but you must remember we're all here to listen and support you the best way we can!

Take care

Trish

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

thank you for your advice :) next week i start at the gym

in reply to Millenium

Brilliant news ! You must keep me updated on your progress!

I have Owlie on this forum who kicks my ass to keep me on track. I bike most mornings around 25 to 30 kilometers, some days only 20 but I dont tell Owlie I've had a bad day! However I do lift weights too!

What part of Australia do you live in! My husvands cousin lives in Bamera near Adelaide! We were thinking of visiting this year!

Bye for now

Trish

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

South Coast NSW the high retail area that everyone wants but cant afford aparently

i wish i could boke 30km a day would make gertting a job much easier

in reply to Millenium

My 20 to 30 kilometers a day didnt happen over night! I started with 10 mins, then 20 mins then eventually 30 mins which I did daily until my body decided it could bike longer..I normally bike about 30 kilometers in an hour and half . Now if I can do it and was over weight at the time I'm sure you can!

Just keep focused. Play some music if you have an ipod or watch TV's on your bike if you have one!

Slowly does it! Pin up an old photo of yourself in your kitchen ! This helped me to get back on track!,

Feel free to PM when you want to scream ............

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

I will consider what you have said :)

CocoChannel profile image
CocoChannel in reply to

I’m sure that helps someone.

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